Honestly, the meal felt like I was being edged. Everything was close, flavor wise, but just needed…read moresomething. We got hamachi crudo and I don't know if the supplier of fruit is in cahoots with la Croix but I've never had a slice of citrus taste so bland. The dish was in desperate need of some acidity. Foie was great, I think the only plate aside from the halibut that didn't need any tweaking. We also got the pour over and over as our first drink -- I am fascinated how a cocktail can be both an espresso martini and not at the same time. I wanted to love it, then I saw it and wanted to hate it - then was left feeling perplexed and intrigued by the experience. I think that's a good way to describe the evening, perplexing and intriguing and I'm not sure how to feel but I do not think I will be back for anything other than cocktails because it is frankly a waste of time and money. The place itself is pretty and very Instagramable. The service was fine. You have to put in your entire order at once because that's what the chef prefers which feels a tad pretentious to me -- kind of the vibe of the whole place. Two key words as a takeaway: overpriced and underwhelming.

We had a 7 course tasting menu for three. It took a little over two hours. It n my honest…read moreopinion, I wanted to see what the hype was about and I don't get it. It's decent food but not the greatest. I get it, it's fine dining but not all the flavors were there. Three of us paid almost $800, so, yes, I was expecting to be blown away with my tastebuds in overdrive but my tastebuds were underwhelmed. Started off with canapés: east coast oysters (green grape granita); could've used sprinkle of salt. Beef tartar (green garlic kimchi aioli, lime, mint, anchovy breadcrumbs); needed more salt, very bland with little flavor & carrot veloute (coconut milk, red curry, cilantro, peanuts), very delicious and flavorful. 1st course: Hamachi Crudo (celery, sorrel, green apple), needed salt. 2nd course: Foie Gras Torchon (black mission fig, five spice, brioche bun). Brioche was extremely dry and cold, not buttery and soft like a brioche should be. 3rd course: Mackerel (thompcord grape, lardo, smoked yogurt); extremely fishy and unpleasant. Grapes were sweet and delicious and smoked yogurt and lardo didn't contribute anything great. 4th course: Chestnut Tortellini (browned sage butter) was great! 5th course: Dry Aged Rohan Duck Presse (beet, huckleberry, port jus) was underwhelming. Breast was cooked to right temperature but skin was super fatty and soggy. As an avid duck eater, I think a crispy skin and more seasoning in the actually meat would've been nice. It needed salt for sure to enhance the flavors but the roasted and pickled beets were delicious. The port just didn't do much for flavor and huckleberry was delicious and could've used more of it. 6th course: A5 Wagyu Ribeye (roasted daikon, black garlic bordelaise, hen of woods) very delicious in every aspect. The black garlic bordelaise brought this entire dish together with its incredible flavor! I wish the bordelaise was served with the duck as well! 7th course: Foie Gras Ice Cream & Apple Tarte. Interesting ice cream flavor by itself but eaten with the apple tarte it worked well. The tarte had crispy bits of caramel that added great texture and flavor. Ambiance is beautiful on the 20th floor overlooking Hartford. I'm sure it's beautiful during sunset. Again, I wish I was blown away like others have been. Maybe my expectations are too high, I'm not sure. I'm neutral as I am unsure if I would recommend this establishment. I do know that I wouldn't return.

My friends and I live Bin228. The bartenders are very attentive. We were going out to dinner but…read morestopped in for happy hour. We had these amazing corn appetizers. The name is escaping me but check out the pics. So yummy with a couple dirty martinis.

This used to be one of my favorite spots, which makes this disappointing to say…read more Service -- specifically from one of the blonde bartenders (she's never introduced herself, so I don't have a name) -- has consistently gone downhill. We've had to repeatedly flag her down while sitting with empty plates and glasses. No check-ins, no acknowledgment. When she does come over, her attitude makes it feel like guests are an inconvenience. I'm a bartender myself, so I understand busy shifts. But basic hospitality like eye contact, clearing empties, professionalism -- isn't optional. My drink was poorly made and unbalanced, which only added to the frustration. What really crossed the line was hearing staff behind the bar openly speaking negatively about customers -- including people currently seated. That's not just bad service, it's unprofessional. It's unfortunate to see a place I enjoyed decline like this. I hope management steps in.

