Water Wheel Breakfast and Gift House
Fluffy pancakes as big as your plate, smothered in pure maple syrup, crispy bacon, eggs cooked the way you like them, savory French toast, and Belgian waffles topped with fresh whipped cream share the menu at The Waterwheel Breakfast & Gift House with dozens of other favorite breakfast items. Add a lunch selection that includes comfort foods like the Philly steak and cheese subs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, hot dogs, homemade chicken salad, and delectable Whoopie Pies and you’ve discovered the perfect restaurant to satisfy your appetite during your visit to the Grand North.
The Waterwheel is a popular destination for visitors from around the world, many of whom return year after year to sample the delicious food, browse for a souvenir in the gift shop and renew friendships with owners Kevin and Tricia Arakelian, who have owned the business since 1999.
Named for the overspill waterwheel that dates back to 1939 when it was brought to the site from York, Pennsylvania, The Waterwheel continues to delight visitors who cherish dining in the cheerful restaurant decorated with pine clad walls and ceiling, green and white checked curtains, old tools and old-timey mementoes, and a handsome wood-burning stove.
Tricia and Kevin put their customers first in running the business, striving always to present the best products and knowing that their customers rely on them for consistency of quality, from the food and homey atmosphere to the cleanliness of the restaurant and the friendliness of the staff.
After enjoying a satisfying breakfast or lunch, customers like to linger and visit while checking out all of the hundreds of items stocked in the gift shop, including Tricia’s famous fudge — at certain times of year she makes 140 pounds of fudge each week! Many of the gift items are made in New Hampshire or by other regional producers, including cutting boards, lotions, food products, and wallets fashioned from recycled sailcloth. Maple syrup, T-shirts, cards and funny wooden signs are popular take-home gifts, along with a line of Melissa & Doug toys for children.