"Well, I did not think the girl could be so cruel And I'm…read morenever going back to my old school" (Steely Dan) Old School and classic- that's the vibe Emrey's does so well. They are a "vintage-chic soda bar" with definite nostalgic vibes from the 1950's, or even earlier. Want an old-fashioned ice cream soda, milkshake, soda floats, ice cream sundae, banana split, or maybe a boozy ice cream or coffee drink? Well, belly up to their long soda counter, hop on a bar stool, and let your inner Fonzie go wild. You'll love their pastel pink, black and white color scheme, and you'll sure love their charm and hospitality. You won't see a zillion ice cream flavors on the menu, just the most basic varieties beyond vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. We ordered two Malt Frappes ($11 each), one Classic Vanilla and one Pistachio. They both came with whipped cream and a cherry, and my Pistachio was garnished with pistachio pieces in the frappe and atop the whipped cream. They were excellent, cold, thick, refreshing, frozen comfort food at its best and oh so nostalgic. Reminded me of the shakes we used to get t Howard Johnson's a lifetime ago. And the portions were pretty big, our server Gwen poured whatever wouldn't fit into our glasses into a plastic cup for us. Definitely worth a stop on your next visit to downtown Hartford.

Emrey's had been on my radar for a while. The shop is soo cute perfect for photo ops with the cute…read morepink decor and old school vibes ! Not to mention they have a speakeasy in the back behind the Photobooth ( yes a photobooth !!) I l got the s'mores hot chocolate and it was delicious ( I'm still think about it) Can't wait to go back and try something else !

Chip City is a cookie bakery chain founded in 2017 in NY. The cookies are large and gooey; they…read morealso offer options such as thinner cookies and crookies (croissant cookies). There are approximately 45 locations in multiple states. They have 100s of rotating flavors. This one is located in Blue Back Square in West Hartford. I've walked by it many times and finally was able to stop in. The store was cute with a couple of tables. The customer service was good. There were a variety of cookies to choose from; we ordered a variety. I loved the chocolate chips and marshmallow cookie. My family loved the cookies. It was huge and gooey! Definitely worth the hype! If you're craving a good cookie, I recommend a visit.

We came in undecided on what to get and excited by all the options! The young man working at the…read moretime was so friendly and offered to make an ice cream sandwich even though we didn't see it on the menu - the options were endless! It was busy for a Sunday and they did have cute little tables inside to eat. We ended up getting a sundae with the cookie on the side (the anniversary birthday cupcake cookie) and then another cookie on the side (the ChocoLot Thinwich). Both cookies were fabulous, but the thinwich was our favorite. The cookies are amazing, the owner is so friendly, and staff was great.

Came here for the dirty soda and got the pink lemonade with vanilla syrup and sprite…read more Was definitely a weird concoction, but it didn't taste that bad They have a different varieties of soda to choose from with various candies to pair with your drinks

Came by for the event last night and was so impressed with the dragon's blood flavor!! I asked what…read morewas in it and they explained that it was watermelon, pina colada, and cherry (I believe) ... I was so impressed with the service (very much with a smile) and I enjoyed the flavor!! I think I'd try something else next because I'm not a HUGE coconut fan but I am always up for a new flavor and this delivered! Thank you!

After some fellow Yelpers suggested Capital Ice Cream, my boyfriend and I decided to check it out…read morebefore we headed home from Hartford, and it successfully lived up to the hype. The shop has such a fun, vibrant vibe. Between the colorful graffiti artwork, décor, and playful atmosphere, the atmosphere instantly puts you in a good mood. We tried their award-winning Gram Jam, and I completely understand why it's one of their signature flavors. It was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. I also tried a plain vanilla ice cream topped with Lucky Charms. There were lots of toppings to choose, from crushed Oreos, cookie dough, brownie bites, Reese's Pieces, sprinkles, hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, fresh fruit, and cherries...making it fun to customize whatever you're craving. The staff were friendly and the shop was clean. Between the creative flavors, quality ice cream, and unique atmosphere, I'd definitely recommend too.

