Block Six creates culinary hub for 3S Artspace

PORTSMOUTH – Zach Gage of Stratham was seated at the bar of Block Six enjoying a meatloaf sandwich with polenta “tots” shortly after the city’s newest restaurant opened for business Wednesday.

“This is just what this town is missing,” Gage said of the eatery located in 3S Artspace at 319 Vaughan St.

“The food has excellent flavors and it’s reasonably priced, too,” Gage said. “It’s a unique venue with the restaurant and entertainment.”

3S Artspace is a nonprofit alternative arts organization that combines a midsize, flexible performance space, a large, non-commercial gallery with affordable artist studios above, and Block Six, which serves as a culinary hub for patrons and locals to gather.

“It’s a great place to hang out before a show or just to meet friends,” said General Manger Michael Gehron. “And we’ll keep things exciting, changing the menu fairly often and offering seasonal cocktails.”

The dinner menu will offer larger portions of the lunch menu at slightly higher prices.

The menu Wednesday also included a lamb sandwich with harrisa, cucumber, pickled onions and yogurt; “yesterday’s” baked mac-n-cheese with Gruyere, cheddar, squash and hot sauce; shaved roots and greens, twice-baked potatoes and potato leek soup.

“It will be fun playing with the menu,” said Head Chef Sam Ostrow. “There will be no specials, but great food at affordable prices.”

The sandwiches were $10 and soups, $6. Gehron said beers could range between $3.50 to $8 for a Green Flash double IPA.

He showed off the ingredients for one of the bar’s current specialty drinks called “Angels with Dirty Faces,” that is made with Montelobos Mescal, Ancho Reyes Chili Liqueur, annatto seeds, strawberry puree and fresh lime juice.

“You can also get a good glass of wine for $5,” Gehron said.

Ostrow comes to Block Six after working for the last several years at the Black Trumpet in Portsmouth and the Black Birch in Kittery, Maine. He attended culinary school in Cambridge, Mass., and later worked as a sous chef at the Wolfgang Puck catering service in Boston.

“I moved to Kittery just over two years ago and connected with Chris Greiner (executive director of 3S),” he said. “I like that this is a community venue supported by the community.”

The name Block Six was decided for the new restaurant by Celeste Ladd, marketing and development manager for 3S, who discovered that the parcel was referred to on old maps of the northern tier as “block six.”

The 2,500 square-foot space has unconventional seating for 75 with tables and chairs, angled couches and bar stools.

“This is perfect,” said Lynne Pinette, a marketing manager for Berkshire Hathaway HomeService Verani Realty, located just across the road. She popped over to have lunch with Verani’s Regional Manager Cindy Winthrop.

“I’m thrilled to have this so close,” Winthrop said. “It’s great with all the new condos going up in the area to have a place like this.”

Block Six will be open seven days a week at 9 a.m., with coffee and tea available, until the kitchen opens at 11:30 a.m.

3S Artspace will hold a public open house Saturday, March 21, beginning at 9 a.m. Visitors can take free self-guided tours of the gallery, performance space and Block Six.

A family-friendly time of reading, hip-hop music and dancing with award winning children's book author and illustrator, Jef Czekaj will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

At 2 p.m. the second public open house begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m.

Holly Herndon, Animal Hospital, and a special guest DJ will be kicking off the Saturday night grand opening weekend with a dance party. Doors at 8 p.m. with the show starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $18 for non-members and $16 for members.

For more information, visit www.3Sarts.org.