Wow, what a find. Not sure exactly how I came across this business on yelp but so happy I did. I…read morestopped by an hour before close after dinner tonight. I just missed their live jazz band that they have on weekly Wednesday basis starting at around 7 or 8pm. I wasn't too disappointed because I knew I'd be back. The entrance is setup as a VHS store with VHS movie cases displayed all over the "storefront." Everyone here was polite and welcoming. I was met by a host who showed me the way into the hidden bar, that you enter via a soda machine. If I'm not mistaken, there's a specific button that opens the vending machine door (you'll get a hint as to which one it is.) I was lead to the back to a narrow, elongated bar area that was perfectly dim with cozy decor; incredibly inviting, warm, could make be described as elegant. At the end of the bar, near the exit (at the back of the establishment), is where the band usually sets up. I sat down and asked the bartender to free flow through his cocktail creativity and to please include smoke. He didn't disappoint, I can't recall the name of the cocktail but he included two scotches and delivered the smokiness I was looking for. I love a good spirit despite lacking the knowledge of its production to which Jeremy, the founder, explained to me in a way that helped me understand the distilling processes simpler than I thought possible. On their bar top there were two mini wooden barrels that held their own aged products . One contained Irish whiskey which was referred to as the Irish- the other was as a cherry infused bourbon-- both good but the bourbon? Divine. Tonight I learned that the wood you choose to age your alcohol in heavily impacts the flavor of the liquor, not only through the amount of time the spirit ages in the barrel, but the type of wood used. The example I was given was that of oak and its ability to allow sugar to be drawn from it via a liquor (can't recall which one exactly was used to describe this process). Here they also produce all of their bases/ juices or an additions to the drinks they make. You know exactly what you're drinking here. I had little knowledge of this distilling/infusion/aging components and also of Wallingford, a place that was once referred to as the wettest town in the U.S. It makes sense given that their main strip contains 18 bars in itself. This Gilded Curtain was incredibly immersive, there is no doubt that I'll be back, lots of times, with lots of different people to impress. Love this place, it's a must visit recommendation from here on out. Thank you Gilded Curtain (Jeremy).

Probably my favorite speakeasy I've been to in CT so far!…read moreLoved the traveling back in time theme. They had live music (cello, trumpet, and piano). Would give a 5 for atmosphere , though it is a bit small; bar seating only. It's also quite overpriced in my opinion, particularly for Wallingford area- $16 cocktails. I will say bartenders were very friendly and were able to make me a fun "feeling lucky" drink. Street parking is available up and down the street with a public lot a 5 minute walk down the road. I would definitely come back

"Imitator, intimidator, stimulator Simulator, eliminator"…read more(Eminem) If ten state of the art golf simulators are your stimulators, you'll love a visit to Back 9 Social. And your visit will not be handicapped by a lack of gastropub like food and drink. Their golf simulators are very impressive and combine radar and camera technology to faithfully recreate some of the best courses in the world, including St Andrews, Pebble Beach, and 120+ others. A professional organization I belong to held a gathering there last night and had a great time. We ordered and paid for our drinks through their big bar through a QR code, but you can still pay the old-fashioned way with cash if you prefer. We had plenty of their pizzas which were quite yummy. Our golfers had a blast and I should point out that although some of the other customers I saw actually brought their own set of clubs, Back 9 can hook you up with their clubs for men, women, lefties, righties, and kids. And of course, plenty of tees and balls to whack into their high-definition screens. The facility is gorgeous, the golf simulators were amazing, the staff was helpful and friendly, and it was a very enjoyable experience.

