This place deserves way more attention than it gets. Tucked in downtown Bridgeport with easy street…read moreand garage parking nearby, 29 Markle Court walks in with serious style -- the decor is chic, the atmosphere is warm and cool at the same time, and it genuinely feels like somewhere you'd expect to find in a much bigger city. Drinks first: my slightly dirty martini was made exactly right. My friend went with cosmo and it was equally on point. Whoever is behind that bar has their act together. Then the food happened. We started with grilled bread with an EVOO, agave, and chile dip -- sounds simple, ate like a statement. The char on the bread, the heat and sweetness of that dip. Good sign of things to come. Main event: shrimp and grits. Guinea flint grits, spicy red sauce, sage, stock. I don't say this lightly -- this is one of the best things I've eaten in a long time. The grits were creamy and rich, the sauce had real depth and heat, and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. The whole bowl just worked on every level. Dessert: goat cheesecake with pistachio dust and berry compote. Tangy, creamy, not too sweet, and that pistachio dust on top was a perfect finish. We cleared the plate.

Finally got around to trying 29 Markle, twice…read more Everything sampled was great. Service was good, though a little more knowledge on the menu would've been nice. The chef owner came out personally to check on everyone. We will be back.

This was our first (and last) time at The Foundry. We were there for my son's birthday. It started…read moreoff well enough. The first issue was the length of time it took for our food to come. Then, we didn't see our waitress for a long time until we finally asked the water guy to ask her to stop by. Which took a while again. We ordered more drinks. My son's soda was flat and my old fashioned tasted like it had a bite like rye vs bourbon, but I ignored it and drank it. About halfway through it changed to sweet - but so sweet it was like drinking syrup. It was never stirred so the bottom half was undrinkable. We asked for our waitress to get the check, and asked her to remove the flat soda and my old fashioned. She brought the check, nothing was removed. I explained again and asked the drinks to be removed. Next the bar manager came to our table. She explained to me how old fashioneds are made, that they're never stirred. And some people sip them, some drink them with a straw. I've drank old fashioneds for many years. They are always stirred. And never drank with a straw. But she claimed she's made these for years. Someone else came and told us she could take off the soda but not the old fashioned. I said I only drank half as they took it away. Well they won't take it off. So I asked for half my drink back if I have to pay for it. They gave me a new small drink. It was terrible. We paid the check, tipped the waitress in cash (she did nothing wrong other than being too busy). I cannot get over the bar manager speaking to me that way. We will not be back.

Ok food off the wall The wings gave me back in the day feel…read moreHouse made buffalo sauce with the Bleu cheese perfect mix The spinach artichoke dip I definitely definitely am worth. I'm not a big fan of pita chips so I substituted for chips and it definitely accommodated it really well. The drinks were well balanced as far as the place looks really amazing. Very quiet. I just me and my cousin in here for his birthday staff's pretty cool. I'm gonna be service recommended the wings. I'm actually taking some wings to go. Everybody get here to the foundry as soon as you can when you can peace and love.

Went here on Saturday for an early dinner with my cousin. We didn't have reservations but they do…read morerecommend them. We were seated immediately and we had the best waitress. She was so good about explaining some of the questions we had. And her recommendations were spot on . We tried the mushroom Swiss burger on a ciabatta roll so fresh . Juicy. And my cousin had a braised short ribs with a red wine reduction and mashed potatoes and asparagus. Amazing how tender . Then she suggested the beignet with butter pecan ice cream delicious very light and airy . Beautiful inside . It started getting busy when we were leaving. Our waitress said the menu will change to a spring summer and they will have outdoor seating as well . Can't wait to go back again and try other menu items ..Handicraft ramp lover level seating as well.. Highly recommend!!! Enjoy Chris

While the ambiance was nice and the band was very good (The Bernadette's), we had a terrible meal…read more Both of us ordered the scallops. The fries were soggy and under cooked and the scallops were cool and nearly raw inside. After eating 2 of them we had to send them back to be re-cooked. They came back with the outside hard and crusty but the inside was still nearly raw. Sent them back again and told them to forget it. The raw scallops didn't sit well and had to make a run to the bathroom. They did take off the charge for the scallops but I'll never eat here again.

another great dinner. love this place. had a veal chop was super tender with a nice mushroom gravy…read more wife ordered beef Wellington . Different spin on it with prosciutto inside. mash potatoes so creamy. you guys have to try this place. it's worth the money. plenty of parking

Lovely place. Ambiance is casual, my order was prepared perfectly, just as I asked our server…read more Totally worth going back again and again.

