Republic Gastro Pub was the perfect spot for two childhood friends meeting up in Bloomfield, along…read morewith their husbands, and it could not have been better. There's always a little pressure when a dinner is part reunion, part catch-up, part "please let the restaurant be good enough to match the occasion," and Republic absolutely came through. The whole evening was fantastic. Shane took great care of us and struck that perfect balance of being attentive, personable, and making everything feel easy. He helped the night flow in a way that let us relax, laugh, catch up, and enjoy ourselves without ever feeling rushed. The dinners across the table were a hit, but my Moroccan lamb special was next-level. It was one of those meals where you take a bite and immediately stop mid-conversation because your full attention has been redirected to the plate. The flavors were rich, layered, and so unexpectedly good that I'm still thinking about it. Everyone loved their meal, the atmosphere made it easy to settle in and enjoy the evening, and the prices felt very reasonable, especially for how good the whole experience was. All in, Republic Gastro Pub gave us exactly what you hope for in a night like that: great food, great service, lots of laughs, and a dinner worthy of the reunion

Overall, great restaurant. I had a hard time picking my drinks and food because everything looked…read morevery good and unique. The drinks in particular were very well balanced and thoughtfully curated. Ambience was cozy and upscale, with some prices to suggest this restaurant may be better suited for special occasions rather than your regular hang. Service was just-ok. No complaints but nothing special either, and the table near the door that we sitting at was probably near a heating vent because it was a little uncomfortably warm. Overall, yes, I would go back to dine here and I would recommend Republic Gastropub.

My previous review was about great food and service during the pandemic lockdown…read more I've been there quite a few times in the past couple of years for both lunch and dinner--it's a convenient meeting spot. The service and the food are always top notch. I love the white-tablecloth feel of the place (which wasn't something I could comment on 5 years ago).

Tonight fell flat for me I place an online order at 6:30 then arrived at 7:01 to pick up my order…read more When I arrived, my order was not complete and I asked if it was possible to add three orders of dessert to my order which they happily obliged. From that moment, I sat for 45 minutes while I waited for them to slice the cheesecake and two other desserts that I ordered well the older woman at the desk was kind. It did seem like that was a lot of time for simple desserts. For dinner, I ordered the salmon and I was not a fan while the portion I believe was fair. The salmon lacked any depth of flavor, it had a beautiful char and was juicy however, definitely not something I would order again.

Made a reservation for my friends birthday, had an amazing experience and the food was great!…read more Seated us in a beautiful spot in the cafe, and presented my friends pancakes with a candle!

This place is a breath of fresh air for the CT brunch scene, vibrant Asian-fusion flavors and a…read morestunning, plant-filled aesthetic. It's THE spot for those craving pillowy Japanese Soufflé Pancakes aka Hottokeki or a savory Korean Egg Drop sandwich, paired with expertly crafted strawberry field matcha. My favorite however was the katsu chicken over rice.. incredible flavors, the breading on the chicken was crisp. I'd come back just for that and probably try the Hong Kong toast next time. Service was great, a must-visit for foodies and social media fans .

The Charles…read more Delicious food and a great atmosphere in beautiful Old Wethersfield We love the vibe here!

