The site of some darn good squash, and a piece of New Hampshire history

The tuna melt with sides of cole slaw and squash (Rochester Voice photo)

NEW DURHAM - Johnson's Dairy Bar is a destination restaurant known throughout the Northern Seacoast and Lakes Region, and its allure is well founded on large portions, quality ingredients and its not-to-be-missed signature squash side.
That's right, come for the delicious tuna melt or clam strips and onion rings, but don't not get that side of squash.
A lot of their sides get rotated out but not the squash.
We'll describe the squash as sweet, nutty and better than mom's ... and mom would agree!
Recently at Johnson's we got our first-ever tuna melt with gluten-free bun. It was both huge and delicious, with a ton of tuna and tons of cheddar.
The cole slaw side was pretty pedestrian, but the squash made up for it, the star of the culinary performance.
The service was spot on and the meal came out within 10 minutes.
For $14, you couldn't do much better.
While you're there check out their New Durham Marketplace, where they have prepared foods and premium meats and fine wines for you to take home.
Interestingly, Johnson's is said to be the site of a murder in the 18th century that led to a hanging in the old Foster's Daily Democrat parking lot on Henry Law Avenue in Dover.
Peter Drowne was said to have been stabbed to death by Elisha Thomas in a New Durham tavern in 1788 thought to be at the site of where Johnson's is today.
Thomas was later jailed in Dover.
According to historians, his wife came to visit him in jail, and when she returned to New Durham found that her home had burned to the ground and all five of her children had perished.
Thomas was the first man hanged in New Hampshire. It took place in the former Foster's Daily Democrat building along Henry Law Ave, where a large crowd gathered to watch the spectacle.

Johnson's is located at 69 State Route 11 in New Durham.

For more info click here.

Food ★★★★

Atmosphere ★★★★

Service ★★★★