Elixir Restaurant

I really like the food here but do believe their portions a bit small for the price. Thus I’d suggest getting appetizers because you’re entrée won’t fill you unless you eat like a bird :)
Truffle fries can fill that emptiness ;)

Excellent restaurant– highly recommend this place. Filet Mignon and Statler Chicken entrees were fabulous. Nice wine selection. The only reason it was not 5 stars was for the following: a bit limited on the menu, décor was average and it was hard to find. Definitely will return and often.

This place is fantastic, and for being in WRJ, is a diamond in the rough. And the only real restaurant game in town.
My boyfriend and I decided to try it out one night that we were int he area, but we didn’t have a reservation, and according to Open Table, they didn’t have any availability for our desired time either (around 6pm). Mind you, it was first Friday, which I didn’t realize until that day. Anyway, we thought we’d take our chances, and there was no problem at all getting a table.
Keeping it brief — everything from the décor, the service, the menu and the food was absolutely divine. Small menu — which I prefer — and everything looked spectacular.
Everything from our appetizers, our entrees and desserts was creative, unique, and delectable. We left nothing on the dishes but our utensils.
If you’re in the area, or even just over in Lebanon, and want to have an impressive (but not stuffy), new american, delicious meal — definitely check this place out. Well done Elixir, well done.

From beginning to end, this place was a nice end to a long, tiring travel day. A local hotel recommended them, so I walked over from the train station. The atmosphere is very inviting, as is the staff and the owner! I sat at the bar and asked for recommendations, the bartender (which I could remember his name) was spot-​on for everything. The Roasted «Statler» Chicken Breast was fantastic, juicy and flavorful, with the butternut squash flan and roasted rutabaga… YUMMY!!! Then finished things up with «Bananas Foster» Bread Pudding with toasted cinnamon ice cream, rum-​caramel sauce… if you’re drooling, continue to do so. I ate EVERY LAST bite of dinner and dessert, plus the bartender made a killer chocolate martini and I was spoiled rotten. Love this place and wish I had one in my town!

On a road trip and randomly ended up in White River Junction. Went on Trip Advisor to find a place to stay and found this restaurant as well. I went on open table first to get a reservation and was shot down. Luckily my husband was more persevering and called. We got a reservation no problem. The owner greeted us at the door with such positive energy. The servers were incredibly trained and atmosphere matched the town perfectly. We started with the soup special and the spinach salad which were fantastic. We especially loved the Arctic char. Yum. All well done and at a reasonable price point. We rarely give five stars but this one won us over.

I went here recently for a business meeting. I made a reservation a few weeks in advanced. The parking for this restaurant is limited and tricky so I would try and go there for an early dinner. The server was excellent and very kind. I loved how their menu was simplified. I like to see restaurants with fewer options and do those items very well vs those that have a huge menu and not so good food. I ordered the sea scallops and they were cooked to perfection! This was probably the best scallop dish I’ve ever had. I prefer my scallops baked and not battered or fried. Their plating was also well done. As time was passing and more people were arriving to the restaurant it did get very loud. I tried their ying-​yang moose and it was so so, it was just a weird texture. Overall it was great but parking was a bit of an issue.

One of the best in the upper valley! Get the mussels. I don’t like mussels but the sauce is so good I order the mussels every time I come here.

Based on the recommendations from the local hotel I checked into on my travels I hit this little gem. It’s apparently a very popular dinner spot in the community and there was a wait on a Wednesday night! Impressive in rural northern New England, I must say. The maitre d’ (whom I presume to be an owner or manager) was very pleasant and made me feel very welcome despite the bustling atmosphere.
The restaurant itself is located in a slightly inconspicuous spot slotted at the back of an unpaved parking lot right off the interstate and shares the venue with what appeared to be another rather popular restaurant and some other day time commerce. Despite having a large lot, parking was limited likely due to the popularity of the restaurants.
The fare was simple, not more than a dozen and a half offerings and no additions, however each read very well and presented as unique choices. The plates are all made to order and take a bit longer, which to me, says something positive about the mission of the restaurant; they also advised me of such when I sat down, another plus.
The décor was simple and comfortable reflecting the crowd it attracted. Simple woods and dinnerware that didn’t make me feel as though they were trying to hard, the emphasis here was on the meal, and they did well to do so. I found that the food was simple and delicious, again nothing overdone and all as it should be. The flavors were fresh and seasonal which I really appreciate in a local restaurant that keeps a limited fare. Fresh cuts and catches of protein and local grown vegetables, with subtle savory sauces in all the plates I tried. I was even talked into the bananas foster bread pudding with house made ice cream (
.out.)!
For the market, I’d bet the prices are top flight but to me it was fair price for a rather great meal and very enjoyable experience, right where it should be in my estimation. There is a local theater that I’m sure contributes to their popularity, so if the bustling crowd is a concern check the schedule and avoid show nights (they run about 18 weeks out of the year).
Overall there was no over reaching, it does what it does well. The meal, atmosphere, and experience were great and I give this a very strong recommendation for great eats, nice atmosphere, and a very dinner.