This place is a lot of fun, and we genuinely enjoy coming here, but our experience with management…read moreon multiple occasions has really put a damper on the whole establishment. We completely understand that the facility has every right to monitor alcohol consumption and prevent inappropriate behavior. Nobody wants people getting sloppy or disruptive, and we respect that. However, there's a much more professional and respectful way to handle it than what is done. We are unsure of her name, but the female manager present made us uncomfortable as she was constantly staring at our group throughout the evening instead of simply communicating expectations directly. The alcohol restrictions are also entirely ridiculous- I specifically was told by the bartender that I was being watched for alcohol consumption after having 2 Coronas in a time span of 1 hour and 45 minutes. The restriction on alcohol itself is not the main issue -- it's the way it is handled. We have felt watched and punished despite the fact that nobody in our group was loud, inappropriate, or intoxicated on multiple occasions. I also want to note that the bartenders have been spectacular and are always very nice. This is specially about the manager and the way she acts towards paying customers. When you're spending over $200 on the simulator alone, a little courtesy and respectful communication would go a long way. We really do like this place, but experiences like this make us hesitant to come back.

Driving through CT - need dinner, where you want to go? KNUCKLEHEADS!…read more WOW - great burger, great beer! Worth the stop.

Stopped here for lunch on our way back from powder Ridge Mountain biking. We were looking for some…read moreyummy veggie burgers. They had lots of vegetarian options. And the veggie burgers are Housemade and delicious! Not pictured we also got bang bang cauliflower, which was also very yummy. And they have a special which is corn with brown sugar rub yummy!!

Was in the area and wanted to try something new. Started with just wanting a martini and ended up…read moresnacking, desserts, and coffee. Small intimate dining/bar area. Bartender super friendly and attentive. Happy hour did not disappoint. Food was absolutely amazing, we'll have to pop back for entrees. Once we posted we were there a handful of friends raved that they go all the time and we can see why.

Absolutely love this place. The service is always top notch,…read moreas are the food and drinks. It's a cozy restaurant with a lot of warmth. Our server was knowledgeable of gluten free options on the menu, which was great. They start every table with potato chips and a yummy aioli, truly addicting! For food, the filet mignon was perfection. A previous time I came, they had shrimp and scallops in a saffron cream with wild rice and market vegetables and it was DIVINE! The menu does change so that dish wasn't listed this recent time that we went. It would be amazing if they brought it back as a permanent dish!!! For drinks, I loved by Buzzin in Bikini Bottom cocktail! It is my favorite! My fiancé liked the Negroni and Julep as well, but loved my drink above those. I'd definitely recommend going to Six One Nine for a date night or dinner outing!

This is my first time here. My brother sent me a Facebook post of the Berzerker I thought it was…read moreright up my alley. Once I saw that picture, I got in my car and ordered it. It did not disappoint. The sandwich is topped with a toasted pretzel bun. The sandwich contained eggs, crispy bacon, melted cheddar, chipotle aioli and hash brown patty. I also got the side of hash browns and the suggested paired drink of the Cookie Monster. The Cookie Monster is a cookie butter, cold brew topped with cookie butter cold foam. All of these items were very delicious. I do have to note my stomach didn't exactly enjoy the combination but a couple steps of Gingerale and I was good to go. That place was fairly busy. It was Friday night around 6 PM that I went. Staff was super friendly and walked me through the process as I've never been there before, so it was very easy to understand the process.

We were in the area so we decided to stop by yellow kings and grab the new golden hour coffee…read moreflight. It was so good. Came with 5 different iced coffees. Which were all delicious! I enjoyed every single one. My favorite was the MARSHZILLA COLD BREW it was made with the following HASTUR'S COLD BREW SHAKEN WITH OUR HOUSE-MADE NUZILLA SAUCE, TOPPED WITH MARSHMALLOW COLD FOAM. We also grabbed a jalapeño cheddar bagel with cream cheese. Service was fast and prices were fair.

