I had an incredible first lunch at The Charles. I have wanted to go for years, and I have been…read morespecifically eyeing their fish & chips as of late. There wasn't any question going in what I would order. The hostess started things off perfectly and was exceptionally welcoming, setting a relaxing and comfy tone right away. The building has lots of charm. The dining room was beautifully and warmly decorated. They allow the character of the old house to shine. As for the much anticipated fish and chips, they were extremely well executed, and even more delicious. The fries were great, just fairly standard. The other components shined a lot brighter, for example the inclusion of minted peas was extraordinary. The "kitchen sink" remoulade in place of tartar sauce had to be darn good to make up for the omission of the classic, and it was. The coleslaw was also exceptional, creamy but still light. The fish of choice was a cod loin. That was the game changer. I find loin vs filet to make a world of difference. It stays far more moist, has more flavor, and has a much more pleasant texture for me. The breading was light and delicate, too. Every aspect of my experience at The Charles was excellent. I'm extremely anxious to go back. I have heard great things about their salads and appetizers, and they have a beautiful tented front lawn for outdoor dining in the summer I would like to try. Highly, highly recommend a visit. I would say it was one of the busier lunch services I've encountered recently on a weekday, so keep that in mind.

Absolutely divine…read more It has been so long since I've been able to have a crab cake that's gluten free, but at The Charles, their crab cakes are gluten free and lovely. But first, walking into The Charles is a step back into time yet still fresh and intentional. Plenty to look at all around the restaurant. The layout of even the bar is nice with seats by the windows and plenty of TVs playing the games without being disruptive. The building is gorgeous, well kept, and I can see how this restaurant gets packed quickly! But back to the gluten free crab cake. I would have loved some slightly larger chunks of crab, it was the crispy texture on the outside and soft inside that made my heart melt. The cakes sat lightly on an aioli and beside some greens, and each bit was delectable and delicious. Lovely appetizer. I also have the octopus basquaise, and I loved it. The potatoes needed just a smidge more seasoning and were sitting in oil, but I cared not, because it was an oil with Kalamata olives and tart, and how lovely it all was together. The octopus was nicely cooked and tender and not greasy. The potatoes were a lovely vessel, and the aioli was not too overpowering. A delicious fish overall. The service was great, friendly, and you can tell they love their regulars. Everyone was on the move at all times and overall very efficient and kind. Tons of gluten free dishes naturally. I loved coming to The Charles and look forward to coming back later this week to try their actual dishes. But if the entrees are even close to as good as the appetizers, I'm sure it will all be delicious!

I haven't been to Matty D's in years. I had a few visits that left a sour taste in my mouth but it…read moreseems like they've switched things around for the most part. I got a burger and tried a bite of their fried fish sandwich. Both were pretty bland, not bad! Just not something I'd go out of my way to get in the future. The drinks were pretty strong and the green tea shots were delicious! We ended up being there while a game was on so it was definitely LOUD lol. The vibe switches up but it seems to always be a good time lately. The service was really friendly! Our waitress was nice and attentive.

Matty D's is that quintessential local Hartford bar - casual and consistent. Every time we go, it's…read morepretty much the same experience, (this is a good thing). Happy Hour The real draw for us are the wings; they're always hot, and spicy. Lemon pepper is top notch and they have a good variety (my friend is obsessed). Honestly, the happy hour is the reason we keep coming back. Cheap mixed drinks, basic bar apps and a short commute from work made this the perfect happy hour spot. Happy hour is 4-7pm and is also on Saturdays. Try the wings, nachos, and the burger first. Experience The Bartenders are all smiles and super sweet. Never had bad service! Food always comes out quickly so you don't have the chance to complain about a wait. Parking is okay, nothing to rave about. There is a smaller lot. The Scene During the week, it's a local bar in a Hartford neighborhood (not downtown, folks). It is what it is supposed to be, and for that we are grateful. We went for the UCONN finals recently, and by the second quarter, the place was packed. On weekends, at night, it turns into more of a club scene- DJ playing loud music and a dance floor. Not something I am into anymore but I enjoyed when I used to go, so many years ago.