Stopped in and it was happy hour. Everyday 3:30-5:30 drinks, apps, food & pizza. We got the $8…read moresmash burger and it was delicious. Think a grilled cheese with a burger inside. It was just the right size too. Very flavorful. Got a side of fries too and they were just ok, next time we will try the duck fat crispy potatoes. Partner did get a bite of bone in their burger, but understand how that can happen. Great atmosphere and service. Sir at bar for happy hour.

*This review is from June 2023, I forgot to post it, accuracy was preserved with Word…read more Came for brunch. Menus were confusing, printed on paper in landscape format. Choices were limited to 'small and large plates', there was no appetizer section. We were asked "sparkling bottled ($$) or tap water?". We chose tap. Server brought an old-style quart-size milk bottle and small juice-size glasses. The water had no ice, so I assumed water was cold, it wasn't. I ordered a 'breakfast' stout, my wife coffee. Stout was served in a wine glass, not a traditional pint glass. Wife said coffee wasn't that hot. When they brought our beverages, wife asked for a napkin since none were on the table. Like most civilized countries, I like to put a napkin in my lap when I sit down in a restaurant. Apparently you need to ask for one here. Young server muttered something about place settings are brought when food is delivered. I guess an ale and coffee aren't napkin worthy. Not sure what they accomplish with this goofy policy. It looks more like some kind of cost cutting measure. We made reservations a week earlier, wanted us to confirm a second time through text the same morning. It led me to think this must be a popular place with people clamouring to get in. Once there, place wasn't bust at all, no waiting customers and a sea of unoccupied tables. Our guest arrived after we ordered our beverages. After a few minutes, I ended up flagging down a server to get her a drink. Another sign we were stuck with a 2nd or 3rd-string staff. Our aunt ordered a specialty drink from their menu; "champagne in a laundry basket", (looked more like laundry water in a wash tub). After taking our orders, paper menus were collected to be reused. Maybe they were saving money on copy paper. I kinda' wish she left one in case we wanted desserts or something later. They were keeping the table clear of literally everything. I ordered a humus plate for use as an appetizer, something to share and couldn't be screwed up while waiting for our main course. When entrees showed up, we all chose 'smoked sausage eggs-benedict', extra servers were in tow with plates, napkins and silverware, napkin place settings given after all plates were on the table. My wife was seated across from me, sitting next to her Aunt Nan. The first plate was placed in front of me. Even being the neanderthal caveman I am, I knew this was the most basic etiquette faux pas (I felt humiliated j/k). Ladies are ALWAYS served first, another red flag from an inexperienced staff. The 'smoked sausage' Eggs Benedict failed on many levels. It wasn't hot, poached eggs were both over and under-cooked- egg whites had chunky white snot, yolks were not runny. The 'smoked sausage', was kielbasa logs cut in half lengthwise, they were overcooked and impossible to cut without flattening and mutilating egg and muffin. They could be used as wheel chocks, I had to deconstruct it so sausage could be wrestled with on the side. Wife said the 'homemade' English muffin had the tap water taste like what we were served 'for free'. I couldn't help but envision a garden hose filling a mop bucket used for filling the milk bottles. The Hollandaise sauce lacked silky richness and flavor, I've had better with McCormick packets. Benedict was overpowered with the taste of the smoked sausage. This meal was our aunt's special treat for our birthdays. They did not finish their meals, leaving mostly the pieces of the hockey puck-hard sausage. Server had been touting the pastry chef for the home-made English muffins. They were not any better than Thomas's English muffins. I am a plate-cleaner by habit, I've even been called human garbage disposal, so I managed to clear this one, (except for the egg snot, it would've taken a straw to finish it). My wife always has leftovers I happily dispose of quietly, not this time, gave it a hard pass. I felt unfulfilled, I was food frustrated, so I ordered some bacon cheese scones and shared them with the table. They turned out to be the best thing we had, warm Bisquick quality with a good taste of bacon and cheese almost as addicting as Red Lobster cheddar biscuits. We consumed them like a pack of hungry wolves. I asked and was told they don't serve them with butter. These begged for butter. IMO, butter should already be on the table. My wife picked this venue for our birthday treat meal with our beloved Aunt Nan from MA treating us. I apologized to her for our disappointing choice. She said she was glad I said it, she didn't want to say anything to make us feel bad. With tip, the bill for 3 was $171.00. We could have had a better meal and service at an IHOP for a quarter of the cost, I know I would have felt more satisfied. This experience made onto my list of top 5 worst eating experiences.

