11 Water Street

I am so thankful for Unilocal… we were driving through the Exeter area last evening, hungry but no idea where to eat. We landed in 11 Water Street… and the entire experience from beginning to end was fantastic. The host, our waiter, the atmosphere… and then the FOOD… all perfect. My husband and I were practically licking our plates clean… and woke up this morning still talking about our meals. We will be going back again… soon.

Basically adequate place. Granted, it was our first visit and our sampling of the menu was probably not representative. Sitting at the bar downstairs, we shared the beet salad (would’ve appreciated just a few more beets); I had the Water Street Burger (a bit dry, with steak fries that were, well, OK); she just had frites, the thin-​cut fries that came with 3 different dipping sauces. All nice fare, just nothing that knocked either of us out. Wine list was mediocre (we tried 3 different red offerings between the two of us). Staff were friendly enough, but didn’t seem too knowledgeable or passionate about their work. I guess that sums this place up: adequate but no spark.
I’d like to give the menu another chance — some of the entrees looked interesting, though pricey — but realistically speaking I kind of doubt we’ll come running back here.

Fantastic food and fantastic management. Doesn’t get any better. they just catered a party that I attended and everything was excellent!

My wife and I went here with another couple on a double date. This place does not have it together. From start to finish we were here for almost two hours due to very slow service. We waited and waited and waited for our food, and when it finally came that was a disappointment too. The food was cold and my wife’s shrimp dish only had four tiny little shrimp. To top everything off we were overcharged — there was an extra beer on the bill. Luckily they took the beer off, but the server was not very pleasant about it and I had to remind them of each drink we all had over our two hour sitting in order to get the beer removed.

A very fun place that I would have never found if friends hadn’t discovered it first!
We ate downstairs in the more intimate pub setting. The food was terrific. It must have been, because I still remember it (and the martinis) from our dinner 6 months ago.
I was (just now) writing a review on another restaurant in town, which my phone app (somehow) posted to this restaurant’s Unilocal page. It must be the Universe reminding me to go back here. Oh, and BTW, here are those long overdue 5 stars.

Rude staff. Avoid avoid avoid. The food was amazing followed by the worst staff I’ve ever seen. Please don’t give your money to this business, there are plenty other whole hearted restaurants in Exeter that deserve it.

Was our first restaurant experience in Exeter when we got into town on vacation. The staff was incredibly friendly. And the food was incredible. I had the Chicken Milanese which was a siZeable portion and absolutely delicious. I also had the Baby Spinach salad which was also delish! My partner had the toasted beet salad with chicken and enjoyed very much. The view of the river was beautiful!

Enjoyed the seat at the window downstairs. Bartender was kind, helpful, and attentive. We were unhappy with the beer selections and asked why they weren’t better (Exeter Inn has a great local beer selection!), he said this was the worse week for beer he had seen??? Dinner was very good. Nice presentation, hot, and delicious! Now the bathrooms… disgusting! Why can’t owners/​managers make their bathrooms look nice and keep them clean! HIRE a cleaning company! If your bathrooms are a mess it makes me wonder what the kitchen is like… pretty sure we won’t go back because of this. Sad!

I’m a newer resident to Exeter and I’m making my way through the restaurants in the town. First up was 11 Water St.
My friend and I met for drinks in the lower level lounge area. The staff was very friendly, the view was lovely and we were lucky and got the last available seat.
Good wine list and a nice twist on appetizers. We enjoyed the calamari and the mussels. Both things were excellent-​perfectly prepared, and as anyone who enjoys calamari knows, one second too long and they are awful. These were perfect! Will visit often!

There is no better feeling than to choose the eating place correctly for a group of people of diverse backgrounds. I had a recent bereavement of a sibling and was asked along with my wife and sister to find a spot to meet and eat after the services. We consulted Unilocal and called Chip at 11 Water St with our problem. Not only did he accommodate us beyond the normal hours of the restaurant, he informed us that we would be testing out his new menu.
We couldn’t have been more pleased with every aspect of the event. Seating was spacious, the view was wonderful and the service was amazing. Special praise must be given to Jillian; the most efficient and pleasant waitress I have encountered. The menu items were diverse and of high quality. I did not hear one criticism of any meal. I will definitely be back.

