The Dolphin Striker

In a few days, my dear friend Mari Fisher will be returning to Canada. Her year long work visa is expiring and a proper farewell is mandatory. With a few nights left in the US Mari's requests were simple: yummy food, "favourite" friends and live music. Pff easy!

We headed downtown Friday evening without much hope or agenda of getting into a classy establishment, after all it is UNH graduation eve, but managed to score a fabulous window seat at The Dolphin Striker, located on 15 Bow Street adjacent to the Portsmouth harbor.

The ambiance is very quaint with a hint of understated elegance. A warm welcome greeted us and the attentive hospitality only continued throughout the evening. Local art and nautical antiques compose the decor and the wooden floors creek naturally reminding one of the history anchored in Portsmouth harbor and The Dolphin Striker.

While mulling over the menu, I sipped on the infused cocktail which was made fresh that day with rum soaked strawberries and blackberries.

Our meal started off with warm, doughy bread and balsamic dipping oil. You can tell a lot about a dining establishment from what they serve before the meal. The fresh rolls were very telling of what was to come:

Shrimp & Scallop Hot Pot
With shitake mushrooms, cucumbers, scallions, daikon, spinach, kimchi & soba noodles in sweet & sour aromatic broth

Steak & Cheese
A 12 oz. NY Strip grilled to your liking & topped with a smoked gouda bearnaise sauce, chive sour cream mashed potatoes & sauteed peppers, onions & mushrooms

Wild Mushroom Ravioli
Baked golden with a saute of porcini, cremini, shitake & morrel mushrooms in a white truffle cream sauce

All entrees were absolutely delicious. So delicious that parting with the last few bites of my Shrimp and Scallop Hot Pot was not an option. Despite the night of live music we had ahead of us, I attempted to doggy bag the leftovers. Scallops in a purse for 3 hours = epic fail.

Before heading downstairs to the Spring Hill Tavern (The Dolphin Striker's bar) a toast to friendship (running, bread and BNG coffee) was in order!

Oatmeal Cookie
Butterscotch and cinnamon schnapps, mixed with Baileys and shaken

The Spring Hill Tavern provided live acoustic after dinner tunes. The band's name escapes me, but the trio wove an artistic tapestry of folk, blues, pop, bluegrass and alt-country as we sipped on Coors lights and Espresso martinis and waited for a few more friends to arrive.

Playtime continued at Ri-Ra's. I have mentioned this Irish Pub before, and to be blunt, the food at Ri-Ra's always leaves something to be desired. The drinks and live music, however, never fail.

I think Mari had a blast!