Geno's Chowder & Sandwich Shop

Nice place in a cool location on the water with very friendly service.

Two lobster roll and chowder specials. The private label root beer is always a nice touch IMHO.

A bit different from most lobster rolls I've had. The lobster was very fresh and included tail meat which is a huge plus but it comes in normal roll with mayo (or butter) on the side. So you just spread on mayo as you like.

Up front I will state that I tend to prefer a thick style chowder. This is a thin soup like chowder but it had plenty of clams so plus on that front.

Overall, nice sandwich place with great water views.

Everything about our meal was fantastic. We came on a Saturday in April so we were lucky to be able to walk right in and get a table. The staff were just amazingly kind and were a joy to talk with. We split a lobster roll, clam chowder, and lobster stew - all were great. One of the better chowders I have ever had and the lobster roll was perfect, the best I have had in at least a couple years. We aren't normally dessert people but we decided to grab some and were glad we did, probably the best whoopie pie I have ever had. This place will be at the top of our list every time we pass through Portsmouth.

Simple and the highest possible quality.

The jumbo lobster roll was exquisite. Perfectly pulled big pieces of moist, sweet lobster on an delectable buttered roll. The flavor of the lobster, in addition to its sweetness, has a subtle sea freshness, reminiscent of ocean spray.
I opted for butter and mayo on the side so I could try both. Refreshingly, they use 100% real melted butter. When poured on the lobster, it adds its rich nutty sweetness to that of the lobster, enhanced by the soft, velvety chew of the roll, subtle hints of salt and the crisp snap of lettuce. The roll is soft on the inside, with a thin, soft, buttered crust. Of note, this is the most expensive sandwich I've ever had and worth every penny and every second eating it.

The lobster stew, with generous pieces of succulent lobster (again, perfectly pulled from the shell), had a warm paprika heat in a cream broth. Finished the broth with crackers. Incredible!

The blue berry pie is very well made, warm with small, hot berries in a slightly sweet blueberry sauce, held together in a crispy, flakey crust. Balanced by the cold vanilla ice cream.

Great view of the river, a nice cool breeze, subtle lapping of waves and the occasional passing boats.

Its probably better to walk here as parking is very limited and the streets are very narrow but I was able to park in their lot, mid-week, an hour before close.

We had a late lunch here on an April weekday and it was very quiet. Had the lobster roll and BLT and both were scrumptious. Our server was very nice and the food came out quickly. Would love to go back on a nice day and eat outside on the deck.

They serve the best lobster i've ever had. I had a chance to taste a sample of the clam chowder. Even if I chose the lobster chowder on it, the clam chowder is far better than any I've ever had. This is absolutely a place not to miss when you crave for a bite around Portsmouth NH.
I recommend it with no restrictions.

Nice little shop with a variety of foods. We had the BLT and House Special (lobster roll w/ chowdrer). Both were delicious. Prices are in line with the area. We sat outside with a grand view of the river. Very nice place!

A cute little place with fantastic food and service. We sat right on the water!

Had the lobster roll along with fish chowder, it was so delicious! The amount of lobster in the roll was crazy, it was overflowing so much that I ended up with extra and got to just dunk it into the butter and enjoy! This is a must try if you are in the area for sure.

We ate lunch at this place and we ordered 2 jumbo Lobster Rolls and clamp chowder. We loved so much the lobster roll (fresh lobster that cook daily per the owner) with butter, my wife ordered with mayonnaise. Good view by the water. The place is not close to downtown and you might need bike or car to get here. As far as chowder, we don’t expect as serve (still good but not creamy as we want). We like it so much that we ordered it again before we leave back to Boston.

This place is great. We enjoyed lobster stew, clam chowder, lobster rolls, and Shoals Pale Ale. Their lobster rolls are the delicious buttery kind. Not the watered down mayonnaise kind that you get at most places. Servers were welcoming and accommodating. We had a wild 1 year old with us and that was no problem, but we had to leave the stroller outside. There just isn't enough room for strollers inside. Great experience and great food.

