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    Little River Restoratives

    4.5 (137 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars

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    Mezcal Cocktail
    Rebecca C.

    My sister was showing me around town, this seems to be one of her favorite go to spots. Good Vibes, Good Folks, Cozy Nights

    The Gene Hackman: bourbon, byrhh, china china, peychaud's
    Lauren J.

    Yasss! This place was so good. I'm a cocktail fiend and this was my jam. Before embarking on a weekend trip to CT, I (of course) looked up the best cocktail bars in the area. Little River Restoratives kept coming up on the lists. Reviews were good (thanks, fellow Yelpers!), so I decided to check it out. My brother and I drove straight from Boston to LRR and met our dad there at 6 PM on a Saturday. There were a few other parties - enough people for the place to seem occupied, but not enough to to seem crowded. By the time we left at around 8:30, the place was pretty full. The drink menu was inventive with ingredients that we hadn't seen before. The two bartenders were both nice and attentive. My whole crew (aka "fam") started out with The Gene Hackman which was bourbon, byrhh (what?), china china (what??!) and peychaud's. It was delicious. We didn't know what china china was, so we were given a taste. My brother is even more of a snob than I am, so when I told him I found what looked like a killer cocktail bar to go to in Hartford, he was like "there's no such thing as a good cocktail bar in Hartford *scoff scoff*". After tasting the china china - even before getting a real drink, he mouthed to me that this was the real deal. Yeah, bro! We proceeded to have 3 cocktails each. The bartender made me an off-menu drink that was a heightened daiquiri and it was dee-lish. I then ordered a prickly pear on-menu cocktail and didn't like it. Never having been to LRR before, I quietly called the bartender over and asked him if this was the kind of place where you order and "oh, well" if you don't like it or if they will make you something else you like. He said the latter and proceeded to make me a mean sloe gin fizz. Thank you, sir! That fit the bill. So - yes, there are for sure great cocktail bars in the Hartford area and this qualifies. Food seemed to be snacky - we didn't eat. Parking was easy and free on the street. Next time I'm in town, I'd like to come back here for sure. No re-gerts.

    Outside
    Sarah R.

    Such a good little spot! The cocktails were awesome and the people that work there are so nice. Overall just a good time!

    Doyer's Street
    Eric W.

    It's date night and we already had dinner, but baby wanted to take me somewhere special! She wouldn't tell me where it was, but she surprised me by bringing me here, a place she had told me so much about! Atmosphere/Appearance: Cool, real cool. Like, you gotta know somebody, that knows somebody to get in type of cool. This place is set right on a busy street corner but be careful parking in the back, that lot belongs to the apartments, but there is plenty of fend-for-yourself street parking out front. It was a Saturday night and we didn't have too much trouble finding a spot for her fly ride. Once inside you're immersed by the amazing character of this place. The place is small, but not tiny with a few high top tables and a decent bar rail. There's exposed brick everywhere and unique decor all over. Just be sure to jump on whatever spots at the bar are available or a table if you can find one! Service: EXCELLENT. Kyle was LEGIT. He was smooth, friendly and hooked us up! Well, not with free stuff, but he served us excellent drinks and even made me one of his own personal specialties that wasn't on the menu! Food: B.Y.O.F.! It's like a winery! You can bring your own food right on in since they don't serve much besides hot dogs and something else. We're not here for the food though. We want the drinks! They may come out looking a bit small, but they pack a Mike Tyson punch... not a Floyd Mayweather punch. Lol. This bar isn't regulated so they just do whatever they want and I love it. I had a Doyer's Street to start with and it was so delicious. It was St. Germain, China China, Vermouth and Rye. I couldn't tell you what any of those things were, but I could sip on that all night long. I couldn't even tell you what my 2nd drink was, but it was amazing, literally one of the best drinks I've ever had. It was like a margarita made with gin and a few other fixings, but the bartender wouldn't tell me because it was his secret recipe. Rightfully so! I'd come back and ask for this every time. Value: It's a craft cocktail bar... in Hartford, CT... I'll let you guess how much they costs... yep. You're right. They DO offer a happy hour from 3:00pm to 6:00pm every single day filled with $6.00 wines, beers and cocktails, but drinks run from $9.00 on up to $14.00 depending on their complexity and stuff. Not too bad, but yeah, you can definitely go broke drinking in here. Lol. Come to happy hour. I LOVED this place and want to make many more visits here for any reason I see fit. Lol. This place was WAY better than some other places that will remain nameless *cough cough* Conspiracy *cough cough*. AND it's closer to me! Pppssshhh... I'll be coming back here often.

    a drink in a glass
    Erika E.

