Awesome beer selection and the best nachos in Middletown. However there menu used to offer more options and was overall better in my opinion. read more

Atmosphere: Sort of a cross between a yard sale and an 80's pop culture museum. Lots to look at. Love it. Beer: One of the best beer bars in CT. Huge beer list with everything you need. Beer lovers will no be disappointed here. Food: I've had an "average" burger and a pretty good cheese steak. Fries are good. Food is acceptable but we're all here for the beer! Summary: With the reviews and reputation this place has, I don't need to say much. If you have an interest in beer, you need to go here immediately. Message to Owner: Perfect 5 stars. Well done! read more

Great food, pricey mixed drinks...known more for their selection of beer. Brew lovers dream..a great fit for my beer snob....Very very busy...very nice patio area. read more

I wanted to like this place... I gave it a few try's and every time the bartenders are beyond rude. You don't work in New York City calm down and get off your high horse. Never coming back. read more

I give Eli's 5 stars for food and ambiance, but 2 for service. We were in Middletown visiting my daughter at college, and she picked Eli's to bring her and couple of friends for dinner. We sat outside in back - I did not expect the sand, but it was so much fun with the games and picnic tables, and even the swing table. The music was fun and everyone was singing along. However, once we place our initial drink orders, our server practically disappeared. I'd like to think they were just short staffed due to the pandemic, but who knows? It took FOREVER to get our drinks, even longer to be able to place our order and actually get our food. I ordered the grilled cheese sandwich, and our server asked if I'd like tomato soup to go with it. That wasn't listed as an option but it sounded good so I said yes but I also wanted fries. Then I ordered a second cocktail (the same one I'd had first time). When everything eventually came - I got a "salad" (lettuce with dressing) instead of soup, and a different cocktail than I'd ordered. The cocktail was good so I kept it, and the portion of fries was so big I decided to keep the salad as well (plus I didn't know how long I'd have to wait for a replacement) but it was annoying. Luckily the sandwich and fries were really tasty. Others in our party had wrong items as well - but again, it was all good and the girls had social plans so we didn't want to have to wait forever, so we just went with it. My husband and I were picking up the check so not being able to split it wasn't a problem, but I can imagine it would be for groups of friends. We would return, but only if we were prepared to be there a long time and not necessarily get what we ordered! read more

Sorry I don't have any pictures for the review but I have some words. We went here late night on a random restaurant choice and we stumble upon this well decorated really cool tap room. Our food wasn't anything amazing we had a blacked chicken wrap with fries and the tequila lime wings (which had zero taste of tequila or lime) I wish I knew my waitresses name so I could tell you guys to run! We sat at a booth that showed us into the kitchen area and this young lady has had her hands in the trash and has also left plates on top of the trash that she took off multiple tables. No sign of her washing her hands on account of her moving to fast to keep up with her tables it's like watching a circus. Word of advice, bring hand sanitizer! She was also really really slow this evening. Oh this place has a popcorn machine for customers to get on their own I love that! I don't love the germs of self service though. read more

Incredibly understaffed, three times in a row. Used to be a great place long ago but there's not much sense in continuing to go when you can't get service. 1 wait staff for the entire inside of the restaurant and 1 for the patio on a weekend - are you kidding me???? read more

All the other reviews seem to praise the beer selection, and I will add my .$.02. Jack's Abby Hoponius on Holiday is one of the best summer beers I have ever had Now to the food Some of the best chili I have ever had The burgers are able to be customized over 60 different ways, and you can probably go off script My wife feel in love with a blackened salmon Best for last Our waitress, Jeannie, was an absolute delight. Quite well done, everybody read more

Went to dinner the other night and had a nice meal. Food was yummy, however, this place most DEFINITELY waters down cocktails. I ordered a vodka seltzer with Tito's ( the kind I always drink). It tasted like water, no vodka or a couple tablespoons at that. Told waitress and she brought me another shot of Tito's vodka. I took a sip and it tasted nothing like vodka. I believe they are cheating and charging full price for a very obvious watered down drink with water. I find that deceitful. read more

