The service here is phenomenal super packed bar waiting around for a drink at least four servers came up to make sure we were taken care of! Beyond friendly staff and very attentive. Very punny drink menu I love it so much makes you want to try everything! Food tasted fresh and the hummus plate for an all its a rotating hummus so every week the chef changes it and so far out of the multiple times I've been every hummus from scratch has been delicious! Definitely one Of my fave spots in Middletown read more

HOLE IN THE WALL BASEMENT BAR.....brings you any and everything you'd expect. A tremendous variety of beer and an assortment of delicious dishes... Order the cheeseburger....YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. BEST BURGER IN CT. read more

Consistently delicious with top notch service since the day they opened! Never a bad meal or experience.

I love this restaurant. It has my favorite Cobb salad in all of existence!! Add a burger on top. Yum.

Improvement idea for Celtic Cavern: Install stairwell chair lift! Once drunk it's difficult climbing up to drive. read more

Celtic Cavern - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Yum and very cool atmosphere. It's in the basement FYI. Yeah! Try the beer and food specials read more

Saw this place a bunch of times looking on Yelp and actually was thrown off by the name. Didn't know what to expect. Oh man what have we been missing. The ultimate place in Middletown hands down! Started with cheese and meat platter. Everything tasted great and the meats sliced to perfection. Moved on to the entree. Double bone pork chop be far the best I ever had. Tender, cooked perfectly, cherry reduction holy best ever! Beer list very good. Top it off, service phenomenal and the chef came out to say hello and talk about the chop. Be back in 24 hours. Great read more

Celtic Cavern - Me and chef - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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When we arrived on a Saturday night we were warmly greeted at the bottom of the stairs and told that the wait for a table for two would be about 45 mins to an hour. Or that we could hover near the bar and grab seats there at a first-come-first-serve-basis. We did get a seat at the bar in about 5 minutes of hovering, which I always enjoy looking at all the CDs that are mounted and forever sealed in clear resin. I ordered a non-alcoholic beer which was a Heineken and my husband had a few craft beers. They have a chalkboard behind the bar that lists the brewery, state of origin and alcohol percentage. I was trying to be healthy so I chose the falafel sandwich and my husband got the grilled cheese, added bacon, which comes with fries. He also got the bourbon butternut squash soup as a side. The soup was nice a sweet and very creamy. The grilled cheese was crispy and buttery and cheesy as you might hope it would be. I wasn't totally thrilled with my falafel for two reasons. It's my personal preference to have falafel to be a dark brown dense little patty, these were more soft/smooth on the inside and slight outer crust. The other issue I had was that this was 'open-faced' sandwich which means that it really couldn't be closed since it was so full with the 3 large falafels and the red-pepper coulis, diced cucumbers etc... All of this feedback is not speaking to the quality of the food, just how I was imaging to was going to be. We were attended to by many bartenders that were busy behind the bar and they seemed genuinely friendly! read more

Celtic Cavern - Falafel sandwich with fries - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Great place, great ambiance, love the pork chop! Service is on point, highly recommend!

A buddy of ours was visiting from out of town and needed a place that was open after midnight and most importantly served food.. luckily Celtic serves all the "snack-ables" and "share-ables" and more until 1am. Hidden in the basement this Irish pub has a warm and inviting atmosphere... playing good music.. it attracted quite a crowd even that late at night...I can only assume it's packed on the weekends. A gr8 place of beer..they house a huge selection of craft beers... our waitress recommended a German light wheat ale for me (name? I can't even pronounce)...was really good ... and for dessert I had a maple cream brûlée.. brittle golden maple crust underneath was a creamy custard (was a little raw and eggy for my taste)... while our friend had a Chicken Marsala.. with a side of herbed mash... looked very appetizing(too bad I had already eaten dinner) but he bolted it quickly...and why not, it looked so yummy! Will return another time to try the food. read more

Celtic Cavern - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Great Place, great tap list, drinks and AWESOME FOOD! From the apps to on trays including specials, you can't go wrong! #watchyourstep

Stopped by the Celtic Cavern this past Sunday on St. Patty's day. Got there around noon and managed to order food & drinks right before the madness arrived lol. Turns out it was part of an pub crawl with bag pipes !?!??!! Yes please. Got our food quickly and it was good. Had the curry chips which was not bad but not my fave. It was a bit sweet which was unexpected but apparently we liked it because we finished the plate. Ordered the Rachel sliders, not a huge fan. Will try the Reuben next time. The lamb stew was awesome. Custom Mac & cheese with chicken and asparagus was our second favorite or maybe tied for first with the stew. Good beer selection and they know how to make an Irish coffee. The spot itself it's downstairs down the door from Mikado so the cavern name is appropriate. Definitely has a pub vibe. I'd go back. Craving the Mac & cheese right now actually. read more

