This Little Red Cottage is the Most Underrated Restaurant in New Hampshire

Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions or personal experiences.

I certainly have nothing against big chain restaurants! Often times they have bigger kitchens and are better able to accommodate folks with dietary restrictions, which is really important these days. Just look at the 110 Grill, they basically give each patron an allergy test before you are seated! It's excellent!

But when people are visiting our fine state of New Hampshire, I like to direct them to the smaller, lesser-known places that are unique to this area.

And I am not referring to the tourist traps that have a ton of hype and a three-hour wait for dinner (again, nothing against them). I am talking about the quaint joints where the staff is made up of a husband, wife, and a few of their cousins cooking in the kitchen; family owned and operated! And maybe there is a quirky uncle working the bar, ready to whip you up a martini and tell you some dad jokes.

If you send people to those kinds of places, they will leave feeling like they got the "full New Hampshire experience." If they wanted to go to a Chili's, they would have just stayed home!

New Hampshire is loaded with some amazing restaurants. We have something for everyone; From old school diners, to high-end restaurants, to Japanese steakhouses, to seafood places and beyond! We asked our listeners what the most underrated restaurant in New Hampshire was, and the answer was pretty unanimous.

(drumroll please...)

Pickity Place in Mason, New Hampshire. was voted the most underrated restaurant!  It looks like a picture straight out of a fairytale.  According to their website, this quaint little red cottage has graced the hills of southern New Hampshire since 1786 and seems to be untouched by time.

They since cut down that tree you see in the photo above, but they transformed the stump into a library that they refer to as their "Free Tree Library":

GET THIS: Pickity Place inspired the illustrations in the OG Little Red Riding Hood books (Little Golden Books, 1948). How cool is that?!

Today it is a mecca for gardeners, foodies, and anyone looking for inspiration and relaxation.

Let us not forget about the food! It has been referred to as a "culinary experience."

And people REALLY dig the gift shop:

If you go, feel free to bust out their catchphrase, "have a pickity day!" Do they sell merch with this phrase on it? Inquiring minds need to know.