Something is wrong here with all these 5 star reviews! This is illegitimate! I have seen reviews on awesome restaurants that dont have full five stars....and so many.....like this place! We got ripped off here last night. We ordered the "crispy" pork belly, which was...NOT crispy,and less than half the size of the pictured pork belly. The chicken and waffle also was a total rip off being a very thin over cooked dried out piece of over breaded chicken with something that was not a waffle. We also tried the Thai pork bun.....that was ok but again.....a tiny portion for the ridiculous price.....Obviously the owner of this place plans on retiring early....at our expense... the customers...... But the worst of this experience was the drinks!!! My daughter ordered the strawberry sazerac. The obnoxious, phony-smiling, squeaky voiced waitress Adrianna, brought the drinks and we were stunned by my daughters drink. It was a small glass the size of a beer sampler you see in breweries and pubs.....about 4 inches tall.....and the drink was exactly one and a half inched high......or low! Seriously $10 for a drink roughly about the size of two shots!!! I tasted it and was even more stunned!! What the hell are these people thinking??? Not only are we never coming back but im calling the owner or manager tomorrow!!! People....we need to stop paying outrageous prices for subpar food just because they have some advertising agency write up the fancy description! I would bet a paycheck that these reviews have been falsified, or stacked, or payed for! Save your money and some aggravation and forget this place!More

Seriously? No, really. I'm serious. This place has it nailed. On all fronts. Food, drinks, service, atmosphere... I cannot find a flaw in the whole enterprise. Delicious entrees, creative cocktails, attentive & enthusiastic staff, and a comfortable vibe throughout. I will DEFINITELY be back. P.S....Duck confit, best anywhere. #FWIWMore

I am in Manchester for a business meeting. It's a quiet Sunday night. I look up a few restaurants and found The Birch on Elm. Not a lot of reviews, but all were great. Well, this restaurant-bar is an absolute gem. One of the best...food experiences I have had and reasonably priced at that. First of all, it is a great cocktail bar. I had my standard, Old Fashion and not only was it made perfectly, it was stirred which an Old Fashion should be. With one big cube, too. I had a couple of their small bites. The octopus in a curried batter and General Tso's cauliflower. I wish I could have eaten more. The food was yummy. I also met Joel, the co-owner, and had a great chat. If you are in Manchester, GO. If you don't live in Manchester, it is worth the trip.More

Our family was in Manchester looking for something different and walked past this restaurant. From the outside it looked like so many other eateries on Elm Street, but upon entering we knew this would be different. Cozy seating and the open atmosphere were pleasant, it...was instantly obvious this isn't a high-volume restaurant. Good music played in the background, which appeared to be adjusted to the background volume perfectly. You can have a conversation without being loud, and when you were quiet, the music came through. The food offered is in a "tapas style format", so it is best experienced by sharing your meal. Our (unadventurous) appetizer was simple homemade bread - it was delicious, and obviously just came out of the oven. The whipped butter and accompanying pickles were just the right flavor. Want to be more adventurous than me, just try the Octopus Nuggets. Throughout the evening our meals were served, fresh from the kitchen when ready. This is not a place that will hold a dish until the others are ready, so you are assured of a freshly prepared and presented meal. Of course, that means we were sharing from each others' dishes. We ordered Crispy Pork Belly, Italian Sausage Stuffed Bao, and a Gnocchi. We each had our preferences, but all agreed that each was incredibly tasty. The drinks were equally impressive. My son had a (non-alcoholic) ginger beer, which was truly a taste treat (as long as you like ginger). My whiskey sour was incredible, a joy to drink. My wife had a Moscow Mule, appreciating the fresh ginger and mint. The prices charged were not inexpensive, but were well worth it, considering the quality of the food and drink. The only possible criticism I could think of was that I wish there was more food provided. I certainly left satisfied, but could tell that my 15 year old would need some more food before he went to bed. I wouldn't suggest this restaurant if you are really hungry and need lots of food. To end the evening, we had the Strawberry Shortcake, which came in small mason jars. It was really pretty and cute, and tasted incredible. Yes, we will most certainly be going back again!More

This small place is a culinary gem! It is a must do for a foodie. I am not one to get excited about the homefries but they were the best I’ve had this decade. The duck congee is a masterpiece; this is food so good,...you may close your eyes as you have it in your mouth so you can enjoy all the delicate flavors. The bartender/ mixologist is like a scientist blending unusual and fresh ingredients for a superior “drink experience.” Love love love this place!More