Food: 3.8/5 Service: 3.4/5…read moreAmbiance: 3.7/5 Value: 3.6/5 The Charles is a nice upscale restaurant on Main Street in Wethersfield which opened in 2020 and quickly made Connecticut magazine's list of best restaurants. It is inside an old house of some sort, so it has a charming ambiance. They have a small parking lot so the spaces are a bit tight. Then, although we were on time for our 8:15pm reservation, we found out that they didn't have a table for us on the main floor, which is bad because my parents have mobility issues and cannot climb stairs. They asked us if we would be ok waiting five or ten minutes. Sure, that was fine we said. The host was very reassuring and he let us know that the corner table near the fireplace was finishing up and he'd get it bussed promptly. So that was good. But after we sat down we experienced service issues. Many items were unavailable. No orrechiete. No crab cakes. No sirloin special. It was weird. We hadn't arrived that late, on a Saturday night, how could so many dishes be sold out/unavailable? We ended up going with the scotch egg $11 and butternut squash arancini balls $12 for appetizers, which were both great. The scotch egg was a decent size and came with a mini salad. The arancini balls were small, but the truffle gorgonzola fontina cheese filling was really nice. Entrees were not bad. My Berkshire pork chop cooked medium was tender enough and had decent flavor. My Dad's veal ribs over mac and cheese were really good. My Mom's wagyu burger was tasty and my sister's salad was satisfactory. However the cost of the additional protein to the salad seems high (Grilled Chicken +14 / Seared Salmon +16/ Grilled Shrimp +21 / Churrasco Steak +24). The drinks were well made, but took a while to get to us. The "Charles... In Charge!" with old forester bourbon, montenegro, spiced cherry bitters, luxardo $15 was a hit. My Dad enjoyed his $17 Manhattan made with Angel's Envy bourbon. My $11 FreeBird mocktail was refreshing. Yet, throughout the night we found it difficult to get our server's attention. All four dishes did not arrive simultaneously. We had to flag someone down for more silverware after the appetizers were cleared. Right at the end when we were ready to pay, she got tied up listening to a couple at a neighboring table tell her a story or something. This must have been quite a yarn because she was totally enrapt and oblivious to our needs. We started wondering whether our table was actually her responsibility or not. Finally she came by and we let her know we were done, no dessert or after dinner drinks, just the check and a few boxes for takeout please. This was a new restaurant that we hadn't tried before, and maybe I took a risk by booking it for my Dad's 89th birthday, which was supposed to be special. Our experience was okay, and maybe we'd go again in the future, but there were too many more ups and downs this evening than I would have liked for a special occasion. I am rounding up to four stars overall, even though on this particular evening I didn't think each individual component met that mark exactly.

I was in the area for business. My only regret is we waited until the last night we were in town to…read morecheck this place out. We didn't try the food but based on their beer quality, the food would be equally epic. Generally when you stop into a brewery you'll try a few beers and find one or two you like. This place, I enjoyed all of the beers we sampled! Big open seating area, plenty of inside and outside seating. Nintendo, foosball, and board games to play inside. Looked like they have some live music at times as well. The staff was great! Very knowledgeable about the beers and willing to help you decide on a choice.

I've always liked back east brews on tap at local CT restaurants so when my friends wanted to meet…read moreup at the actual brewery I was so excited! Upon entering there are various types of seating from patio to indoor to private areas for parties. I really liked the QR code method to buy food made in house. I can say I was very impressed with my steak tacos! Such a perk at a brewery! When ordering a brew I was a bit disappointed I couldn't get a flight but they did offer smaller glasses to taste multiple brews. Icecream man is always a fan favorite and a classic so I opted for that. But my friend got their icecream man topped with a berry beer and she loved it! I'd love to come back and try their seltzers and other fun drinks!

Went for "girl dinner" on a Thursday and it did NOT disappoint…read more They have a special with a kale Caesar salad, fries, and an Aperol spritz for $25! (You can add chicken tenders for an upcharge $10) The drink can't be swapped for another alcoholic drink, but you can switch it for something non-alcoholic if you want. Everything was sooo well flavored. The kale Caesar? Literally to die for. I never take salad home because it gets soggy...but I ate it the next day and it was STILL so good and the croutons were somehow still crunchy The chicken tenders were amazing, the fries were perfection, and even though I'm not usually an Aperol spritz girl, I finished the whole drink 10/10 would go back for girl dinner

The Laurel Brunch today was selected for a special birthday--it was a delicious, pleasant…read moreexperience. The interior of the restaurant was lovely- beautiful wallpaper; comfortable booths. Food and cocktails were delicious.We shared delicious Brussels sprouts and chicken wings for appetizers. I had a creamy tofu scramble for my meal. My companions all had egg dishes which they all said were very tasty. For dessert I had scrumptious Tiramisu- not too sweet, just right! My companions had slices of confetti cake - the frosting was meringue! Their specialty cocktails were varied with interesting, flavorful combinations- not the usual. I decided to try a Manhattan instead which was very, very smooth. Our server, Lonnie, was very gracious and attentive. At the end of our brunch she served us sparkling wine, courtesy of The Laurel with a happy birthday note for our birthday celebrant- such a lovely surprise!