The food and staff were amazing. Far and away, the best truffle fries I’ve ever had. Mussels were amazing too.
Unfortunately, the wait from appetizers to meal was so long, we almost left.
Not sure why this is listed as «$$». It was well into «$$$». I don’t mind paying extra for good quality food. And this most definitely was. Just wasn’t what I was planning for.
Recommended, if you don’t mind a possible long wait for your meal.

Need a reservation at 5:30 due to the theater crowd otherwise there is an hour plus wait. Luckily they serve the full menu at the bar which is spacious and a little quieter in my opinion. Small menu but good variety. I had the filet mignonette which was super tender and delicious. Also had the bacon and Fig crostata appetizer. Dessert was the ice cream sandwich with chocolate gelato which was the second best item (chocolate lava cake) which my friend ordered. Non chocoholics should get the crème brûlée for dessert. Everything is made fresh in the kitchen minus the fries and the bread which is served warm with a pesto olive oil sauce. Wonderful place, small portions but really worth a visit or two!

If you are anywhere near this restaurant make it a point to go. It starts with the owner who is friendly, knowledgeable, and warmly greets you. This s the first indication that you are in for an exceptional experience. Then the waiter (ours was Jim tonight) who had a wealth of knowledge about the chef, the building, the menu and the surroundings. Ok, this took too long to get to: THE. FOOD. Once more: THE FOOD. perfectly balanced dishes, done with creative and exciting sides & sauces and amazing execution. The whole plate is a thing of joy. We are from the NY area and I can tell you that this chef could take his pick of where to work. Make an excuse to travel and dine here — you will follow the chef and owner wherever they go.

My favorite one!!!
Birthdays, anniversaries…
Great service and nice food.
I love the owners they are so sweet:)
Price is not expensive at all comparing to others at similar level.

I was here for a friend’s first-​ever appetizer service back in the winter, and was very impressed by this restaurant’s gastropub-​y approach to food. Service is excellent here, and our waiter was very knowledgable about the menu. I feel like Elixir is really doing some cool stuff with ingredients, flavors and textures that you don’t see very often in rural New Hampshire, which is great to see. I would definitely make another trip back here. Unlike most restaurants in the Upper Valley, where you get a really laid-​back vibe, Elixir is obviously making a conscious effort to class it up a bit — which is a welcome change.

We’ve had dinner here three times and felt service as well as quality was consistent. I ordered the filet mignon which was good but not the best I’ve had. The crème brûlée was great… it was my first time trying it in life so I could be the wrong person to ask.
Design of the restaurant is weird. There’s essentially no foyer or waiting area for customers when they walk in. If you are a group, you’ll feel like you’re standing on top of those sitting at the bar which made me uncomfortable.
Why the bar is so close to the door, I have no idea.
However, management has always been great and service has been fantastic so I’m pleased to continue giving Elixir my hard-​earned dollars.

This was my first time at Elixir, and I was blown away not only by the food, but by the personal touch the owner puts on making an appearance. He greeted me at the door (after several waitresses had walked past me), and was extremely gracious and welcoming. I ordered the petite filets, which were fantastic, but I didn’t touch much of the mashed potatoes as I’m trying to stay away from starches. Skip came back to my table because he noticed I had left the potatoes, and wanted to see if I had not liked my meal. I assured him I had loved my steak, and was touched that he came over himself to ask about the meal. I will make sure to visit elixir again.

What a gem! Second time here and it was as a amazing this time as the first. Started off with a fig, bacon, and blue cheese toasts. Yummy! Perhaps it could have used a little more blue cheese, but it still was incredible! I had the mouth watering short ribs. So tender, moist and full of flavor. It was a big hunk of meat. Ate the whole thing. My daughter ordered the filet and she loved it. Great meal!