I haven't been here in a couple weeks! I have a rare chance to grab a drink and some food on the…read moreway hone tonight from bowling. The restaurant is located on 389 Main St. in East Hartford. Their kitchen is built fresh, from scratch, and all homemade. Their appetizers, pasta, entrees and desserts combine old-world traditional Italian flavor with a modern flair for presentation, and the freshest ingredients around. Menu staples like calamari, chicken milanese, fettucine carbonara and ravioli are paired with unique recipes like pappardelle with sausage and tenderloin steaks. They have staffed our kitchen with a dream team of local chefs that ensure our quality does not waiver and our kitchen is always OPEN! You just can't go wrong. For my drink, I'm having the Prickly and Sparkly made with Quince Fruit Spirit, fruitful Prickly Pear, lemon juice and Prosecco. This is very original. I have no idea what this will taste like! It's nicely garnished and chilled. I love the unique taste. It's like a sweet Cosmo with Prosecco. It's real good! For my appetizer, I'm having a cup of chili. I can't each much chili so just a little will do me fine! I like the crackers for a little filler. I like the sour cream topping with a little chives garnish. It's nice and hot too. This is good! They have open mike here tonight! This place is famous for live music! These guys are good! I could stay here all night! For my next item, I'm having a Side House Salad made with a spring mix, basil (I love basil), julienned (sliced) carrots, cucumbers with a red wine vinaigrette. This is delicious! These veggies are good! Huge portion size too! I love their dressing! For my last drink of the night, I am having the Hot Pickle-Rita made with Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila, Triple Sec, pickle juice, agave syrup and lime juice. Pickle juice?! Now that's original. I've never had that in a cocktail. Wow! I love the pickle garnish and the Tajin rim. This drink is great! It's not overwhelmed by the pickle taste. I love the taste! The bartender (Liz) is awesome! She certainly knows how to make a drink let me tell you that! For my entree, I'm having the Chicken Aka Vodka made with grilled chicken breast served with traditional vodka sauce, peas, sun-dried potatoes and rigatoni topped with a crispy prosciutto and Parmesan (light for me). You can also get this gluten-free. Carmines tries to accommodate everyone! For me? EXTRA EXTRA spicy! Let's see how this goes. This is a MASSIVE dish! I mean o! It's piping hot too! It's very tasty! The grilled chicken is sliced up into smaller, bite-sized pieces. Very light Parmesan (as requested). It's not "hot" (as in spicy), but they can only work with they have! It's a great dish and worth every dime! What a great meal here!

Random selection in my travels off Rt 84. Food was delicious and I happily stumbled on live music…read more Mixed crowd Cappuccino gelato truffle, JD tips over pasta and 1/2 Caesar salad

BEAUTIFUL! inside and out love the atmosphere and the workers are so kind. would definitely…read morerecommend

Food was excellent Service was impeccable…read more Drinks were delicious Great night out supporting a wonderful mission

This American-Mexican diner was such a great find! We chose to sit in the outdoor seating area, and…read moreit was the perfect day to enjoy a meal outside. The atmosphere was relaxing, clean, and family-friendly. One thing that immediately stood out was the menu. It's about 10 pages long, with an incredible variety of options. Whether you're in the mood for breakfast, lunch, American classics, or Mexican favorites, there's truly something for everyone. The presentation is beautiful. The drinks are garnished with fresh flowers and slices of lemon or cucumber, making them feel extra special. Even the food is served with colorful touches like a slice of orange and a strawberry on a skewer, showing they really pay attention to the details. My kids enjoyed an orange juice and an apple juice. I ordered the mango dragonfruit lemonade, and it was refreshing, flavorful, and the perfect drink for a warm day. For my meal, I had the avocado toast topped with an egg and crispy bacon. It was fresh, filling, and absolutely delicious. The boys loved their meals too. One had the chocolate chip pancakes, which were fluffy and loaded with chocolate chips, while the other had a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich served with crispy home fries. They also offer a great selection of specialty waffles and pancakes, giving us plenty of reasons to come back and try something new. The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the service was outstanding. Every staff member we interacted with was friendly, welcoming, and attentive throughout our visit. Between the delicious food, beautiful presentation, generous portions, reasonable prices, and excellent service, this is definitely a place we'll be returning to. I highly recommend checking it out!

Family friendly place. Food is always delicious with bilingual staff. There is likely a wait but…read moreit's worth it. I love coming here!

I absolutely love the vibe in here! The portraits outside the door are a bit haunting but so…read morebeautiful. I love the hanging lights over the bar, the really add light without making the space too bright. We sat on the couches next to the next place and although it wasn't lit, the vibes were sooo cozy. As a tequila girl I went for the maleficent. It was sweet and the lavender really added to the drink! I typically like to try different drinks but I stuck to this one all night. Our bartender was so friendly and quick! I'll definitely be back soon!

What a fun night! Came here with a couple of girlfriends. Started at the little lounge area, but…read moresoon took the party to the bar when we ran into another yelpie! Don't let the outside of this place fool you because looks are definitely deceiving. We were cautious coming to this place due to the appearance of the outside, but once we were in it was so much fun. Agus, aka rawbartender, was Ah-mazing and truly made the night fun. He was truly such a vibe!! I ordered the SpongeBob, which was Goslings rum, pineapple spice, ginger, lime, angostura bitters. Especially with the show that was put on, my drink tasted even better. It was a Smokey, yet smooth and refreshing drink! We also got the Snow White, on the sweeter side made with Pear vodka, orgeat, pear juice, lemon juice, cinnamon. And of course, we can't forget our schooling in tequila and Mezcal from Agus. He was very informative of what he was serving and we tried a few different shots. He gave us the rundown of how you're actually supposed to taste tequila. And I have to say I've never had an experience like that before. I wish the party didn't stop and I will definitely be coming back specifically for Agus and of course the drinks!

