If you're looking for a good place to drink good beer with a fun atmosphere, this is a great place. If you're looking to eat here..... The food is awful... every entrée we got was just a bunch of garbage between Texas toast. The grilled cheeses were not cooked at all, the turkey club was smothered in mayo and was 80% bread, and the Mahi rueben was possibly the worst thing I've ever put in my mouth since college. If you're hungry, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. read more

The food was really good, many options to choose, all very good. The steak and cheese was solid. Not a good place for children, but if you do bring them, the Mac and cheese is good and very big (3 toddlers can eat from there). read more

I enjoy the atmosphere, food, and even better the beer selection often has a great sour on there.

One of the best burgers ever! Loved the atmosphere of this place. The bartender was knowledgeable about the many beers in tap. One of the co-owners filled us in on the local beer scene while attending to the kegs. What a nice experience:) read more

Shannon and Courtney are the best! Amazing food and great drinks. Atmosphere is very cool. Great spot year round

Don't let the Irish name fool you. This is a real gastro pub which appeals to foodies. I had a knuckle sandwich - a pulled lobster sandwich with slaw on a lightly toasted brioche - my wife had monk fish topped with grilled asparagus. Great craft beer selection and craft cocktails to boot! Thanks Yelp. read more

Awesome place. I love that it's underground. I love the craft beer selection. The food is very solid. The staff is helpful and quick. Great place! read more

I have to admit....When we walked into this place, I was impressed with the atmosphere. Very Urban decor with a little bit of a "Sports Bar" ambiance.....I couldn't wait to try some Celtic Pub-Grub...(Fish and Chips, Irish stew, Bangers and Mash) When I saw "Burgers" on the menu, I asked the waiter where all the Irish food was. He said that when the new owners "acquired" the restaurant, they just kept the same menu with some minor changes....I could have gotten better burgers at Red Robin. They were ok but nothing spectacular. Good Luck! read more

Went in and sat at the bar for service. I liked the vibe of the place. Everyone was very attentive to us and the food was great. I liked their section of beers and cocktails. We even coincidentally sat next to one of the owners who was dining as a patron who was incredibly friendly and pleasant to talk to. I would definitely go back. read more

A bit off the beaten path, but well worth it! We were in town to move our daughter into her college dorm and came here for dinner the night before move-in day. Impressive beer selection, I knew right away what I wanted (Guinness) and our server brought my husband a couple of samples to help him decide. I had the chicken BLT (yum), daughter had the grilled cheese (she said the only thing that would have made it better was if it came with tomato soup) and hubby had the carnitas wrap. Staff were all super friendly too. With four more years here, we will definitely be back! read more

Just tried Celtic cavern for the first time tonight. Let me start off by saying this place has one of the best bacon cheeseburgers I've ever had. Cooked perfect medium and the bacon tasted great. Here's where the bad part is. No hostess on a Friday night?! I felt bad for the waiters and waitress. Anytime they would try to do something a new group of people would come in and get them distracted from their task. Maybe they had a call out?? It took us 45 mins to get our entrees from the time we ordered. My wife ordered the BBQ chicken with "New England bbq sauce". I'm not a BBQ expert but wtf is that. She said it was pretty spicy(spicy was not listed on the menu at all). Beer menu seemed really good for the craft beer lovers. Not my type of thing but if u want craft beers, it should be a go to place. read more

nice, somewhat hidden bar. they make a grear effort towards offering local beer and food. great environment and service. food was a bit on the pricey side, but good quality and portions. read more

Celtic Cavern - Friends +beer - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Such good food and cute place! The whole set up and it being underground it to die for. Love everything about it, especially the food. My favorite part was the build your own cheese platter. Fresh cheese and meats really met my expectations. If you stop by be sure to get that on the menu! read more

definitely a bar-vibe inside but the food was great, service was good and the place was clean. i love the build-your-own charcuterie options! read more

Atmosphere was great... the food was excellent, and so was the seeing. I highly recommend you eating here. We shared a couple of apps, and shared a salad and burger.... it was plenty of food and it was all great!!! read more

We came here after a jaunt at Mikado next door and wow is this place great. The whole decor is specific, the drinks are a great price and and the wings we had were so delicious! There was a singer there that night and he sounded great, it wasn't too busy which I like however I hope they get enough business to stick around because I will be going back! read more

This place is absolutely fantastic! The beer lines are clean and they serve a wide array of great craft options. The staff is friendly and always making sure you don't need anything. The food....so delicious! We shared the kale and romaine seared scallop caesar, the short rib and the ahi tuna. Honestly everything was tasty and plentifully portioned but I'd skip the tuna next time, and that is the only reason I gave 4 out of 5 stars. But I had such a great time I forgot to take pictures! Next time....because I will be back for sure!! read more

