Moat Mountain Smokehouse & Brewing

Moat is one of our favorite restaurants in the area. In addition to what you would expect to find at a smoke house, they have numerous vegetarian (vegan friendly) options and a large number of house brewed beers on tap. Our favorite dish here is their veggie burger and their sampler is a great way to try their large beer selection for $ 10.

We came for lunch and the place was fairly empty minus a few screaming children whose parents finally dragged them out.
We were seated right away and the food came out fast! My husband ordered the meat lovers sliders with fries and I got the creole crab cakes sliders with sweet potato fries.
Both were good and my husband couldn’t even finish his because it came with 6 — 8 sliders where mine came with 3.
We were asked how the food was then it took the waitress a long time to check on us again so we could check out.
Overall food quality has always been great and service never the best but never the worst so overall 4 stars.

Beer was GREAT, fresh, crisp, and cold; Food was great, prices reasonable and portions large. Meat lovers sliders were very good!

Had to wait for 30 minutes but it was worth it. Got the 8 beer sampler for $ 10, seems like a no brainer, all the beer was brewed in house. Got the wings which was dipped in buffalo gravy, the wings were nice and juicy not like the frozen ones you get at other places. Also got the santa fe nachos which dissappeared pretty fast. For entrée got the California house burger medium rare. I should not have added the tomato, always a bad option for a burger, makes it soggy. But the burger was nicely done. Very good option for lunch and dinner if you are visiting the scenic town of North Conway.

I wasn’t wowed, but it was still a solid meal and decently priced.
For the app, we got BBQ chicken wings. The flavor was incredible and the wings are fried and have a crispy exterior. My husband declared them as some of the best he’s had. I highly recommend.
My kids were happy with their chicken tenders and Mac n’ cheese meals, which came with fries that were homemade, skin on, the perfect thickness and seasoning. Their meals came with a 2 pack of Oreos.
My husband got the brisket dinner and we both agreed that the best thing about it was the BBQ Sauce — I forget the name of it but it was the spicy chipotle one — it was perfectly sweet and spicy. The brisket was just ok and the «Texas toast» was like large soft white bread. The slaw was tasty and not mayonnaise-​y at all. The Nashe pots were also perfect.
I got the large garden salad because we’d been eating so heavy the past couple days and it was basic but the salad dressing (maple chipotle) took it to another level, giving it a yummy flavor.
For drinks the kids had chocolate milk, my husband has the Moat brand Pilsner and I got the sampler. The Pilsner was by far the best one on the sampler. The blueberry didn’t even have the slightest hint of blueberry flavor so I was really disappointed as that was the one I was going to order.
Overall food was good, filling and satisfying. The ambiance was very comfortable and pleasant with a clean, rustic décor. I liked the antique touches like the sewing table bases of the tables. I just wasn’t blown away by the meals and I REALLY wanted to be. I still recommend it and would probably return but I may try another restaurant first next time.

It’s like a cross between a brewery and Ruby Tuesdays or something. If that’s your thing when coming to a touristy center to shop, you may really like it here.
My favorite beer was the blueberry beer. I don’t really remember any of the others. You can try them all in a sampler for $ 11 which will get you a good buzz but kind of a stomach ache.
The menu is huge, I’m sure there is something for everyone. We ordered the caesar salad (2 demis) which looked pretty full-​size to me. The dressing was not creamy, it definitely had cumin in it (smokey taco flavor), and it also came topped with roasted red peppers and onions. It wasn’t bad but not a caesar salad.
The pretzels were okay– pretty sure they came out of a freezer, and the cheese sauce was sooo rich and salty. Like eating a stick of butter.
One of the vegetarian wraps (Spanish Rice Wrap) was just beans, cheese, salsa and rice that tasted like a taco flavor packet had been sprinkled on it. We couldn’t eat it. It was disgusting. The cajun fries were the same– so much salt.
I hope Conway has better options for people who like good food and beer… but for a touristy/​family spot– this could be your best bet!