    Great place, great drinks, and even better service! JT and Dustin were welcoming and incredibly friendly! Loved the music and feel of this place, it was just what we were looking for! We stopped in Hartford for one night on our travels and was pleasantly surprised.

    Happy hour drinks! 3-6
    Tiffany G.

    I used to work down the road and went to happy hour here a few times, but that was a couple of years ago. I only tried some happy hour bites and was always pleased with them. But, the drinks! Oh those drinks. And...the atmosphere and bartenders, they are fabulous! I decided on a whim I needed to bring Eric here for a cocktail one Saturday night. These are what craft cocktails should be like! I remember the first time I came in, when they were knew. I saw how they measured things and how small the glasses are and was disappointed, until I had my first sip! The drinks are amazing, and oh so strong! We've gone to other establishments that offer craft cocktails that taste like flowers topped off with tree bark, not here! These were all delicious, and Eric even went off the menu and asked for the bartender's favorite and it became one of Eric's favorites too! At about 9-10pm the place was packed and there were no empty tables or 2 bar stools together at the bar. We had a great time. Love the atmosphere here and can't wait to go back! The lighting is low, it's like a secret that not everyone knows about but loves once they find out! (If cocktails aren't your thing, there's also beer and wine.)

    Vijay S.

    Really cool spot for cocktails in Hartford and super hard to find a place like this. Love the dim lighting and exposed brick interior. Good amount of space inside with bar seating and table seating as well. Cocktail list is impressive though most drinks are bourbon or gin based. There are some tequila based drinks but almost none with vodka. That being said they do have a full bar and can make you anything and also their menu changes quite a bit. Drinks were pretty good I must say. They have also small plates for food if interested. Overall def worth a visit if in the area and in the mood for a cocktail. Street parking is available.

    Kate B.

    A hole in the wall bar with EXCEPTIONAL drinks, service & ambiance. I wish I wasn't writing this review because it should be a hidden secret. But I'm sharing this hidden with you! If you like well made & delicious drinks this is the place for you.

    Vinyl record player with all current tunes on record!
    Krys C.

    Litte River is a modernly vintage cocktail bar! You walk in and it's entirely a different scene, not the typical vintage where you'd expect a more dated/rustic type of decor but it definitely peaks ur interest to say "mhm, never thought I'd see that in a bar but it's a vibe!" Parking: we went around 11pm on a Thursday night and was able to get street parking, *Hartford street parking meters stop at 6pm on week days and off on the wknds* Love: *Open till 1am during the week *More of an intimate space to chill, can probably fit about 20-30 people comfortably sitting&standing *Drink selections- has something 4 every1, if it's not on the drink menu they'll create it *Live music, not sure if this is the norm but there was a house dj playing *Quick & attentive service Can improve: *having late night bar apps/small plates, kitchen was closed, only bar nuts available

    Franny F.

    This is a great bar in a great location with great music but the bartender (long hair lady) has a horrible attitude. She was just plain rude! If you can ignore her, it's a great spot to hang with friends. DJ is great and the vibe is good once you're past the rude bartender .

    Ashwin S.

    One of my favorite hang-out spot that specializes in cocktails. If you are a fan of some good cocktails, you will love this place. Sazerac is my favorite here and definitely the Manhattans too. They don't have a large food menu; just a few appetizers to choose from. Not a big deal for a place where drinks are the focus. There are days when they have food trucks outside, they bring the food to the table. The place does not accommodate a large crowd, so can get crowded pretty fast and noisy too. Parking is on the street. I will definitely recommend this place.

    Creamy, milky deliciousness
    Jess L.

    *** 3,400th review *** I'm so glad I finally had the opportunity to check out LRR this past weekend. They had some of the best cocktails I've had in a long time, and the environment was unique and fun without being pretentious. The menu is robust and organized by types of cocktails, including a generic "cocktail" list (though not generic in concoctions, merely called "cocktails"), possets (creamy!), punches, grogs... I opted for the milky ones, and I could not have been happier. I recommend the Baltimore Egg Nog, "Pina Colada," and Bourbon Posset. I could easily drink any of these again. Unfortunately, I found the beer menu a bit uninspiring, but clearly there's no need to explore the beer selection. There's a small bites part of the menu, though no one seemed to be eating during our visit. The one suggestion I would make is to dim the lights a bit and maybe close the curtains. That would give the bar a bit more of a speakeasy vibe. This spot is definitely popular. By the time we left on a Saturday around 10:30p, there were not tables left in the house. I look forward to coming back!