We went to this place for Mother's Day brunch, and it was one of the worst experiences I could have…read moreimagined. First off, the ambience of the place is fairly nice though you would not know it from how many of the other patrons choose to attire themselves. If you're looking for a upscale, dining experience, other patrons would suggest this is not the place for you. They started off by attending to put us at the wrong table per our reservation. The table was apparently filled, and they moved us to a different table, which was perfectly fine as it was a nice booth with a window right next to the table. They then gave us several menus from which to choose, which was confusing as there were so many different menus with similar food options, including brunch, menu, a burger, menu, a dinner menu, a Mother's Day, special menu, and the regular menu. There were also two separate drink menus. We started by ordering some drinks and an appetizer of the meat and cheeseboard for the table. We put in our full order at just before 12:59 PM and the meat and cheeseboard came out fairly quick. Overall, it was the best part of our time at the restaurant. With regards to our main meal, we had ordered an eggs, Benedict, a children's pancake and bacon, special, and a steak and eggs meal. That was apparently a mistake as it took them over one hour six minutes before the food hit the table and when it did, it was a mess. The medium rare steak was cooked to a well done with the eggs being extremely messy and not very runny for over easy. The potatoes were dark and charred in places, but we're not crispy by any stretch of the imagination. The Canadian bacon had not been rendered well on the eggs Benedict and one of the two poached eggs clearly had not been poached appropriately. Also, my daughter indicated that the syrup was way too sweet, which was especially surprising as she is someone with a sweet tooth. The pancakes themselves were extremely dense and unfair and served on a plastic tray missing one of the size that was supposed to come with the order. It is clear that the kitchen does not know what they are doing as I was the second person in a row to have issues with the cook temperature on my steak, a problem that appears to carry over to other aspects of the meal as well. At the one hour mark, I've been so frustrated. I had requested to speak with a manager and he was actually the one who brought out the food to our table. There was a good four minute gap between two of the meals being brought out and the third meal, which is what my wife had ordered for her Mother's Day brunch. By the time the eggs Benedict came out, I showed the manager my stake and eggs, and he agreed that it was cooked to a well done rather than the medium rare I had ordered. I had overheard the exact same issue on the next table over where the older woman had not gotten her meal until nearly all seven others at the table had completed their food. At that point, I sent back my steak and indicated I did not want it to be remade as I was done with the place. Shirley, thereafter, I was clear the rest of the family was of the same mind as the meals were a mess and cooked improperly. The manager eventually came over and indicated that he is going to take care of the entire CHUCK which makes sense sense more than 75% of the food ordered had been uneaten or inedible. The service was no better as waiters and waitresses would walk by and failed to refill empty water glasses, even though they would look right at the empty water glass and would have pictures of water in their hand at times. One waitress went to five separate tables around us, including table she was not serving and failed to fill our water, but filled water at other tables. Our waiter was also missing an action for a good portion of the meal. Despite having the meal taken care of, I did leave a small tip for the waiter, though nowhere near what I would have had the service been even somewhat competent. This is a major disappointment as the last experience I had at this restaurant for dinner had been so positive it convinced me to book the place for Mother's Day brunch. I'm not sure if this was a one off situation but I would never recommend a return to this place based on the experience I had this day. What's worse, our reservation appeared to fall between two rushes as we were the second table in the rush that showed up about 10 to 15 minutes after our arrival at the place. As such, our food should've been fairly quick and coming out but others who ordered their food more than 20 minutes after our table received it with no problem. I have to say that the Taco Bell we had as result of this poor food service was Myles and Myles better than the food experience at the restaurant itself.