At the recommendation of my CM when we leaving a Yelp Event, I decided to walk over to Capital Ice…read moreCream from the Peruvian Bar on Main Street. Yeah... you read that right. Just a 0.6-mile walk, nbd, right? :D But on the way there I did get to see where the State Capitol was since I walked right by it. Yeah, there's a reason it's called "Capitol Street". I also didn't realize I would be walking into Frog Hollow, so that was cool, I guess. But the visit was worth the walk. The intent of coming here was so that my liver could oxidize the drinks I had earlier. Additionally, the ice cream did make me thankful the walk was longer than I had intended it to be even though I don't really know Hartford pretty much at all. I did have a sneaking suspicion I had had this before, so I looked back at my old reviews. Lo and behold, I DID have Capital Ice Cream before at the Hartford Taste Festival when I went last year and tried their Hartford Dough Down. In fact, it was one of the places I had remarked I most wanted to give an in-earnest visit to when I talked about it in that review. Because of this, I have now gone to a place in-person after first visiting their stand at a festival (I still need to do that for Sandra's Next Generation one fine day since I had their festival food the day before the historic flood of 2024). This time around I got to see a little of what the interior of the place looked like. You can find some interesting fact about Connecticut while you're there. I didn't get to take too many photos of that, but I at least got to snap myself some lore about Hartford. Apparently it's one of this nation's oldest cities, being founded in 1635. Cool stuff! I'd love to come back even if only for the lovely history. They have an outdoor area you can have your ice cream in, and an area where you can go downstairs to eat I believe. It's a bit cramped when trying to order, so something to keep in mind. Thankfully the service is great, quick and efficient. This time I nabbed myself a large key lime pie milkshake, and I HAD to go with The Force! I may not come from a galaxy far, far away, but I needed some Force goddammit! Originally I was going order the Charter Oak until I'd realized there was key lime pie ice cream and I couldn't say no to key lime pie. The Force is a chocolate ice cream with Oreo's mixed in and whipped cream on top as well as confectionery sugar. Overall, it's a definitely a great stop for ice cream lovers who want to do a CT Ice Cream Tour. I'll even go so far as to say it is a great ice cream to have when walking by the State Capitol. While I am more partial to having ice cream at harbors and sea shores (think having the ice cream on a dock while my feet dangle over the water), ice cream by a major government building is still a very beautiful thought. Of the two things I had, I would definitely say I preferred the milkshake over the sundae. I think on summer days key lime pie ice cream is more refreshing overall. But both things were very good. For hot days, this is an outstanding choice! If you're someone who loves to learn some new history, definitely come here. If you like having ice cream walking by a state capitol, this is definitely the place for you. This might not be my number-one place to have ice cream, but I definitely think this was a tasty treat that I'd be more than happy to visit again in Hartford.

What happened? We…read morecame to Milkcraft a few years ago. It was vibrant and lively inside, with lots of people trying an assortment of cool and unique flavors. The Vietnamese coffee ice cream was great. We came again today after a nice local lunch, looking for a small sweet treat to end the day. The inside was dirty. The ice cream freezer had years of ice and grime built up on the inside. It was half empty and the flavors remaining were fairly mundane. We tried the most interesting looking one - a milk and cereal creation. It tasted like warm vanilla ice cream with hints of crushed up salty, stale cracker. There are lot of other places in town that offer fun desserts, so we'll go other places next time.

Since they removed their liquid nitrogen mixers, they have really gone down hill…read more The inside just looks dirty and not attractive any more. It's as slow as it was waiting for the liquid nitrogen. The staff seemed more interested in chatting with their friends than taking care of orders. The mexican churro ice cream had a nearly toxic level of cinnamon. It went from a "try once" recommendation to a "would recommend against"

Fresh food, multiple choices for vegetarians and non vegetarians. They sell the best raw honey…read moreI've had. From Granby. They also sell teas and pastes like pistachio paste. Service is fast and efficient. Comfortable ambiance and plenty of parking. You can sit inside or out. Highly recommend!

I made another visit here for lunch on a weekday and the place was far less crowded & wait was far…read moremore reasonable I got a pastrami sandwich and a creme brûlée latte. The sandwich was solid, but wasn't anything to write home about. The latte was great however.

Manny's is one of my new favorite vendors at Parkville! I seriously cannot believe how good each of…read morethese treats were. My fiancé absolutely loved the cheesecake nutella Oreo burrito crepe, and my personal favorite was the chocolate cake obsession burrito crepe. It was like biting into a cloud!! I'm obsessed and want to go back for another one soon. They have a great variety, and I think Parkville was an excellent choice for their first CT location.

I tried - - Oreo nutella cheesecake burrito: this sounds…read moreamazing and had potential however it was served cold .... The crepe was nicely made but I wish the dessert was warm to enjoy the melted nutella - waffles with cinnamon churro - the drizzle again was cold and it wasn't fresh.

