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    The Foundry

    3.7 (53 reviews)
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    THE FOUNDRY ATMOSPHERE

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    Ajani B.

    I went to The Foundry in Hartford to celebrate a friend's professional milestone, and I left wondering if I had just experienced one of the best dinners of my life. We had 9:30PM reservations. As soon as we sat down, my friend (who'd just come off a brutal week on hospital call) greeted the staff with a cheerful "Good Morning," and it immediately became the running joke of the night. Shoutout to the crew for rolling with it and adding to the humor instead of letting it hang awkwardly. Our server, Jimmy, was an absolute gem. The perfect balance of talkative, knowledgeable, and present without ever feeling overbearing. He knew the menu inside and out, cracked jokes without trying too hard, and made sure to double-check ingredients when I mentioned a nut allergy. That small bit of care goes a long way when you're trusting someone with your palate and your safety. We went all in with the tasting menu, added the caviar supplement and alcohol pairings, and wow. The progression of dishes was damn near flawless. Crudo, Caviar, Foie gras, Cappelletti, Blackfish, Duck, and Fresh Bread. Every bite was thoughtful. Every pairing made sense. To top it all off, we ended the night chatting with Billy, the chef, while he was cleaning up. Down-to-earth, clearly talented, and genuinely fun to talk to. It felt less like a fine dining experience and more like a perfectly executed dinner party hosted by people who really love what they do. No complaints. No notes. Just a beautiful night full of laughter, impeccable food, and a team that knows exactly how to make a meal unforgettable. The Foundry has officially earned a spot on my personal Connecticut dining hall of fame.

    Skyr Yogurt Panna Cotta
    Mary C.

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

    Skate Wing
    Nerissa H.

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

    Wine vault
    Sherrise S.

    Checked out The Foundry for their very first Jazz Night, and the atmosphere was definitely a highlight. Being on the 20th floor, the views were great! However, it was very crowded, and service took quite a while. My group ordered chickpea fries--beautiful presentation but absolutely inedible. Drinks were overpriced at $16 each and tasted like water. Dinner options are very limited, and overpriced. They look more like samples instead of entrees. $$$ Overall, I'd recommend coming on a Tuesday for Jazz Night, but otherwise, I'd pass.

    Black Forest cake
    Jazz A.

    Super excited i got to try this new restaurant in Hartford . The ambiance is the main selling point , you get the most beautiful view of Hartford here . We went on a Wednesday for my friends birthday and it was packed . The staff was amazing everyone was so friendly , and we even got to meet the owner Jeffery . We had an amazing time , the appetizers were delicious ( the mushrooms were my favourite, ) the fondue was delicious as well , for my entree I got the pasta .. which was delicious. This restaurant is definitely fine dining at its best . High quality, with small portion sizes . The Black Forest cake for dessert was the best part in my opinion (and that's because I have a huge sweet tooth)

    Agnes P.

    What an amazing experience! Here on opening night and I had an absolutely amazing time enjoying the view and delicious work of art! We had the pleasure of meeting Jeffrey Lizotte who was absolutely down to earth! Glad to have you at The Foundry and Connecticut!! Yuzu absolutely complimented the flavors of the Cauliflower Panna Cotta. It married the caviar with cream nicely. The croutons add a beautiful crunch to it. Bay Scallop Crudo left me thinking what it reminded me of and even now, I'm still thinking. I'll have to back to that. The steak and short rib had a mild char that I absolutely loved. I savored the bites I did get to have. The seared duck breast was cooked at a medium rare and melted in my mouth. The bit of fat on it was chef's kiss!! I tried the Black Forest Cake and it was too beautiful to eat! Despite that, I ate it all and enjoyed it!! Our service was incredible! Dawn had been there even when The Foundry was called On20. She explained the dishes we wanted to know more about with knowledge. We couldn't have asked for a better server. A few things to note, there is a garage at street level making parking an ease with valet parking as well. You'll have to take the elevator to the 3rd floor then exit toward the main elevators where someone will check you in and lead you to the elevator for the 20th floor. Upon reaching the host table, they'll check you in again and ask if you'd like to check any coats/belongings. No reservation? Fear not, they take walk-ins and have bar seating. Congratulations on opening The Foundry!

    Bread
    Jennifer Q.