I have Celiac and this restaurant does an outstanding job of offering a multitude of gluten free…read moreoptions and the staff is super aware of food allergies. My friend and I were out shopping and wanted to grab lunch. She was craving a sandwich so we headed to Cotton Hollow. We were pleasantly greeted at the door and seated in the bar area at a high top. We couldn't decide between inside and outside so when we were seated at a window table over looking the patio, we had the best of both worlds. Both the dining room and bar are lovely. There are tons of GF options, but I always go for the choices I normally can't have elsewhere. They have a dedicated GF fryer so I opted for the fried fish and sweet potato fries. The fries were crispy and lightly salted. The fish was tasty and crisp, but a little dry on the thinner piece. The coleslaw was an Asian style slaw, which was not my thing. It was a bit odd for me. My friend opted for a chicken wrap and it was insanely large and she said it was delicious. The photo is only 1/2 of the sandwich which she took home. I had the red sangria. It was drinkable but had a bit of a sour taste and no fruit. My friend had the Hugo Spritz, which was perfect and refreshing. I have been here a few times and they are consistent and have a wide menu. It's on my list of regulars. Hint, if you go to Sayulita and can't get in, this place is right across the street and a good choice.

I've been wanting to check this place out for years and finally made it and honestly, it was just…read moreokay. We went on a Saturday night around 9, and since it's winter, the rooftop was enclosed, which was actually done pretty well. The setup was nice and they had a DJ playing old school hits, which I loved it definitely helped the vibe. That said, it wasn't very busy, but somehow the bartenders still took forever to serve us. The drinks were pretty mid, nothing special or memorable. I do like the area, and I'd probably come back in the summer just to experience the rooftop when it's fully open, but overall it's not really anything to write home about.

Parking: large but busy lot as it is shared with multiple businesses…read more Decor: stylish but cold, not just temp but feeling. Great patio for summer relaxing out on a rooftop (3 floors up) bar lounge. Staff: friendly but not very attentive and when I was there it was maybe 10 people in the entire place. Seemed like they were more interested in talking amongst themselves. Food: menu and presentation are more aligned with a bar menu and plating rather than an upscale restaurant Overall: would definitely go for drinks one evening but I'd eat first unless you want bar munchies. They also have a different name on the wall for inside seating but it's the same menu the hostess said.

I haven't been here in quite a while. Notice how WIDE my parking spot is. The restaurant is located…read moreon 110 Glastonbury Blvd in Glastonbury, CT. This may be, perhaps, the best Happy Hour I have ever seen anywhere. It's EVERY DAY from 3:30-6. The food item options are huge (20-25) plus three dessert choices. There's are also seven quality mixed drinks, three beers and seven wines! OMG! The bartender recognized me! I haven't been here since January 2025 (1 1/3 years ago). She is even knew where I sat! The menu is unchanged except for a few minor things. For my first drink, I'm having the Max Manhattan made with Old Overholt Rye, Cinzano Sweet Vermouth, orange bitters and orange twist. This has a nice garnish and tastes great! For my first food item, I'm getting a Caesar Salad made with romaine lettuce, garlic croutons and Parmesan cheese. The smell of cheese is quite strong! It's a good portion. This tastes good! Crunchy croutons and tasty lettuce. For my next food item, I'm having a Salmon lettuce cup. Nice presentation! It's on a bed of ice and a lemon to sprinkle. This is quite good! Next up, I'm having a Cup of Clam Chowder. I believe these are house-made croutons. This came out quick! It's nice and hot! Tastes great! Well, with a little hot sauce that is...I like the classic music here. For my next drink, I'm having an Old Fashioned made with Old Forester Bourbon, simple syrup and Angostura bitters. Damn! Nice presentation (the Amarena cherry on the wooden stick) and a great tasting drink! The bartenders are good here! Very attentive! For my next food item, I'm having the Steamed Mussels made with soppressata, capers, shellfish stock, spring herb butter and Pernod butter. I love the focaccia! It is heavily buttered. The mussels are real good! For my next food item, I'm having the Scallops A La Plancha made with mustard spatzle, pea puree, asparagus and mushroom cream. This is good. It's heavy due to the pasta. It's like an entree. To wash this all down, I'm getting a bottle of Pellegrino sparking water. I like this stuff! For my next food item, I'm having four (Buck a Shuck) Cherrystone clams and four Oysters of the Day (only $1.95 each). These are good! I love the cocktail and vinaigrette sauces (with the crushed pink peppercorns). Sprinkle that lemon! For my next drink, I'm having a Happy Hemmy made with rum, grapefruit juice, lime and vanilla extract. What a great drink! Very unique taste! This has kick! For my food item, I'm having the "Baltimore Style" Shrimp Cocktail made with Old Bay Seasoning and stone ground mustard. OMG! The shrimp are big These are great! I love that mustard! For my next good item, I'm having the Blackened Fish Taco made with pineapple salsa and aji verde. I love it! This is easy to eat. For my last appetizer, I'm having the Happy Burger made with lettuce, tomato and cheddar cheese. I miss this badly! This is delicious! It's a well-seasoned burger let me tell you! For dessert, I'm having the Creme Brulee. This is the cutest Creme brulee ever! On a Happy Hour menu?! This is a first anywhere! My favorite dessert! This is great! For my final drink, I'm having the Gin Gimlet made with Greylock Gin, simple syrup and lime juice. This is good! It's light so it's easy to drink at the end of my meal. That's 11 food items I ate and 4 mixed drinks. What a fantastic meal here!

