The Ice House

This place blows
The food is over priced and the portions are small. Below average.
Ice cream Is great — Richardsons
But again. This place sucks so go somewhere else.

Excellent location, good food. BLT was terrific (believe it or not, there’s a lot of ways that simple sandwich can go wrong, but this one was delicious!) My husband enjoyed the fried shrimp. No complaints from the pup regarding the PB/​banana yogurt cup. I was delighted that they had a frozen treat for the dog. Will definitely return here next time!

The Ice House is a great place to take the family for fried seafood, ice cream and/​or hotdogs and burgers. The haddock sandwich is really good! I grew up going to this place so I have fond memories… Definitely check it out!

We always eat here when hit great island common. Delicious lobster rolls, fried scallops and oyster, and the ice cream is perfect!
We always eat here when hit great island common. Delicious lobster rolls, fried scallops and oyster, and the ice cream is perfect!

Some folks count down the days until summer begins. If you’re from New Castle or Portsmouth, you count down the days until The Ice House opens for the season.
Great ice cream, friendly service, and good old family restaraunt charm. The food is solid; the menu is pretty standard (mostly burgers, chicken, and seafood), but it is reliably tasty, always comforting, and easily my favorite place for fish and chips. Perfect place to go after the beach or in the middle of a bike ride.
I went here a lot as a kid, so I have nostalgia working in my favor, but it’s popularity over the years speaks for itself. Do it.
Favorite Dish: Fried haddock with french fries, followed by a chocolate frappé. And a nap.

The food is standard New England seaside fare and is decent. The ice cream is also good but the low ratings is for the poor and unfriendly service. There’s and arrogant attitude in there and I won’t be coming back unless it’s take out only.

Biking around Newcastle and came by this place. My husband had been to it before and insisted we stop. Yes, the prices are a little high but everything is fresh and mostly local. Totally worth it!
We had the fish tacos which weren’t seasoned but had the ubiquitous spicy sauce drizzled on top. Typical seafood entrees on the rest of the menu with a few land lover choices. Also, many ice cream flavor to choose from for dessert.
You can either order outside or sit inside for sit down service. Beautiful picnic area in the back to eat.

Great fresh fish
Prices are very very reasonable
Ice cream is a HUGE plus
Very nice and courteous staff!
A MUST stop on your vacation, business trip, or just a nite out with the family!

So small and so amazing. The spinach salad with salmon was absolutely amazing. Huge ice cream selection!

I thought it was a little expensive and took a while, which is why I have it 4 stars, but it was also super good and a really fun place to hang out.
They have indoor seating, but also a bunch of benches out in the back on the grass to eat with your pup (or I guess without one if you don’t have one ;)

Didn’t try the food, but the ice cream here is delicious, far better than you’d expect from a roadside ice cream. Not sure if they’re making it themselves, but it tastes as though they are — it’s delicious.
The huge garage in the back detracts from the scenery/​view, but otherwise: thumbs up.
Worth a stop. Highly recommended.

Their crab meat sandwiches are the best! I wish they would put them on better bread than just a hamburger bun, but still packed and delicious!

Great food at a great price.
Good service and exceptionally clean.

Amazing ice cream! We took a few bike rides here to cool off in the warm summer months and it was a great place for a nice break. They have a nice grassy outside area behind their building with seating to enjoy your ice cream too!

Artery clogging gluttony at its finest
STFU and go here and pray they take your money, the food is outstanding Americana.
A gem of the seacoast.

Took my boyfriend here last week and the food and service were on point. Nothing fancy but the prices are fair and the décor is very summery and quaint.

so my husband and i were trying to find a place to eat, and just driving up the coast. i remembered my grandparents and dad talked about going here many times, but i could never remember the name of it. We found it today, and were very pleased. It was slow, and very peaceful there.
I really liked the wood walls and ceiling, with lots of license plates on the beams. We both got the seafood chowder and man, this chowder was PACKED with fish. very good taste and a good portion. Jay got the fried clam strips, very good flavor, and a good portion, I got the fried scallops, and we paid 1 $ each extra for sweet potato fries, and they were amazing too. I got the onion rings. the waitress was very nice, and service was quick. they have booths and tables and you get to sit where you want (when it is slow) the bathrooms were very clean and had cool hand painted murals on the walls.
The best part. the coleslaw was amazing. I think here is a secret ingredient that they put in, to make it different than the rest. i think it is Celery, or Celery salt. it was very good.
We will definitely go here again. :)