This place had the worst customer service I have ever experienced. We got to the restaurant at 645pm it is now 832pm and after complaining to the waitress and manager we are just getting out kids meals, which included "kraft" Mac and cheese, a hot dog with French fries, and a grilled cheese with French fries. We still don't have our adult meals. If I could give this place negative stars...the waitress even had the nerve to ask us to buy a round of drinks for the kitchen... it is now 833 and still no food!!! This is nuts! read more

AMAZING!!!!!!! Food was awesome, service was on point, the chips (OMG - homemade and the best thing you ever put in your mouth) were great! My sister had the Cali wrap, my niece had the Fancy Wrap, and I had the Classic Cannon. Everything was great! Make sure you get some fresh popcorn before you leave too! read more

Beer, lots of it and don't you dare ask for a Bud. Pale Ales to Porters I'm talkin' choices! the menu changes yearly and they take their customers feedback seriously---uh feedback ha ha. Anyway, I remember being under age and going to eat there and I couldn't wait to return post 21. Hot Sauces, Free tasty popcorn, booths, tables, bar stools, barber chairs, a couch, a veranda all in the north end of Middletown--oh, and they have a mug club too! Kickin' joint fer sure. read more

Eli Cannon's is one of the stalwarts that makes Middletown's downtown so special. Now most people have made their rounds of bars and taverns and pubs and probably have a favorite by which all others are measured. If that's the case, go to Elis! They'll surprise you. The environment at Eli's is super eclectic with a ton going on anywhere you look. And even when they're jam packed somehow the seating can remain private and intimate so you can still hang with your friends, be loud and have a great time without infringing upon others. And hey, if you don't like the booths are the bar, totally go for one of the leather recliners and just kick back or try their pretty kick ass (and shockingly private for location) deck. Meanwhile, the important part: the BEER! There are so few places in CT where you can get a true variety of great new beers. Usually its about picking from the old mass market standbys (which Eli's does have) but not here. At Eli's you can get exposed to all kinds of different flavors and styles, craft brews and local brews...all delivered with some expert guidance from an incredibly knowledgeable staff. Eli's will be your new favorite! read more

Eli cannons is a fun little dive bar at the end of main st. Can be really crowded at times and have to wait for a table. Great beer selection and feasibly prices. I enjoyed their food as well feels like a step up from your traditional chilies or sliders. I honestly don't see why people love their wings though I've had much better but that's just my opinion read more

Let's start with the good things, this will be short. When we arrived here on Friday evening we were told that it would be about a 45 minute wait for a table outside. Our group made our way to the bar where we ordered a beer from their extensive list. Wow, this place knows how to represent CT brews too - very impressive. My first beer was the Ginga Ninja which was very hoppy and had a hint of ginger...I ordered this for the awesome name and it definitely grew on me by my last sip. For my second beer, I had the Shebeen German Cerveza and it tasted like dirty water. Note to self, taste the beer before you purchase a glass. After an hour of hanging out at the bar, I checked in with one of the hostesses. After 5 minutes of waiting for a hostess to even acknowledge me, she told me it would be another hour. She told me "this is the science of a restaurant"...umm, thanks kidlet! I went back to my group and told them the bad news. So, we decided to finish our beers and then peace out, but about 15 minutes later they came back to us saying they had a table. This is where it gets bad... We sat at our table at 8:45pm and at 9:30pm our waiter finally acknowledged us and took our order. 45 minutes!!!! COME ON! He was so unapologetic and had a cocky attitude the entire time that was making me beyond furious. At this time, we also asked for water and the guy just pointed to the Gatorade cooler that had a couple of plastic cups next to it. Now, I understand this is a college town and this bar definitely caters to the college kids but, how would I have ever known that cooler was a self-serve water stand...it's weird and a lack of customer service. After waiting another 30 minutes for what I thought would be a quick order, we finally got our food. Now I know I'm being overdramatic, but they just plopped the food down and walked away...no, "can I get you anything" or "enjoy your meal". Customer service is a real prize winning skill in this dump of a place. For food, we had the chili dogs, buffalo chicken wrap, catfish tacos and a traditional Philly cheesesteak (ordered chicken but came out as beef). The food was not too shabby other than the clump of hair my boyfriend found in his fries. Maybe they put it there because at this point, I asked for the manager twice and did the manager appear, NO! Whoever this manager is, you need to get a new job because clearly you are in the wrong business. When I asked for the manager both times, our waiter would magically appear and ask how we were doing but he was beyond stressed. The second time he came around, I said the service is beyond slow and there is hair in our food! He just went on a rant about how it was so busy, there was a party and there weren't enough staff and then mumbled he apologized for the food. I get it, you are running around crazy busy but come on, show some responsibility. If he had approached us as, "I'm SO sorry for the wait" or "I'll be right with you"...I probably would have written a more pleasant review. This place was a HUGE disappointment. Perhaps if we had just stayed in the bar and not eaten here, I would have left this place giving it a three stars but the restaurant is beyond terrible. Gordon Ramsey needs to come into this place and whip these people into shape because the lack of management and staff who care about servicing their customers need a real good talking to. I can't say this about a lot of places, but I really dislike this place....you cannot pay me enough money to come back to this establishment. read more