I was in the area on a beautiful day and decided to pop into a new-to-me local spot for a drink…read more That's how I ended up at New England Cider Company. It's tucked inside an old industrial park. If you're not looking closely, you'll drive right past it. Outside, there's a casual setup with a tent, whiskey barrel tables, and some umbrellas, which sounds nice in theory, but the grass really needed a cut. It kind of took away from the whole outdoor vibe. I was planning to sit out there, so that was a bit of a letdown. Inside was a pleasant surprise. It's much bigger than it looks from the outside. The bar is right at the entrance, which made it feel like a high-traffic zone, so not ideal for lingering. There was a private party in the main room, so I headed back outside to enjoy the sun. Now to the cider: I asked for 2 samples and ended up with the cider that I didn't actually choose, but hey, I'm not one to make a fuss so I went with it. The cider I wanted was actually pretty tasty, so I might return just to give the menu another try. You know how some ciders are sweet and yummy? The one I got was the kind that tastes sour but has a higher ABV. Still good, but my goal was sweet and yummy. Service was fine but not overly warm. Nothing bad, just not memorable. Would I go back? Sure, on a really nice day. If they had live music, I'd absolutely give it another shot. There's potential here, especially for cider fans, but it's not quite my go-to yet. They did have a very cool bathroom sink. Points for that!

Awesome cider at this establishment! Always serving new flavors of the season. Definitely worth to…read morecheck this place out if you enjoy a good cup of hard cider.

Popped in after a concert on a Friday night and it was a little dead (no music til we hit the…read moreTouchTunes--everyone is welcome lol) but once the tunes started it livened up. The bartender (a gentleman in his 40s-50s) had such a cheery disposition and the beers were cheap. If I lived nearby, I'd definitely be a local. Plus I hear the jerky's great.

Cannot ask for more than good people and good drinks. Total local bar where all will feel welcome.read more

Firstly, the pizza here is phenomenal. The nachos not so much. Typical dive bar: regulars who…read moreconverse with the bartender & everyone shares a couple laughs. Great drinks, keno, scratch offs, pool table- everything you need for a chill afternoon.

Stopped in on a Friday for karaoke. Shelly at the bar is fantastic and sweet as can be. Davy Dee…read moredoes a great job with the karaoke. Stop in sometime!

Amy and I went at the Blackbird Tarven. We ordered two burgers and fries. I had Buffalo blue burger…read morewith bacon, lettuce, Buffalo sauce, and cheese. Burger looks a good taste and fries too. The staff is really friendly, funny, and fun.

Very unfortunate that I have to write this review because I was expecting something very different…read more This sadly has been my worst restaurant experience in years. We had tickets at eight for Haunting at the Ridge about three minutes away. After looking at the menu, we decided to come here for dinner. I was very excited because of all the great menu options. The service was terrible from the start all around. We arrived at 6:15. There was two people in front of us. The hostess acknowledged us, but never took our name. A few minutes later, other people started coming in and she started taking their names and asking them if they wanted to sit outside. She never gave us that option. One of the people came in and started to debate whether or not they wanted to wait 20 minutes. She told them "You can stay or go, it doesn't matter to me." I should have known right there to leave. We were seated at 6:30 which was not a bad wait. 6:45 our orders were taken. Our waitress did not come back to the table one time after bringing our drinks. Never checked on us, never let us know what was going on with the food. She came back at 7:28 with our appetizer. We asked her how long would it take for the rest of our food. She apologized and said it would be another 20 to 25 minutes. I didn't understand how burgers take over an hour to make. We canceled the rest of the order. I was excited about the hotdog. Another letdown. It was cold when I got it and the chili on top had no flavor. I'm not even sure if it was deep-fried. Definitely not worth the $14.50 price. I will say the fries were very good. They were the only bright spot of the night. They have a lot to offer, but I would never come back here due to my experience.

I love the Goat. They have a nice coffee selection and always fun beverages, teas and lemonades. If…read moreyou need a morning coffee fix or an afternoon pick me up, they have something for you. And if you don't know what you want they always have interesting staff favorites to try.

I came here with a group of friends. I tried the wines instead. I really enjoyed the Cayuga white…read moreand an apple blend. The service was fast and friendly. I would come back again to try the drafts.