1 Star -- First time here... and definitely the last. My experience at Peppercorn Grille was extremely disappointing from start to finish. We sat down and it took 10 minutes just to get waters. When I asked for a happy hour menu, the staff wasn't even sure if they had one -- they had to go ask around. I ordered a house red wine and a nutty old fashioned, and we waited... and waited. Our drinks didn't arrive until the same time as our appetizers -- 30 minutes after sitting down. We ordered the baby artichokes, beef carpaccio, and caprese salad, and not a single dish came out as described on the menu. The baby artichokes, which were supposed to be hot, were completely cold. Everything was either overly salty, bland, or just not prepared correctly. The drinks were even worse. The wine tasted stale and flat -- more like pink noir than pinot noir -- and the old fashioned was genuinely nasty. I don't know how you mess up such a basic cocktail, but they managed to. We barely had two sips of either drink before pushing them aside. Nasty food, terrible cocktails, and overall just a huge letdown. What makes it even more surprising is that they had plenty of staff, yet service was still slow and disorganized. I rarely ever leave bad reviews -- I always try to find something positive -- but this was truly disappointing in every way. read more

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This restaurant had the worst food. The website boasts homemade pasta and has many pasta dishes. We were excited to dine there. My husband ordered a cream sauce which tasted bland and the sauce separated. The menu was misprinted. The halibut special was sold old. The bread was stale. read more

Lovely. Seated by window in the quiet room, the place was happening for a Wednesday night! Food was great, carpaccio, figs, lobster ravioli, salmon, chicken and gnocchi were enjoyed by all. And so close to our event at The Hartford Stage! Haven't been to P since it was near the tracks in the late 80s? Did not disappoint. Sophia was a delightful waitress. read more

Everything is good here, carefully prepared, balanced menu of old favorites with newer style entree, starters. Worth the walk from the Bushnell Center. read more

Made reservations since I knew there were a few events going on in Hartford that night. My husband and I were seated at the worst table, a 2 seater, right by the door. I should have asked for another one but I knew they were probably booked and didn't want to be a pain. Every time someone walked by, my chair got bumped and since it was a walkway, this happened a lot- I think they should just remove this table completely, not a good spot! The waitress was nice but very busy so she said 2 times I'm going to get you bread before we actually got bread, which came after the appetizer. I don't know if you have to ask but it didn't come with oil or butter. The food was delicious, no complaints there! Overall, would probably recommend but maybe on a less busy night. read more

Very disappointed, was much better years ago. The service was fair at best and the food was a big let down for the price. Go to Salute if you are in Hartford read more

What a gem in downtown Hartford! We had a fantastic meal here and I will absolutely be keeping this spot in mind for dinner before or after a show at The Bushnell. We visited the day after Valentine's Day, so we were able to take part in their crab and burrata salad, as well as their fig and ricotta special appetizer of the day. We were so impressed at how tender the veal ossobucco was, and the ravioli I had were so unique in an orange citrusy sauce. Our homemade biscotti even came with chocolate truffles made in house! Our server was very professional and attentive, and the restaurant was so beautifully decorated. Since this was my first time, I'm not sure if it was decorated just for Valentine's Day, but it definitely was a nice vibe for our date night! read more

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We returned here a year after a very bad experience to give it another chance. This time the service was good and responsive. We were initially seated at a table for two in the adjacent room that should not be offered to any guest. We were reseated after a little angst. The mission figs were very nice. The honey dressing and pomegranate seeds complemented the figs arugula and goat cheese nicely. My rigatoni alla vodka was well prepared with a flavorful spicy sauce. My companion's black bass was OK, but a little bland. The fish was cooked well, but it had little flavor, and the vegetables were unremarkable. read more

Used to be our family's place for celebrating... it is no longer. Sadly, this restaurant has passed its prime and is living on past glory.... But with stupidly high prices. The food quality was no more than average and very heavy. It is easy to put tons of butter on something and have it taste good, but great chefs let the ingredients' flavor shine through. Everyone in our party felt similarly. So disappointed, but we will nut return. PS: the service was lovely. read more

