Please save yourselves. I am currently parked in the bathroom, puking out my nose an hour after eating here. Let me start with the place itself. Wicked, wicked, wicked awful decor and nasty carpets. I am guessing everything is a 1970's original. But whatever if your food is awesome I don't give a crap what the place looks like. Had a groupon, sat down ordered 2 bud lights-warm. Gross. So I switch to diet coke. Ordered the fried clam strips, they were big, and good but clearly not fresh. I had the stuffed shrimp for dinner. The shrimp were cooked to death, the stuffing was made of some kind of bread. The asparagus was basically raw and the rice was slimy. My companion had a ribeye cooked MR. That was not a ribeye. And it was super rare. The salad bar was diner appropriate, not bad. Very disappointed, and now I am pretty sure this may be the end for me. read more

On July 27 big disappointment, it was the third time there this year and this was the worst. I noticed that there were no croutons at the salad bar so I asked politely for some and it seamed like a big bother to the waitress to get some. I mentioned to my father in law what's up with her and he said that she was the owner. Big surprise even when I asked for a refill on the water, I wish I could have just filled it myself. If I'm going to pay $25.00 for food I would like to have someone serving me and my 5 guest that what's to be there especially the owner taking care of us so we would want to come back. For the food the clam strips are frozen and battered, this is supposed to be a seafood restaurant. One of the easiest things to do and not fresh, why ?. I had the veg. Lasagna and the veg. We're rubbery, like it was frozen and microwaved. What a shame. Can do a lot better. read more

It is SAD that this restaurant doesn't have a website. It would be nice to see the wine list and menu with pictures. I went and loved the food and atmosphere but a website would help friends go. read more

Very disappointed. Service is slow and inattentive. Food is mediocre. Facility is not clean. I expected better. read more

I love this place, it is a staple of NW CT and Winsted. It seems to be one of the best kept secrets as well. Our food is always amazing, service is always friendly and competent. One of kids is a Celiac and cannot have any gluten, they have always taken great care not to cross contaminate her food when preparing it. Any issues I have had have been promptly rectified and beyond satisfyingly so, they are rare. Of course on the busiest days things might run a little slower like Valentine's Day or Mother's Day but they do an amazing job at keeping things running well and quality is never compromised. I would recommend them over and over, I have myself been eating there for 25 years, both in the restaurant and take out. Our youngest daughter's favorite burger is the Trib burger and has been since she was 5 years old. read more

We dined this evening and had a great experience! We used a Groupon and couldn't have been happier with the value. French onion soup, split pea soup, and shrimp cocktail were very good. The salad bar was fresh, appealing, and replenished as needed. Our entrées were more than generous; my guests stated several times how good the food was. We managed to eat most of our desserts; then we "rolled"out of there very full and very satisfied. read more

My wife and I can confirm several other reviews of a lack of service. This was not due to the effort of the wait staff but by management's lack of adequate staffing. I had to hunt down my waitress for my check. We arrived before 6:00 on a Friday. Service was fine when we arrived: menu, bottle of wine, placed our orders, arrival of our appetizer and meal. Then the place went from 1/3 to every table filled and it went downhill. Originally 2 waitresses and a guy were attending tables but when it got busy the guy disappeared. Either hired another waitperson or at a minimum get a busboy. Meal was ok. Portions were appropriately sized for the price. We will not be going back due to poor staffing. read more

Love the Trib! From the salad bar to the prime rib special I've never had a bad meal there. Good sized portions. Definitely one of the good restaurants in town. Oh try the home made key lime pie! read more

A longtime family favorite! Generous portions and still have a self serve salad bar!! Been years since I've seen one of those but wonderful alternative that I've missed!! Good and predictable entrees that satisfy the craving for home cooked meals. Luxurious desserts are not to be missed. Go where you find the local townspeople!! read more

We had a GROUPON for this restaurant that specified that it could not be used on federal holidays. We went on Valentine's Day, and they refused to honor it. I showed them in writing on the GROUPON voucher where it said "not valid on federal holidays", and pointed out that Valentine's Day is NOT a federal holiday, but they still refused. They ruined our Valentine's Day!!! If they behaved dishonorably for this, I do not believe they should be trusted in their food preparation or business dealings. STAY AWAY!!!! Paul K. read more

