Make a stop at Awakenings Espresso Café (62 Canal St., Laconia, 603/524-1201, www.awakenings espressocafe.com, 7 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Sat.; closed Sun., $2–7) first thing in the morning for snazzy signature coffee drinks alongside fresh-baked streusel cakes, or at lunch for freshly made sandwiches. No matter what time you go, there’s free wireless Internet access and genuinely charming service.

Tuck into some genuine home-style cooking at Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant (233 Daniel Webster Hwy., Jct. Rtes. 3 & 104, Meredith, 603/279-6212, www.hartsturkeyfarm.com, lunch and dinner daily, year-round, $10–28), owned by the same family since it opened in 1954. True to its name, fresh turkey is one of the smartest things to order, but there’s also prime rib, seafood, and perfectly al dente pastas. Don’t pass up the ice creams, either: They’re all homemade and deliciously creamy.

Every Friday, seemingly all Laconia turns up at Water Street Cafe (141 Water St., Laconia, 603/524-4144, www.water-street-cafe.com, breakfast from 5:30 a.m., lunch, and dinner, daily year-round, $3–9) for all-you-can-eat fresh haddock. It’s a great deal—as are the homemade seafood chowders and farm-fresh egg omelets at breakfast.

Just across the street from the frenzy of Weirs Beach, Weirs Beach Smokehouse Restaurant (38 Endicott St., Weirs Beach, 603/366-2400, 12 p.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; 11 a.m.–11:30 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun., $9–23) doles out good ol’ classic Southern specialties: smoked ribs, steak, and grilled chicken. Grab a seat in the Lakeview room, if you can, for a terrific view of the action.