Absolutely, hands down, one of the best burgers I've ever had. Staff are some of the friendliest in Middletown. Cocktails are amazing. I especially love their homemade lemonade with muddled strawberries and Hendricks. If craft beer is your thing, they have that too. Their food is way above pub quality. When they have Sea Bass on their specials list, I run to the Celtic. read more

Definitely my favorite restaurant in Middletown. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable of the craft beers on tap. The food is absolutely incredible! You can't go wrong with anything they make. If you happen to be in the area stop by for great food, drinks, and a environment. read more

We found this gem among a few recommendations from our good friends at Yelp. Slightly disappointing start in that the CELTIC eatery did not have Harp or Smithwicks standard/ (at all) on tap. However the Blue Point lager made up for the miss. Feeling hungry, but not wanting to overdo for anticipated NYE dinner, we went "light". We started with the fried chickpeas- tasty little, light morsels, which went great with the recommended Hefeweizen. We split the bacon burger. Dang if we didn't each want our own after the first bite! This was truly a burger beyond the norm! Bravo!! Being the hearty eaters we are we each needed something to go with the burger. He opted for the chili and I the special cauliflower bisque. The bisque was great! Full of creaminess- but not so heavy that I couldn't finish the bowl. The chili- well, that's a must have - even if it did have red beans- not officially allowed in "real" chili.This was a game changer! It appears to be a traditional thick bowl of red meaty, (bean-filled) wonderfulness- but the first bite says "this is different. Wonderfully different!". Chef and Co- owner Bill (??!) gave us the inside scoop- only because we were so intrigued the waitress brought him by.... We won't divulge secrets, but trust 2 chili taste testers to tell you this one is a Go To!!! In the other areas of the dining experience- we loved the full length CD laden bar which we stood at - ( by choice). The bar and "dining room" are all one - but the noise is somehow muted- despite somewhat low ceilings. No trouble carrying on a conversation with my man, and we weren't bothered by the tables next to us.. Staff were very friendly- using the "whoever is near will help" attitude- love that! The final high mark goes to the bathroom- now some say " who cares?!"- but for others, like me, it can be a deal breaker- OK Not breaker if all else is GREAT, but I like a clean bathroom- this one was clean and stylish with PRIVACY! While We're a bit confused about the name of the place- because it feels more American then Celt- We loved it and will definitely be back!!! read more

I've been several times for very late-night, as well as more conventionally timed, dinners and the Celtic never disappoints (it was recommended to me by the staff at Krust, another superb late-night eatery in Middletown). The kitchen is open till midnight on weekdays and 1am on weekends: this means you are guaranteed a superb meal, no concessions made to the hour, more or less as late as you like (a rare privilege in the U.S. and all the more so in these parts). I've tried a wide range of their dishes: stand-bys such as the warm lobster roll (fresh, delicate, flavorful, good bread included), the cheese sandwich, and the burger, as well as their more elaborate fish specials and truly exceptional desserts (made by a trained patissier). The owner and chefs live up to the venue's promise: this is a true gastropub, inasmuch as the (fresh, high-quality, thoughtfully prepared) food is as much the point as the libations (and not just an excuse to drive up your sodium levels). They have a choice selection of craft beers, spirits, and wines but I invariably put myself in the hands of the super-friendly (yet respectful), smart, and highly competent bar-tenders and pick one or another of their cocktails (I appreciate the fact that they always have at least one tart or well-balanced drink on the menu and that they understand the virtues of serving drinks up); they've also made me a superb sidecar when I've been so inclined. It's a cellar bar and the aesthetic is Irish-pub, but don't let the traditional look of the place fool you: you can eat very well here and in company that also likes to eat and drink well. A welcome shot in the arm for an authentic late-night culture in central CT that does not sacrifice quality. read more

Went to dinner at Celtic Cavern Friday (1/ 13) night. Had the halibut it was delicious my husband had the filet which was excellent!! We have never had a bad meal there and Scott and his staff are always warm welcoming. The selection of craft beers is outstanding!! I would highly recommend. read more

Great food! Great atmosphere and very friendly staff... this is a real gem to the Middletown Community... FYI the grilled pork chop is the best I have ever had read more

A great little place we were so happy to find. Food was very good. One of the best steaks I've had in a long time. The Cuban was delicious. Not too greasy. The waitress recommended a fantastic beer. Cozy atmosphere. The best part though, was the staff. They were amazing! We were greeted by the chef and manager and had the best service ever. Waitress was friendly and helpful. All the wait staff seemed to work together. If one saw an empty glass she asked if we wanted a refill or took a dish as soon as we were finished. Showed real teamwork. read more

