Thousands remain without power throughout the state, and seeking warmth and food continues to be a priority.

In hard-hit Goffstown and Bedford, restaurants have been inundated with diners who don't have electricity, or who had to throw away food due to power outages.

“It's been crazy,” said Priscilla Goyette, who serves breakfast at Sawyer's in Goffstown. “People are freezing and want to warm up.”

Patrons can't seem to do without their morning staple, said waitress Melissa Burleson.

“They want their coffee,” she laughed.

Patty Putnam, who, along with husband John, owns both Sawyer's Main Street Breakfast and Putnam's Waterview up the street, said Sawyer's didn't have power and couldn't open for Sunday breakfast. But they opened Putnam's an hour early, and served meals all day with the help of a generator.

“It's not easy, it's not like a regular day,” Putnam said. “You have to pick and choose what you can run on a generator.”

Putnam said she was thankful that customers, who experienced a slightly longer wait, were patient and understanding. Both restaurants got their power back Sunday night.

At the Bedford Panera, manager Lisa Grace said the store is borrowing product from its other locations, just to keep pace with the demand.

“We've had a line out the door, down the sidewalk and around the corner for three days now,” she said.

Panera also offers free Wi-Fi to its customers, and Grace said there hasn't been an available seat since the storm hit.

Even Chinese take-out has become more like Chinese eat-in.

“We've had a lot more dine-in customers because people are coming in to get warm,” said Cindy Gilbert, who tends bar at New Canton in Hooksett. Take-out orders have increased as well.

At Manchester's Airport Diner, business has been brisk, said spokesman Mike Gagnon. The 24-hour establishment has gone above and beyond its traditional service.

“We're charging cell phones and flashlights for people,” he said.

Gagnon said he has also been impressed by the level of patience he has seen in customers.

“Everybody's been quite reasonable,” he said. “No one's bitten my head off yet.”

Tim Etheredge of Dunbarton, who was eating breakfast at Sawyer's with his wife and some friends, said people don't have much of a choice.

Etheredge and his wife, Joyce, said their home is being powered by a generator, but they were out of groceries, prompting their trip to Sawyer's.

“We live in New England, these things happen,” he said. “We just have to take it in stride.”

Houses still dark, schools closed