Really nice service. Thank you! We came in about a month ago. My 18 month old baby girl was making use of the great acustics to shriek her way through lunch. It was very disruptive and embarassing, but our server was so kind and understanding and talked about her experiences with her own baby daughter. I really appreciated the understanding — and also the prompt service so we could get out before out table-​neighbors lost patience with us!
The food was pretty good (my only comment was that the beets on the salad had a strange sweetness… Not unpleasant, but kind of overwhelming) — and the prices very reasonable. Once outside, my son got an ice cream which he said was amazing! (He’s 7, so he takes ice cream very seriously)
Thanks again! — I didn’t get our server’s name. (I wish I could compliment her more specifically) — but if you have more than one as sweet, you are a very lucky employer.

I adore this place. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid on our family summer vacations to New Hampshire, and it’s always our first stop. In fact, we ate here three times in two days this past weekend!
I always order a cup of the chowder of the day… clam, fish, seafood — they’re all good. And of course, a savory, mouth watering lobster roll (see pics). The fried clam strips are also a good choice but I would recommend anything else on the menu as well. Everything is great tasting and easy on the wallet.
The staff is super friendly — some have been working there for years!
Good to know:
1. Bring Cash (they have an ATM, but better to be safe then go home hungry).
2. They have a gravel lot, but it gets crowded quickly at meal times.
3. If it’s too crowded and it’s a nice day, order take out and head out back to grab a picnic table.
4. They won’t seat you until your whole party is there — so ride together!
5. Put your cell phone away or eat outside — cells are not allowed in the dining area. (Thank you!)
6. Don’t leave with out trying one of their sundaes… or at least a scoop. They have some of the best ice cream around!
7. This place is totally kid friendly — they even have a cup of crayons on each table.

The Ice House in Rye is a great place to stop for ice cream and drive-​in type food while touring the area, next to Wentworth By The Sea (country club/​hotel/​marina) just outside of New Castle. This location is on NH Route 1B, not a super busy road.
The Ice House scoops out Richardson’s Ice Cream (around 36 flavors), which I absolutely love on a warm summer day or any time of year, including cones, cups, sundaes, shakes, frappers, malts, floats, freezes, ice cream sodas, banana split, and frozen yogurt (6 – 8 flavors). Ice cream/​frozen yogurt offered in kiddy, small, and large sizes ($ 2.40-$ 2.90-$ 3.40 plus tax in 2009). Some signature sundaes offered are ET, Flutter Nutter, Pina Colada, Peanut Butter Cup, Mexican, Heath Bar Crunch, and more ($ 4.95-$ 6.45 plus tax).
The drive-​in type food offered includes homemade chowders, chili, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, seafood, rolls, lobster rolls, appetizers, dinner plates, Coke products, and Boylan sparkling beverages. The prices are fair to moderate here, seafood dinners in the $ 10-​$ 20 range. A Lobster Roll & Fries was $ 15.95 plus tax (in spring 2009).
There are outside takeout windows with high overhead menu boards for regular food and ice cream offerings posted near the windows. Picnic table seating nearby, including under acorn trees. Full service waitstaff dining only is available inside in the casual shiny wood dining room, sort of reminds me of a smaller version of the dining room at Johnson’s Steak & Seafood in Northwood.
I come here mainly for the Richardson’s ice cream and I enjoy the Cake Batter and Death By Chocolate flavors, cold and creamy goodness! I also really enjoy a Brownie Sundae with Tollhouse Ice Cream, hot fudge, nuts, and whipped cream, a great sweet combination!
After I’m done, I can continue on my scenic ride around Portsmouth, Wentworth By The Sea (country club/​hotel/​marina), and New Castle like a gawking tourist. In reality, I do work in the area as part of my day job.
PARKING: Crushed stones
Cash only, ATM available in the inside foyer
SUMMER HOURS: Food (to 8:30PM), Ice Cream (to 9:30PM), Closed Mon
SCHOOL/​SPRING HOURS: Food & Ice Cream (to 8:30PM), Closed Mon & Tues