My son let me know this restaurant serves Arethusa Farms ice cream, which is heaven on earth!…read moreImmediately, my husband and I were triggered with heightened curiosity. We visited Arethusa Farms years ago, and we felt like pioneers discovering gold. I digress. I loved our experience at Le Mazet. The food is scrumptious and although the environ is cozy and has an inviting feel of a warm country cottage, the refined service is on par with the legendary Four Seasons Restaurant in NYC (not to be mistaken for the hotel flag). Chef's kiss to Jared and his inimitable staff!

A friend and I met for brunch at le mazet recently and it was a pleasure, from start to finish…read more I had emailed the business in advance for clarification on the brunch menu and received a prompt, friendly response. I made a reservation for our visit and was seated promptly at a beautiful table near the front door. The entire dining area is gorgeous--so much attention to detail. Service throughout our meal was attentive and friendly. I had the boeuf bourguignon and it was so tender and seasoned perfectly. I also had the bread service, featuring sourdough from Small State Provisions--the perfect accompaniment to this hearty stew. We both drank Le Poney Roses, which were balanced and beautiful--a fabulous mocktail that really embodies the spirit of a cocktail. We weren't rushed at all and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I will be back for more!

I went for a friends gathering. Never been to Dudleytown but I really liked it. They had a band…read moreplaying on a Friday night . Plenty of tables outdoors , some tables in the front by the fire and tables inside. The bar and food are indoor. The menu was pretty good. I ordered a salad either grilled chicken since it was gluten free but they had chicken tenders and gluten free pizza that were gluten free options. The hotdog picture I posted , my friend ordered it and she enjoyed it. We were enjoying the presentation more though! They really liked the fries they said . Service was awesome. No complaints! They were great! I thought it was a nice brewery! Definitely an awe's place to go and get together and chill. They do have a list of bands and events online for the summer lined up. Great place!

Came for the Mayhem event put on by New England Obscura! It was definitely an event you didn't want…read moreto miss filled with oddities! The beer selection was great, I stick to sour and I liked their Berried Bones and Upside Down They didn't have all of their food options due to the event, but the food was still good.

I'm back! The restaurant is located on 389 Main St. in East Hartford, CT. It's been a few months…read moresince I was last here (December) which is a crime. Carmine's is a fresh from scratch kitchen that is ALWAYS open. Their appetizers, pastas, entrees and desserts combine old-world traditional Italian flavor with a modern flair for presentation, and the freshest ingredients around. Menu staples like rigatoni bolognese, fettuccine carbonara and chicken Milanese are coupled with unique recipes like chicken ala vodka and toasted almond cake. They've staffed the kitchen with a dream team of chefs and you can tell instantly! They also do parties, catering and online ordering/delivery. The restaurant is well known for its live music. There is never a cover and parking is always free. This place and produces absolutely amazing food and drinks. I have noticed quite a few menu changes. The Happy Hour menu has expanded. It's also no longer all day Monday. The main menu no longer has prices on featured drinks (although that's the tre d these days). Note that the Bar Bites menu is available open to close! The Main Menu looks the same although there is a new Wine List (that's a first here). The music is very pleasant and the right volume level. It's always a big cool in here too. For my first drink, I'm having a Pratt N Whiskey. This is made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, sweet vermouth, red wine and sour mix. It's definitely an unusual drink. It's not garnished, but it tastes great. The wine sticks out for sure. It's clearly a shaken drink not often found with a whiskey component except for maybe Whiskey Sours. For my first item, I'm having the House Salad made with spring mix, basil, tomatoes, julienned (thinly sliced) carrots, cucumbers and house red wine vinaigrette dressing. This is a big portion! I love this dressing! This tastes great! For my next item, I'm trying the Carmine's Secret Tenderloins. These are off of Carmine's "Secret Menu." They are pan seared, caramelized chicken tenderloins, made with wine, olive oil, cracked black pepper (dried black peppercorns broken into coarse, uneven pieces), kosher salt (a coarse, flaky salt named for its use in the Jewish koshering process of drawing blood from meat), shredded Parmesan and a very special "secret sauce." I'm curious as to what this sauce tastes like. Wow! Nice presentation! These are good! I love that sauce! There's a good crowd in here (20 people). Only one worker (bartender and server). She's damn good at what she does! For my next drink, I'm having a Connecticut Cosmo. This is made with Litchfield Vodka, Wild Moon Cranberry, Triple Sec and lime juice. This vodka is the Gold Medal Winner 2018 & 2019 at the New York International Spirits Competition. Silver Medal Winner at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition!Our Gluten-Free Batchers' Vodka is distilled from luscious corn grown during the beautiful summer months in Somers, CT. We distill 4 ¾ times and use a gravity-fed charcoal filter that takes 12 hours to filter 100 gallons. The longer the vodka sits on the charcoal, the more impurities are removed, which creates an incredibly smooth taste. Bottled at 80 proof. It is impeccably clean, slightly sweet, velvety smooth mouthfeel and sweet buttery overtones. It's smooth with a warm finish with subtle notes of sweet ripe corn at the end. I actually sat down next to the owner of the Distillery at a wine pairing dinner at Flemings in West Hartford about 7-8 years ago. This looks nice! Wow! This has great flavor! For my next item, I'm having the Rigatoni Matinara. Rigatoni is a large, tube-shaped pasta with ridges on the outside and straight-cut ends. Marinara sauce is a tomato sauce usually made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and onions. I don't eat pasta all that often. This will serve as my appetizer before I hit the main course. This is a BIG portion! It is very good! For my entree I'm having the Pan Seared Salmon which is "hand cut" salmon with zesty orange glaze served over mashed potatoes with seasonal vegetables (broccoli). Add LOTS of crushed red pepper. Nod that's "LOTS." This is spicy! My kinda spicy! The plate is nice and hot! I like the presentation. This tastes great! What a great meal here!

