Visitors to New Hampshire have a lot of destinations to choose from, with some of the better-known areas being the Lakes Region, the White Mountains and the Seacoast Region. But one of the most interesting parts of the state doesn’t get nearly as much press, and it really doesn’t have a specific name. The part of southwest New Hampshire tucked away by the Massachusetts and Vermont borders is often called the Monadnock region (from the rather imposing mountain by the same name in Jaffrey) while some also call it “Currier & Ives Country,” which can lead to confusion because there’s also an official Currier & Ives Scenic Byway in another part of the state.

While not commonly used, the Currier & Ives label certainly does apply to this area, which includes picture-perfect New England villages, scenic winding roads, rolling hills and countless lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. It makes for a perfect setting for road trips, and a number of old-fashioned roadside restaurants seemingly pop up out of nowhere on many drives, feeding hungry travelers and locals alike.

One such place sits just outside a tiny village near the Massachusetts border, and while it’s little more than an hour from the Greater Boston area, Emma’s 321 Pub & Kitchen is a place that feels far, far away, reflecting the rustic quality and slow pace of this little pocket of New Hampshire.

Rindge is a rugged, deeply wooded town that lies in the shadow of Mount Watatic, a nearly 2,000-foot peak just to the east in Ashburnham and Ashby, Massachusetts. It’s also a short distance south of the aforementioned Mount Monadnock, which rises well over 3,000 feet, towering over the surrounding landscape. Rindge itself is one of the higher communities in the state and feels like an outback town of sorts, with its blink-and-you-miss-it village center off Route 119 that doesn’t have so much as a restaurant or a general store.

A few businesses can be found near where Routes 119 and 202 meet, however, including Emma’s, which is just north of the intersection and just south of the beautiful Pool Pond, with spectacular views of Mount Monadnock and its summer homes and cabins. Emma’s itself has the look of a cabin (albeit a large one), with its weathered wooden exterior, warm and welcoming outdoor lights, multiple chimneys and stacks of firewood, all shaded by massive trees that surround the place.

The cozy country look of Emma’s’ exterior is just a taste of things to come, as its interior is a bit similar to the better-known colonial-style restaurants found throughout New England. But unlike some of those which tend to be a tad on the upscale side, this restaurant is definitely more casual, low-key and family-friendly. Several rooms make up the place and all have a lot of charm, include a large dining area to the right which extends back with views of the woods, a charming bar in the middle, another dining area through a doorway to the left and, beyond that, a room that has the look of a fully enclosed four-season porch, sitting high above the land below.

Wagon wheel lights, checkered tablecloths, old-fashioned sconces, rough-hewn wood and windows that give a glimpse of rural New England just out back all give Emma’s a look and feel of yesteryear, and really make you think you’re much farther away from the urban canyons of Boston than you really are.

PHOTOS: Roadside dining in rural NH at Emma’s 321 Pub & Kitchen

Even before you look at the menu at Emma’s, you’ll probably get an idea of what it has to offer simply based on the overall look of the place, and the offerings are indeed familiar and will probably not come as a surprise to anyone.

Classic comfort food and regional faves are the name of the game here, with highlights being a hearty bowl of chili with just a bit of heat; a Caesar salad with a house-made dressing and parmesan crisps; loaded potato skins with bacon (or chili) and cheese, scallions, sour cream and salsa; greasy and crunchy fried pickle chips that come with a spicy aioli; quesadillas with bacon, diced chicken and lots of cheese; extra crunchy deep-fried mozzarella sticks with a dusting of parm along with marinara and ranch on the side; chicken marsala in a rich wine sauce and served over a bed of linguini; a large plate of eggplant or chicken parmigiana with plenty of sauce and mozzarella; a decadent bacon-wrapped meatloaf with plenty of brown gravy; the ever-popular “build your own” burger with such topping options as onion strings, blue cheese, bacon jam and mushrooms; a classic turkey club with lettuce, tomato, bacon and mayo; and an old-school turkey melt that includes a couple of hefty pieces of sourdough.

New Hampshire doesn’t get the credit it deserves when it comes to its breweries, but there are some very good ones out there and Emma’s indeed serves up some options from beermakers across the state. The offerings are always changing, but depending on when you go, you might find beers from Spyglass, Stoneface, Northwoods and Great North, to name a few.

Cocktails are very popular here, particularly the margaritas, martinis, mimosas, mojitos and rum punches, and a variety of their own concoctions that range from fruity drinks in the summer to drinks that will warm you up in the late fall and winter can be had as well.

Long ago, New Hampshire had a lot of rustic old restaurants like Emma’s 321 Pub & Kitchen, but many of them are gone now, including such iconic spots as the Longhorn Palace near Franconia Notch in Lincoln, a cafeteria-style steakhouse that was legendary back in the day and had a similar vibe. The loss of such places makes Emma’s all the more important these days, as it harkens back to the days of unpretentious roadside family restaurants focusing on service, value and food that’s good for the soul.

The southwestern part of New Hampshire is a wonderful area to visit whether for hiking, paddling, snowmobiling or simply enjoying the rural scenery from behind the wheel, and Emma’s is easily one of the most interesting options for dining in the entire region.

Emma’s 321 Pub & Kitchen, 377 US-202, Rindge, NH, 03461. facebook.com/Emmas321

It’s Week 9 of the NFL schedule and the Pittsburgh Steelers are hosting the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium today. Here’s how you can watch the game. 