    The atmosphere is gorgeous, offering stunning nighttime views of the highways and the Capitol Building. For the chefs counter tasting menu, who spent $500+ we were underwhelmed. Unfortunately, the menu felt uninspired, appearing to play it safe with little effort to push comfort zones or culinary boundaries. Expect to leave hungry--we enjoyed the duck, which was the true standout of the evening, though the supplementary caviar course was also tasty. Service was underwhelming, lacking both warmth and depth, and at times felt cold and condescending. Our server tainted the experience since we heard him speaking ill about us and other guest through the open kitchen expo. It often seemed performative, with staff demonstrating limited knowledge of the dishes and repeatedly needing to consult the kitchen about basic ingredients. Overall, it's a safe choice for something local, with undeniably outstanding Connecticut views.

    Jazz night
    Karen C.

    We "Foundry" that the hype is real! @thefoundryct is one of the hottest reservations you can get in the Hartford area! But when a place is talked about and posted about so much, sometimes it is sure to disappoint because it cannot live up to the hype. I was especially excited to see what Chef and owner Jeffrey Lizotte had done with the menu since I had been such a big fan of ON20. The buzz about @thefoundryct is well deserved! First, the view is spectacular. Pro tip: stay for the sunset! You can thank me later!The upscale setting is romantic and gorgeous! They have a jazz night on Tuesday nights that adds to the ambience. Dinner service is only Wednesday through Saturday, but the bar menu on Tuesday nights is pretty fantastic so you can't go wrong there! And the food is certain to impress! I got the Parker House Roll, which is so huge that it should come with a warning that it is very filling. The Bay Scallop Crudo has luscious citrus notes. I highly recommend ordering any salad with the chicken thigh. The smell of the chicken will drive you crazy and the flavors are so so good! We got the Citrus Salad with pistachios and the Caesar Salad. The Seacoast Mushrooms were so delicious that I had to order another to bring home for my husband to try. For desserts, we tried the beignets and the crème brûlée. They were the perfect top off to an amazing night with friends!

    Sally A.

    Having visited the Foundry twice, I appreciate so much about it. The ambience first and the spectacular views our lovely. The service is top-notch and the food and cocktails are elevated. The first time we attended was during a prefix around Valentine's Day, and I usually do not like to go to restaurants on that holiday because of subpar experience however, the Foundry delivered and actually experienced probably one of the best cocktails I've had in a long time. They also celebrated my birthday with me, which was lovely. The second time we returned, we just sat at the bar, but had some bites and some of the same and new cocktails. They are consistent with their service, which I truly appreciate. overall the vibe is sexy, but also approachable. Unfortunately, we did have a bit of a underwhelming experience with their chicken Fried quail. It was severely undercooked of course they made up for it but being that that is one of my husband's favorite foods it was a disappointment. We do look forward to coming back and experiencing their jazz night in the weeks to come. If you're looking for a elegant city vibe with a "come as you are" approachability, definitely recommend checking it out

    Tortellini

    Dangerous kitchen, delicious food My wife and I went to The Foundry. We found a restaurant with delicious food, but treats allergies dangerously. Our experience was shocking. We wrote the general manager a month ago, but never heard back. What's worse, at least one other customer has received similar recklessness. See Alex Toribio's review on Google Maps entitled, "Where Food Allergies Do Not Exist." I made reservations online. When their system requested information on allergies, I specified this: "My wife is allergic to fin-fish (i.e. fish with fins and a backbone, like salmon and cod) but not to shellfish (i.e. molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms) or to the caviar of fin-fish." When we arrived for our dinner, our server asked if there were any allergies. None of the information I provided via our online reservation was available to her or the kitchen staff in advance, which was disappointing. However, I was grateful that our server asked. I repeated what I had provided online. She seemed to clearly understand what my wife cannot eat, and assured us the chef would accommodate. Disappointment came a few courses into our meal when we were presented skate wing. My wife pointed out that skate is a fin-fish, and that she cannot eat the dish. The server returned the dishes to the kitchen. We were seated at a countertop facing into the kitchen, where we witnessed the drama unfold. The server had an argument with the chef running the expediting station that evening. The server then brought back the same dishes and placed them right back in front of us. "The chef says that skate is a member of the 'ray family' and thus you can eat it." This is a very dangerous game that the Foundry's kitchen is playing. If my wife had trusted their chef that the dish was safe, we would have been off to the hospital before the check arrived. With two eyes, a mouth, fins, and a cartilaginous backbone, it's surprising that the chef considers skate more closely related to a clam than a cod. We insisted to this server that skate was not safe for my wife to eat. At this point, the chef running the expediting station cleared other chefs from the kitchen. He left his station to prepare our replacement dish. We observed "rage cooking," him alone in the kitchen, banging pans and pots forcefully on the stove. Perhaps it's unfair to infer that emotion from the chef, but the display right in front of us made both me and my wife uncomfortable. The result was a risotto that, while skillfully prepared, was too salty for my wife to finish eating. This experience aligns with Alex Toribio's previously mentioned review. He twice disclosed an allergy to all nuts. A few courses in, a dish with almonds came. They explained that this couldn't be eaten. The kitchen argued with the server, who then returned the same dish, explaining that the kitchen says almonds aren't nuts, but seeds, and thus are safe to eat. The patron knows that they are specifically allergic to almonds. Sadly, the incident ends with the galling conclusion of the kitchen sending out a "complementary dessert" that included almonds. Our dining experience did have many positive elements. I must say that the wait staff at The Foundry was very kind and helpful. All of the dishes were good, and some were amazing. The smoked duck course was something we will always remember. The fava beans were wonderfully refreshing, with a perfect balance of savory, salt, and acid. My wife commends their mixologist for designing their espresso martini - one of the best cocktails she's had in her life. The Foundry is a Michelin-star caliber restaurant in almost all regards. If you have any food restrictions, I strongly recommend steering clear of them. I hope their disregard for allergies is an isolated flaw, and that there aren't other ways their hospitality is deficient. Hopefully The Foundry will improve, but the fact that this has happened to multiple customers and the general manager has not responded to our complaint, I'm not optimistic.