Pros:
— Great atmosphere
— Truffle fries were fantastic
— Great presentation
— Food was cooked well overall
Cons:
— Very odd experience with staff (see below)
— Felt like we were hurried out of the restaurant (see below)
— Discrepancy about when the restaurant opens (Siri said 4:30, website said 5:00)
After a 6 hour day of driving through Main and New Hampshire while on a road trip, my friend and I were told we simply had to visit Elixir while we were in town. The reviews were great and after a bit of research at other nearby restaurants, Elixir looked like the place to be.
First off, I believe there was some confusion over what time the restaurant actually opened. I loathe being the ill-​informed customer. I will admit negligence when I say that I trusted Siri, who told me that the restaurant opened at 4:30. After later checking the website, it appears it opens at five. However, when we arrived around 4:40, the door was open and several patrons were already at the bar, and we were seated within five minutes of arrival. The bartender who sat us did not mention that the kitchen wasn’t open yet, and it wasn’t until our server arrived at our table that we were told. Had we been informed earlier, we probably would have waited and come back.
The first oddity with our service occurred at the same time. The restaurant was empty except for the patrons at the bar, which was understandable given that it wasn’t 5 yet and especially since it wasn’t technically open yet. However, our host acted as though there was little chance that we would get a table. Of course, I assumed that since this place was very popular, that there must have been reservations. When we did end up leaving the restaurant at 5:50ish, however, only two other tables were occupied that I could see.
Maybe it’s just the Midwesterner in me, but our server, though kind, seemed very hurried. It was nice to get prompt service, but it was a bit uncomfortable once we got our food and I was asked twice if I wanted to box my food while my forkful of horseradish smashed potatoes was still in my hand. I also noticed that each time my friend and I were scrolling through our phones (sharing the pictures we had taken the day before, things like that), our server came over to ask if we were finishing up, if we wanted a dessert menu, etc. Even when I was purposely trying to be engaged with my food to show I was still eating and had my phone on, this still happened. I still can’t figure out why, as the restaurant wasn’t busy or full.
(Note: Let it be known that my friend and I were very apologetic when we learned that the kitchen wasn’t opened yet, and very thankful when our appetizers were brought out early. We felt bad about arriving early and didn’t want to inconvenience anyone.)
I got the braised beed short rib, and it was good. The beef was tender, cooked well, and had a hint of sweetness that was pleasant to eat. The horseradish smashed potatoes were good as well, but the sautééd greens were a little too soppy for me.
The truffled fries though, were excellent. I could have eaten those for days on end without complaint.
All in all, I’m not sure what about my friend and I had the waitstaff nudging us to leave, but that was certainly what it felt like. The food was good (the truffled fries were phenomenal), and the atmosphere was excellent, but I’m not sure it would be enough for me to go back. My friend and I left the restaurant feeling a little uncomfortable and wondering what we had done to get hurried out of there.

We love Elixir! It is so fefreshing to have such quality food available in the upper valley in the sea of horrible burger fare. It is fresh, delicious, (can be) healthy, and the portions are perfect size for someone who doesn’t need an entire bucket of chow to tide them over.
So everytime I have been, I’ve gotten the wine that’s on special, never a bad choice! I have had the salmon, filet mignon, mussels, and several appetizer plates, all have been impeccable. Great plating, delicious flavors, you can just tell that thought and care goes into each dish. The owners are also the hosts, and are kind. The service here is okay, I’ve never been blown out of the water. I am also profiled normally in restaurants that I don’t frequent all the time because I am young and not visibly wealthy, which most places feel they have no time for. (I get that)

Really, really great meal. Not sure what this place is doing in the middle of nowhere, but glad we found it.
We started with the fries, which were awesome, and the pork belly. I’m used to braised Japanese-​style pork belly, so this was a very interesting change, and equally delicious. For a main, my fiancée got the scallops. Scallops — in the middle of Vermont? Sounds weird, but they were perfectly prepared. I ordered the chicken, which was also very well prepared.
The place was packed when we got there, and stayed full throughout the night. Next time we’re in town, we’ll definitely be back.

My husband and I were looking for a dinner date spot and landed on Elixir. He is from the Upper Valley and had heard good things, but we’d never been. We easily made a reservation online for a Saturday night!
Overall, our experience was very good, though at times things were a little… off? Our food was delicious. We enjoyed the yummy bread and herbed dipping sauce at the beginning, but we both found it odd that the waitress served us one small piece each out of a communal basket. We split the filet mignon (which was perfectly cooked and came with green beans, potatoes, and an amazing sauce that left me trying my best to clean the plate) and Statler chicken (good enough but I probably wouldn’t order it again, served with Brussels sprouts and au gratin potatoes). The portions were perfect – large enough that we felt full, but not so big that we had leftovers. We split a crème brûlée for dessert, which was huge (maybe the size of my husband’s palm) and so yummy. It wasn’t accompanied by any fresh fruit, which I thought might be a nice touch since it looked sort of plain on the plate.
The service felt a little hit or miss. We waited quite awhile to even be greeted when we arrived even though we were on time for our reservation. The table service was a little on the slow side and not particularly personal. The price for all of that food plus a tip turned out to be around $ 60, which I found very reasonable. I would recommend Elixir to others looking for a nice night out!