When my husband and son went to Le Mazet for lunch and brought me their leftovers, I knew that we…read morehad to go back that very same week for a family meal. We returned for Father's Day and we were seated immediately without a reservation, though I think we just got lucky so I don't recommend this. We all shared the warm olives, the croquet poulet sandwich, the fries, the quiche lorraine, the chateubriand, the roasted beets, and the strawberry ice cream. It was all a hit, and when a 3.5-year-old and a 22-month-old are enjoying your food without any coaxing or help, you know it's fabulous! My husband got some cocktail and I got the phony Negroni mocktail. Service was great and the atmosphere is chic without being uptight or snobby at all. We all left really happy. I still dream about that sandwich. I'd love to go back and try other things on the menu. I'm sure they knock everything out of the park. I am hoping Le Mazet will be our special occasion restaurant.

Easily a 5 star establishment. Do not sleep on Le Mazet! We've walked by so many times and I regret…read morenot trying this place sooner! Definitely need a reservation to get in on the weekend fyi! When we arrived we were seated at a beautiful booth. The interior is gorgeous here. Our server was fantastic I wish I remembered his name! He suggested some great items. We started with their steak frites and I cannot rave more about it! First this plate is definitely shareable. Among myself, my husband and young toddler we destroyed this. My daughter was eating so much of this steak and so were we! It was sooo tender and we loved the gravy on top. The fries were amazing and when they were drenched in that gravy it was chefs kiss! What really brought it all the together was the salad paired with it- it was light and refreshing and the dressing was so good! For dessert our server suggested the chocolate custard so we got that and a berry handpie. We ate both and kept saying "oh my god" with each bite. My daughter especially loved the chocolate custard but my husband and I loved both equally! We immediately said after our meal how we have to come back. We cannot wait to try other menu items and their cocktails next time. We are huge fans and will definitely be back!!

Ambience / Overall Feel…read more Beautiful ambience and surprisingly not too busy for a Friday evening. There's plenty of seating, both indoors and on the patio. We decided to stop by on a whim and were really happy we stumbled upon this place. Food The menu is pretty standard, but what we ordered was definitely worth it. We got the dirty wings, which were good and had a nice flavor, although they couldn't be customized. The leg of lamb was the clear winner--sumptuous and served over pita. The tzatziki added a lot of flavor and really brought the dish together. Extra Amenities The staff was very friendly and attentive. They checked on us regularly throughout the meal and made sure we had everything we needed. Overall, a really pleasant find.

Good place with huge patio dining area. I was only there for appetizer and drinks…read more The focaccia bread was delicious. Chicken wings were good size and well prepared. Service very good. I need to return for dinner and full experience for better review.

I've been to Community room so many times! But only for a GF muffin or a cookie or a latte. This…read morewas my first time trying a GF breakfast sandwich. Guess what... loved it!! It was so good! Not sure what kind of GF roll they use but it was delicious. Didn't break apart or anything. I was a little worried for a minute.. did they give me a GF bun?! Lol!! It's definitely a must try! The cafe is always clean and inviting! I usually take to go but it's definitely very cute and a nice place to meet a friend or just sit and have breakfast!

"I don't remember what day it was I didn't notice what time…read moreit was" (Spiral Starecase) No, I don't remember what day it was or where it was, but I know it was at a Yelp Elite function. One of my friends asked me (quite earnestly) if I had ever been to the Community Room Cafe for breakfast because "it's really great". Well, we went there today and I sincerely want to thank that unknown Yelper because the Community Room Café is excellent. We found it in the Constitution Square retail area bounded by Cedar St., E. Main St., Market Sq and Lowrey Place in the center of Newington, CT. Parking is plentiful in the Square's large parking lot. Their space is amazing -big, cheerful, inviting, comfortable, colorful (plenty of orange and black). There are plenty of various seating options in the form of couches, upholstered chairs, table/chair groupings, and counter-style seats by the windows. We saw a few medium sized groups gabbing away at the upholstered seat area and a few industrious folks clattering away on their laptops. We each went with an Avocado Toast (@ $9) with mashed avocado, diced egg, diced tomato, bacon crumbles, cilantro, and Everything bagel seasoning blanketing a big slice of toasted rye. Seriously, one of the best breakfasts we had this year. I went with a small cold brew coffee and a shot of sugar-free caramel ($4.25) while my wife went with a small light roast coffee ($3). We loved everything about the Community Room Café- the food, the vibe, the décor, the service.... Everything. PRO TIPS Their WIFI password is (one word all CAPS) ILOVEMY COFFEE They have a meeting room available to rent for $50/hour during business hours and $100/hour during non-business hours.