Mozzicato's is a true Hartford staple. Mozzicato - De Pasquale's Bakery & Pastry Shop on Franklin…read moreAvenue sets a standard that most spots just can't touch. While the pastries are classic and exactly what you'd expect from a high-caliber Italian bakery, the real gem is the Italian ice located in the cafe. Good lord, the flavors and quality are on a different level--this isn't that Rita's or DQ garbage. The chocolate and strawberry combination is specifically incredible, honestly better than Godiva chocolate-covered strawberries. It provides that deep, rich profile and authentic taste that defines their Itallian vibe. One professional tip for anyone stopping by: bring cash. The cafe doesn't accept cards, and you don't want to be the one standing there empty-handed when you're that close to the best Italian ice on the planet

Omg this place is to die for! We were in town and were told to try this place and I'm so glad we…read morewent. This place is so busy which speaks to how bomb their bakery items are. I think we were being greedy and ordered the pizza bread, stuffed croissant and carrot cake. The pizza bread, the cake and stuffed croissant was bomb! The cake was moist and the frosting was not too sweet. The service is to die for as the staff are friendly and helpful with all your questions. I can't wait to go back to eat this again. lol

Add 'Get a scoop at Kilwin's" to your Summer Bucket List!…read more Food: Absolutely decadent! I got a scoop of Two Berry Pie ("Vanilla-flavored ice cream, strawberry, blueberry & sugared pie crust") in a cup and the little got Lemon Sorbetto! Both were rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor. Kilwin's offers a sample so you can actually taste before you decide, which is a major win. It was a tough decision, but I will be back for the Cake Batter. The cones are made fresh in-house and smell divine. Beyond ice cream, there's a whole lineup of treats dipped in chocolate: pretzels, Oreos, marshmallows, you name it. Sweet tooth? Handled. Diet? Not. Service: Everyone was super friendly and patient, even with a line. You can tell they actually enjoy working there, which makes the whole experience feel even sweeter. Atmosphere: It's more of a grab-and-go setup, like just a candy store that sells ice cream not an ice cream shop, so there's no indoor seating but right outside there are plenty of benches in downtown West Hartford. The area is busy, walkable, and perfect for a side of people-watching. The quality is top-tier, the flavors are spot-on, and everything feels like a treat because it is. Worth every penny. 10/10 recommend for locals and visitors too.

Decide to drop by kilwins for dessert for the first time while I was in West Hartford center . Came…read morein thinking we would get fudge . But then we discovered they have ice cream as well! I tried the marshmallow s'more ice cream which was amazing ! Igor a small scoop with hot dude , caramel and Oreo crumbs and it was AMAZING !! Im obsessed ! My husband got the pecan ice cream which was also amazing .. I don't think you can go wrong with any of their ice cream options! After getting our ice cream we walked around the center and enjoyed the weather and the ice cream! Perfect day ! Can't wait to be back and try some more flavour ! P.s the ice cream was soo good I forgot to take a picture before I ate it !

I hadn't been to Sunberry in more years than I can remember until a recent work meeting booked us…read morefor dinner there. I was skeptical - the Sunberry I remember was not entirely appropriate for a seat-down meal for 30+ people, but I went along for the ride. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and saw that it was completely different, to the point where I had to check old Yelp reviews to confirm this was the same place I was thinking of! We ordered just about everything on the menu and while it was all good, nothing was great. It would be a solidly reliable lunch spot if I worked in the area but it was not the best choice for a work dinner - it got very loud and very crowded, making it hard to share apps around the tables. Definitely a well-deserved glow-up for this spot.

Off of Trumbull, quiet and a little out of the way. The brick walkway and enclosed area create an…read morealcove that feels like you left downtown Hartford in an almost Diagon Ally way. The space isn't large, but well organized and upscale approachable. The bar area is long and allows for added dining space, the wait staff were friendly and attentive. While our dining was based on the app menu, the food being delivered to tables looked good and plates being cleared were all empty. Ordering mussels on a Sunday afternoon is often seen as a brave choice as freshness matters. Based on the amount of orders we saw around us, it was a good decision. They were light, fresh and in a broth that was complimentary without overpowering. In a city whose food scene seems to be dominated by one restaurant group, this is a fresh fusion take that offers an exciting alternative and worth a visit. Was our first, but definitely placed itself on the list of return visits.