Celtic Cavern - Curry chips - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

This was my first time back post pandemic. They had patio seating as well as the Cavern Bar & Dining Area. The restaurant was well staffed with brew knowledgeable folks. The tap beer selection was as broad and varied as I remembered. I was disappointed that my favorite appetizers, Deviled Eggs & Broiled Scallops/Pork Belly, weren't on the menu. I opted for the Cuban Sandwich & Gumbo. The Cuban was tasty, generous & crispy. The Gumbo was flavorful & mildly spicy but lacked Andouille and the shrimp was a little overdone/slightly mushy. I'll be back! read more

GREAT PLACE! Fun for adults- young and old- kids welcome. Our sever Eric was fantastic and all over it. The food, both the apps and meals more than we expected. Great atmosphere and great people. A must when in Middletown! Pic is of the NY strip steak special and our new friend- Captain James- the Renounce Man! read more

Celtic Cavern - Grilled NY strip - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Awesome food, cool ambience, and great service! Highly recommend for lunch or dinner. The steak and cheese app is amazing

Love the shrimp and grits. Always good food and drinks to be had here. The ambiance is desirable. Makes you feel like your in another place altogether. read more

Had an amazing experience here! Casual, but food is delicious. Service is very attentive. Comparable to the top restaurants in Hartford. read more

Celtic Cavern - Surf and turf special - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

We have gone here before but this time our experience was outstanding!! From the person who greeted us at the door to the person who picked up the check at the table I have never had such attentive, pleasant service. Everyone there chips in and watches and waits on each table. I can't say enough about the service. Oh yes the food was really good too!!! read more

My review is mixed. The location is really cool but small. Definitely need reservations as they stay really busy which is great for a local business. They don't seem to do assigned tables for the wait staff so someone is constantly coming by asking to take your order. This is nice in a way because you don't have to flag anyone down but sort of annoying especially if you just sat down. The place is very loud and difficult to hear your own conversation. Tables are very close together which was a little uncomfortable in light of Covid. Food was delicious and good portion sizes. More on the pricy side for bar food so that would be a drawback. Overall I'd recommend but be prepared for a loud, crowded place but almost had the Cheers atmosphere which was nice. Oh and they have a great craft beer lineup! read more

We got take out and the food was very flavorful and good! When we went to pick up the food, the people were nice and the place looked very cool, I would definitely go there again to physically eat there. We got 4 dishes and the Brussels sprouts. The fries were nice and looked home made. I got a carnita wrap thing which was very good! The cheese and other vegetables went very well with the pork. And the boneless short rib was cooked amazingly well, along with the polenta being very creamy and tasty. The Brussels sprouts were fun to eat and went with a nice creamy dipping sauce. I would definitely go here again, the food was great! In the photos the food was already eaten a bit, sorry! read more

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What a great place for food and drink!! The Celtic Cavern is aptly named, has a great pub feeling with an underground atmosphere, not underground like only the worthy are allowed, underground like you can escape life for a little while. Service was great as you servers are not assigned tables, everyone working makes sure every customer's food and drink needs are met. Beer selection was awesome, my wife and I both had the Stout on tap, delicious. I had the burger, while my wife had a cob salad with Chicken. We were both very pleased with our choices. My burger was hot, juicy, and flavorful. Note: the french fries that come with the burger are really, really good. We don't get into Middletown too often, but next time we do, we will stop here again. read more

Celtic Cavern - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

I believe the good reviews are written by the servers or their family. You walk down a steep staircase into a dark room with high tables. The music is very loud . The food was horrendous . There were 4 of us and none of us finished our meal . We were there at lunchtime w only 2 other tables being used ! Lunchtime is usually busy isn't it ? Pick another restaurant unless you want to torture yourself . read more

Hands down the best place for dinner. Food 20/10, Staff 20/10, Beer 20/10. I have never ever had a bad meal! You walk in and immediately your eye light up! The staff is the best! Very attentive, always in good spirits and are personable! My number one go to meal is the meat loaf grilled cheese! It's perfect! If i'm feeling a little fancy, the filet is to die for! I really enjoy going to get dinner and drinks at Celtic. A couple weeks ago, they also started brunch!! I got the eggs benedict and Mimosas. SO GOOD! It can get busy at times so either make a reservation or get the early around 4:00pm or so! read more