Food was delicious, service was excellent, and atmosphere was fun! The food was not just tasty, but they give you tons of it. We ordered a plate with brisket, pulled pork, and ribs — everything was tender, moist, and flavorful! The beer was awesome as well. We ordered a sampler, and everything we had was smooth and refreshing. Highly recommend this restaurant! If you can, ask for Nina to be your server. She was amazing!!!
from Hawaii!

Fantastic… we went to Moat Mountain by recommendation from our host at the B&B we were staying at recently. Moat Mountain beer is wonderful. I’m not the biggest fan of beer but my girlfriend is and she had great things to say about it. The food is my thing.
Appetizers for us were the hush puppies and fried fiddle heads with a drizzle of their curry aioli. Both were really good and perfectly cooked. The curry aioli was very tasty but not overpowering. Best hush puppies I’ve ever had.
Entrees we ordered the bbq plate combo and the slider combo. Bbq plate had ribs, brisket, pulled pork and a generous portion of cole slaw along with several pieces of texas toast and a side of jalapeño corn bread. The slide combo had 6 sliders. 2 each of the crab cake, bacon cheese burger and pulled pork.
The bbq here is very good. You can taste the smoke in everything. The brisket was incredibly tender. Pulled pork was very good! Needed a little extra bbq sauce on one of my sliders but I won’t take anything away for that. The cole slaw was amazing. Not sure if it was made there. Sure tasted like it was. But again, best cole slaw we’ve ever had.
Service was top notch. Prices were good and portion sizes were extremely large. We had enough food left over for 2 more meals. All that food and 2 beers with 2 sodas came to $ 80 and with tip came to $ 100.
Moat Mountain will be a stop for us whenever we’re in North Conway. This is a great find and highly recommend to anyone that is staying in the area. If you’re not in the area it’s worth the extra drive.

We absolutely loved everything about this place. The atmosphere, the service, the beer, the food, the BBQ SAUCE, all exceeded our expectations. And to top it off the prices were very reasonable. We’d recommend this to anyone visiting the area.

Went with my family and loved the large selection of homebrewed beers. The food was outstanding. The barbecue sauce is homemade and delicious. The kids menu was full of wonderful choices that served even the pickiest of eaters. I opted for the brisket nachos that were absolutely delicious, decadent and different then the usual. The sampler plate was unbelievably large. We opted to just switch the barbecue chicken for the pulled pork. There was so much food that more than half of it went home for leftovers. The brisket was tender, delicious and Smokey. Our next trip back we will most definitely be visiting again. The kids were so happy with their chicken wing dinners too. My husbands favorite was the bone shaker brown. Be sure to take some home with you as he forgot and regrets it to this day.

This is still a regular stop for us when in the area. We try to visit on off hours because this place gets packed!
My husband really enjoys their beer and has been known to walk out of there with 5 – 6 growlers at a time. It’s a little easier now that they are canning most of their beers. This last trip we just went to the local corner store and bought a bunch of cases.
Once in a great while we get spotty service, but for the most part it’s really good. It will tend to slip a bit when they are slammed.
Our favorite thing to do is just get a bunch of apps and enjoy them with our drinks. Their cocktail list, while not innovative, is pretty good. We were trying to eat a little lighter on a our last visit, so ordered meals.
We did start with the sweet and spicy brussels sprouts. Even if you aren’t a brussels sprouts lover, like I am, you have to get these. This is one of the best preparations I’ve ever had. The menu description is tossed with Butter, Sambal, Local Maple Syrup, Lime Juice,
Sweetie Drop Peppers, Green Onions and Crushed Wasabi Peas. I’m going to have to try to recreate these at home. I’ve already bought the peppers.
I ordered the caeser salad and on the advice of the waitress got a small. Good call as it was huge. I added chicken to it and that was well seasoned and tender. My husband had the salmon and enjoyed that as well.
If you are in the area and the line isn’t out the door, it’s worth a stop.