Strong non recommendation. Establishment is cramped and poorly run. Very short stretch of bar so there's minimal counter space and stools. Restroom is not cleaned regularly and is full of graffiti. When you enter you are almost forced to trip over an obnoxious barber chair trying to get in. Bar lacks ingredients to make popular drinks such a mojitos. Also was disappointed to see a new bar tender working on a busy Friday afternoon. After taking an order the kid didn't even remember to ask if it was a cash sale or start a tab. Trying to leave an hour later and the kid has to almost chase a party outside saying their owed for their bill. Talk about embarrassing customers for a rookie employees error. Surely will not be visiting again and also recommend no else does either. read more

I've loved IPAs long before ever visting Eli Canon's, but Eli's will be credited for elevating that love to another level (and introducing to Widmer Brothers Brewery). For that alone they get five stars from me. On to the review! First off, location is somewhat of a pain. It's on the north end of Main Street in Middletown and a bit out of the way from the rest of restaurants / bars that dot the area. Can't help you there. You're going to be finding some street parking a bit farther away than you would probably like and start walking. It's not too bad, but you should be aware if you have never been before. When you enter, you will be hit with an old school pub meets TGIF meets dive bar vibe...all in a very good way. They have barber chairs to sit in, your standard bar seating, a dining area, and a very cool outdoor area if the weather is right. If you are coming to Eli's though, you are coming for the beer. If someone knows of a place with a consistently better tap selection, please let me know...seriously...I'm always looking to expand my repertoire. If you follow them on facebook or keep up with them otherwise, you will find they generally do a 'tap takeover' most Tuesdays. Tap takeovers are when a bar lets a brewery come in and generally 'take over' 4-8 taps with their own wares for a limited time. Always a great opportunity to sample a brewery's limited or hard to find offerings. In normal times though, they have a very well thought out tap selection that will run the gamut from local craft to out-of-state and will try to cover all the bases in beer styles as well. Food? I have eaten there and will say it was good...maybe very good...for bar fare. If you're coming here expecting a burgers, sandwiches, wings served up to layer on the beer you will be drinking, you will be A-OK. Middletown is a bit of a hike for me (especially considering the drinking I will be doing), but I try to make it out to Eli's as often as I can. If you are close to Middletown and a craft beer geek, a no brainer. read more

The beer and appetizers were good but it went downhill from there. Our meals took forever and when the steak sandwich came out it smelled like poop. I wrapped it up for my dog and she wouldn't even touch it. read more