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I've been 2 times. The first time I sat outside. Cute area but not much to look at. My big pretzel was MOLDY! Wish I had seen that before I started eating it! The second time was inside. The burgers are good but my daughter had the kielbasa which was not. The service was ok. Our food came quickly but the drinks did not. Also we waited over half an hour to get our bill, after we asked for it. The food is ok but I will not be coming back. read more

I have to say service and staff are amazing. My family is in the restaurant business (I'm not) and they taught me what to recognize. Everyone here cares about how you are doing. Very refreshing! Kudos to the manager and the staff! On another note, all the food was delicious! A simple grilled cheese to the carnitas street tacos - amazing! My girl can't wait till they start up the burgers again! read more

This is the best burger that I've ever had in my life! It is the mushroom bacon burger! The brussels sprouts were a 10 and the shrimp and grits was a 10! Also had the garlic bread with fondue which was good. We would give this meal and 11 out of 10 easy! What a find!! read more

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Drinks are awesome!! Really great beers on tap with a good variety, cocktails have cool names are quite delicious! The Cajun fries are AMAZING!!!! The food is very good, but the portions are very big, two people could definitely split a plate. One of my only complaints is that there are no regular height tables, I'm very short, so it's really hard for me to get up on a high stool. read more

Had an awesome experience here! 1. It was busy but we got a table for two right away. The set up is very cool (rustic but modern would be the words)and the dim lighting makes for an intimate experience with your table while still having easy visibility to the bar and TVs and beer list. 2. We each got a Liter beer (IPAs pictured) that were $14 each, which is pretty good considering how much beer it is! 3. The food was incredible. We got the meatball appetizer, Mac and cheese entree, and grilled cheese sandwich. The cheeses they use for both were amazing, by far some of the best Mac and cheese and definitely best grilled cheese I've ever had. 4. Finally, the service was great. Our waiter was very attentive, personable, and knowledgeable on all the specials and beers. We will definitely be going back to try more! read more

Celtic Cavern - Liter IPA - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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I was looking forward to trying the Celtic Cavern after seeing all the great reviews and I was disappointed. The menu was very limited and the food was a bit bland. We will not be returning. read more

On Saturday evening, my partner and I opted to have a nightcap at Celtic Cavern, a place we've frequented many times before. However, this visit felt notably different, almost as if we were being racially targeted. We were both eager to unwind at one of our favorite spots. Upon entering the busy restaurant, I couldn't help but notice a large man, likely a bouncer or manager, immediately fixating on me. Despite the rain outside, my partner, always with his professional camera slung over his shoulder, began wiping water from his long-distance lens to switch it out for his normal lens. It's important to note that the camera was off the entire time. He placed it on the bar with the lens facing upwards, fully aware of the privacy concerns around candid photography. Despite our discomfort with the manager's intense stare, we tried to enjoy our conversation. Suddenly, the manager appeared behind us and aggressively barked that we weren't allowed to take pictures. My partner, caught off guard, simply replied that he wasn't. However, the manager continued to stare, making us feel uneasy. Despite sitting directly in front of her, the bartender refused to take our order. It became apparent that we were being accused of something we had no intention of doing. We felt singled out. If you check their social media pages, Yelp, TripAdvisor, you'll see countless candid photos taken by patrons. Yet, there was no effort to stop others from taking photos. When the bartender overheard us, she chimed in, saying the manager wasn't targeting us but was protecting his staff from unwanted photos. But the camera remained innocently on the bar, with the lens pointing towards the ceiling. That's when she went to get the manager. Once he approached us, he barked again, 'What do you guys want?' And that's when things escalated. My partner tried to calmly explain that he felt targeted and offended by his approach. But the manager simply responded, 'I don't give a sh*t.' I attempted to explain that my partner is a professional who would never use his camera in a restaurant without permission. But he dismissed us with a 'I don't care.' The disparity in professionalism was glaring. My partner remained composed, calm and respectful, while the manager resorted to foul language, yelling, and baseless accusations. My partner is well-respected throughout the state. He always carries his camera, but he adheres to social etiquette. If they're concerned about candid photos, perhaps they should consider implementing a no-phone policy, given the abundance of such photos online. As non-white patrons, it's difficult not to interpret this as racial discrimination. Ultimately, the manager angrily demanded we leave by saying, "you know what, get the f**k out," all because my partner asked for an apology. It's important to note, that at no point did my partner nor I, raise our voice or use foul language. It is clear that there was a distinct difference in professionalism and likely, level of education. If someone is only capable of resorting to cussing and yelling, it's very unlikely that they are mature enough to admit wrongdoing so that's on us for expecting that. While gathering our belongings to leave, a woman sitting next to me was in shock by the man's behavior. As we exited, we apologized to the hostesses for having to witness their coworker's belligerent outburst. But again, this felt very targeted and because of that, we will not go there again. read more

