We've come back here several times since our first time and we are never disappointed. Everyone is so lovely here and the food, drinks and ambiance are top tier. This isn't a place you come just to eat at, it's a whole experience. Always great! read more

We thought we had found our new favorite spot, but unfortunately we were met with some of the unfriendliest service we've ever experienced. The hostess--who we believe was the owner--never greeted us with a smile. The busboy also seemed unhappy to be there, and our waiter came across as angry and annoyed that we were dining there. The only person who smiled or seemed welcoming was the waiter's assistant. One friendly face out of four. It's a shame because the food was excellent. Unfortunately, great food alone isn't enough to overcome such an unwelcoming atmosphere. Based on the service, we wouldn't return. read more

Here's a quick background of myself. We eat out at least 6 days a week. So we know our food. This place has earned one of my highest titles. I call it my Last Meal Go to.. The food is so good that if my time is expiring this place is on my list. I had a Steak Fritte which had to be one of the most tasteful and well cooked steaks I've had. YES better than some high rated steak houses. That's the unfortunate truth. So I can save you the unpleasant experiences when I tell you THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO. I will be back soon! read more

Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn - Truly delicious dessert. - New American Near Me - Kent, Connecticut

Mid-Afternoon on a Sunday, we were looking for a place to eat after a visit to Kent Falls. The town of Kent is small town New England, with some cute shops & restaurants. Fife 'n Drum on Main Street has an inn & gift shop in 1 building, and a restaurant in another building. Hardly any customers at the time we went, however there were several very nice & welcoming staff. White tablecloths, but it's not an over the top fancy place. The menu is varied - salads, sandwiches & some nicer dining options. I had the burger with pineapple chutney, cheddar cheese & bacon. My husband had a turkey club. Both came with thin crispy fries. And both were very good. Actually, my burger was very delicious & very difficult to eat (the bottom of the brioche bun was soaked from the burger/toppings) . The pineapple salsa did go really well with the burger though - I wished there was more of it. Maybe serve it on the side? Relaxing music (soft jazz, Frank Sinatra, etc ) was playing on their speaker. And it looked like they had an actual piano bar there. Wonder when there is live music? No room for dessert, even though it looked like they had some great options: wild blueberry pie, Creme brûlée & Arethusa ice cream. read more

My sister and I visited Fife 'n Drum's Restaurant for dinner on a Wednesday evening. The ambiance is casual, but also old-school steakhouse vibes. They have twinkle lights around their window frames, wooden furniture, and lots of beautiful artwork on the walls. There appeared to be only one waiter for the whole restaurant, however, we received the best service. Our glasses were never empty. The bartender helped to keep our water glasses full, too. We started with a French onion soup and a butternut squash soup. My sister raved about her French onion soup, and my butternut squash soup was delicious! There was bread service, wrapped in a towel, to keep it warm - a lovely touch! I ordered Steak Frites, and the steak was cooked to perfection! Great sear on the outside, and so flavorful! It came with cooked carrots and green beans, and I appreciated that the vegetables had a nice crunch to them. The fries were perfection, so much so, that my sister snitched some off my plate. My sister ordered Duck Flambé, so we enjoyed the table side show. For dessert, we shared a slice of lemon cheesecake with a caramel sauce. A delicious find, and we're so glad we stopped here during our stay in Kent. read more

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We went back again this weekend. Another amazing experience, this restaurant does no wrong! The piano player was lovely, each dish we had was perfect. Our server Alina treated us like royalty, we will be back soon! read more

Good home style food with a comfortable homey atmosphere. Good service. Enjoyed our meal read more

