The Mug Restaurant Celebrates 50 Years

Amy Elfline and Paul Ursillo, proprietors. Photo by Judi Currie.

The Mug Family Restaurant on Route 3 in Center Harbor has survived a change in ownership and a fire—events that could easily have sunk other restaurants—and is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. Proprietors Paul Ursillo and Amy Elfline, who bought the business 22 years ago, run the landmark business.

“We took over in 1996 and opened in January of that year,” Elfline says. “In July we had a fire.” A large-screen TV sparked the blaze that destroyed most of the building, leaving just the steel kitchen equipment intact. Elfline says they had to decide whether to take the insurance money and walk away or to rise from the ashes.

Rebuilding wasn’t even a certainty, as state law required they meet all the new codes. Elfline says the selectmen in Center Harbor went to bat for them, and local contractors put their own work on hold to help. “The whole thing was done in a record 100 days,” Elfline recalls.

The restaurant actually launched in 1968 by original owners Stuart Paquette and David Piper, who started a mug club where patrons’ could have their own special tankard hang above the bar. The early mugs were made of pewter, but later replaced with glass. Although they were all destroyed in the 1996 fire, the one thing that survived was a map Elfline had made just days before. “When we reopened, I replaced every mug and hung it on the ceiling where it was,” Elfline says. “Customers really appreciated that we saved this little bit of history.”

There are only 230 mugs in the club, so each year the owners hold a raffle for a chance to win one of the coveted mugs when someone moves or dies. The raffle benefits a different local charity each year. Elfline says they appreciate the benefit of being in a tourist area, but they are also dedicated to the locals.

“Many restaurants are only seasonal but at The Mug, we have always catered to locals and families,” she says.

As part of the family atmosphere, The Mug has a large game room for kids to play while parents relax. “We often have a large party come in, and we pull a few tables together, then a neighbor will show up then they’ll just put together more tables,” Elfline says. “It’s very much a meeting place for the locals.”
Ursillo says The Mug offers fresh and homemade foods, but its signature dish is The Mug Burger. “The beef is never frozen. Heath’s Supermarket grinds the meat fresh for us every day,” he says.

Elfline says they are thanking “lifelong friends” with monthly contests, including a cruise, culminating in a big party on Aug. 18. For more information visit themugrestaurant.com.