Pittsburgh (4-3) hosts Indianapolis (7-1) today as the Steelers look to bounce back from primetime losses on the road in Cincinnati two weeks ago and at home last week against the Packers.

Meanwhile, the Colts have the best record in all of the National Football League with seven wins and just one loss. 

Earlier this week, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin challenged his team’s defense, which is ranked last in the NFL against the pass, to rise to the occasion. 

The Steelers defense hasn’t forced a turnover in their last three games.

Daniel Jones, who signed with the Colts this offseason after being released by the New York Giants, has gotten off to a remarkable start this season.

Jones has completed 71% of his passes for 2,062 yards with 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions through eight games.

Through eight games, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL with 850 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, three more than any other player in the league.

Kickoff between the Steelers and Colts today is set for 1:00 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Where can you stream the Steelers vs. Colts game?

Steelers fans can stream the game in certain markets on the Paramount+ app.   

Out-of-market fans can stream the game through the NFL’s subscription service, NFL+.

If the game isn’t available in your region, fans can also stream it via NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube and YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV.

How can you watch the Steelers vs. Colts game on cable? 

Fans looking to tune into today’s contest between the Steelers and the Colts can watch the game on KDKA-TV in the Pittsburgh market.   

KDKA-TV’s coverage this morning will get underway at 11:30 a.m. with Steelers Kickoff, followed by The NFL Today starting at 12:00 noon. When the game is over, The Extra Point will air on KDKA+, followed by a special edition of the Nightly Sports Call.

For fans located outside of Pittsburgh looking to find out what channel the game is on, CBS will be broadcasting the game in a large portion of the United States, according to 506 Sports.

Ian Eagle will handle the play-by-play for the broadcast with J.J. Watt providing analysis and Evan Washburn handling sideline reporting duties.

Injury report for the Steelers vs. Colts game

When the Steelers take the field for today’s game against the Colts, the team will be without safety DeShon Elliott and defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale. Both players suffered serious knee injuries in last week’s game vs the Packers.

Offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo is questionable for the game with a pectoral injury.

Cornerback Cory Trice, Jr. returned to practice Wednesday since being placed on the reserve/injured list with a hamstring injury. The team has 21 days from the time he returned to practice to either activate him or rule him out for the rest of the season.

A number of Colts players didn’t practice Wednesday including Josh Downs, Anthony Gould, Nick Cross, Samson Ebukam, Tyquan Lewis, Kenny Moore, and Grover Stewart.

Who is favored and predicted to win the Steelers vs. Colts game?

The Steelers enter the Week 6 matchup against Indianapolis as 3-point betting favorites, according to CBS Sports. 

What is the Steelers schedule for the rest of the season?

Week 10: Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers, Nov. 9, 8:20 p.m. (Sunday Night Football)

Week 11: Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Nov. 16, 1:00 p.m. 

Week 12: Steelers at Chicago Bears, Nov. 23, 1:00 p.m.

Week 13: Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills, Nov. 30, 4:25 p.m. 

Week 14: Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, Dec. 7, 1:00 p.m.

Week 15: Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins, Dec. 15, 8:15 p.m. (Monday Night Football)

Week 16: Steelers at Detroit Lions, Dec. 21, 4:25 p.m. 

Week 17: Steelers at Cleveland Browns, Dec. 28, 1:00 p.m.

Week 18: Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens, date and time to be determined

What is the Colts schedule for the rest of the season?

Week 10: Colts vs. Atlanta Falcons, Nov. 9, 9:30 a.m. (Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany)

Week 11: Bye

Week 12: Colts at Kansas City Chiefs, Nov. 23, 1:00 p.m.

Week 13: Colts vs. Houston Texans, Nov. 30, 1:00 p.m.

Week 14: Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars, Dec. 7, 1:00 p.m.

Week 15: Colts at Seattle Seahawks, Dec. 14, 4:25 p.m. 

Week 16: Colts vs. San Francisco 49ers, Dec. 22, 8:15 p.m. (Monday Night Football)

Week 17: Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Dec. 28, 1:00 p.m. 

Week 18: Colts at Houston Texans, date and time to be determined

You know a restaurant is quality when it’s lasted for more than 250 years.

Twelve years older than the United States itself, the oldest restaurant in Connecticut first opened for business in 1754 in Woodbury Connecticut. . First built by Rev. Anthony Stoddard as a family house in 1734, in 1754 it was converted to a business and inn, the oldest in the state.

This colonial site has remained operational as an inn and tavern for the 250+ years its original opening, despite one brief pause before WWII. Originally called the Curtis House, the site has undergone many name changes, landing on The 1754 House in 2020.

Want to have a dining experience with over 200 years of history? Here’s all the details about eating at The 1754 House today.

About dining at 1754 House

Today, the colonial inn has two dining areas – the 1754 Dining Room, the main dining spot, and The Flat Five, a Blues tavern with pub fare and live music.

While the formal dining room and relaxed tavern differ in atmosphere, the menus are largely the same. 1754 House serves up American comfort food classics with New England roots.

An extensive wine list joins a creative lineup of craft cocktails, including New England-inspired mouthfuls like the Maple-Bacon Old Fashioned.

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How to eat at 1754 House

Flat Five Blues Tavern is open Wednesday-Saturday from 5-10 p.m., and the 1754 Dining Room is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4-9 p.m., Friday-Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The 1754 House is located at 506 Main St. South in Woodbury.