Horse & Hound Inn

Doug, the owner has graciously invited my wife and I for dinner. I truly believe our last experience was an anomaly. We look forward to our next dinner at the Horse and Hound! It has the reputation of the best in the White Mountains.

Absolutely awesome dining experience! We were seated in the pub and we liked it better than the dining room… quiet. Started with the crab cakes… phenomenal. Ordered the cod special. I have never had fish that was cooked better. Moist and tender! My husband had the lobster ravioli. Truly spectacular. Service was outstanding. Prices are fair; servings enormous. Don’t miss it!

This may be the best value accommodation in the area. With an Immaculately clean and beautiful property, cozy and well-​appointed rooms, and breakfast is included, it is tough to beat. Less than 5 minutes from Franconia Notch, a wonderful restaurant on-​site, and a classic New England lodge atmosphere. We will be back for sure.

My fiancé and I hopped up to NH for a quick ski weekend getaway at Loon Mountain. After sampling the «okay» dinner scene in Lincoln one night, we decided to extend our search for fine dining and found Horse & Hound through Unilocal.
The Inn was unassuming from the outside, but once we stepped inside, we were met with a warm and lively scene of people enjoying cocktails and their meals. The attention to detail that the owners have is much appreciated. Some of my favorite details include the following: the wrought iron horse decorations on the coat racks, the hand-​made leather menus, the adorable horse and hound logo, and the penny tile in the bathroom. The renovations are extremely tasteful and accentuate the Inn’s history.
Our meal was spectacular, the courses came out at just the right times, and the ½ carafe of house wine was perfect for us to share.
To top off the great night, the innkeeper gave us a gracious thank you for dining there, but it was us who should have been graciously thanking him and the rest of the staff. The next time we visit we’ll not only dine again but lodge there.

Absolutely fantastic. Waitstaff, food, drinks, prices and atmosphere were all perfect. Definitely coming back.

Disappointing! Went to H&H this week while visiting the area. My drink was made poorly. My food was overcooked/​overpriced, and to top it off, they don’t take American Express!

I have lived in the area off and on since college and I have always loved dropping in. I actually worked as a waiter during winter break in college. It was VERY fine dining 32 years ago and it is just as fine now. They treat you special, make you feel special and serve great food and drinks. The outside dining they have now is especially wonderful in the summer. Dave

Beautifully preserved historic building with many inviting nooks in the house, restaurant and on the grounds. Pristine cleanliness and elegance. Warm welcome. You will not regret treating yourself to dinner and a stay at this charming b&b after a hike! It’s a short (15 minute or less) drive from the Lafayette Place/​Franconia Ridge trails. Dinner and breakfast were fresh and satisfying. Kudos to Doug!

My husband and I arrived for a weekend of hiking in the White Mountains. We couldn’t have been happier with our stay at the Horse and Hound. The ambiance at the Inn matches perfectly their stock photo of Jane Fontaine standing outside the front sign in all her casual 1940’s elegance. The service was prompt (I think it was about 90 seconds after I sat down in the lounge before someone came over to ask me if I’d like a drink from the bar brought over). The room was absolutely spotless and the food both at breakfast and for dinner was at least as good as any Boston-​area mid-​range fare. The location is very central to many of the hiking trails, and even boasts its own little creek and a few trails perfect for a stroll after dinner. Despite the rain, it was all around a perfect weekend getaway.

Just down the road from Cannon Mountain, this is a great place to go after a day of snowboarding. Really great atmosphere with a bar and comfortable couches in the waiting area. The hours are odd and the restaurant isn’t open all season so make sure you call ahead before you show up. The food was great (we had the salmon and lamb) and the service was friendly, if perhaps a bit slow.

we had high hopes but the food was just so so. the lamb and polenta were excellent. but the salad and mussels were very disappointing. the foiled fish tasted like airplane food and they skimp on rice. also we ordered medium rare for steak but instead it was more like a beef jerky. too much seasoning an dried up. sad.