    Improved Aquavit
    Jamie S.

    A creative, eclectic cocktail bar in Hartford that is focused on providing inspirational drinks. Awesome, knowledgeable bar staff with superb attention to detail. Classy, quaint, comfortable atmosphere with unique decorations (they have a mannequin with a sequents dress and stuffed Fisher cat LOL) It's off the beaten path in Hartford, but don't let that deter you! Definitely check it out! Try something you've never imagined or have a classic.

    Back bar

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    4 years ago

    The mixologists are passionate about their work. We enjoyed our drinks and the cocktails were pretty good.

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    Great drinks, wonderful staff, fun environment. Great little find just near the state capital.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Little River Restoratives

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    I Know You Know

    I Know You Know

    4.4
    (50 reviews)
    8.3 mi
    $$

    What a fun night! Came here with a couple of girlfriends. Started at the little lounge area, but…read moresoon took the party to the bar when we ran into another yelpie! Don't let the outside of this place fool you because looks are definitely deceiving. We were cautious coming to this place due to the appearance of the outside, but once we were in it was so much fun. Agus, aka rawbartender, was Ah-mazing and truly made the night fun. He was truly such a vibe!! I ordered the SpongeBob, which was Goslings rum, pineapple spice, ginger, lime, angostura bitters. Especially with the show that was put on, my drink tasted even better. It was a Smokey, yet smooth and refreshing drink! We also got the Snow White, on the sweeter side made with Pear vodka, orgeat, pear juice, lemon juice, cinnamon. And of course, we can't forget our schooling in tequila and Mezcal from Agus. He was very informative of what he was serving and we tried a few different shots. He gave us the rundown of how you're actually supposed to taste tequila. And I have to say I've never had an experience like that before. I wish the party didn't stop and I will definitely be coming back specifically for Agus and of course the drinks!

    Finally got to check out this hidden speakeasy in new Britain ! If you're looking for a fun night…read morewith the girls , a cozy date or just wanna grab a drink this is the place ! The code to enter is updated daily on the website , once inside the you enter through the bookcase door. The ambiance is nice cozy , low -moderate lighting ( not to dim ..you can still read the menus without a flashlight... which is nice) We sat at the bar and the seats were very nice and comfortable ( which I enjoyed a lot) and spacious I didn't feel squeezed between chairs/people ! The bartender was fabulous . And made great drinks ! We just got drinks I got the peaches peaches which was pleasantly really good not to sweat or bitter , not to overpowering with peach flavour very well balanced . They also offer small bites / food. I will def be back to try some more options !

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    I Know You Know
    I Know You Know
    Nice lounge area

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    Nice lounge area
    The Laurel

    The Laurel

    4.5
    (94 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    While staying in the Hartford area for work, I needed to find a decent restaurant that offered some…read morevegan and vegetarian options. I chose The Laurel based on the great reviews, not knowing much more about this place. Upon arriving, the parking lot was packed. I also had a difficult time getting in when walking from the parking lot, which is behind the restaurant. The issue here (which is my only negative about the entire dining experience) is if I were with a person with disabilities (as I am at times) who doesn't walk fast and we walked to what we "thought" was the entrance, only to find a sign saying to use the front door, but no arrow as to where that is (and keep in mind, I don't know the area, this place, never been here before) and if it were raining - This would have been a horrible way to start the dinner. PLEASE post a sign on the door with an arrow showing which way to go. Also, the door says it's for disable folks, but it's locked. OK - My griping aside... Coming in, I was quickly greeted and seated. The staff here was GREAT! Very engaging and VERY helpful! The menu here is AMAZING! Good thing it's a joint that specializes in small plates and that I was part of a group of three, it gave us the ability to try a bunch of items; seven, in fact and that's not including dessert! The flavors from their vegetarian and vegan dishes were so darn good, you don't miss the meat! Everything was plated beautifully and perfectly! We also placed our entire order (not desserts) all at once and they brought them out as they were made, which worked perfectly with our timing too. They not only have a full bar here, they have a "craft cocktail" quality bar! Upon walking in, one of the first things I noticed was their yellow chartreuse! Of course, next to this was green. So, when I sat down I asked about it, and my server told me how they were able to get this and so I ordered a Last Word, which came out SPOT-ON PERFECT! When it came to the food, some favs of ours - Their Watermelon Crudo - This looked and had the texture of tuna - AMAZING!! The Vegan Empanadas had amazing flavor and texture! I also liked their Stuffed Peppers - The "Samosa Potatoes" in them really hit nicely as well as the sauce on top. Save room for dessert, they have some great options here! We couldn't decide, so the 3 of us ordered 4! We tried their crème Brûlée, their Unbirthday cake, Tres Leches Tiramisu, and their Brûléed Cornbread. The Unbirthday cake was nice - reminded me of what it looks like, Funfetti! But their Brûléed Cornbread was AWESOME! Loved the crispy edges of the cornbread and the entirety of flavors. It wasn't until mid-meal that we really had a talk with our server about the amazingness of the food, the artfulness of it, as well as the attention to detail and creativity of the menu and that's when we learned that the chef here recently won an award for best chef in Connecticut! Well, now it's obvious - Why the parking lot was packed and why everything was so very good! Highly recommend stopping in - but make reservations!