Fife 'n Drum is an old fashioned charmer. It's all dark wood and rustic elegance, the kind of place where one expects to see an old country gentleman in a tweed suit and bowtie, taking Sunday supper by the fireplace. The fireplace was sadly not lit on the wet, March evening when our group of eight stopped in for an early dinner, but the service was warm. Two small loaves of airy, soft, white bread were brought out to the table with butter -- a nice, increasingly rare courtesy. We tried desperately to fend off little hands so little bellies wouldn't fill up too much before the "real food" came. Our food was a bit of a mixed bag. The best dish we tried was by far the pork chop with braised red cabbage and fingerling potatoes. The meat was beautifully brined and very moist, potatoes nicely roasted, and cabbage tender, not-overly-acidic. It was a seasonal and balanced preparation. The least well liked dish we tried was the duck flambé. The children quite appreciated the pyrotechnics of course, but enjoyed the dry, overcooked meat and dry rice far less. The summer squash, while not a hit with the kids and not seasonal, was cooked to just the right degree of doneness (a touch firm, not mushy) and pleasantly garlicky -- but was quite excessively oily. Somewhere in the middle: The scallops with risotto. The five scallops in the dish were small, but sweet and nicely browned. Risotto was the correct, al dente texture and the roasted tomatoes that studded it were lovely: sweet, almost sundried in flavor and texture. But the dish was again unpleasantly overpowered by oil. I had a hard time eating the risotto after I fished out all the vegetable matter. Given the lovely service and pleasant setting (and the fact that we drive by four times a weekend for a third of the year), I'm quite sure we'll return to try more of this promising menu -- especially the nice sounding cocktails when I don't have to drive! read more

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I'm actually updating this to 5 stars. The food is stellar. And, they have a dedicated pastry chef for the wonderful ever changing dessert menu PLUS real whipped cream. Very few restaurants these days have such a magnificent dessert menu. Do not pass by the Fife 'n Drum for all the other shiny upscale restaurants around. The Fife firmly deserves a spot in the fantastic Litchfield County restaurant lineup. read more

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First time here and absolutely everything was amazing from the service to the food! If you have never had table side Cesar salad it was absolutely fantastic! Recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a warm friendly place for a fantastic meal and service. Can't wait to go back! read more

The Fife'n Drum is The Best Restaurant in Kent,CT. What a beautiful atmosphere with the live piano player, the ambiance, the joy and efficiency of everyone who works there. I just had the best onion soup I have ever had, and I have been having onion soup for forty years. Also, The Inn is the cutest, most comfortable bed and room you could ever ask for. I love the Fife'n Drum Restaurant, and I love the Fife'n Drum Inn!!!!! read more

Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn - The Best Onion Soup Ever - New American Near Me - Kent, Connecticut

2 salads with chicken were ordered. We were told they would be ample for lunch. One was significantly smaller than the other. Barely any chicken and I left hungry. We were not asked if we wanted a refill on our drinks. We weren't asked if we enjoyed our lunch. Just paid the check and left. read more

I expected standard American fare. But the menu through in some items with a Mexican flare. Started out with Onion soup and it was top notch. I opted for the Mexican home style Pozele bowl. ( pork, veggies, avocado, chips in a soupy pork broth. Truly excellent on this cold Saturday night. My friend was less hungry and opted for an Onion soup with a side of fries. ( we took some home) Drinks were poured heavy as they say ( pleasantly surprised). We sat at the bar and the bartender was fun, friendly talkative ( the way it should be) I think/ believe her name is Lucy. This was my first time in, but since I've started hanging out in town I'll be back read more

Alyssa is amazing! This place has gone on for many years due to the outstanding Service and Staff. You have to have Alyssa make you her Caesar salad... You won't be disappointed! read more

My husband Dan and I had dinner there last night, and I see that he already posted his review on Yelp. We eat out 6-7 days/week, and the negative outcome of that is that our palates have gotten "spoiled" and very demanding , especially Dan's. He's a big meat eater and very few places do the trick for him at this point. Yesterday he was ecstatic with his steak fritte, even put it in his list of last meals ( I think it's the first and only one that has made it to that list so far, lol). We both loved the Mediterranean Cod I ordered, and veggies it came with, the delicious fries that accompanied Dan's steak, the spinach artichoke appetizer, the warm, crusty bread that came with !SOFT! butter (most restaurants bring cold butter, hard to spread), and the amazing profiteroles! The atmosphere is so warm, cozy, inviting, and calming, transporting you to a bygone era. For Dan and I the Fife 'n Drum was an all around wonderful experience and we can't wait to go back. We live a bit far but we plan to make the trip as often as possible. We also met Elise, the wonderful owner, who was kind enough to give us the number of the table we like, so we'll be sure to reserve it ahead of time. I'm truly looking forward to our next visit and we'll tell our friends and family about this wonderful little gem! Loved it! read more