I am not going into detail about this dish or that. What impresses is that an inn almost inside the Franconia Notch State Park, and which has been around for 65 years, actually doesn’t show up on GPS. It’s almost like the locals want to keep it their secret. The kitchen closes at 8pm on a Friday night in the height of ski season. But you don’t need it to be open longer. Go sit and eat and enjoy from six to eight, and then take an after dinner drink into the library and relax. The chef apparently asked to come here from another successful venue to help the inn’s owners of the past two put the place back on the map. The owners are evidently a little worried about the effect of global warming on their business, which is ski-​driven, and I was happy to be able to help out as much as one man can. You’ll see a picture of a rather remote celebrity in the guest brochure in your room, and wonder how the place ever fell into obscurity. It was apparently built as an inn in the 1940s and has yet remained under the radar for much of recent memory. So, in short, it has a lot of people putting a lot of heart into it, and it shows up in how carefully they balance the rustic and the modern. How clean and organized on the one hand and how old steam heating may leak from time to time, on the other. Real charm, in this reviewer’s opinion. The food is the same way: a steamed turbot special sounds initially like something off A-​list haunts in NYC, but here they serve it on a bed of navy beans, apparently rehydrated in lemon juice, and surrounded by brussels sprouts, and topped with an herbed vinaigrette and butter. Something like you might even make at home, but taken up several notches. All good. So if you want to find the place, the ladies at the guest services desk at very nearby Cannon Mountain will direct you two miles downhill from the ski area’s entrance. You’ll see the signs for the Horse & Hound. Just follow them and not your GPS, which probably does not include a 205 Wells Rd. in lovely but windy Franconia, NH.

I love the Horse and Hound. Charming dining room, great food and service. My favorite restaurant in Franconia.

While spending time in Sugar Hill, NH — I was to the Horse & Hound was a place I could not miss.
I began with the Frisée salad, complete with bacon lardoons,
the most deliciously ripe heirloom tomato wedges, a warm dressing,
homemade croutons all topped with a poached egg. Bliss? Yes.
Also for a starter we ordered Pâte for the table which was served with its
traditional accoutrements. It was also equally tasty. For my entrée I selected the Chicken Divan. Hormone-​free chicken breast stuffed with brocolli, roasted red pepper and Swiss cheese. It was a bit dry but delicious nonetheless.
I almost never finish my entrée but always secretly wish to order dessert.
Lucky for me, my dining companions decided we would order three and each have an equal taste.
The Pumpkin Bread Pudding (with caramel sauce and fresh whipped cream)
Apple Galette: a puff pastry with sauteed apples, cranberries,
nutmeg, cinnamon and butter (also with fresh w.c.)
Deep Chocolate Cake: need I explain?
My favorite was definitely the Pumpkin Bread Pudding but honestly all three were a delight!

We spent there a long weekend and are still living from the energy we gained in the Inn and at the hikes.
This Inn is a real jewel and after having stayed there now for the second time, we are sure to come back. The rooms are bright, clean and very cozy, Towels are very soft and smell nice, the bed is extremely comfortable. WiFi works well all over the house and a lot of magazines and papers are displayed in the lounge, as well as games that you won’t get bored on a rainy day.
We arrived in threes and thought one has to sleep on a cot. The owners told us they’d have a spare room with just one single bed and no bathroom if we would like to sleep separate. They didn’t charge us anything extra, what we thought was very kind.
The food is really good, we loved the rich breakfast and would recommend this Inn without any restrictions, the owners just make it very special with their hospitality.

The Horse and Hound was amazing all around. We stayed there for two nights and ate there for both as well. The inn itself is cozy and beautiful and the rooms are impeccably clean and well designed. The owners are very nice and are always available. The dinners were delicious, with friendly servers and a chef that personally came out to ask how our dinner was. We will definitely be back here! Oh and they serve a pretty great breakfast too!

absolutely cool. old school all the way.

The Horse and Hound (just down rt 18 toward Franconia from Cannon Mt) was one of the best places to eat in Franconia.
This year (2009 – 2010 ski season), the Horse and Hound is under new management and it is again one of the best apres ski and dining establishments near Cannon Mt. Don’t be misinformed by the old website which is soon to be updated.
The Hunt Room menu is comprehensive American Cuisine. The daily specials are a must. The portions are good.
The lounge has great atmosphere, music, a well stocked bar, friendly service, free wifi (a big plus for the area) and big screen television.
The area also has some of the best Alpine and Nordic skiing around.
My wife and I have been there twice in as many weeks and we expect to make it a regular venue for the ski season.