The Carriage House restaurant and raw bar is a beloved Seacoast institution in Rye, New Hampshire, across the street from the beach at 2263 Ocean Boulevard. The two-story restaurant opened under the name Swenson’s Grill in 1931, later becoming Carpenter’s Carriage House and Michael’s Carriage House. In 1983, Paul Mackey purchased the restaurant and enjoyed a 35-year run of success before turning over the reins to RJ Joyce and James Woodhouse in February 2018.
RJ and James are high school friends who have a shared philosophy on dining and service – fun, creative, passionate, and original, while always respectful of the history and tradition of the community. Both have spent time in restaurants throughout New England in the U.S. Virgin Islands. They returned to their native Seacoast and teamed up to open Louie’s, an Italian restaurant in Portsmouth, forced to close after a fire in 2017.
RJ and James discussed the possibility of purchasing the Carriage House with owner Paul Mackey, who they had known for years. RJ and James soon took over the Carriage House, honoring the rich heritage of previous owners while infusing the menu and décor with a fresh, modern style.