A favorite of mine for many many years. Had not been here in while because we moved away. Salad bar was still great with lots of choices, and the food was also excellent. Sole, lobster and veal all delicious. The best part is the service and our waiter George was amazing. If you want a place to have a great meal with charm and consistently good food give them a try. We have so many years of memories and my family was so happy to come back and make some new ones. read more

I've dined at this restaurant many times and I'm not understanding some of the reviews. I've always found it outstanding for service. They have an amazing salad bar with a diverse assortment of choices. Entrees and cocktails are very good. My only complaint - that keeps it a 4 v5 star is the lighting. Very bright and unromantic. read more

We do the Trib a few times/year, always poultry or beef and always take-out. The food is classic downtown American and the staple items are where they shine. When work obligations made prepping a holiday dinner for two difficult, we've relied on the Tributary for turkey and the trimmings. For this meal, we often have to break out the carving knife ourselves and give the slabs a right and proper carving. They could put a little more thought into that, and I only bring it up because we've had the takeout holiday meal several times and the slab'o'turkey thing is a constant. That said, we'll keep going there for takeout, no problem. read more

The Quick and Dirty: Upscale dining with a pleasant atmosphere and delicious entrees. The atmosphere is warm and dark, depending on where you're seated. I've ordered various entrees over the years here and I don't recall ever being disappointed with the quality of my food. The prices are higher than average for Winsted, but worth every penny. read more

This restaurant is a diamond in the rough. It's hidden a little bit from main street of 44. It's right behind Dairy Queen. Old-school classic American food steaks the size of your head, classic American dishes cook to perfection. Been there at least six times now never had an issue. excellent restaurant! The crumb top soul is the bomb!! read more

Great place for prime rib, lobster but it's all good. Just had the best ribeye ever. Service is great too.

The food is absolutely amazing and the salad bar is also awesome but the burger feels like it is missing just something I don't know what though read more

I give the trib an a-ok because it's ok. I like the salad bar a lot - it has a lot of options and I like that it comes with your meal. We went there the other night, granted it was mothers day and a little busy - but not too bad... our server was a little aloof...soda was flat, so he fixed the co2 and it was fine but everything just took a really long time. Our waters were never refilled - and our filet mignon which we shared because we were headed to a movie afterward was raw inside...though it tasted good it was not as we ordered it which was medium. (it was literally mooing) I ate it anyway's because the service was pretty slow I knew if we sent it back we wouldn't make our movie on time. Also either he didn't hear me or the kitchen messed up the order because we didn't get our stuffed shrimp (which I really wanted they looked so good) again didn't ask for them afterward because I was afraid service would be so slow we would miss the movie. (at least it wasn't charged) which is appreciated. Again, I like the trib -- the atmosphere is much like your grandmother's basement (could use some updating - and don't look at the curtains because you'll discover several layers of dust... but the food is good... typical, plain, meat and potato style food... but good. Worth $30 a piece? I don't personally think so -- that's why we share something there, it is big portions/ I suppose it's not something I can't live without but I know plenty of people rave over it. read more

Went for a 1:00 P.M Lunch and both my wife and I had excellent meals along with attentive waitress ! The trib-sampler was delicious and clams on the 1/2 were very fresh and tastey. Grilled veg Lasagna and cod special were portioned well and excellent.Left stuffed...yum!!! Would reccomend to everyone. Thanks and will return !! read more

Ate there months ago. Place was dirty I wanted to leave but my wife was hungry so we stayed food was ok but will never go back.

Dinner at THE TRIB last night.Used a Groupon , and got an appetizer to share,2 entrees,and dessert to share for 38 dollars.Salad bar was well stocked.Ordered prime rib,which was very tender and flavorful.Came with large pop over,Yum,baby carrots and I requested baked instead of mashed potato.We got the stuffed mushroom appetizer,and chocolate mousse cake for dessert.Our other entree was fish fillet with rice and asparagus.We arrived around 530,and were lucky,since we had no reservations.I would recommend making one,as there was a waiting line when we left.Pleased with our food and our service.I had a lot left to take home.Still delicious next day. read more

Prime Rib dinner is a winner! Nice selections at the salad bar including 3 kinds of bread, then an app to share, 2 entrees and a dessert to share. Meat cooked exactly as ordered, hot and creamy mashed potatoes and al dente carrots. Includes a wonderful pop over! Use a Groupon you will not believe the final cost! read more