I loved this restaurant!
It has a great menu with seasonal offerings!
The Sweet & Spicy Brussel sprouts were Outstanding!!! The combination of maple syrup, sambal, sweetie drop peppers & crushed wasabi beans was spectacular! I wished there was more than just the appetizer portion!
I opted for the luncheon special of smoked, thinly sliced roast beef with garlic aioli and jack cheese on a toasted french baguette!!! Simply scrumptious! The sandwich came with Cajun fries which were phenomenal! Nothing better than house cut fries with Cajun spice!!!
The local brew was outstanding as well! I had a moat lager which was crisp with a clean finish. My boyfriend had a Tuckerman’s pale ale which was refreshing and pleasant!
All in all… Was better than I expected and would definitely recommend and will visit again when I am in the area!!!

We spent many weekends in North Conway this winter but skipped Moat due to the lines and crowds. Saturday, post snowboarding, we stopped in around 3 for a late lunch. We scored a two top in the bar. Our server was attentive and service was spot on. We ordered a 9 flight of beers. We also ordered a large salad with crab cakes. The flight was great. I loved the Hoffman Weiss. My man drank the rest. The salad was a typical salad with one small serving of dressing. We asked for two and were charged which is odd considering one would not cover a large. The crab cake was ok, rather watery, lacking flavor. Go for the beer and the beer, and oh ya, the beer.
Fun spot. lively and loud!

The beer so good!!!
Also we got two appetizers which were delicious as well! If you are there a lot you can get into their mug club!!!

Most mountain is my favorite restaurant in North Conway, and honestly one of my favorite restaurants in general. The atmosphere, the people, the location, the beer, and the food all make for an incredible experience. I have been coming here since 2011 and don’t think I have ever had a bad experience. Before I could try the beer, I still would have given it 5 stars; the food was superb. My favorites are the Santa Fe nachos (amazing!), any burger, and the bbq plate. Honestly, I’ve had so many things on the menu that I don’t doubt any item being less than delicious. The burgers are always cooked perfectly, the Cajun and regular fries are AMAZING. The nachos come out on a huge sheet tray so definitely get them to share! (Also ask for extra pineapple mango salsa!)
As for the beer, I have tried every single one (a la beer flight of all 9 they offer), and I really do like most of them. The Hoffman Weiss is delicious, the blueberry is the best I’ve ever had, and the pale ale and IPA are also top notch. Honestly, I would be getting growler upon growler if I lived near here!
Please go try moat, it definitely will not disappoint!!!

I have to say, I love Moat Mountain. After a day of hiking, mountain biking or skiing, there’s really nothing like a great beer and some nice company to finish off the day. In fact, the first two times I went to Moat Mountain, I was on my own. I’d just discovered North Conway, the Kanc and the White Mountains and I was obsessively trying to hike or mt. bike everything in sight. Both times, in spite of the fact that I probably looked liked I’d just wrestled a Yeti, I struck up conversations with really nice locals and both times I felt welcomed, never rushed and well taken care of.
I’ve tried a bunch of Moat’s beers and I’m happy that they carry them in Portland in case I need a quick fix — but my favorite, the Farmhouse Saison isn’t available in cans. A close second for me is the Hoffman Weiss, and the Czech Pilsner, Hell Yes Lager and Bone Shaker Brown are all delicious. The last time I was at the bar, there was a steady stream of people getting their growlers filled so that says a lot to me about how many fans Moat’s beer boasts.
For me, Moat Mountain is about the friendly service, relaxed atmosphere, and overall experience of having a beer and some bar food after a hard workout. If you’re expecting five-​star food and a nose-​in-​air-​microbrewery vibe, this probably isn’t the spot for you.