Was ok. Not bad but not great. Veal chop was decent but nothing worth $44. Flavor could have been better. Had Mahi Fish and chips which I questioned myself before ordering-most know fish and chips should be cod but figured it must be good at an Irish pub. But no- breading was funky and they had no malt vinegar... who does fish and chips with no vinegar?!? Drinks were tasty and service was nice. Bar was a cool vibe just wish food had been better read more

I've been in Middletown for about 2 weeks, and this is one of the first times I've felt at home! From the friendly staff, to the great beer selection, to the very tasty burger, I enjoyed a nice dinner at this great gastropub. I will definitely be coming here again. read more

Place is very nice...food and drink good...happy hour is best in town. It's clean which is always nice and the bartenders are also great. Only downfall it's kinda dark in their....(hence the name) Overall I like it and so did the people I went with and we will be back read more

Highly recommend. Far superior to standard pub fare. We had several small plates and shared a large plate. Deviled eggs were perfectly cook and well spiced. The mushrooms were tasty and juicy. Cheese plate was perfect with great accompaniments. Grilled cheese was crispy and gooey I would have liked a little more butter on the bread. The staff was very, very friendly. I look forward to a return trip. read more

One of the best bars in CT. Proper pints of Guinness poured. Fun fast staff, owners interact with customers. Large free parking lot right in front of it. Cozy old tavern environment. Only disappointment was I did not hear about it earlier in my visit read more

Bacon burger is other worldly! Friendly staff. Generous portions! Will definitely be back!!!

This place is just phenomenal. Excellent service, food, beer and cocktails. Absolutely love it here! Love the new dessert options!

Just finished a nice lunch with my family at this establishment. The setting was nice, good food, and nice beer selection. My server was very friendly and professional, so it was an overall good experience. When the check came, it was tucked in a book rather than the traditional vinyl folder. Inside the book was a lot of scribble from other customers and one phrase that my 14 year old son read was to turn to page 69. He did so, and saw the chapter titled 'kill whitey'. I saw this and checked to see what the book was, and it was a Michael Moore book called Stupid White Men. Well, I'm a white man and so is my son. This may not be a big deal to many, but in light of a lot of the crap going on these days, this racist propaganda is not appropriate, and very offensive to me and everyone I was with. Management needs to be aware of this, and change the way they do that or risk losing other customers as is the case with me. I'll never go back there, nor will I recommend the place to anybody. Advise- lose the politics and stick with what you're good at. read more

Awesome place. The food is awesome, fresh and a little out of the ordinary. Not your typical bar food, but great food in a great bar. I'll be a regular here for sure. read more

These guys changed ownership about a month ago and the food is tremendous. Small menu, great beer list and owners in the kitchen who know how to make a great and healthy meal. Atmosphere is great and our waitress was wonderful. read more

My boyfriend and I were looking for a place to eat dinner and we randomly stumbled upon this place. They had just revamped their menu and were in the soft opening phase of the rebrand. I have to say, the food exceeded our expectations. The bacon... Oh my gosh you have to try the bacon. Pork belly, roasted four hours and then sliced. Get the bacon, you won't be disappointed. Local brews, friendly staff. We will be back to try the burger because it looks amazing. read more

Awesome, hidden spot! Came for dinner on a Friday, bartender had an amazing knowledge of the drafts, a lot of which where local. The meal was fantastic, perhaps some of the best food I've had (especially the bacon burger) and it has. awesome atmosphere! read more

Great food and staff. Premium beer selection and it's amazing what they did with that space. You have to eat there. The food IS amazing.

The best steak I've ever had. It was cooked perfectly and seasoned to perfection. Our waiter was very knowledgeable of the menu, and offered us great recommendations for us to try next time if we chose to return, and without a doubt we will be returning. read more

Intricate, creative menu items are a foodie's dream come true. Beer selection is great, and they support local brewery Stubborn Beauty. The atmosphere is dim and cozy, and the staff is welcoming. Mind the step as you enter. Don't miss the meat and cheese plate! read more

Disappointed with our experience here...We went out for a drink and a couple apps. Menu is modestly priced but nothing really jumped out at us. The server reviewed the specials so we decided to share a Ribye dinner. Got the bill and the 16oz Ribeye was $57.00!!! When we questioned the server, he lied and said he told us the price which was not the case! Don't mind paying for a great meal but this was far from it and not the type of establishment that should be charging that price for a meal... Needless to say will not be visiting again. read more