We didn't eat anything We were together with the guests from…read moreTürkiye . And we want to stop by and eat after soccer game. Unfortunately we made a reservation but there is a reunion and it was noisy. They are short on staff! We wait for a while and our guests said that we cant eat anything here. Nobody still come to ask for orders they can't make ready 10 peoples order. So we left the place! The parking area was full to. Couldn't find any place. !!! İ saw the owners Reply! İ am glad that we didn't stay. This is inaccurate too because no one didn't come to ask our order!!!My husband went and find someone to take our orders. Even not 3 times. Who said that to you? When we tried to give order we realized that even will be harder to prepare to orders for 10 peoples. And it's too noisy and yes it's not suit for baby. When we call for reservations you have to tell us about your reunion party!

Great food, great service, luxurious atmosphere. The windows all around allow you to have a great…read moreview of the Hartford skyline and the river. There are a lot of food options, we came for a friend's birthday party and they had created a custom menu. My only qualm with the place is access- difficult to find the parking and to navigate to get in here, it's a business/apartment building so takes a few extra steps to access the restaurant.

I was immediately smacked in the face with the lack of ventilation. My clothes and my hair took on…read morethe aroma of the restaurant, and my desire to eat here was immediately shaped by our first step inside. Notwithstanding, we looked forward to something unique and outstanding, given the constant advertising on Yelp for the Parker House Rolls. The hostess was friendly, the waiter a bit snobbish, but perhaps that's the "exclusive" vibe they are trying to project. We went on to peruse the menu, which is a bit abbreviated; I assumed it's because they are focused on their "specialty." We took in the views, which, hailing from New York City, were not as vast or fascinating as those we were used to. Granted, we knew where we were and really had no expectations. We just wanted to enjoy dinner. The meal's presentation was beautiful. The Parker House Rolls were delicious. The Hamachi Crudo appetizer was perfection. I did not enjoy the Skate Wing and did not eat it; it had a tough rubbery texture; probably overcooked. I mentioned to my waiter that I didn't enjoy it, and he offered no alternative, so I ate more rolls. My husband enjoyed the Dry Aged Rohan Duck. We topped it off with a chocolaty dessert and French press coffee. The friendliest of the staff was a young man who collected our plates after our entrees. He smiled and interacted in a very down-to-earth manner. Overall, the appetizer, rolls, and dessert were delicious. The service was stoic and not warm or welcoming. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be visiting again.