This is a great spot to have a meal! Armando was absolutely fantastic and really was so attentive to everything. Service was amazing and the space really was beautiful. Would definitely go back! read more

The Fife and Drum is amazing. The ambience, the staff, and the food are all five star. I just had the best meal there, beginning with Caesar salad, flambé duck for an entree, and strawberry shortcake for desert. What a treat! My son had the pork chop and sour cherry crisp for desert. He loved it. The service is top notch with pleasant and friendly staff. The piano player sets the mood for an enjoyable evening. The drive to Kent is scenic, making this a great special occasion restaurant. Some may consider the prices high, but believe me, well worth it. read more

Hubby and I stopped for lunch on a Saturday. I had the soup - beef veggie orzo - rich flavor and a nice size bowl and Caesar salad. He had the house braised corned beef sandwich. All was delicious. There was also bread that was served warm and a great selection of teas (~11 flavors). The server was very pleasant- Alina. Stop a moment and enjoy the place. read more

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Not only is the food and service fantastic at the restaurant (had the French onion soup, scallops and hubby had Caesar salad and steak frites with Sonoma Chardonnay), the room at the Inn was absolutely fantastic! So comfortable, cute, and clean! I love this place and highly recommend it to fellow leaf peepers and then some. read more

Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn - Fife'n Drum - New American Near Me - Kent, Connecticut

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Basically one of the few restaurants open in town, so gave it a try. The food was very tasty. Ordered bbq wings, Bacon Mac and cheese (a little heavy) steak frites, and scallop and shrimps. The food was very appetizing considering it's take out and tasted good. They will be having an anniversary soon with some specials. Try it out if you are in the area. read more

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Food, service, and ambiance are all incredible! The table side Caesar salad is to die for.

My husband and I were visiting from LA and happened to walk into this magical restaurant. It was like walking into a warm hug. The place is beautifully charming. It was Feb and cold outside and we noticed a table in front of the fire. We had the absolute best lunch and so enjoyed the friendly and professional staff. We got an opportunity to meet both of the owners and hear a bit about the history of the Fife n Drum. Elissa and George were so incredibly kind and welcoming. They make me want to move to Kent. The Magic of the warm fire and lovely conversation along with the fabulous food is definitely 5 Star. Best Cesar salad we have ever had and the Pozole soup was fantastic. I would highly recommend Fife n Drum and look forward returning in June. read more

What a delight. Food, ambiance, and good old fashioned service. Treat yourself to their Ceasar salad and Filet Mignon prepared tableside. Our party of six were so pleased that we made this restaurant part of our kent getaway! read more

Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn - New American Near Me - Kent, Connecticut

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We visited for the first time yesterday for lunch. Very good overall experience. Sort of an old-school Americana atmosphere. The service was excellent. The food was good (not great). There aren't many options in Kent, so if you need a solid option for a leisurely lunch or dinner I would recommend Fife 'n Drum and I would return for a similar occasion. read more

I have gone to the Fife since I was a child. My grandfather used to take my sister and I to fine dining establishments to show us manners, and likely food we were never aware of. Some of my fondest memories are being taken to the Fife, as my grandfather and Dolph were friends. if a restaurant had a piano bar? High on his list. I remember many a night listening to his Irish tenor against Dolph, and Ephraim Zimbalist Jr. While I am local, it's just far enough to not be my local place. but last year, I decided that we would have Easter lunch there. While it is a time capsule memory for me, the food is stellar. It is the very essence of New England cooking slightly reimagined. it is seriously old school and I love that. The Fife has likely changed through the times, but they offer a wide array. The service is perfect. You are not waited on by just one, but the whole staff. As someone who worked in every facet of restaurants while getting my career off, I know how valuable a team they have. Trust me when I say, this is an unpretentious local gem that really shines. I am so happy that even while Dolph is gone, his legacy continues. Our late lunch today was lovely. I am always transported to a different time. the music is always wonderful. We will always return for special occasions, if not more regularly than Easter dinner. read more