My Mother who's 82 just lives the Tributary as do I. Been going there from the day it opened over 30 years ago. Some people say the menu is outdated but that's why I like it. This is like most older small town New England restaurants. Seafood, beef and chicken. The Prime Rib is great I would only suggest that when someone orders it medium it doesn't come out rare. This has happened a few times. The seafood dishes are done to perfection. The fish and shell fish is right on and fresh. The soups especially the French Onion. Is the best around. Who doesn't love a nice salad bar with fresh breads. The drinks are great and not over priced and they have a good wine list. Although when it's busy the service is a bit slow. I think they should put more staff on the floor on the busy nights. So I give it four stars. It's a great tradition in Winsted a landmark at this stage. If you like old New England restaurants put this one on your bucket list. read more

AVOID AT ALL COSTS! A group of us went there for dinner this weekend. The first thing we noticed was that the hostess was busy running around the restaurant and was ignoring us and the other parties waiting to be seated. When she finally seated the groups, it really seemed like an imposition. We ordered drinks and dinner. My wife ordered the salmon, RARE and pink inside. Very clearly in fact. We had the salad bar, which is not special at all. When our dinners arrived my wife's was cooked so long it was white and dry as a bone. She asked for it to be replaced. It finally arrived as the rest of the party was finishing their meals. Then the waitress, Eva, scolded my wife and told her she needed to order it medium rare. REALLY? After she ordered it RARE? Maybe the waitress, Eva, like the hostess, had more important things on her mind than taking an order correctly or providing good service? And then you speak to a customer rudely?? Worst yet, she had the nerve to repeat it again - like we'd never eaten out in a restaurant before! This place is a horrible. I have to assume that the rest of the staff is just as bad as the 2 we had the displeasure of dealing with. As they say, a fish stinks from the head. Take your business elsewhere. With a little luck maybe the river will flood again and wipe this place off the map. read more

The tributary is family friendly. Great food! One of my favourite restaurants. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!

Ok so the decor is a tad dated. If you can get past that aspect The restaurant was clean, salad bar fresh and the sandwich and burger we ordered were delicious. We were there in the middle of a Sunday afternoon so it was quiet but the other customers seemed to be well treated by the staff. Our waitress was attentive but not cloying and we left pretty happy. read more

My family took me here for Father's Day. We've been here a number of times before. However, they were woefully understaffed for the holiday - just the owner and her daughter and son in the main dining room, plus they we served people in the bar as well. We had to wait to be seated, simply because they don't seem to have enough menus to go around. Once seated, we ordered, got our salads, and waited and waited for our water to arrive. Once we finished our meal, we waited and waited and waited to get our check. We'd still be there if we didn't get up from our table and hunt down the restaurant. We left, and the party that arrived right after us still hadn't gotten their food yet. On the plus side, the salad bar is good, and the portions are large and generally good. The service sucked pond water however. Hire more help on holidays! read more

Big disappointment. Not only was the food barely mediocre, but our server was horrible! I told her about a severe seafood allergy when I ordered and specifically asked to have my order brought out separately to avoid contamination (as other members of my family ordered seafood). I didn't think this would be a big deal, as there were only about six other people in the restaurant. Not only did she bring my plate out with it touching two shrimp orders, but she lied about it when I asked her if the plates touched (she set the tray right next to us; a shrimp cocktail was in the center and a baked stuffed shrimp dish was next to my plate). I again stated that if the plates touched and the food was contaminated, it was a life-threatening situation for me-- I have an anaphylactic allergy and, even with an EpiPen, have only about 20 minutes to get to a hospital after an exposure. She again lied and said that they didn't touch. I asked if she could please have the order re-made (it was a turkey sandwich; nothing expensive and/or time consuming). She became exceptionally rude, rolled her eyes, and stormed off with my plate. By the time I got my sandwich, everyone else at my table was done eating. After that, she ignored my end of the table and didn't refill anyone's drinks or clear plates until the last minute. Between the food, the horrid service, and the circa-1980 decor, it all adds up to an awful experience. read more

My husband and my friends dined here last night . We were very disappointed. My steak wasn't cooked to my liking , the carrots were undercooked and the steak was served on a piece of bread , odd fir presentation. My husband and friend had pickled beets on their salad and both of them had stomach issues after . In fact my husband just got sick this morning again . Waiter was slow in bringing check, coffee was burnt , dessert was dry . We will never go here again . This isn't the first time we have had a less than pleasant experience at this restaurant. read more

The food was good, presentation was done as well. The interior of the building looks as though it was original to the building in the 60's. The waitress was very rude and short. We wished the gentleman that was busing our table would actually wait on us. He was pleasant and very helpful. read more

Best lobster and filet mignon in NW CT. We've been coming here for years on special occasions and for the quality it's a good value. We especially like the peanut butter cream pie for desert. read more

Our family of 5 had a lovely time. We enjoyed the food but the kids did not. Service was slow.

