A couple of weeks ago Jim and I were invited to a wedding vow renewal with some longtime friends and their family. It was a beautiful and very hot day. The vows were done on a small island on Squam Lake in NH. We were shuttled back and forth by boat and after the very beautiful ceremony, we were dropped off at Walter’s Basin Restaurant for a celebration dinner. You can get to Walter’s Basin by car or boat as it’s directly on the shores 0f Squam lake at 859 US Route 3 in Holderness NH. Walter’s Basin is open daily for lunch and dinner at 11:30 am.
When we arrived for the day of festivities, I had no intention of writing a review but the more time we spent at the restaurant, I knew I had to. Not only was the location beautiful but the staff is friendly and helpful with anything you might like. There was about forty of us all together with a handful of children. The kids had their own table and the rest of us were seated at a couple of long tables over looking the lake.
To start the dinner, Jim had the New England clam chowder and it did not disappoint! Jim cleaned that cup pretty quickly. Smooth, creamy broth filled with lots of clams. I stole a few spoonfuls and I know why that disappeared so fast!
I had the Caesar salad and it was just as you would expect. Perfectly crisp lettuce, plenty of parmesan cheese and dressed perfectly with a creamy Caesar dressing. Excellent start to the evening.
Next up were the entrees. Lots to choose from and this is where the dinner became very impressive! I mentioned there was about 40 of us, right? They had all of us served at relatively the same time and still filling our glasses with whatever all of our drink choices were. Some ordered drinks from the bar, others soda or water and no matter what you ordered, our glasses all stayed full.
Jim ordered something neither one of us had ever had but was told by the waiter it was excellent, so Jim ordered the elk meatloaf. Yes, elk! The meatloaf is topped with a caramelized onion demi-glacé, mashed potatoes, and sautéed green beans. That meatloaf was so moist and tender, and lots of added flavor with the sauce. The mashed potatoes were creamy and delicious along with the crisp green beans that made for a very tasty dinner. Not a spoonful was left on Jim’s plate!
I opted for the lobster mac and cheese. A moment of silence might be in order for this dish. The large chunks of lobster were tender and juicy, the pasta was perfectly cooked to al Dante but the sauce, oh that rich creamy jack cheese cream sauce is incredible. I was told by our waiter they make the sauce to order! All of this, combined with the toasted panko crumbs on top make this an over the top dish! One worth driving for!
I have one more dish to share with you. It was not mine or Jim’s, but a family member of the beautiful couple we were celebrating! I don’t usually take pictures of other people’s food but when this dish was served, it stopped our end of the table. This fried clam plate was incredible, not because it was a large plate of food but it was the size of the fried whole belly clams! These things were HUGE, not the clam strips you usually see on menus! The picture does not do this plate justice!
No matter if you stop here by car or boat, I highly recommend pulling up a seat by the window in the lounge area or dining area. You will not be disappointed with the service or the food. If you happen to be in the lounge on Thursday evenings, you can enjoy some live music!
Check them out on Facebook or online for more information and menu choices.
Enjoy!
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