    I'm glad I gave this place a second chance before writing my review. Our first visit was for dinner…read moreand while things were good, I did not love it. But it wasn't their fault, I didn't realize that there were olives (in some form or another) pretty much in every single dish I ordered and I don't love olives. As in, whatever I saw, say fish or duck with something I wanted, so I just ordered it without reading the fine details of what were in the dish. So that was my fault, I am sure they would have either suggested things without olives, or told me what things the olives could've been removed from. I knew the service was good and the food was beautifully plated, I just didn't love the things we ordered that time. I saw a post on Instagram that they had a French toast with Ube sauce and I knew I needed to go! I fell in love with Ube in Seattle a couple of years ago and now anytime I see it near me, I have to go get it. I saw the post on a Saturday morning and jumped online and made a brunch reservation for 11:45 the same day! Everything we had was fantastic, rather than wanting a basic sausage or bacon to go with the French toast sticks. I ordered the Bella Bella wings as my protein to go with my Ube French toast, and they were fantastic. I also had to start with the watermelon Crudo, which was interesting, the flavors were excellent, but the texture of the watermelon did not resemble watermelon so it could throw you off if you're not at least a mildly adventurous eater. My husband had the prawn and grits and said it was fabulous and that he would order it again. I did not try it because the portion is not that big and the French toast was filling me up so I let him enjoy his own meal, and did share a couple wings with him and he agreed they were really good. The service was great again, and as simple as it sounds, I loved how when we were seated the hostess asked what kind of water we wanted, we did not have to wait for any period of time for a server to come over and ask us. The attention is in the details and that is always important. The cocktails were great, though a little pricey, which is on par for things in CT. We enjoyed them both at brunch and on our first dinner visit. We will be back, and I actually already prepaid for a dinner experience coming up with Filipino food and I'm excited for it! I have friends that went to the first one and said it was epic! So, while we usually go to brunch only if there are bottomless mimosas, this is one exception that will stay in our rotation! The restaurant is cute, intimate and clean.

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Picnic Chicken
    Picnic Chicken
    Vegan Chocolate Mousse Valrhona chocolate, fried peanuts, shortbread cookie, peanut butter sauce (Photo by: Deanna Troy Travels)

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    Vegan Chocolate Mousse Valrhona chocolate, fried peanuts, shortbread cookie, peanut butter sauce (Photo by: Deanna Troy Travels)
    Le Mazet

    Le Mazet

    4.3
    (160 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    When my husband and son went to Le Mazet for lunch and brought me their leftovers, I knew that we…read morehad to go back that very same week for a family meal. We returned for Father's Day and we were seated immediately without a reservation, though I think we just got lucky so I don't recommend this. We all shared the warm olives, the croquet poulet sandwich, the fries, the quiche lorraine, the chateubriand, the roasted beets, and the strawberry ice cream. It was all a hit, and when a 3.5-year-old and a 22-month-old are enjoying your food without any coaxing or help, you know it's fabulous! My husband got some cocktail and I got the phony Negroni mocktail. Service was great and the atmosphere is chic without being uptight or snobby at all. We all left really happy. I still dream about that sandwich. I'd love to go back and try other things on the menu. I'm sure they knock everything out of the park. I am hoping Le Mazet will be our special occasion restaurant.

