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!

Like a moth drawn to the light, I was attracted to this restaurant walking by. I love an upscale…read morevibe - and a restaurant that takes care to craft a comfortable atmosphere usually means my patronage will mean an evening spent well, and this place delivered! Most notably, the food was especially delicious and full of flavor and texture, albeit salt being a bit heavy on the pallet, but not overbearing so. Good date night location!

Got a reservation at 5 for Monday night and we're the only customers here for the first 1/2 hour…read moreuntil a group of gal friends met at the bar and livened things up. Beautiful ambience, classy, quiet music in the background. Molly our server was friendly, attentive, and helped us especially with selecting our dessert. We ordered the old fashioned and Negroni from the happy hour menu to start with. They were so delicious that my husband went to talk to the bartender to find out how the particulars of how the Negroni was concocted. We ordered the baby gem Caesar salad and chicken katsu sandwich from the happy hour menu and the steak frites from the dinner menu which comes with skinny fries and arugula salad, Everything was well seasoned and delicious. To top it all off we shared a chocolate chip bread pudding (thanks for the recommendation, Molly!) Super happy with the whole dining experience. 5/5

This has always been a good spot to eat. No matter what you order it's delicious! I had to do a…read morereview because their potato pizza stole my heart lol. Also please bring back your shepherds pie. Our waitress was a gem, my friend and I were cracking up after a year, not ready to order and she was patient with us and attentive. Parking is limited, I had to park on the street, but no big deal. Try it out, you will not leave hungry or disappointed.

We stopped here on a whim after visiting the air museum. Everything was delicious from appetizers…read moreto the main course. We had rueben eggrolls and beef skewers that literally just melt in your mouth. Both delicious starters. For my lunch I got the spicy chicken sandwich which was a letdown in the spicy department considering it mentions a hint of ghost pepper, but otherwise a really delicious sandwich. There was not one complaint about the food at our table! The pizza also was delicious here. The customer service was excellent here as well, they packed up our food for us, and even helped promptly with a water spill at our table. It was a happy accident stopping here!

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.

First visit! The restaurant isn't big inside, only a few tables. It seemed pretty popular as…read moreseveral people were picking up to go orders. Service was quick and staff were friendly. Portion sizes weren't bad. Food was really good and filling. I would recommend stopping by.

If youbare hubgry for an awesome soup food breakfast this is a must stop. I always enjoy eating…read morehere. Breakfast is classic with callalou and grits and ackee, etc. salt cod in their dishes is a reminder of the Caribbean. Go hungry! They give you a lot.

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.

Been at St. Francis since 5/30/23 with an injury. Thought I'd do some reviews from my adjustable…read morebed! Chicken pot pie was good. Very low sodium because it's hospital food that needs to fit a lot of dietary requirements across the board. Hubs brought me some seasoned salt to accentuate the nice blend of flavors going on. Look how beautiful the presentation is! #gourmethospitalfood

Officially known as The Shed Bar & Cafe, this place has been around for a looooong time. The…read morebuilding is nondescript, but the interior definitely has charisma. I would characterize The Shed as a local bar. On a recent visit, it seemed everyone knew each other. Patrons were friendly, and I got to know many, including the owner, Mike. Mike also wields a spatula in the kitchen. On a recommendation, I tried a "smashburger". Served on a brioche bun, it was excellent. Perfectly cooked w a nice charbroiled flavor. The bun did not fall apart, an important consideration when inhaling a burger. Fries were also excellent. Barmaid Mimi handled the crowd well. And there was a pretty decent crowd for a Tuesday night. I'm a fan, and will definitely be back. 4 stars!

Great bartenders great people all ages always something going on. Pub menu that is great. Home town…read morefeel