Came on the recommendation of a co-​worker during a business trip to the area… The food is average, the servers are friendly but service at the bar was lacking. Will probably not come back.

Good food. Good beers. Nice atmosphere. Really enjoyed dinner here. Server should have stopped by the table more often. Good service is having your guests want for nothing– that needs fine tuning, but overall enjoyable.

View is great. Small dining room of maybe 9 tables of 4. We arrived early after an event and our table for 7 was quickly pulled together, not problem and done with a smile…
Service was excellent, as were the other servers we observed. Food was better than good but not fantastic. Dinner for 7 was $ 190 with tip, not bad.

Excellent food! First time for us and we highly recommend. Best meatloaf ever and very tender steak tips, all very homestyle. Gorgeous setting right on Exeter River, and bar downstairs shares the unique setting and ambiance.

Been coming here for years, mostly for the great food. If you want good service head downstairs to the pub, upstairs you will get painfully slow service. The menu changes occasionally and not always is it better than the previous menu. They used to have lobster arancini and bacon wrapped scallops, which I have asked them to bring back no less than a dozen times in the past year without success.
The service has to get better, it really can’t get much worse. We were here several times in the past week and the service has been pretty awful. The servers are slow, even with just a few tables at lunch they are slow. What makes it worse is you can hear their conversations behind the kitchen door while you sit there waiting for a drink refill. The food and the location get 5 stars, the servers get ZERO stars.

HUGE menu! Great service. cute little lunch spot with a great view of the water.

One of our usual haunts. Food consistency is up and down. Today and the last few times have been very good. The staff is fantastic. Sometimes you can smell the dish room downstairs but they seem to have corrected the problem. You can’t beat the view!

I dinned here once. Our meal was okay but I guess its just not my style. It felt a little bit like old fashioned and the prices were pretty high. I would have rather gone to Blue Moon Evolution just a couple of blocks away.

After getting crapped on by a bird just outside this restaurant, Hubster and I went in so I could get it off my shirt and arm. I shudder just thinking about it– but I took it as a sign we should get some lunch while we were in there.
Cute ambiance and we sat right next to a huge window overlooking the water. Even though they weren’t officially open yet, they were happy to get us started. Our waitress suggested a white wine I’d never had before so I decided to try it. It was REALLY good but I can’t remember the name. The first sip tasted like a heady floral perfume and I thought it would be too strong for me, but after the second sip I really started enjoying it.
The chef brought out a free appetizer of Caprese salad with the best tasting tomatoes I think I’ve ever had. We really savored the fresh taste of those with the basil and fresh mozzarella with the olive oil drizzle. Why was the appetizer free you ask? Well, apparently he wanted to get our thoughts on if he should bring back that dish or not. Hub and I told him quite emphatically that they should bring it back. DEFINITELY. I don’t think they did though after perusing their menu online.
I can’t remember what hubster had, as I’ve been slacking on getting my reviews in lately, but I remember I had the Reuben Panini with fries (sans sauerkraut). What can I say. It was divine.
So what started as a literally «shitty» day, turned into one of the best as we toured downtown Exeter and enjoyed a delightful meal. We will be going back.

I’ve only been once (my wife has been several times with friends). I fell in love immediately.
First, the downstairs bar was a great place to sit and have a meal and drinks. We arrived a little early on a Sunday (the upstairs dining room wasn’t open yet). The ambiance was pleasant, great view of the water, nice relaxed feel, and a great bar. The bartender (who also took our food order) was very helpful and very friendly.
Drinks were a good size for the prices. Food came out without too much wait. The stuffed mushroom appetizer was an incredible surprise. Our meals were delicious and the portions were just right. We shouldn’t have ordered dessert, but being my first time there, I couldn’t help myself, and we split a fried cheesecake. Soooo good!
It’s not inexpensive, but I felt everything was reasonably priced for the quality. I can’t wait to go again!