Phantom Gourmet: Rick's Food & Spirits In Kingston, NH

KINGSTON, NH - Sometimes the best things are hard to find. If you're travelling down Main Street in Kingston, New Hampshire, be sure to slam on the brakes at number 143, or you may miss out on one memorable meal.

Set in a space that looks more like a house, Rick's Food and Spirits is the brainchild of Rick Korn, a life-long chef who has worked at some of the best restaurants around. He brought all of that culinary knowhow back to his hometown.

"I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Being in the restaurant business is just, it's in your blood. There's nothing else like the rush when you're crushing it, it's just the best feeling."

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While Rick is cooking up tasty pub fare, General Manager Greg Rodgers is working the casual dining room, making sure every customer is content.

"You almost have that Cheers-y vibe. We have a really good mixture of crowd here. Everybody feels comfortable."

The menu is a lineup of amped-up comfort food done right. It all starts with the appetizers, with options like crispy Naan Bread with toppings that change daily, to the interactive Bib Lettuce Wraps.

"You get these five big chunks of Bibb lettuce, the marinated chicken, pickled onions, cheddar cheese, a couple of sauces. Roll it up like you would your own little taco or enchilada, and just eat it," Greg explained.

The steak and cheese egg rolls are not only stuffed with plenty of cheese, but they also come with a side of Harpoon beer cheese for good measure.

"They're fantastic, because they're stuffed with so much cheese and steak," Greg said. "It's actually filet that we use, a little bit of mushrooms and onion, then they just get flash fried real quick."

Nothing beats the Sweet and Spicy Thick Sliced Bacon served with a brown sugar dipping sauce, a favorite of Gregg's.

"The bacon's really just like a big meat candy," he said. "You have this crispy on the outside, sweet, spicy meat. It's an appetizer, but I could eat a whole plate of it."

There's also an entire section of the menu dedicated to sliders.

"We have lobster, cheeseburger, short rib, salmon, fried chicken sliders," Greg listed. "All of them done on grilled brioche buns, all served with their own sauces and their own accompaniments. You can share them; you can order a whole bunch for a table."

If the bite-sized sandwiches aren't doing it for you, you may just want to go big and order The 143 Main Burger Challenge.

"You got two giant grilled cheese for both ends of the burger, two burger patties, the pulled pork, the bacon, the ham, the egg, everything. Comes with a fantastic root beer float, which is usually what gets you, and our handcut fries," Greg described.

"It's awesome. It just stands up off the plate, eight, nine, 10 inches," Rick added.

There's a more refined side to the offerings at Rick's, with dishes like the housemade Seafood Sausage, pan seared and served on a bed of roasted corn and lobster salsa; and the NY Sirloin, cut in-house and cooked perfectly every time. For something you're not going to find anywhere else, try Rick's Lobster and Scallop Hash.

"He takes the lobster, makes a really nice hash with potato, chipotle, roasted corn, and then hits it with the chipotle aioli and just sears it off to caramelize in the pan," Greg described.

The hits keep coming right through dessert, with the decadent Fried Peanut Butter Cup, or the Baklava made with sliced apples for added sweetness.

"You get that crispiness on the outside, then you get that flavor of the apples in the middle with all the nuts and honey. It's basically Greek apple pie," Greg said. "It's heaven."

With friendly service and wallet friendly prices, any meal can turn into a heavenly experience when you eat at Rick's. You can find it at 143 Main Street in Kingston, NH, and online at rickskingston.com.

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