Had an incredible dinner at Max Fish and it honestly delivered across the board…read more Started with the lobster bisque -- silky, rich, and absolutely amazing. The clam chowder was just as good, thick and loaded with flavor and ingredients in every bite. The grilled octopus with potatoes was a standout -- perfectly tender (not rubbery at all) and packed with flavor. Oysters were fresh, crisp, and just straight up delicious. For the main, the paella was -- rich, loaded with seafood (shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels, clams), and cooked perfectly. Paired it with a light beer which helped cut through the richness and kept everything balanced. Service was on point and the ambiance made it a great overall experience. Definitely a spot I'd go back to.

Gather55 is a Hands-On Hartford initiative that is part of its commitment to serving neighbors,…read moreengaging volunteers, and connecting communities in the Hartford area. Diners may participate by paying the full posted price of the meals or a minimum price of three dollars, or they may choose to volunteer with Hands-On Hartford. Additionally, the chefs are rotated every month to give back to the community. Gather 55 has a pre-fix menu, and you get an appetizer, main course, and dessert for fifty-five dollars. I ordered the Milanese Pork Chop with Arugula. It also came with grilled lemon. The Pork Chop was beautifully cooked and had great flavor. The Pork Chop was crispy and not overcooked. The grilled Lemon brought the Pork Chop to another level. The grilled lemon gave the pork chops a nice pop and brought more flavor out of the pork chops. The Argula was cooked to perfection. It tasted great, and you could tell that the grilled Lemon was squeezed into the Argula while it was cooking. The food was fabulous. The customer service was too notch, and I will be back again.