Eli Cannon's - Gross... - American Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Recently went to dinner and drinks with friends who we hadn't seen in a while and was looking for a chill place. We unfortunately decided to go to Eli's. One of our party ordered a drink they didn't care for so we asked to be refunded. The waitress said there was nothing she could do about it so we asked for the general manager to come out. So "Rocco" came out and told us that the policy at Eli's is that they "don't refund anyone" we asked if they could meet us in the middle and take a few drinks off our tab. He then proceeds to take out his phone to text while talking to us, and completely puts us off and walks away standing his ground on not making the situation right. So we asked for the check at the end of the exchange and then says "you can ask your waitress". In this day and age, there are many options on who gets our business, Eli's will not be getting my business again. I am truly floored with the lack of professionalism displayed by this chooch, and this restaurant. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. Krust is right across the street and welcomes the business. read more

I want to start off saying that I really enjoy coming to Eli's. I like the atmosphere, the food, and beer selection. Tonight however, was a huge disappointment. I came here with some friends I haven't seen in over a year. I ordered a bottled beer that I've never had before... It tasted weird with a chemical smell. I'm normally someone who sees the positive in everything, but this was a time I had to express my distaste to the waitress. She understood, but told us there wasn't anything she can do to rectify the situation. We spoke to the general manager on duty and he said the same thing. Not one ounce of customer service was expressed. In that moment, I felt Eli Cannons acted out of entitlement and didn't need our business. Maybe so... I get that you're a popular spot, but you shouldn't lose good business conduct. It's sad to see a great business turn into snobs. read more

This is definitely one of those places (like Shady Glen in Manchester) where if you're not a local who's been in the town your entire existence, you're not going to "get it". I'm one of those people. Yes, they have a big beer list. But there food is typical pub food that I can get anywhere so why would I drive to Middletown for it? Also, their menu is SO cluttered (I think it's part of their local appeal - stickers, posters and graffiti all over the walls, benches, chairs, MENU) you can barely read it. I just didn't get it. read more

The food, drinks, and service here are excellent. However, my only complaint is that most of the establishment is not accessible for handicapped individuals. I went here for an event for a coworker and they placed our group outside. I had a broken ankle at the time and was using a scooter to get around. The only way to access this area is up 5 steps or through the back, which is lined with uneven terrain (sand) and more levels. Wish they had a handicapped entrance! Otherwise a great place. read more

3 stars for the fun patio, but not a super fan of the beer/drink selection. Good summer spot for a night out with friends though, but don't expect any amazing drinks. read more

DIRTY!!! The service sucks, they're rude and extremely impatient. The food isn't that great either, especially after waiting as long as you always do. Last time we got the buffalo nachos and had our tongues burned off by how spicy it was. The table behind us had the same and agreed that it was inedible. Don't waste your time for an overpriced craft beer and creepy, dirty decor. read more

Let me just say as a non-drinker, I still absolutely LOVE this place. They always have a huge selection (20+) beers on tap, and even for me they taste good. Their mixed drinks have always come out very delicious. And their staff are always amazingly welcoming. Its a very laid back atmosphere, and there's even awesome outdoor space in the back. I try to eat something new every time I go and have never been disappointed- I've recently been stuck on their trough of Mac and cheese. I TELL EVERYONE TO TRY IT AT LEAST ONCE. It always hits the spot (for two meals it's so big), along with their spinach dip, and fried pickles and jalepenos appetizers. Its an experience- one you will seriously go back for over and over. read more

Food was average. Service wasn't great. The server changed me for multiple seltzer waters after offering me refills. When the bill came she got defensive and said she had tables accuse her of assuming they did not have enough money for refills so because of that she would just rather charge and not give us the heads up. However, regardless of restaurant policy it's common courtesy to inform the customer that every single refill for seltzer water will be charged. Seems like she was trying to increase her bill for a higher tip but unfortunately her tip was impacted because that is not best practice. We told the manager on the way out, he didn't seem to care. Again, I'll pay for refills but don't be sketchy about it. Probably won't be back, I don't like feeling ripped off. read more

