HAMPTON BEACH -- Looking to unwind and refuel? The Boardwalk Café is the perfect complement to a long day on the beach, afternoon in the arcades or evening at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom.

Owned by Jim Trainor, the Boardwalk Café and Inn (just upstairs from the restaurant) are located at 139 Ocean Blvd. on the corner of "F" St. Trainor. This will be the Café's second season in business and Trainor - who also owns Hampton Beach's famous Boardwalk Fries stand - is already making sure to keep his customers on their toes.

Lauren Dobos is general manager at the Boardwalk Café. She says the dining room, which is painted a light, breezy blue and decorated with paintings of sailboats and beach scenes, has been expanded this season, with an additional 54 seats for hungry beachgoers. The patio, a perfect place for those who want to stay in the action while they dine, has also been enlarged.

But the dining area isn't the only part of the restaurant that has been expanded. Dobos says the menu has also undergone renovation. While old favorites like the House Special Boardwalk Fries, Broiled Lobster, Sirloin Tips, and Chicken Parmesan still remain, Trainor and his chef aren't afraid to mix things up. This season, patrons will have the opportunity to sample the Tuna Thai Dinner, Grilled Crab and Havarti sandwich and The Buffalo Burger.

Dobos' favorite dish is the sirloin tips, which are marinated and char-grilled. "They're to die for," she says.

In addition to a wide selection of lobster, fish, beef and poultry entrees, the Boardwalk Café also offers a delicious assortment of appetizers, soups, salads, wraps, rolls, fried seafood and pasta. A tasty Healthy Hummus sandwich is available for vegetarian patrons and a Children's Menu complete with a Mates Burger, Deck-Hand Dog, and Buccaneer Tenders, will keep the kids content.

Patrons who enter the Boardwalk Café with a big appetite have come to the right place.

"We have huge portions," Dobos says. "We send out a lot of doggie bags and people are happy with it."

For those customers who haven't yet worked up an appetite, a full service bar is located on the main floor and a pub, complete with television and a pool table, is located downstairs.

If pool tables, television and people-watching on the patio are not entertainment enough, the Boardwalk Café has live music seven nights a week during high season. Dobos says the acts are constantly changing in order to suit a wide-range of musical tastes.

"We get cover bands, rock, duos, acoustics and even local college bands from UNH," she says.

On Thursday nights, customers cram into the restaurant for an interactive "dueling pianos" performance. And it is this interactive atmosphere that Dobos loves most at the Boardwalk Café. She says that the staff and regulars at the inn and restaurant often become family.

This is Dobos' eighth year working for Trainor. Before the Boardwalk Café opened, she worked at Boardwalk Fries.

"We work hard here and we have fun ... It's hard for guests not to have a good time. We're in the dead-center of things," she says.

For hours and more information about the Boardwalk Inn and Café call (603) 929-7400 or visit www.boardwalkinnns.com. For hotel reservations call (800) 929-7408.