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Peppercorn Grill has its own parking lot--always a bonus when you're trying to avoid the great Connecticut parking hunt! Upon my arrival, a lovely woman escorted me to my table, only for the owner to swoop in and upgrade me to a bigger table to accommodate my, let's say, "larger-than-life" presence. A thoughtful gesture that made me feel like royalty! The waitress, whose name I promptly forgot (sorry, kind lady!), suggested I try the meatballs as an appetizer. Naturally, I took her advice--because who can resist meatballs? I paired them with some calamari, and for the main event, I ordered the ribeye steak, cooked medium rare. Let me tell you, the flavor of that steak was so magnificent, it could've had its own fan club! I also enjoyed a side of broccoli, rhubarb, and potatoes, which I can only assume were there to make me feel healthy while I indulged. All in all, this is a place I'd recommend to anyone in the Hartford area. Just remember to bring your appetite--and maybe a friend to help you finish all that deliciousness! read more

Our family of 5 dined at Peppercorn's before an evening show at the Bushnell. Peppercorn's is one of the closest to the Bushnell which makes it an ideal pre-theater spot. We were a bit concerned with the time to dine as well as the spotty reviews, but we were fortunate to have a great experience. It was the perfect pre-dining experience. We felt super welcome, as our waitress was friendly and attentive, and the food came out quickly which allowed us to walk to the show with plenty of time. The salads and calamari were excellent, and the boar bolognese was made perfectly. The kids all had the penne alla vodka, and the classic dish tasted great. One of the best things of all was that all 5 dinners were served at exactly the same time and all super hot. This seems like a lost art, even among high end dining. Great pre-theater spot, highly recommend. read more

We have been here several times over the past decade. The food is amazing and the wine list is great. They will accommodate mostly anything you request as long as they have it. The staff is excellent. The bathrooms in the back room are much cleaner than the bar restrooms. read more

The Caesar salad was a complete disappointment. I cannot believe this was $13. It was barely a cup. No shaved Parmesan, no anchovies, barely enough dressing. Not fresh at all. I feel this restaurant used to be wonderful back in the day, but completely overpriced with tiny portions. read more

Peppercorn's Grill - Caesar salad - Italian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

We were in Hartford for a show at The Bushnell. We were walk ins, greeted warmly. We had a table near the bar. The bartender took care of us even though she was quite busy. Excellent service, delicious food and out in time for us to enjoy a great meal before heading to the show. Will definitely be back. read more

Oh my, I usually try to give a decent rating when there is some redeeming quality about the place. Must say that the atmosphere when you walk in was fine. We had reservations and showed up about 10 minutes before our time. Got to our seats and started looking through the menus. The waitress came over and asked were we ready to place a drink water. I said give us a few minutes. About 20 minutes before she returned to take our drink orders. She brought the drinks, left the table, and she was gone for about 10 minutes before I realized that she was not bringing straws for the drinks. So I went to the bar to ask for straws. Ordered appetizers and before they were delivered she brought bread for the table. I do not remember ever being given cold bread with olive oil; I mean refrigerator cold bread. Be that as it may, we were hungry so we ate. The waitress showed up another 20 minutes later. We decided to place dinner orders knowing that it would take another half hour before she returned. I ordered the shrimp dinner, my wife ordered the lobster and shrimp ravioli. Ravioli was cold with what seem to be a hefty serving of perhaps mushrooms and very light on the shrimp or lobster. My meal was actually decent however with the lack of presence of the waitress and the straw catastrophe and cold bread I would likely never go back despite a decent meal. I do not remember ever having service this horrible. We always give at least a 20% tip. I can only remember one other time we've given a 10% tip in the last two years. This place only got 10%. read more

Peppercorn's Grill - Italian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Peppercorns has been around for a long time, and it is for good reason; they are pretty consistent in providing a great dining experience. We were going to a show, and decided to dine inside a restaurant for the first time in a long time. We shared and eggplant appetizer. It was delicious. Thinly sliced eggplant slices with freshly made tomato sauce. They also bring fresh Italian bread with olive oil. My wife had a salad as an entree. They have a large selection of salads - more than the two or three you usually see. I had the ossobuco. They really do this and other Italian specialties nicely. The meat falls of the bone. It was served with mashed potatoes and a medley of fresh veggies. Note: They're busy before the shows. If you want a long leisurely dinner with dessert leave yourself a couple of hours. They do a good job getting you out - but the timing may not be perfect. (We didn't want dessert, but we probably didn't have time if we did - and we arrived at 6 or 6:15. ) If you're going to the Bushnell, they give you a discount, but you have to ask. read more