Finally, a place in NH that I can use the word amazing without having to add ".....well...for New Hampshire" after. I think this might be our new favorite spot. Our server, Dan, was enthusiastic, knew every last detail of the menu, and really made us...feel welcome. There was a lot of love put into this place. It was obvious. We had the pork belly tacos, the mushroom toast, the short rib, and the grilled octopus tapas plates. All of it was executed perfectly, especially the Octopus, which is really easy to mess up if not done right. These were the best bites we've had in months. We had these plates, two custom cocktails and a glass of wine for about hundred dollars. The level of execution made it quite a value for the money. We will be back very soon. The Birch on Elm.........legit.More

I love this place! We were able to get there for a late brunch and loved every bite. We started with a couple of their amazing cocktails and moved on to their Grilled Octopus, Prosciutto & Fig Tartine and Duck Confit Congee. All were delicious...and I highly recommend each dish but the Duck was over-the-top-good and something I truly dream about. It was the perfect thing to order on a cold day as it is rich, soothing and absolutely delicious. Hoping to get back before they take it off the menu, if they take if off the menu. The service was friendly and excellent!More

The Birch on Elm has become the 'go to' restaurant for my wife and me. The food is is served tapas-style, with small plates but big flavor. The menu changes seasonally and on our recent visit the 'General Tso's Cauliflower' stood out as sublime. The...'Chicken Katsu' and the 'Crispy Shrimp Po' Boy' were great too. The Birch also has fantastic cocktails, but I always go back to the 'Bobby' Vegetal', a cucumber gin cocktail that balances the right notes of sweet and spicy. If you don't see a cocktail on their menu that intrigues you, they're happy to concoct something special based on your tastes. The service at The Birch manages to be as good, if not better, than the food and drink. All of our servers have been knowledgeable and excited about the menu and they've ensured that our visits to The Birch have been fantastic.More

Four of us met here for dinner last Saturday. Two of us are over 50 years and two are in late twenties.🤓 My husband loves the cocktails as they offer classics and original selections.The food is upscale pub. We had the General Tao cauliflower which...was crispy and tangy, Shrimp Po Boy, Duck Confit. The chef always has specials as well. Staff is upbeat, attentive and knowledgeable on menu. The bar is beautiful and it’s fun to watch the bartenders. Its a small location and fills up fast so go early!More

The food in this relaxed restaurant is awesome! I especially loved the brussel sprouts appetizer and cherry dessert but honestly, everything was so, so delicious! And an excellent server can make dining an even more pleasurable experience. Ian was spot on with his recommendations. He...was patient and knowledgeable and attentive. I wish I didn’t live six hours away, but if I lived in the area, I’d be a regular!More

First visit 130 Sunday , both steak and eggs and Kaitlyn breakfast dish❣️❣️❣️ Mamosa’s too! Loved the atmosphere and service. Parking free on Sundays, air conditioned but also outdoor seating. Con is toy located downtown Manchester.

Short: Inventive cocktails, small plates that are tasty as they are innovative, and attentive, helpful, and pleasant service combine to make this absolutely one of THE best restaurants around. HIGHLY recommended. Long: The cocktail menu is amazing, fun, and challenging. But, that's what you should...expect: One of the owners is a bartender/mixologist. And the food is seasonal, unique, and fun. But that's what you should expect, the OTHER owner is the chef. Let's start with the drinks: Anytime you mix Campari, sweet vermouth, rye, cardamom and bitters... you've got me. Or how about Mezcal, ancho chili liqueur, sherry, and sesame oil? Yeah, I'm good with that too. These are examples, and darn good ones too. VERY tasty. The food is small plates, you can order a few... eat... wait... order a few more... and see how it goes. This makes for a fun dinner in my book: People sharing, and the food keeps coming. As our first couple of plates, the waiter recommended we try the General Tso's cauliflower and the cucumber salad. Now, there's no way I'd ordinarily order EITHER of these. But because of the recommendation, we did. And they were EXCELLENT. We're still talking about the cauliflower. Seriously. Eat at The Birch on Elm just to try this, if for no other reason. We then proceeded to heavier plates: Steak and cheese steamed buns... excellent. House made pasta with panchetta (and uni butter... seriously). Perfectly made. And, to top it off, fried duck, on a foire gras waffle, with ginger/maple syrup. No, that's not a typo: A waffle. This dish was ridiculously good, and when we go back, I'm ordering one to eat by myself. The Birch on Elm is really a terrific place. The chef clearly has a point of view: Intriguing tastes, seasonal dishes. This guy can cook. And, given the food his kitchen is putting out, it's pretty clear to me that he could cook ANYwhere. We're lucky he's cooking in Manchester. Everything during our visit was "first rate"... and by that I mean excellent on ANY scale, not the usual "excellent... for Manchester" rating. I can't wait to go back. Highly, highly, recommended.More