Delicious and fresh food and warm, hospitable service. The blueberry pie was unbelievable and the lobster was the best we’ve had. Definitely a must stop when in Portsmouth!

Geno’s is the best hidden gem in Portsmouth!

The melts and chowder were amazing, however the pièce de résistance were the lobster rolls, which were to die for🤤

First class service from the team with Bob, even providing us with guidance on other things to do in the city.

Highly recommend!!!!

Awesome waterfront venue in a deck created with lobstah 🦞 pots. Clam Chowdah is made from scratch with no fillers and they even offer a sample for you to try. The lobstah is just raw meat with butter and mayo on the side for your to add to your taste. Great local beer selection plus my personal favourite Whales 🐳 Tale Pale Ale 🍺 from Nantucket.

Came here on recommendation from a family member and let me just say, Geno’s did not disappoint. First and foremost the service was excellent. Our waiter let us sample all three of their soups before ordering. The lobster stew, fish chowder and clam chowder were all out of this world. Keep in mind they are a thin soup. That’s how they do it in the North 🙃 I ordered a simple grilled cheese and dipped it in my clam chowder, which was excellent. My boyfriend got the lobster stew and it was absolutely loaded, not to mention the prices were some of the best we’ve seen up North. Don’t leave without getting the blueberry pie and ice cream. 🤤 I didn’t even know I liked blueberry pie until I came here. Extremely glad we stopped here and can’t wait to come back!!

What a great little place! Family owned for over 40 years. I wanted to come to Portsmouth New Hampshire to taste a classic lobster roll and this is definitely the place to go! Beautiful views and you can sit inside or outside. Amazingly helpful staff. Definitely worth the trip!

Cozy family owned seafood restaurant right on the Portsmouth water front. Wonderful New England staples like chowder and lobster rolls with homemade baked goods to finish. Deck seating in summer gives way to the cozy dinning room in spring and fall. Great service and the open galley has all the cooking right there before your eyes.
A had the Geno's special which was cup of chowder and a double tailed lobster roll with chips & pickle for catch of the day price $20...a very fair price. Mayo on the side for me but they offer mayo tossed or butter either way. Delicious. Blue berry pie for the finish that was grandmother recipe good. Located off the beaten path and worth finding.

First, if you're not familiar with the differences in chowder and lobster rolls from northern New England compared to southern, you may be caught off guard. While chowder from areas like CT and RI tend to be thicker and creamy, up in NH and ME, it seems significantly thinner and more brothy. Similarly southern lobster rolls tend to be a lobster-salad type mix with a cheesy topping, heated/broiled, while northern is larger chunks of lobster, served cold on a bun with lettuce, mayo and butter.
That said, the food at Geno's was absolutely perfect. So much flavor in the lobster, and caught fresh in the local bay. The soups were all great, from clam chowder to fish chowder to the seafood stew. Stuffed clams were also very tasty. We will definitely be back on our next trip through the NE coast.

This place is awesome. I'm from Ohio and never had a lobster roll. I didn't know what the big deal was but soon found out at Genos. Wow. Also their claim chowder was extremely good as well as their pies. I'm used to chain restaurant chowder and am not a fan. Homemade chowder on the docks however...I'm amazed. Nothing like what we get in ohio. Very good! Well worth the visit!

A hidden gem!!! The lunch special is a lobster roll and a cup of chowder (any of them) and such a delight! The waiter was so kind and very knowledgeable about the food and the restaurant history. And the blueberry pie was amazing. We also got a whoopie pie and the lemon meringue pie, but blueberry was the winner. We will be back!!

Even my child loved it. We hit a perfect summer day, 80 and breezy. The chowder was amazing, the lobster rolls had a full tail and two claws... the desserts were like my grandmother made them.... it’s hidden, and so worth it !