Peppercorn's Grill - Italian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Yikes. Very mediocre- i don't understand how this place stays in business. It's not good. Service. Cleanliness and food all subpar. WAs hoping the "fresh" pasta would be good. Sorry, they missed the mark on everything. read more

My fianceé bought the Entertainment Book again this year so we're determined to use it! Oh wait, it's still December. So we're still using 2018's Entertainment Book! Lol. I'm so behind on reviews and it's already January... Anyway! So we were hanging out in downtown Hartford doing some restaurant and happy hour hopping so we chose this place to start for lunch! Atmosphere/Appearance: Very classic and modern feel inside. There's a touch of elegance, but you wouldn't feel out of place dining here in a t-shirt and jeans among the suits in here on their liquid lunches... Shh... The great big windows illuminate the entire restaurant even on rainy days like today. The decor is plentiful and done in good taste. Service: Very good. I have no complaints whatsoever. Food: We both started with the Black Fig Cosmo which we liked. It was a very different taste, but it was a good kind of different. It's hard to explain, but I think you should try it. Next up was an order of the shrimp cocktail. Nothing to write home about, but the shrimp were good. The cocktail sauce was a bit "ketchup-y" and could've used some more spice. For my entree I went out on a limb and tried the Insalata D'Aragosta which is basically a lobster salad. Now, I KNEW, just KNEW it was going to be some skimpy lil' lobster claw on a bed of lettuce. Nope. Wrong. It was pulled apart Maine lobster meat with arugula and radicchio in a lemon aioli with extra virgin olive oil then garnished with a plum tomato and roasted corn relish. It was delicious. It was a small handful of meat and was honestly a great amount of food for a lunch portion. Value: Not bad. Lunch time meals are usually a bit cheaper due to the smaller portions, but this place won't break the bank, but it isn't a local diner either. The Black Fig Cosmo was $11.00. The shrimp cocktail were $2.00 each and my lobster salad was only $21.00. Not bad at all. This place was pretty good! I'm glad that we came with the Entertainment Book coupon. Would I come back here without it? Eh, maybe... but we do have the book for 2019 so we'll likely be back! Lol. read more

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Currently at Peppercorns for Vday. Made a reservation way in advance just for a couple to walk in after us and be seated first, with no confirmation that they even had a reservation. We were left to wait and watch for the latest table to be cleaned. Once seated, no waitress came over for a few minutes and we didn't even get the wine list/cocktail menu until we asked for it. Came for what is supposedly one of the top places in Hartford but experience is disappointing so far. Update: my boyfriend ordered the salmon dish and asked for it to be cooked medium. His salmon came out completely burnt. My pasta had a portion of the dish not even fully cooked, with strands stuck together. When we addressed the waiter, he argued with us and told us that's the way the food is supposed to be. He insisted repeatedly that my pasta was cooked, yet he wasn't the one eating it, nor did he cook it. He was also very rude to other waiters on the floor and it was visible to other guests. By the time our meals were fixed, we had already been in the restaurant for 2 hours and decided we would pack it all to go. If you don't look a certain way, you will not be serviced adequately. read more

Only thing better then the food is the hospitality. The food was hot and perfectly seasoned, not a complaint or issue with our dinners. The waitstaff was attentive, professional, and knowledgeable about the items we ordered. I had my 4 year old son who enjoyed every minute, from the homemade spaghetti to the gelato with extra cherries. I cannot thank the staff for the amazing service. We will definitely recommend, and be returning again read more

Stopped in here for a quick lunch. Gesli the bartender makes it seem like he's known you forever and was very welcoming and explained the different dishes and specials that they had available. The bread was delicious and we took his recommendation for the Counter weight IPA which is extremely light for an ipa and doesn't have the harsh bite back that some ipas do. Food was delicious and came fast! Eduardo is also very helpful! Dino the pasta was great! Give this place a try and make sure you meet Gesli! Thank you for a wonderful experience! read more