Hands down the new best restaurant on the shoreline. Creative menu that updates seasonally,…read moreabsolutely delicious food, cosy ambiance with great music taste that's not played too loud, and very attentive friendly service. I've been several times since they opened and almost always get the salmon. What I love is that it's not always the same dish, it changes but always heavenly. The last time it had pumpernickel breadcrumbs yum! I had the faux foi gras(yay no tortured ducks) and it was not only beautiful but delicious. Then I recently tried the tofu appetizer which was equally delightful.. hope it stays on the menu a while, I love tofu done well. I've also had glazed carrots with hummus, trout, and brussel sprouts.. all top notch. Great wine selection and well made mixed drinks. Definitely my new favorite spot. You'll need a reservation for a table most days and get there early for bar seating.

Cozy confines Fun decor…read moreOutstanding food My wife and I came here on a Saturday night for a date and found it a delightful surprise. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly, and prompt without being over-present. The menu was rife with tasty options - we went with a salad special that incorporated grapefruit and a peanut Thai dressing, a Tavern burger, a mushroom bolognese, and the house special Kentucky butter cake - each was phenomenal. Our drinks were also prepared well. The surrealist artwork all around was a subtle touch in what at first appeared to simply be a neat and tidy dining spot, just with a little more imagination than it first appeared to have. A really outstanding spot - over an hour from my home, but we'll certainly be back. Highly recommended.

Food was pretty darn good if I'm being honest, and she was good about refilling my coffee too, but…read moreI don't go out to eat to be waited on by someone who looks miserable, barely acknowledges me, didn't even smile when I asked her to compliment the chef (We got the loaded potato fries and a French dip, which, I've never liked anywhere, but it's what my wife wanted and we share as she's had the bipass surgery and can only eat a few bites)...I admitted to her that I don't like French dip, but it was PHENOMENAL. I don't even like au jus, but it was so good, I would've been happy just to drink it. Who doesn't even smile at a compliment like that? Especially as I later found out she was one of the owners. She should have been over the moon. I'd say it wasn't technically a bad experience, but it also wasn't a good one. Also, it was right at the end of their first open mic and we knew the host personally. You'd think after seeing we knew their entertainment, she could have, at the very least, faked a smile. Kind of her loss as I'm a DJ and could have easily boosted their clientele, but I'm not going to recommend a place that makes it seem like it's a chore to wait on you. Even though she didn't know that, as someone who has also been in the restaurant industry for a large portion of my life, the very first rule of customer service is to make them feel wanted, no matter how you're feeling, and smiling at them is the easiest way to do it. Even if you're only doing it for the tips, being nice to people is one of the easiest things you can do. And being nice to others, will almost always make you feel good in return. It's a win win. As for the ambience, top notch. It's a very comfortable and relaxed atmosphere and it's not crowded like a lot of other restaurants (meaning the tables are properly spaced and you're not on top of other customers)

Food was very good; wine too; services appeared great, if you're a regular! but not so much for…read moresomeone new. The place was busy with happiness through, Gail and Dennis, tending bar, were busy, I knew, but to see them check on all the regulars several times through and through, but never once asked me 'how was your stew?' I think if this place treated everyone like a regular they knew, it will be a five star. But what are you gona' do. So with that, I'd say ambiance could improve.

Wonderful neighborhood spot…read more We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The server helped as navigate the à la carte menu. Every plate was wonderful - particularly the Duck Gnocchi. The room is bright and comfortable. They are not able to serve spirits because there is a church across the street (old New York liquor law).

Food 4.0/5.0 Service 4.0/5.0…read moreValue 3.5/5.0 Decor 4.0/5.0 Overall 4.0/5.0 Very cool restaurant in Carroll Gardens. The tasting menu was quite good. The bread in particular was very good, but everything was great. The neighborhood keeps improving food-wise. Would go back.

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!

Excellent food and drinks at at reasonable prices but with a couple of very progressive twists…read more First, Fire by Forge employs recovering addicts; providing them with training, skills, and experience in culinary arts that can provide viable career paths and opportunities. Second, instead of having the staff rely on tips for a living, Fire by Forge builds fully disclosed fees into it's pricing structure to pay it's staff living wages. What a novel idea! Of course, patrons are invited to leave tips if they choose but living wages aren't dependent on them. Dining at Fire by Forge not only delivers a delicious and pleasant dining experience but also contributes to the social good. So, try it, enjoy it, and do some good all at the same time!

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.

4 stars only because its take out only. There is absolutely no where to sit inside. There is a…read morepicnic table outside, which is where we ate. We were pleasantly welcomed. We ordered and waited. And the pizza is amazing! The chicken Chipotle was really good. It could've had a little less Chipotle on top. But other than that, absolutely no complaints!

Best option along the shoreline and great pasta/sauce to boot. Only knock would be getting sold out…read moreon weekends/Fridays so get orders in early! We like the bbq chicken pizza, clam pizza and the penne Ala vodka