"Come gather 'round people Wherever you roam…read moreAnd admit that the waters Around you have grown" (Bob Dylan) It's part community center, part soup kitchen, and part high end restaurant. In addition, it's unlike any restaurant I've ever been to. My first visit to Gather55 wasn't my first visit to the building, because back in the early '90's I was here during its Spaghetti Warehouse and Trout Brook Brewery days. Gather55 is so unusual because of its innovative and visionary business model. For breakfast and lunch, it opens the doors to the underprivileges or those struggling within the community for "pay what you can" meals. Those that have zero dollars are assigned a task in the restaurant and working for a half hour or so will earn you a meal. In the evening, the white tablecloths come out and Gather55 becomes a high-end restaurant with weekly guest chefs, and the revenue raised from these pricey dinners subsidizes the breakfasts and lunches. Chef and Gather55 director Rob Mafucci does a great job explaining everything in this YouTube video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJHbwtuwnfc&t=138s Four of us had a memorable dinner at Gather55 last night. We started off with a few glasses of wine for around $10 a glass. The menu suggested pairings to go along with the evening's five appetizers and four entrees. The dishes were all created by different chefs including some heavy hitting familiar names like Chef Billy Grant and Chef Tyler Anderson. The appetizers were priced between $14-$18, the entrees between $28-$32, and the desserts were all $11. They also offer a 3 Course Prix Fixe Menu for $55 with your choice of salad or appetizer, entree, and dessert. Our appetizers were: Tom Yum Noodles $15 with chili paste, coconut milk, bok choy, bean sprout, Chinese cabbage, peanut, scallion, and lime Crispy Yucca Rellenos $14 (Vegetarian) Chef Jeremy Williams yucca, herbed cheese, aji verde sauce Kale Caesar Salad $14 with parmesan, lemon, and crispy garbanzos. Two of us went with the Tom Yum Noodles, including yours truly. It was a dish by this month's Guest Chef Lapat Watrous of Aroy Thai Garden in Middletown, and she created a helluva delicious starter. It was an amazing combination of tastes, textures and an amazing sauce that reminded me a lot of Panang Curry. Our main courses were: Salmon en Papillote $32 (GF) with potatoes, leeks, fresh herbs, cooked in parchment paper Stuffed Eggplant & Kale $28 with vadouvan, beans, tomato agrodulce, and fregola Pork Chop Milanese $29 with arugula, parmesan, lemon beurre blanc Lobster Ravioli ($18 from the appetizer menu) with tarragon mascarpone cream, and roasted hazelnuts. I had the eggplant dish and had to scurry to my phone to find out what some of the exotic ingredients were. I learned that vadouvan is a French spice blend, tomato agrodolce is an Italian sweet and sour sauce, and fregola is a teeny tiny pasta very similar to couscous. It was the creation of Chef Tim East of West Hartford's Union Kitchen, and it was delicious. The presentation was gorgeous, rollatini style spirals of eggplant topped with bits of kale, topped with the pasta and beans all swimming in a bed of fantastic tomato sauce. We had coffees and split two desserts - Chef Tyler Anderson's Brown Sugar Budino (an egg custard) with brown sugar, maple, and cocoa nibs, and Chef Kristin Eddy's Flourless Chocolate Torte with bourbon, orange, crème fraiche, and black pepper. I had a forkful of each, and they were both fantastic. You really have to tip your hat to Rob Maffucci and his talented group of collaborators for putting together such an innovative effort to serve the community and offer a wonderful dining experience. Thank you, Chef!

My favorite spot in the area. Consistently delicious upscale American gastropub fare, warm but…read morewell-appointed tavern atmosphere, pleasant and helpful staff. Excellent beer list that features some of the best CT breweries. Recommend the fish tacos, steak frites and the smash burger (happy hour menu only).

I grew up in Glastonbury but moved to Fl 8 years ago and every-time I come visit family Birch Hill…read moreTavern is the fire stop I make. My mom and I frequent it quite a bit! It's def one of our mother daughter special spots. I'm on a mission to try everything on the menu at least once and I was told the Crispy Chicken cutlet was a crowd favorite and it's safe to say I agree and I could not stop talking about it last night. It's made with two chicken cutlets crisp to perfection giving you that nice crunch with each bite. Inside you've got flavors of peperonata, fresh mozz, smeared pesto aioli , arugula on a thick ciabatta roll. It's a mix of comfort and quality all in one. I really enjoyed the mix of all the vibrant flavors here. Pair it with their sweet potato fries and you got yourself a real deal of a meal! My mom got the Handformed burger cooked medium on a brioche bun . It consists half-pound patty, bacon, white cheddar, lettuce, pepper mayo, She said it was one of the best burgers she's had in a long time and she's a harsh critic so that says a lot. She also enjoys the sweet potatoe fries here as well . Ps every Wednesday is Wine night which is 1/2 price bottle of any wine of your choosing . We showed up not knowing that and we may just make it a Wednesday tradition "Wine down Wednesday" :) Our server Lauren was excellent , it was a packed house and you can def see they have quite a few regulars myself included. It makes you feel like it's the friendly neighborhood restaurant!