Peppercorn's Grill - Counter weight IPA is a must try! - Italian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Went to peppercorns for a rehearsal dinner last night. I was impressed as was the rest of the group. There was charcuterie boards & passed around hors d'oeuvres to start , followed by salad & pasta courses. For entrees there was 3 choices, I chose the chicken option and it was absolutely amazing. The 3 men working the party were incredibly polite & attentive. Overall the experience was great, and I can't wait to return to Peppercorns for dinner. read more

Enjoyed a table for Four. The meal from beginning to end was spectacular. The pace a bit slower for some of us, perfect for me. If there's anything I despise is be pushed through your meal. Therefore, 4 out of 5 stars out of respect for our dear friends that introduced is to Peppercorn's. Otherwise, the food is easily a 5th Star. I must admit, I've known about Peppercorns's since 1984, but now I feel like such a "L'r" having never ventured past their threshold until now! Chef's Surprise (for our Wait): A Ravoli All' Arancia for each guest. Fresh pasta, scrumptiously stuffed, and drizzled with a delicate sauce. Appetizers: The guys & my wife shared two orders of Calamari Fritti and the other Mrs' Inslatalta Di Rucola. Mains: Gnocchi Del Ginoro, Salmone Alla Griglia, and two specials for the guys, a Slow Roasted Pork Loin, Potato, Asparagus, and hearty brown gravy, and finally a grilled ribeye served to perfection. Desert (of course!): House Chocolate one Bread Pudding, one Creme Brûlée, one Chocolate Lava (like) Cake, and a Gelato. read more

Excellent taste. Highly recommend this restaurant. Dennis, our waiter was knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful in guiding our selection. Ambiance was okay. read more

This restaurant is great for happy hour and even better for a nice sit down dinner. I haven't had a bad meal there yet. read more

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Peppercorn's is an Italian restaurant in downtown Hartford. I went on a Saturday night for a small dinner with friends and was pleasantly surprised to see it very busy. I had issues finding a safe place, well lit place to park and was not sure about the adjacent lot as it says parking permit required and will tow signs. I parked on Main Street about two blocks from the restaurant. The service was good, it was busy so it took awhile to clear our plates and the dessert was a bit off. We ordered the white chocolate bread pudding with pistachio gelato and was served something else. The waiter explained that the dessert menu was from New Year's Eve and has not been updated but he tried his best to accommodate. The rest of the evening went very well. The food was absolutely delicious, the ambiance wonderful and it's definitely worth experiencing this restaurant. The calamari and beef carpaccio were tasty both not salty or overly done. The meals were the surf and turf, rigatoni, salmon and rib eye. The drinks were the lemoncello martini and kumquat martini both very good. read more

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It's been over 20 years since I went to this restaurant. Not because of anything bad just never made it. Always remembered it as terrific. Finally made it back this last week and the food was fabulous. Starting with the bread that was like the kind I got in New York, everything was super. The bread had a thick crust very soft center and very tasty. It was served with a nice dish of olive oil. Our appetizers were veal meatballs, and very thinly sliced marinated octopus. Great! For the main, my wife had scallops and lobster stuffed ravioli and I had braised rib is. Also tremendous. For dessert which was sinfully too much food, my wife had a wonderful, rich, chocolate mousse, and I had a more than satisfying berry tiramisu. Our server was very attentive and personable. All in all the wonderful experience. read more

The regional menu is a great idea. This was the first time we tried it and this time it was the Piedmonte region. The food is rich and so flavorful. The Vitello Tonnato was so good it should have been the only thing we ate that night. But seduced by the bread and super Toscano wine we labored on. The entrée was a succulent cut of beef that had been cooking since the day before. The dessert of strawberries and zabaglione was served too hot to hold the delicate whipped cream. A wonderful meal nevertheless! We plan to return to visit another region's menu. read more

