I was recently asked by some representatives of Willimantic to help them with a project. They asked me to pick a few local restaurants and bars and rate each one on food, alcohol, atmosphere, service and make notes on anything that I thought stood out. They asked me to do this so that when people come to visit this city, they could easily recommend an excellent establishment. At first, I was against this. We are living in a time where any bad news could ruin a business. But I looked at it from the other side. Why should a person visiting Willimantic waste their money?
Over a 10 day period of time I visited each place that I will describe three different times to make sure that I was not judging based on one visit. So, here we go....
Blarneys: An ECSU landmark. This bar has been around forever. Each night of the week features college friendly drink specials. All three times that I visited Blarneys I was provided excellent service, decent drinks and awesome conversation. The owners seem to really enjoy what they are doing. One of the nights the owner (I believe his name is Jay) was bartending and was able to put a name to most faces that entered the establishment. A good trait to see. One night I ate buffalo wings, cooked to perfection. The next I had a steak and cheese grinder which was a bit greasy (which was expected) but very tasty. The third time, I opted to just enjoy my drinks.
Willimantic Brewing Company: This is by far the favorite of most people in the area. I have been here more times than I can remember, I came with my parents and now I bring my own children. The familiar faces of Donna, Barry, Kim and DJ always bring a smile to my children's faces. The food is consistent, never amazing but always good. I always try whichever featured beer is being poured and I have never been let down. My wife enjoys cosmopolitans and has never complained about any that have been made for her by the staff of Willibrew. We enjoy sitting in the bar area but sometimes it is too crowded and often very loud.
Lucky Frog: I had never been into this establishment. I went on a Tuesday (was the only person in there), a Thursday around 11:00 pm and on a Sunday to catch a game. The service was slow. It was the same bartender each time except on Thursday there were two. More concerned with their cell phones, if not on their cell phone then on the bar phone. I waited with an empty glass in front of me each time I was there which was odd because it was not busy any of the times. Decent draft selections but all were flat. Switched to alcohol but I am not sure that any was poured in the glass. The food was okay, portions smaller than the other establishments but prices comparable. I had a bacon cheeseburger with flavorless fries, nachos (no where in comparison to Willibrew) and a cobb salad that was served with fried chicken even though I asked for grilled. The atmosphere was strange; the owner (I assume he was the owner because he was often behind the bar) was drinking behind the bar with his staff or pacing frantically around. It made for a strange feeling. There was a dining room but looked as though it had never been used.
The Sports Bar: Follows its name perfectly. The games were on each TV, the staff knew exactly what the drink specials were (you would be surprised how many bartenders give a blank look when you ask what the specials are.) I was here on a Tuesday which was slow and chose only to have a few drinks because I had already eaten. Beer was cold, no complaints. I was able to watch the Giants win the MLB playoffs and enjoy good company. I went on a Saturday which was very busy, a crowd of all ages. I had a quesadilla which was simple but good. The service was okay, could have been a bit quicker but perhaps they were down a staff member or were in transition. My son and I went on a Sunday to watch football. We ordered wings and fries...simple but decent. I had a whiskey and coke which was good except it was served in plastic. Very busy, very loud, lots of happy people.
Bidwell tavern: I decided to go a little off the path with this one and only went once. Can you guess which night I went? Of course for rocks and wings! The wings were small and I'd have to bet they were fried once and then fried to reheat for each order. It was packed to the point that it was uncomfortable but that is to be expected. The service was as good as it could be for such a busy night. We ate quickly and left just as quickly. Good place to go with college buddies but maybe not with a family visiting for the weekend.
It is important that each establishment pays attention to the customers and gets a feel for what they are looking for. Some want conversation. Some want to sit in peace and quiet. But all want a good drink and never want it to be empty. Professionalism is very important even if you are focusing more on the younger college crowd. I hope this helps some of the new people visiting Willimantic. read more