This review is about the one and only time I visited Eli Cannon's on 12/20/2015. My wife and I visited here based on recommendations from other people. We love buffalo wings and it looked like the perfect place to try. The waitress was very friendly and the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. I ordered a salad and wings. The salad was very good and the wings were excellent. I was very pleased with my meal; there was a great atmosphere, and the service was just as good. So far, so good! At this point, we were thinking to ourselves that this could be our new favorite wing restaurant (we love hot wings!). Well, after we finished eating and received our check, that's when everything went downhill and fast. The bill total seemed a bit high and when I looked closer, I realized why. They charged us for refills on our sodas. I wouldn't have had so many refills if I had known. That was her one mistake. She never made us aware of the fact that there weren't free refills. It is unheard of nowadays. We brought this to our waitress's attention and she admitted that she forgot. No big deal. All they had to do was comp the extra sodas and everything would be fine. She went to her manager and he refused to take the charge off. We nicely explained our predicament so she went to her manager again. When she came back, she said they can take the charge off but she would have to pay for it out of her own pocket. Then, if we had any more problems, we would have to go to the bar to speak with him. He refused to come to the table. Even though we should not have to pay for the refills, I am not going to make the waitress pay for it herself. I wouldn't do that to someone that makes minimum wage and provided good service. It would've only cost the restaurant a few dimes to make two happy guests and would ensure that they would return to their establishment. Nope! Not good enough. The manager that was working that night (I wish I got his name), was such a prick and had no right to treat everyone that way. At the end, I just paid the bill and left. I was too pissed off to confront the guy. Looking back, maybe I should've done more but it might not be worth the hassle. He lost the restaurant quite a bit of business from us. I may eventually return and give them another chance but I'm not ready yet. Even 8 months later, I still have cringe when I hear the name Eli Cannon's. It may be too generous but I am giving this place 2 stars because of the great food. It would've been 4 or 5 if the manager didn't treat us like crap. Note: You can also read my wife's review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/eli-cannons-middletown?hrid=cSsZkmCXNIeFE_wRiAvlPA&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) read more

Great atmosphere and good food. Depending on the time of day, you might need to chase the servers a bit because they can get short handed but they are good. It reminds me a lot of Jekyll and Hyde's in the city. Fun place! read more

Okay, beer = A, However...the wings and pub food used to be the best in the state. I mean awesome. Now they are not even the best on the block... Oh, and no one else on the block even sells wings. Grease is the word alright, very greasy. Even worse, somehow the staff has gotten an attitude over the years. Friendly and cool are out, thinking your cool(and definitely no) and being rude are in. read more

Management was beyond poor. We were told at 6:30 that the wait would be 60 minutes for a party of 6. 3 hours later at 9:30 we were told there was nothing they could do while continuing to seat parties of 4. Upon complaining to the manager, Rocco, we were told it was beyond their control. I have never witnesses such inept management. The verdict is, even withholding the suspiciously unsanitary conditions, this restaurant is a must avoid. I am beyond disapointed. read more

So, Mr. Man and I stopped by here for lunch yesterday. I'll save the best for last. The corner they sat us in was very noisy which was no fault of the restaurant. The service was very good and the waitress was very friendly. I ordered The Boss which is their chicken club sandwich. It was no doubt the best chicken sandwich I've ever had. It was seasoned well. The cut wasn't too thick and not too thin. The bacon was cooked to perfection. The bread was just right and the fresh iceberg lettuce was perfect. I'm getting misty eyed just thinking about it. read more

Eli's is a perfect place to meet up with a few friends, try a handful of fun/craft/local beers, and share some bites. Casual, affordable, and conveniently of main street in Middletown, within walking distance of NoRA Cupcakes for dessert! Jalepeno poppers are a must, and don't be shy to try the Gator bites! Would love to go back again soon. read more