Go to the Fife 'n Drum 4-5 times a year, always liked it and food/service was great. Just went again and experience was 50/50. Waiter came back 2-3 times to confirm order and the meals still came out wrong. Caesar Salad mixup and burger did not have onions. Not a huge deal, but was asked 3-4 times to confirm what we ordered. We will definitely go back, but last experience was 50/50. read more

Great service for what these wonderful waiters and waitresses have to work with. Certainly great Old New England ambiance, we'll stocked bar and wine list, but the food is just so, so. Regardless, still worth a visit, I will, again, always hoping for those food improvements. But then I probably would have too hard a time getting a seat. I guess I'm happy just the way they are. read more

The Fife is a legend and for good reason. It's been in Kent for almost 50 years! With the same family running it! So what I wanted to talk about was the Chicken Wings. I do not know how they do it but they're always wonderful with an equally wonderful Blue Cheese dressing. I always get Lemon Mustard but sometimes the BBQ but they have other flavors like Tandoori Dry Rub. They're all delicious! Don't get me wrong. This is not a "chicken wing" place. They have good food for serious diners but if you don't want a Rack of Lamb, those chicken wings will hit the spot. Thanks Chef Leon! read more

Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn - Lemon Mustard Chicken Wings - New American Near Me - Kent, Connecticut

We had a fantastic time at this awesome restaurant. The server was extremely friendly, kind, and responsive. All together it was a great meal. The Oso Buco was to die for, highly recommended. read more

Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn - Filet Mignon au Poivre* - New American Near Me - Kent, Connecticut

I stayed two nights and ate at the restaurant twice. The staff is very professional and attentive. The room was nice and the food was good. Now back to hiking the AT. read more

Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn - Fife'n Drum Kent CT - New American Near Me - Kent, Connecticut

The Fife and Drum is a wonderful place for any occasion. A night out with your girlfriends, a date night or a special event! Elissa & team are spot on with their service. The food is delicious and lots of options to choose from! I had my baby shower at the Fife- the perfect spot to host my special event. The Fife has been a staple in Kent for many years and consistently provides top service! read more

Everything is delicious, very comfortable and service is very good, Friendly people and just a perfect place to get together with friends & family . Going Saturday for lunch with friends it's their first time to enjoy a wonderful meal read more

Food was good Service was attentive. The ambiance was very rustic Very nice although read more

Well worth the effort to travel to Kent, CT. What awaits you is a wonderfully varied menu, and excellent, attentive service. You are surrounded by a country inn decor with cozy and safe seating. We felt very comfortable there. read more

Celebrated my mom's bday here with a group of 9. Great service, nice live music. It's a bit loud - I personally didn't mind it but if you go with people who get overwhelmed or anxious with a lot of noise just ask to sit in the back room which is away from the music. Food was great, lots of parking, bathroom clean, great service. read more