    Allison C.

    One of the most talked about restaurants lately has been The Foundry, so I decided that's where I wanted to go for my birthday dinner this year. The view was absolutely stunning, and I loved the ambiance. Our server was incredibly attentive and professional. We came knowing the menu was unique and that this would be more of a fine dining experience, but we did feel that the prices didn't match the portions, particularly on the Wagyu steak. We expected the Wagyu to be more flavorful and tender. The agnolotti was delicious, but there were 4 of us and only 5 agnolotti. My risotto was delicious, but I found a hair in it, and I was grateful that when I told them they immediately comped it. They decorated my dessert beautifully to celebrate my birthday. Overall, I think this spot is best if you go for drinks and bites at the bar to enjoy the view and ambiance, but I wouldn't be in a rush to do the normal menu and pay so much next time.

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    The food is unique and delicious. While upscale, the atmosphere is comfortable. The views are spectacular.

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    Fire by Forge

    Fire by Forge

    4.4
    (209 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    There are not enough superlatives to give this restaurant I booked a bridal shower after dining at…read morethe restaurant several times. The food for our event was amazing. All the staff were so kind and extremely attentive. Totally recommend the baked goods, eggs, home fries, pancakes were tasty. We had fresh fruit which was extremely fresh and in a beautiful displayed. My guests complemented the staff and loved the food. The manager,Adrian, worked to accommodate my requests. I will definitely book future events here and return for dinner.

    We arrived with a large group without reservations, kinda chose it on a whim, so we had to wait a…read morebit but it was fine, we were shortly accommodated. The place looked spacious and with a lot of light, it looked clean and they seemed to have a nice selection of wines (for those that like it) , they were displayed for people to see, which I thought looked very nice. I went to the restroom to wash my hands and I found it odd that there was only 1 restroom for the size of the restaurant. Our waiter was nice, he took our order and we were excited. The food took a VERY long time, we were starving, and we had kids with us so that wasn't good. Some of our orders were wrong and so unfortunately we had to wait even longer for the right meal. We didn't order alcohol but we did older a couple of mocktails. I was SUPER excited for them because that's something I always appreciate at a restaurant. I'm sad to say that they were AWFUL!! straight up syrup, not bubbly (some were supposed to have soda in them) not sweet, simply not enjoyable at all, I ended up switching it for a simple club soda, I figured it was a safe bet. When my food came out, it was ok, I had the avocado toast, and it was forgettable, my sister had the chicken and waffles and now THAT was the meal to get, it was large in portion and that chicken was beyond tasty!! My other sister has the lomito sandwich with the chips and it was good, something missing but she enjoyed it. The rest of the food were burgers and they were ok, the kids had burgers and Mac and cheese and they were not tasty according to the children's disinterest in barely touching their food (and they love cheeseburgers). I'm always willing to bypass certain things as long as customer service delivers BUT unfortunately they fell short. We were celebrating an engagement and so we were all very happy and in a great mood, when suddenly workers around us were cleaning up the neighboring tables, and even sweeping very close to us. We thought the place was possibly closing? (Even though it was only 2:15pm). I asked if they were closing and they said that they close the restaurant from 3-4 so their employees can go eat .... I'm not against giving them a break BUT, it really felt like they were kicking us out, we felt pressured to eat fast and wrap it up, not a good feeling, when you are in the zone of happiness. It was our first time there so, I would have appreciated if they would have informed us that the restaurant takes a little break in between and then we would have decided if we wanted to stay or go elsewhere. They did bring a little dessert and 2 mocktails for the newly engaged which was nice, I'll give them that. Overall, I don't think the food and experience was worth me coming back or recommending this place, I'm sure there's other much better places.