HORRIBLE SERVICE I literally made a Yelp account just to leave this review, as I was so disappointed with our experience at Eli Cannons. I have been here on a few occasions and was never impressed with the service but my last visit confirms that I will NEVER be back. My boyfriend and I went for lunch and were quickly seated, as it was not busy. We then proceeded to wait for 30 minutes without our waitress ever coming to even take our drink order. I eventually went to the bar and got our drinks myself, which we then had time to finish while still waiting for someone to come take our order. During the time we were waiting the hostess sat another couple at the same table as us without even asking if we minded, even though there were empty tables. It was awkward and the other couple felt they needed to apologize to us and got up and moved themselves to an empty table. After 50 minutes I found a waiter and asked if someone could take our order. He told me to tell him what we wanted and he would pass it on to our waitress (who we still had not even met). My boyfriend and I ordered the same burger except that his was rare with onions and mine was well done without onions, our order was very simple. Eventually our waitress came out with our food and still without even introducing herself asked "whose is rare with mushrooms?" even though no one ordered mushrooms we were so hungry and annoyed my boyfriend said it was his. I took one bite and quickly realized that she had given me the rare burger, she did not even manage to get that right. She never came to check on us or ask if we wanted new drinks. Eventually she came back and said "you ready for the check?" My boyfriend felt nauseous on the way home and ended up vomiting with a fever all night. TIL: rude, inattentive, poorly trained servers & food poisoning read more

I went with the 12 wings. Half garlic, half medium buffalo. They were pretty tasty and they also came out pretty fast. My appetizer was the spinach dip w/ chips. It was amazing and better than the wings I ordered. This place was pretty packed when I got there but I was able to get myself a table. They also have a back patio which is also pretty sweet. The crowd was very diverse and calm. If your ever in the area of Middletown, stop on by. Trust me you won't be disappointed! read more

Terrible manager or proprietor. Actually screamed at us to get out of the bar at 12:57 "it's illegal for people to be here you have 2 minutes!!!" No one let us know prior to that. I'm from out of town, bars close at different times in different cities, especially ones that are also restaurants. Perhaps your bartender or waiter could tell us that in time for us to get the check and pay? We asked so "do you want our money? Or?" And he just proceeded to scream at us/his staff over and over. Unprofessional. Aggressive. Genuinely kind of alarming. Not family friendly. read more

I've been here a few times and I'm a fan. Really good beer list with reasonable prices, friendly bartenders and a lot of weird stuff to look at- definitely has the feel of a weird dive bar. There aren't a ton of other good bars in the area so it definitely gets jam packed. I haven't eaten here yet though- but looking forward to coming back soon! read more

$8.50 for a kids hot dog is crazy!! My mom got a watermelon cucumber salad that had one slice of cucumber and mainly lettuce....although she said the salmon add on was good- hence the two stars- good luck! read more

My BF and I went here for lunch the other day...Loved the feel of the place and the outdoor "beach" in the back. Inside is decorated with a bunch of old school signs and things with writing all over the walls and ceiling. The beer selection was great and so was the food! We will definitely be going back :) read more

This place can get super packed and busy at times. They have a big menu and good drinks. Good bar food. I love the patio when it's warm outside. They have a cute back area with sand. Service is inconsistent. When they're busy you could be waiting 20 minutes for the waitress to come back to your table. read more

This place has really gone down hill. I used to visit Eli's frequently and I keep trying to give it another chance, however, every time I go back it just gets worse. I think it is safe to say I will make the drive to Plan B in Glastonbury for good beer, food, and service. The service at Eli's is horrendous. My server had no beer knowledge at all. I asked him for a "festina peche," which was on there menu and his response to me was "I have never heard of that before." If you have a bar that is know for having different brews, you should educate your staff or hire people who know what they are doing! The staff is also extremely unattentive, if your glass is empty you have better luck going to the bar and getting it yourself. As for the food, it is they are always running out of SOMETHING. One night my boyfriend ordered sliders and 20 minutes later our server came out and told him they were out but he could get a cheeseburger. How does that work? You cant make small hamburgers out of that? So then he ordered the fried crawfish, they were out of that too, then he ordered a pulled pork sliders which they had but they were ice cold. Needless to say he went home hungry. Eli's it pains me to write such negative things, but something has to be done! On that note your nachos are always delicious and so are your sweet potato fries with Carolina sauce. read more