I am surprised to see a few less than favorable reviews of Fife and Drum on Yelp. I have to assume those that left said reviews either have no appreciation for service, are more inclined to favor soulless, trendy, hipster establishments or simply have no taste. I'd always wanted to try the Fife. Every time I'd pass by it, I'd think to myself, "I need to stop in some time." When my husband took me out on our first date, he opted to take me there, (unbeknownst to me). I was thrilled! The service was top notch from the homemade pasta to the table side Caesar salad for 2, the extensive wine list and live music. Whether you are looking for a lighter meal, (if so, recommend having a drink at the bar and enjoying a bowl of French Onion Soup), or you're looking to enjoy a special meal out, (everything on the menu is delicious, the Caesar salad is a must, creme brulee hits the spot every time...) this is a place one must appreciate. You just don't find eating establishments with this kind of character anymore. You don't find the impeccable service. You'd be hard pressed to find live piano appearances anywhere in the area. Where can you find table side duck flambé in Connecticut in 2023?! And the charm. The fireplace, the dim lighting, the bucolic country setting you'll find in Kent during any season. This is the type of dining experience that is meant to be enjoyed. That being said, if you do not like "country" motifs, appreciate stellar service, if you do not care for pewter or Americana with (one might say) a British pub flair, if you are not a foodie, if you are not into "the Northeast vibe" then please, by all means, go elsewhere as this place is not for you and those of us that thoroughly enjoy it will have a greater chance of getting a table closest to the piano man, (tip: check out the Fife's website prior to your visit to check out the current menu and live entertainment schedule! You won't be disappointed). The sad thing about unique places like this, (and something I wish more connoisseurs would keep in mind when posting reviews), is that once they are gone, that's it. It gets harder and harder to compete in a fast moving world where so many sacrifice quality for speed and budget. It is so important to support small, independent, family owned, local businesses. We were lucky enough to have witnessed one of Dolph Traymon's last performances during our visit on our first date and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity as he was phenomenal as both original proprietor of the Fife and as world renowned pianist. We are so pleased to see that the Fife has continued to showcase local talent in Mr. Traymon's memory and aligned with his vision. We have dined here a dozen times since our first date. We've not once had an "off" meal or experience. Married 6 years and expecting our first child, we plan on returning with our parents to celebrate our growing family soon. We could not think of a more desirable spot to do so. Thank you, Elissa, for carrying on your family's legacy and giving us all a chance to enjoy the Fife and Drum for another 50 prosperous years! We appreciate all you, (and your wonderful staff) do to bend over backwards in a display of authentic and evident hospitality toward your guests. read more

Ordered the prime rib, my wife had a sandwich, prime rib was dry, no Au jus. Service was less than stellar.

Great atmosphere. Excellent food. Perfect service. Tony Bennett's ghost is playing the piano. Love this place. read more

Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn - New American Near Me - Kent, Connecticut

My only disappointment is we didn't get to eat off the metal plates waiting for us at the table, complete with the image of the Fife and Drum on them. They were whisked away in favor of glass plates which, I must admit, are probably easier to wash in mass. My family and I went to the Fife and Drum for our Easter dinner. It was a little crowded for our three o'clock seating, and slowly died down the later it got. The Lobster Asparagus Bisque was plentiful with lobster meat, and my lamb was tender and well seasoned. For dessert, the Bailey's cheesecake was a touch overcooked but creamy and well complimented with the whipped cream. My father was almost through with what he thought was a very fudge-like Chocolate Mousse when the waiter came over with a new slice, explaining he had given him the chocolate ganache in error. Can't hold free chocolate against them! The staff was extremely quick and attentive. They kept refilling out water glasses, although had to prompted for a drink from the bar. The artwork on the wall looks homey and personal, although unremarkable. The bathroom was a single room, not multiple stalls, but clean and stocked with extra rolls of toilet paper. The meal ended with the check and festive proffering of a basket of Easter eggs, each with a handful of jelly beans. It was an adorable touch. read more

My wife made reservations here a couple of months ago, and we finally arrived last night around 10:30 PM only to find that the room she actually booked was given to someone else, so they put us in a different room with a roller bed for our son (this was after she called in the afternoon to confirm our reservation and let them know we were getting in late). The room they put us in itself was very nice and quaint. It was closest to the street, don't plan on sleeping in as the car noise and train whistle won't allow for that (reminded me a bit of My Cousin Vinny). The lady who checked us in and got the roller bed for us was very nice. We'll probably stay here again, but would make sure the actually hold the room that is booked. read more

Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn - Fife 'n Drum Inn - New American Near Me - Kent, Connecticut