Food was delicious!! There were four of us in our group, each ordering a different entree, and each of us were delighted with what we got. The veal was so tender you could cut it with a fork, and the pork chops were so big and VERY tender, also. Nice use of fresh veggies and herbs. Only negative was a somewhat outdated dining room, but the food made up for it. We will definitely be going back again!! read more

The food and service were both excellent and plentiful, the chef's talents really standing out on some of the dishes. Our whole family has been there on quite a few occasions. The atmosphere hasn't changed in many years and is as patrons expect it to be, relaxed. I was shocked to find negative reviews on this restaurant. My sister and I are quite picky about cleanliness and this restaurant was most certainly clean. Perhaps the outdated décor has been misinterpreted? Not sure how a patron would reach that conclusion. All in all it's a great dining experience which our family will continue to enjoy as often as possible. read more

I was visting from out of state had a Groupon was told this place was good.I think differently My dish I had was great but the service was extremely slow considering there was only 3 other people in the restaurant.We waited a good 10 minutes from the time we sat down to when our waitress came over to give us menus and then we waited a longer amount of time to get the food.Not one person came over until like the end of out meal to see how every thing was.. I don't think I would ever come there again or really recommend them to someone else. read more

Our go-to place for date night! Their prime rib is the best around with size options for those with average or king-sized appetites. When they have chicken cordon bleu on the specials - and sometimes when they don't! - I always order it. Their salad bar is great with lots of veggies, options like potato salad or macaroni salad, and mixed greens. Then try the house made breads. Their desserts.....wow. Each one baked in-house and always to die for. Often we don't have room for dessert (dinner portions are quite generous), but take it to go instead. Just can't resist. Our favorite of all, though, is the laid back atmosphere in the bar. The dining room side can be more formal than we prefer, but the booths in the bar are great. Kevin the bartender is an absolute gem. We've been going there long enough that as we walk in he's pouring our drinks. No longer need to tell him to "hold the popover" he just knows. Their prices are good, especially when you consider just how much food you're getting for the money. Add to it the Groupon deals frequently offered and it's a no-brainer. Our favorite place for a nice Saturday night dinner. read more

I have been going to the Trib since it opened in 1979. The concept is old Winsted showing pictures before the great flood of 55 and so on the food is great and they are willing to even to provide an item that is not on the menu all you have to do is ask. You may find an older crowd because the younger crowd does not have the appreciation for fine dining. It is a casual atmosphere and priced fairly. read more

Great food, service at a very competitive price. I would recommend the tributary been going for years and it's always been fantastic

We made a last-minute reservation for four on Thanksgiving Day and we're happily accommodated. This family-owned restaurant was packed that day, but we absolutely loved taking mom and her friend here. We all had the traditional turkey meal with stuffing, mashed potatoes, fresh cranberries, and sweet potatoes...all of that after the fresh salad bar, We all took home leftovers! Truly grateful for the delicious meal and terrific service! Thank you Trib! read more

I have been to the Tributary a few times within the past few years. I have always had an excellent dinner. That was not the case last night. I ordered the veal and it was tasteless. We sat in the upper corner of the restaurant and the ceiling was dripping a syrup-like substance on my head, my shirt, my purse and my seat! I told the waitress about it and one of them gave me a wet washcloth!! They did ask if we wanted to change our seats, but there were four of us and we were more than half way done with our meal. All I can say is the salad bar is good... but the rest was a terrible experience. I will think twice about going back there. I would think they would have offered some sort of compensation for the inconvenience - they did not. As far as I know, whatever this brown thick syrup-like substance was, it could have dripped into my food!! I do not believe the staff handled the situation in a commendable manner. My rating for this place just dropped considerably. Visited March 2015 read more