This is my first time here; me and my companion were here for dinner. Considering the restaurant is in downtown, parking can be a challenge; but Peppercorn's has valet service. We had our reservation done ahead of time, so we got seated right away. Getting seated can be a challenge, depending on the day of the week; so I'd suggest you make your reservations. We had the Calamari fritters and Shrimp Cocktail for appetizers, the Calamari was rightly fried and the batter was good. I'd wish there was a side of tartar sauce. The Shrimp cocktail was good. For entrees, I had the ribeye steak with a side of french fries and mixed vegetables. My companion had the Filet Mignon with a side of mixed vegetables and mashed potatoes. Both our dishes were good and cooked as per what we requested. The waiter who was serving us was fairly new, but he was great. He had a good knowledge of the menu and helped us thru our order. To finish off our dinner, we had the chocolate banana pudding with bourbon, this dish was EPIC; LOVED IT and it was a perfect way to wrap up a nice dinner. This place is definitely one of my favorite places to eat and I'll highly recommend to visit Peppercorn's Grill. read more

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Went on a Friday night with a few friends. One of the valet workers called out. As a result the wait for the one valet left to come take our cars was long. The long waits continued inside. We were immediately seated (we had reservations) but it took forever for anyone to bring us water, forgot about ordering drinks or appetizers. The waitress did stop by early on and apologized in advance that it would be a little while before she could come take care of us. Perhaps some of the wait staff called out too? A few other things weren't up to par. It's a small detail but the ink on the menus was running. See attached picture. This would be okay at a lesser restaurant, but I'd expect more from a place like Peppercorns. Not just a sheet of cheap printer paper with blotches on it. Then I noticed lip stick on my water glass. Picture also attached. While I enjoyed asking the bus boy "Who is she?" while holding up the glass, it's concerning and brings into question the cleanliness of the other place settings. We had ordered soup for starters, which took an inordinate amount of time to arrive, and was delivered without any spoons. Granted spoons were brought out shortly thereafter. It all adds to a less than ideal experience. I can say all the food was good. And is one of the reasons I'm giving three stars instead of two. But it wasn't anything amazing. One last disappointment was my espresso martini. Picture attached. For some reason it tasted more like Fruit Loops than coffee. Very strange. Won't be back anytime soon. The devil is in the details and Peppercorns missed the mark on many levels last night. read more

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Outdoor seating available during summer months. Super authentic Italian food. Perfectly cooked ribeye and great flavor with every dish. We've been coming here for 10 years and haven't been let down. Love the owner & cook Dino! read more

Peppercorn's Grill - Ribeye with mashed potatoes and mixed veggies - Italian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Fabulous dinner! From start to finish, we had a wonderful meal! Arincini, meatballs, figs, calamari, and artichoke appetizers were awesome. And, our entrees were sooo good. Truffle pasta, short ribs, and Chicken Saltimbuca were fabulous! Great restaurant! read more

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Had reservations on February 5. Showed up on time. Was told will be a few minutes. About 30 minutes later we were told our table is being prepared. After an hour plus of waiting, we walked out. We decided to give it another chance so we went back on February 26. We were seated right away. Service was a little off, but acceptable. Ordered a drink and they brought wrong drink. A specific alcohol was requested and they gave us a cheaper version. When bill came, it seemed expensive, but didn't have time to look at it in detail because service was so slow and took too long, we had to get home to relieve our babysitter. Next day we looked at the bill and saw we were overcharged for two of the meals. After a week of going back and forth with then restaurant, they credited our card for the exact amount. Did not credit back the amount we over paid for tax and tip. Food was good, but not worth the price we paid. Couple that with slow service and serving cheap alcohol and charging a premium price for it, we will not be going back. read more

A great local place. Great food, comfortable ambience and service is pretty darn good. From pasta to fish to steaks, you cant go wrong. Excellent desserts are abundant. Wine prices are fair and they have a good selection. Give it a try, you may find your new favorite place in Hartford. read more

My husband and I decided to go to Peppercorn's for a pre-show dinner in mid-October. Having never been there before, I didn't know what to expect. I made a reservation on Open Table and was able to get in, in spite of the fact that there was a show at the Bushnell. The restaurant was quite full, but our table was ready for us when we arrived. We ordered a stuffed squash flower appetizer that was really good. A little small for the price, but clearly made with quality ingredients. I had the sea bass entree and my husband had a risotto made with chicken and fresh corn. The sea bass blew me away. Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned. I rarely order this and was so glad that I did because it was perfection. My husband also loved his risotto. All of the staff are lovely. Service was a little slow, which I normally appreciate, but did have the underlying stress of wondering if I would get to the show on time. I would definitely recommend letting your server know if you are going to a show. I'm not sure why I didn't do that myself! We didn't have time for dessert, but we were so full anyway that we didn't need it. We used a restaurant.com certificate with no issue. I also found out recently that Peppercorn's offers 20% off if you're going to the Bushnell, you just have to show tickets for a show the day you're dining. With so many great deals out there, there is absolutely no reason not to try Peppercorn's! We will definitely be back, and next time I'm saving room for dessert! read more