After a day of hiking under the snow in Crawford Notch, we stopped to try out the local brew AND smokehouse. It was also recommended by our climbing guide as one of his favorite places… so, we tried it.
I tried the Iron Mike’s Pale Ale and found it sufficiently hoppy, and smoother than most IPAs. They have a variety of styles and flavors at Moat Mtn, from wheat beer to brown ales, a pilsner and a porter. The beers are served in 16oz or 20oz sizes.
As an app I tried the brisket and sausage chili, which was great in both richness and flavor. It was not spicy, but it provided a thawing warmth that my body needed at the time.
I ordered the BBQ combo. WARNING: This plate is huge. More than enough for two. It comes with a chicken, a rack of ribs, and a choice of brisket or pulled pork along with sides of corn bread and cole slaw. The corn bread comes on its own plate because there’s already too much protein on the main dish plate. The brisket and chicken were okay, but the ribs were forgettable. They were fall off the bone, but I wasn’t impressed with the flavor nor was it something that you could dip in the sauce to make it taste better. Also the ribs were too fatty and the outside too charred for my taste.
Liz ordered the Carolina Pulled Pork dish that came with a side of garlic mash potatoes and cole slaw. It wasn’t any less manageable for her than my plate was for two. The pork was sweet, and the mash potatoes were really tasty.
Needless to say, we were already full with the entrees, but Liz ordered the Apple Tart-​a-​la mode. Meh, it was okay, but hey, desserts aren’t their specialty.
Service was friendly and very attentive. I would recommend that any visitor to North Conway stop by here if their looking for beer and BBQ.

Came here after hiking Mount Washington. There was no issues getting a table for 3 or finding parking.
We were immediately seated and our server came to us in a timely fashion and took our drinks. When it came time to ordering food, I had asked what were her recommendations and she said everything on the menu. That would be the incorrect response. There are some orders that are more commonly ordered than others.
I ordered the black peppercorn and bacon burger. We also ordered the long horn nachos for the table. Because I was unimpressed with how she answered my first question, I purposely followed up to ask her details about how they smoked their meats. She answered it to satisfaction and at least made me believe she was knowledgeable about the establishment.
The nachos came fairly quickly and it was a huge platter. Definitely one order is enough to feed 4 – 5 people. The salsa was spicy and the smoked brisket was tender. The sauce for the brisket was sweet and that helped balance the salsa. The nachos were toasted which was nice and the cheese was all nicely melted.
My burger came medium rare, which was what I had ordered and was perfectly cooked. The black peppercorn was crusted around the patty and I did not taste any burnt meat. I had ordered my meal with cajun fries and I liked it. It had enough salt and heavy handed on the cajun spice.
I had a chance to try my friends’ sweet potato fries and for some reason, it wasn’t that good. Mainly because it was over fried and not in a good way. It was too oily and fatty.
Next time I will try some of their smoked meats. The lady said they use apple wood to smoke some of their meats so I will confirm next time I am back.
Despite some minor bumps, I would still recommend this place and would come here again if I was ever in the area.

Our visit at North Conway had to include at least one fundamental tourist attraction. That is… the Moat Mountain Smokehouse. A large charming house used to represent the restaurant itself was situated on this large property full of cars and locals picnicking outside either enjoying the view or waiting to be called inside to eat. But I will always remember the amusing choice of the yellow & purple dinosaur sized sign right by the road to lure passerby.
It’s like they knew that since they’d have a long list of customers waiting to be seated, that they mind as well incorporate funny signs throughout their property. Such as their smoking regulation (once you see the sign, you’ll know what I’m talking about).
Moat Mountain is big for their beer flights but I came to talk about their food! No drunk talk here unfortunately!
New England Style Hush Puppies–
served w. NH style maple syrup. First hush puppies I’ve had. First time I’ve regret not discovering them sooner.
Long Horn Nachos–
bbq texas styled smoked brisket, red onions, cheese, bbq sauce, tomato salsa & sour cream. Extremely addicting. I had to stop myself from eating more before I was too full for my main.
Ultimate Slider Combo–
6 burgers (2 each)-crab cake, bbq pulled pork, regular beef patty w. chipotle aioli/​cajun fries. Crab cake was so good I wish I had 6 of these sliders instead. Pulled pork was ok but I got tired of it after eating the 1^st one. Regular slider was just meh.
Will come back again!

Really good ribs, although needed additional sauce which was gladly provided upon request.
The BBQ pork burrito was interesting, but a little dry.
There was a problem with one of the orders (seven people). Our waitress was very apologetic and removed the entrée from bill. She said, «We want you to come back.»
We plan to.