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    Industrial atmosphere (Photo by Deanna Troy Travels)
    Industrial atmosphere (Photo by Deanna Troy Travels)
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    Shrimp Oreganata
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    Gather55

    Gather55

    4.8
    (65 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$$

    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!

    Photos
    Beautiful decor and cool music.  Great vibes!
    Beautiful decor and cool music. Great vibes!
    Crispy Yucca Rellenos ($14)
    Crispy Yucca Rellenos ($14)
    Gather55

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    The Laurel

    The Laurel

    4.5
    (95 reviews)
    3.8 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)
    Max's Trumbull Kitchen

    Max's Trumbull Kitchen

    4.0
    (895 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$

    Back again this time for dinner ! We got seated immediately…read moreand our server was very nice and took our orders quickly . I tried the berry social club ( summer sangria ) Which was blueberry and raspberry's ands white wine ... which was okay not my favourite . For my entree I got the mole Colorado taco which was shredded chicken with a mango slaw and a chili sauce ... which was AMAZING ! Soo good the sauce was delicious and paired perfectly with the mango slaw !! Chicken was cooked perfectly ! Highly recommend . Personally I think it was my favourite taco I've had. If you like mango , coleslaw , and a good sauce on your tacos ( and no it was not spicy .. just packed with flavour ) you will love it ! You get two tacos with the order .. it was soo good I wish I had three. Overall 4/5 drinks were okay but food was delicious , very spacious and good ambiance ( perfect for after work drinks / hanging with friends and they have tvs to watch the game at the bar ) and great service . Can't wait to be back and try the blackened shrimp tacos !

    The food at Trumbull Kitchen is genuinely great -- the scallops especially were a standout. And if…read moreyou're a wine person, order the Max's Cabernet Sauvignon. Bold, beautiful, and worth every sip. The service was painfully slow -- our meal stretched to 3 hours, and it started on a rough note when I waited nearly 10 minutes at the entrance with no hostess in sight. The food makes is yummy, but make sure you go in with zero time pressure.

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    Max's Trumbull Kitchen
    Short rib pasta
    Short rib pasta
    Max's Trumbull Kitchen

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    The Beamhouse

    The Beamhouse

    4.1
    (297 reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$

    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.

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    Inside
    Inside
    The Beamhouse
    Bar area filling in

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    Bar area filling in
    Max Downtown

    Max Downtown

    4.2
    (577 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$

    Mother's Day dinner with the family! There were 5 of us…read moreand it was great! We ordered Shrimp cocktails Caesar Salad Complimentary warm salted rolls Three ordered the filet mignon One ordered the Filet Oscar One NY strip We ordered sides to share and try French fries Onion rings Creamed spinach Brussels sprouts Whipped potatoes Asparagus The steaks were the most tender I've ever had The sides were all very good Dessert Cookie plate. ( meh) Baked Alaska. Really good Valet parking makes it nice and easy Being Mother's Day we appreciated not being rushed and kudos to the kitchen. Once our order was in it went right along smoothly. All steaks were cooked to order. In addition, the turnaround for the bar was not bad for it being a full house. We enjoyed our dinner at this iconic landmark and of course will be back.

    10/10 we love able!! lol…read more drinks 10 appetizers 10 entree's 4 -ability to make what i asked and accommodate me and my likings.... big fat 10 for a specification, i had the chef special scallops in something sauce and to be clear. i didn't know what that sauce was when i ordered it and the texture to me. it was terrible, but that is definitely a preference thing and a lack of knowledge on my part however the scallops were not seasoned to perfection. the way the pork belly was and the way the crabcake was so there was also that.... nonetheless able, and the staff in the kitchen were so accommodating they were able to make me exactly what i wanted and i just picked a few things that i wanted and they were able to make a plate for me so that's amazing. the ambience was classy quiet i think me and my girlfriend made the most noise there just laughing and enjoy f ourselves, but it was festive and lively for the most part. uconn was playing by the bar and uconn one so there was a lot of noise for that as well, but the vibe was really quiet and classy over all.

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    Max Downtown
    Pappardelle with short ribs
    Pappardelle with short ribs
    Yummy

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    Yummy
    The Charles

    The Charles

    4.4
    (423 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$$

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

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

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Burger
    Burger
    Grilled cheese

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    Grilled cheese

    The Foundry - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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