Peppercorn's Grill - Sea bass :) - Italian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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I went to Peppercorn's Grill for the first time this past weekend. They were one of the restaurants offering Taste of Hartford specials. Reservations were made in advance, although they were not really needed and we were seated immediately upon arrival. The tables are very close to each other...so forget any privacy when trying to have a conversation. The food... I had the Polpette di Vitello (veal meatballs) for an appetizer. It was satisfying and well cooked, but nothing amazing. The Fork Tender Short Ribs of Beef as an entree, which came with local vegetables and an Idaho potato purée. The potatoes were bland, but not bad if dipped in the beef gravy. The vegetables consisted of summer squash, zucchini, and carrots. It had good flavor, but the carrots were undercooked. The short ribs where delicious; however, they give you three pieces and one of them was 99% fat...and it just so happened to be hidden between the two good cuts. For dessert I had the Chocolate Decadence. Whipped cream was bland. Chocolate sauce was unnecessary. Chocolate ice cream lacked flavor and had ice crystals in it. Chocolate Mousse and Brownie pieces were delicious. I felt like my experience was just okay. There are better places to eat in Hartford, therefore it's not likely I'll be returning. read more

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All I can say is wow! What a poor excuse for a restaurant! How does this place even stay in business!!!? It's poorly run by half assed bunch of unprofessional staff. Not only does nobody know what they are doing but the food is awful. My family of nine came here for dinner and was seated right away. Everything seemed to be running smoothly. The waitress took our orders brought our drinks and then disappeared for the rest of the night. We ordered three course meals which came with a appetizer dinner and desert. They buy cheap fish and turn around it claim it's seabass. The meat in the dishes are not the meat that's on the menu. The salads are so tiny, food dried out and over priced. You are better off anywhere besides here. Even a fast food joint out weighs the food and service you get here. Needless to say we left before we even got the desert that was suppose to come with the course. All the food was barely edible. Never got our second drink we ordered or was able to place another drink or swipe out the food we already had. The so called manager was incoherent and the waitress was a hot mess. Even after we address our concerns they were not able to pull it together or fix any problem we had. read more

My partner and I went to Peppercorn's prior to a show at Hartford Stage. He'd recommended it before but it was still closed at that time because of the fire. He was elated that it was back open again. We were dumbfounded that we found street parking right across the street. When we got in, we were seated for our reservation immediately. Our waitress was right there and very friendly and helpful. If you haven't read other reviews of mine, we go big when we go out. We started with lobster carpacciato. It was delicious. We also tried the caprese salad, which was good, but nothing special or that I'd order again when there's other delicious choices. We also ordered a seasonal side - it had figs, goat cheese, bacon, walnuts, arugula, and a dressing. I wish I remembered what it was called but it was simply delectable. I couldn't get enough of it. My mouth is watering thinking about it. If you go there and have the option, please try it. It was just fantastic. For dinner, my partner ordered veal. It was extremely tender and cooked perfectly. He was absolutely thrilled with his choice. I ordered le fettuccine alla bolognese con aragosta. It was heavenly. The lobster was tender and the sauce was perfect. On top of the fresh pasta, I couldn't have asked for more. Overall, beyond my expectations and so glad they came back after the fire. I can see us going there for special occasions regularly. read more

had a wonderful meal this past weekend - 5 of us and we loved everything - the Bolognese was absolutely the best i've ever had, and i've had, and made it myself. - we both loved it, the risotto with chicken was another winner. also, the charcuterie board was outstanding - lots of different little things - all so good. a very nice night - read more

It was extremely busy thanks to the pre bushnell show crowd but the service was on point and the food was delish!