    Easily a 5 star establishment. Do not sleep on Le Mazet! We've walked by so many times and I regret…read morenot trying this place sooner! Definitely need a reservation to get in on the weekend fyi! When we arrived we were seated at a beautiful booth. The interior is gorgeous here. Our server was fantastic I wish I remembered his name! He suggested some great items. We started with their steak frites and I cannot rave more about it! First this plate is definitely shareable. Among myself, my husband and young toddler we destroyed this. My daughter was eating so much of this steak and so were we! It was sooo tender and we loved the gravy on top. The fries were amazing and when they were drenched in that gravy it was chefs kiss! What really brought it all the together was the salad paired with it- it was light and refreshing and the dressing was so good! For dessert our server suggested the chocolate custard so we got that and a berry handpie. We ate both and kept saying "oh my god" with each bite. My daughter especially loved the chocolate custard but my husband and I loved both equally! We immediately said after our meal how we have to come back. We cannot wait to try other menu items and their cocktails next time. We are huge fans and will definitely be back!!

    Photos
    Amazing espresso martinis
    Amazing espresso martinis
    Half Chicken
    Half Chicken
    Croque Monsieur with egg

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    Croque Monsieur with egg
    Fork & Fire

    Fork & Fire

    4.4
    (521 reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$

    I dropped in, and to my pleasant SURPRISE, a beautiful renovation was underway! The space is open,…read morewith high ceilings, an airy feel, and a modern aesthetic. It's FIRE!!! (as the kids say) It was crowded despite being early evening. The only available seats were at the bar area near the windows, which was fine because we were determined to experience the "new" place. We ordered the tuna tartare and lobstah rolls. The accompanying chips are homemade (slightly salty, but my taste buds are really close together). The host was attentive and gave us the royal treatment. We put this gem back on rotation and we are definitely returning!!!

    Updating my original review to add a few things... Fork n Fire recently made significant…read morerenovations to the main bar area. It now feels more luxe, modern, and high-end. The textured walls are gorgeous and give the space a style it was definitely missing before. As usual, the happy hour menu never disappoints. The Pomjito is a personal favorite.. refreshing, light, and not too sweet. We also got the oysters and mussels, both solid. The mussel sauce was unique compared to a typical tomato base, which we really appreciated. For my entrée, though, I was disappointed to see that the tuna salad I always order had completely changed. It used to be an arugula salad with Asian flavors and the tuna served on top. Now it It's a Niçoise salad, and the tuna is awkwardly placed on the side. Nothing about the tuna tasted like it did before. I'm usually a sucker for ahi tuna, but this was honestly one of the most disappointing ahi dishes I've ever had. It felt totally incohesive with the salad next to it. I really wish they didn't change the menu so frequently. Once I finally find an entrée I genuinely look forward to, it disappears. That said, we'll still be back for the great happy hour food and solid drinks. Now it's just a matter of finding a menu item I like... and hoping they keep it.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Sriracha watermelon on pork belly
    Sriracha watermelon on pork belly
    The hillstead

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    The hillstead
    dulu

    dulu

    4.2
    (29 reviews)
    51.1 mi

    Was not as pleased with this place as I would have liked. Ate at a restaurant with very similar…read moremenje the night before and it was way better in many regards. The atmosphere at dulu is nice if you are a guest or stopping by for a drink. For dinner guests it was underwhelming. Service was nice but didn't seem to match the quality of the prices. The he flavors were good in everything but an element felt missing and nothing was wow. The mushroom board was most disappointing. Branzino was good very well.

    Let me start with the good news. This would have been a three-star review, but Dulu has a rock star…read morebartender who elevated the whole experience. He served up multiple mocktails and cocktails with aplomb and even pulled off a ginger and lychee combination that shouldn't have worked but was delish. Almost everything else missed the mark. Staff should know to de-vein shrimp before sending out skewers. They should also know what "black and blue" means if they're serving steak. Another table ordered it and five staff members huddled around a phone at the bar to look it up like they were searching for Pokémon. The orecchiette had perfect texture, but truffle oil made half the plate inedible. The Persian crispy rice, the dish I was most looking forward to, was a complete let down. The rice was well cooked, but the eggplant filling was nearly flavorless and the meager amount of smoked tomato couldn't save it. The roasted mushroom board was good though we improved it ourselves by spreading leftover s'chug from the shrimp skewers onto the bread and layering the mushrooms on top. It also had truffle for some reason. Why? Dulu has the right ingredients to be top tier. This just wasn't their night. The bartender rescued the evening. Give that man a raise.

    Photos
    Cool bar.
    Cool bar.
    Charcuterie board
    Charcuterie board
    From the street

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    From the street

    Little River Restoratives - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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