The Forum Pub: Concord, NH's Neighborhood Bar Worth Finding

Last updated June 29, 2026

The Forum Pub at 15 Village St in Concord, NH has built a following on a straightforward premise: good food, strong drinks, and a room where strangers can become regulars. The pub operates as a full bar and kitchen, turning out scratch-made burgers, hand-cut fries, and creative cocktails in a setting that feels genuinely local rather than franchised. With a 4.8-star rating across 105 reviews, the numbers reflect something real about what's happening inside.

The pub doesn't position itself as a sports bar, a gastropub, or any other category that comes with a corporate playbook. Its own description makes the point directly: it doesn't claim to be, nor strive to be, like corporate restaurants everywhere. The emphasis is on individuality, conversation, and the kind of atmosphere where you feel comfortable staying for a second round. That philosophy shapes everything from the menu to the way the staff greets people at the door.

For a city like Concord, where the dining and bar scene tends to cluster around familiar chains, The Forum Pub represents something different. It's a neighborhood spot with a kitchen that takes its food seriously and a bar program that goes beyond the standard pour.

History and Founding of The Forum Pub in Concord, NH

The Forum Pub grew out of an earlier location that the crew had outgrown or moved on from. The story, as the pub tells it on its website, is about continuity: the essential element of the old spot had been the welcoming atmosphere, and the ability to converse with friends and strangers alike. When the original space was no longer available, the team didn't fold. They found a new location, moved the operation roughly 3.5 miles down the road, and opened The Forum Pub in its current form.

That origin matters because it shaped what the pub became. The founders weren't starting from scratch with a concept; they were preserving something that had already worked, transplanting a community into a new room. The Thirty Pines strip in the Penacook area of Concord, in the former Asian Taste space and the adjoining unit, gave them the square footage to do it properly.

Owner Kirk has been a consistent presence since the doors opened, working the bar and talking whiskey with whoever pulls up a stool. The pub is a relatively recent addition to the Concord area, but it has moved quickly past the awkward early phase that trips up a lot of new bars.

Food, Drinks, and What Makes The Forum Pub Different

The kitchen at The Forum Pub punches above what you'd expect from a neighborhood bar. The menu runs from pub classics to dishes with enough ambition to surprise first-timers.

Food Highlights

• Chicken Corfob Blue: A signature dish that reviewer Rick Naya called 'supremely delicious' after his first visit, crediting his son for the recommendation.
• Black and Blue Burger: A burger that reviewer Rick Sullivan described as 'mind-blowing,' placing it alongside the Reuben as a standout on the menu.
• Reuben Sandwich: Another Sullivan recommendation, cited in the same breath as the Black and Blue as a reason to return.
• Truffle Fries: Sullivan called them 'out of control good.' NHGameDude, a local reviewer, went further, calling the fries the best in the Capitol district and noting they're hand-cut.
• Salads with Grilled Chicken: Mentioned alongside the tender meal as options that satisfied other members of a dining party, suggesting the kitchen handles lighter fare with the same care.

Bar Program

The drinks side of the operation earns its own attention. Reviewer Melanie Josselyn specifically praised the 'creative and tasty bar offerings,' and Grace Shannon noted that the drinks are 'delish (and strong).' Kirk, the owner, is known for giving whiskey recommendations to customers who ask, which points to a bar stocked with more than the well basics.

The pub also hosts music events. Susan Maki walked in on her first visit and found a music circle already underway, describing it as a pleasant surprise alongside the friendly bartender and creative menu. Live music isn't the main draw, but it adds another layer to what the pub offers on any given night.

Team and Leadership at The Forum Pub

The Forum Pub is owner-operated, and Kirk's presence behind the bar is a consistent thread through the reviews. He's described as personable and knowledgeable, particularly around whiskey, and his engagement with customers contributes directly to the atmosphere the pub has built.

Beyond Kirk, the staff has drawn repeated praise for warmth and attentiveness. Denise Doherty noted that she's greeted with a smile every time she walks in. Michael Moulton-Bouffard highlighted the friendly service during a visit that included both drinks and a large takeout order. The consistency across those different types of interactions suggests the team handles both the bar and the kitchen side of service well.

• Kirk (Owner): Works the bar, engages with customers directly, offers whiskey guidance.
• Bar and Kitchen Staff: Consistently noted for friendliness, attentiveness, and making first-timers feel at home.

What Customers Say About The Forum Pub

The 105 reviews that have accumulated around The Forum Pub tell a consistent story: the food is better than expected, the service is genuinely warm, and first visits tend to turn into regular habits. The 4.8-star average reflects that pattern.

I've had the Black and Blue burger and the Reuben. Both were mind-blowing. And the truffle fries are out of control good.

- Rick Sullivan

Tonight was my first time here and I already know it's going to be my new favorite place. The food was excellent...

- JASON MCDONALD

I have truly never had a bad experience at this pub. Whether it be the incredible food or the creative and tasty bar offerings, I've always been impressed.

- Melanie Josselyn

This place is the ultimate VIBE! I went here on my birthday for a drink and app. Staff is so personable, drinks are delish (and strong)...

- Grace Shannon

Every time I go in I am greeted with a smile! Wonderful owner and workers, makes me feel welcome! The food is amazing!

- Denise Doherty

The phrase 'new favorite place' shows up more than once in the reviews, which says something about the first-impression the pub makes. Susan Maki walked in randomly and left impressed by both the bartender and the menu. NHGameDude called the food 'top notch' and singled out the fries as the best in the Capitol district. Across the reviews, the kitchen and the front-of-house are treated as equally strong, which isn't always the case at a neighborhood bar.

Location and Community: Finding The Forum Pub in Concord, NH

The Forum Pub is located at 15 Village St, Concord, NH 03303, in the Penacook area of the city. The pub occupies space in a strip mall setting that, according to early coverage, includes the former Asian Taste location and the unit next door. The combined footprint gives the pub enough room to feel comfortable without losing the intimacy that makes a neighborhood bar work.

Penacook sits within Concord's broader geography, accessible to residents across the city and the surrounding towns. The strip mall location makes parking straightforward, which matters for a place that does a meaningful takeout business alongside its dine-in and bar trade. Michael Moulton-Bouffard's review specifically mentioned coming in for drinks and a large takeout order, suggesting the pub handles that dual-mode operation smoothly.

The community angle isn't just marketing language at The Forum Pub. The founding story is explicitly about preserving a place where people could talk to each other, and the music circles that happen organically on some nights reinforce that. Corey Hanson described it as a 'nice new little joint in town' with great atmosphere and super nice staff, the kind of review that reflects a local discovering something worth keeping.

Why Choose The Forum Pub in Concord, NH

The Forum Pub earns its 4.8-star rating across 105 reviews by doing the basics exceptionally well and then going a step further on both the food and the bar side. The hand-cut truffle fries, the Black and Blue burger, the Chicken Corfob Blue, and a whiskey selection worth asking about add up to a menu that gives people a reason to come back beyond habit.

But the real differentiator is the atmosphere the team has built deliberately, carried over from a previous location and maintained in the current one. Kirk and his staff run a room where first-timers feel welcome and regulars feel remembered. For anyone in Concord looking for a neighborhood bar that takes its kitchen seriously and its community even more so, The Forum Pub at 15 Village St is worth the trip.

Customer quotes shown above are from public Google reviews.