This is my favorite place in Middletown. Food is excellent and varied in taste. So, although the menu isn't large, you'll find something you like: one of my favorites is the shrimp and grits. The menu is not centered on pub food, despite the name of the place. Service has been superb every time I've eaten there. The atmosphere is conjured up by the name of the restaurant. It feels like an Irish pub. read more

Gathered tonight with a group of about 12 cohorts from work for a couple of happy hours. Mission accomplished! This is a tough crowd, all ages and appetites. Celtic Tavern managed to satisfy all. Great list of beers on tap and a fully stocked bar. Honestly, the tap list was top notch and competed quite well with other Tap Power Houses in the area. The food was very comforting. Personally this is a very high rating and for the cost. I & others enjoyed the one of the daily specials, thick sliced roast turkey breast, slab bacon, tomato, lettuce, special mayo spread on marble rye. Served panini style with home style fried, tender not crunchy (boo), but nicely salted with salt crystals. The decor, subterranean, with a warm dimly lit atmosphere enhanced with brick and beams. Great pub-sphere! This might seem a little weird, but the "Lads" room, very clean and well maintained. The decor was actually beyond what you would normally expect. Farm bowl sinks, artisan tile work and a very comfy privy! That being said, the Celtic Tavern was much more than normally expected and they staff went well beyond to make sure our group stayed liquified and well fed. I hope to visit again very soon. read more

Celtic Cavern - Dimly lit Cavern offers great appeal to patrons - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Really amazing food despite the reduced and changed menu due to no grill in the kitchen (they're updating their ventilation system). I was surprised by how good the tacos were. There is very minimal lighting in the downstairs bar area, but I believe there is an outdoor area. read more

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Food & Service are great! Everyone is so nice to talk to. Salads and soups are so good

Went in yesterday with a few buddies, ordered the steak salad and it was delicious. My fellow companions order a wrap of some sort and the garlic bread and meatballs. They said everything was tasty but a bit too much mayo but over all great. read more

Arriving on a Thursday night prime time 7pm we were a bit concerned of the wait but they quickly got us a seat within 15 min of our arrival. The waitresses seem to rotate and help each other out so you are never short of assistance and great recommendations. We even had the pleasure of meeting the chef who came out to talk to us about the menu and any questions we had. The hospitality was top notch! As far the food, it was exactly what we were looking for. Per the recommendation of Chef, we got the Steak & Cheese which is loosely based on their interpretation of the dish. Let's just say the plate left clean ;) the meatballs curbed my Italian cravings with a little taste of comfort. For our main meals we got the Mac & cheese and the catch of the day. The mac&cheese came out piping hot with a baked crumb top - super yummy and would be great for a fall evening. The catch of the day was spectacular with an abundance of flavor. Definitely a come back restaurant and worth the drive! read more

Celtic Cavern - Max&cheese and catch of the day (Cajun Halibut) - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Great food and atmosphere. Definitely the best not Italian restaurant in Middletown. Try the Brussel sprouts they are delicious

Every time I'm in CT I come here and the pork chop is amazing. Tonight we went and it was extremely overcooked and dry. I told the waitress and she said I'll go talk to Brian. I see her go in the back room and talk, then she never comes back. Then another waiter comes to our table and I say we'll take the check - but I told the other waitress that the pork chop was really bad tonight and she never came back. So the new guy says, I'll go talk to Brian. He goes to the little back room, I see them talking. Then he goes and runs my bill and brings it and says sorry, Brian said we can't take the pork chop off the bill but I comped you the Hot Toddy (which we actually had to send back because unfortunately it was cold). I don't care about the $, but truly disappointed that the owner/manager/whatever title Brian holds, couldn't even come out and say oh I'm sorry your food wasn't up to our usual standards. The food here is generally great but if this is the new level of service there, I'm not going back. read more

Cozy atmosphere, lots of people enjoying themselves (and no one was on their phone!). Good tap list and food.

awesome food, local good ingredients, great specials, great atmosphere and staff. I will be back