BEAUTIFUL! inside and out love the atmosphere and the workers are so kind. would definitely recommend

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

Found Fire by Forge on yelp and saw that it had plenty of good reviews. Very easy to get to from my hotel and loved that it had a parking lot. Sat very quickly at a window seat which I loved it gave me a chance to people watch. I ordered the dulce de leche latte iced with the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. The latte was incredible. The sandwich was filling. Plenty of bacon and the bun was tasty. My waiter was great, very attentive and helpful. The decor was inviting and loved the variety of seating. The message of this place is wonderful. read more

Fire by Forge - Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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We arrived with a large group without reservations, kinda chose it on a whim, so we had to wait a bit 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. read more

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.Enjoyed coming here for a yelp event. Got to enjoy an arrangement of appetizers ranging from different meats and cheeses with fruits and crackers ,duck jambalaya, Brussels sprouts , and braised lamb. Service here was fast and friendly, establishment was clean too. To drink I got the ELDER WISDOM It was made with gin, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, rosemary simple, elderflower, elderberry liqueur, prosecco, lemon wheel, smoked rosemary. It was tasty! read more

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I came here for an early dinner on a Saturday with my friend to celebrate her birthday. It is seven minutes from the Mark Twain house. The restaurant looked very nice. It has multiple rooms. The waiter was very informative and explained their mission and how they help people to to learn skills and keep a job. We had the biscuits as an appetizer, which was very good. It was sweet and dense with lots of flavor. My friend had the burger which she thought was very good. I had the barbecued jackfruit meal. I thought the baked beans had a lot of flavor. The jackfruit was good. It didn't have as much flavor as the baked beans. The only thing disappointing was the corn on the cob. I did not feel it was cooked all away. However, the staff tried to fix the issue. We did take cookies to go, which were delicious. Overall, we were happy with our Milan and would love to go back to try other food. I would recommend trying them out. read more

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It's a great mission, with great food and drink/drank choices. Bathroom: ***** (super clean/classy) Quality: **** Quantity: ** Presentation: **** (well platted) Price: $$$$$ (pricy for quantity) Ambiance: Loud/Casual/Busy Attitude: Kind/Attentive Overall: too pricy for the overall experience and food. Nice to contribute but you're contributing your check! read more

Fire by Forge - Sydney omelette with turkey sausage - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Delicious! We really enjoyed our food and the staff was very nice. Spacious place with a casual but nice feel to it and good ambience. read more

Fire by Forge - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

One of my favorite places to recommend in Hartford. Amazing food, incredible happy hour, great drinks, and community focused/mission driven. What more could you ask for? Get the biscuits... always get the biscuits. read more

A rainy weekend morning brought us to Fire by Forge. It's a great space. It screams converted factory. The bar and bar area are huge. How much liquor do they have? All of it. It's a really well stocked bar. We started with mimosas and Bellinis. They were delicious. The Americano was double size, made properly. It was arguably the best I've ever had. Deviled egg starters along with an incredibly tasty cinnamon roll. A few sandwiches, bagels, and avocado toast did it for meals. Jessica ok great care of us, but everyone in the place was friendly and engaged. It's good food, for a good cause. Check em out! read more

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We went for Mother's Day Brunch and loved it! Get the biscuit appetizer served with butter and jam! They were delicious! Industrial atmosphere and large seating area in the back. We loved their vegan tofu scramble. (However the vegan bacon was too crunchy!) My mother got the steak & eggs and she loved it! Something for everyone! Kind staff. Great family spot! read more

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Love fire by forge for gluten free and vegan accomodations! Great spot, wonderful mission and fabulous eats.

Went here for a yelp elite event. The place was packed in the back where regular diners were seated for dinner. The place was super lively, beautifully decorated, and inviting. We were able to try many of their dishes, my favorite was their gumbo. I couldn't have eaten enough here. I tried their smoked apple drink which is one of the most delicious drinks I've ever had. I would def go back with friends . Thanks fire by forge ! read more

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Another fun night with the elite squad I got to sample bites like the Brussels mushroom empanada with truffle mayo, picanha steak with chimichurri butter and the duck jambalaya! Bar drinks were delicious and vibrant, and the atmosphere felt social. Parking is available in lot and also along the street. Busy bartenders, happy patrons and creatively unique food. read more

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Extremely overpriced for what it is. We came for lunch- I originally ordered the Holy Mole chicken arepa, but they didn't have the arepa. I got the burrito and it was bland. The street corn dip was okay but not worth $16. There was also a small hair in it that I didn't notice until we were done, it was under the tortilla chips and definitely not mine. The American Up n Down onion soup was good ($11). I liked the lavender lemonade. My partner got the steak sandwich, which he was disappointed in. Very small portion for $22. His drink was never brought to the table. I would maaaaaybe come back to try their brunch but I know it would be overpriced as well. There's a lot of better places to eat that don't cost nearly as much. $90 for a lunch for two- no alcohol- and it wasn't very good. Very disappointing. read more

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Through the grapevine (social media pages I follow), we heard that Chef Van Hurd from Season 6 of Hell's Kitchen was now the executive chef here at Fire By Forge! So naturally, we pulled up to check it out! (Disclaimer: Chef told me that he was so new there that his featured items hadn't hit the menu at that time. ALSO, he's been long gone from there at the time of this review.) So anyway, here's how things went! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right in Hartford, just a little on the outskirts is this gem. It's on Broad street a little out the way and there is a very small parking lot next to the restaurant, but street parking is also available. The outside looks very well put together and rustic. Once inside the restaurant is kinda split into 2 sections. You have the main section which is nice, open with high ceilings, bright red bricks, big windows, soft leather couches and all kinds of seating arrangements. If you walk past the bar you get into a smaller section, but it's kinda like a tunnel of tables. Lol. That tunnel of tables then opens up into what almost looks like a different restaurant, but feels like a space they expanded into. So there's plenty of places to sit, though I still encourage reservations! The atmosphere was lively and full of energy. This place also lets you know that it's a cooking school too! Amateur chefs can come here to learn knife skills and cooking skills as well! (This is just a small snippet of what they do, but I encourage you to visit the businesses website to learn more about what they offer.) Service: Here's my only gripe about this place. Right online it says "Happy Hour is from 4:30 PM to 6 PM daily and 8pm-9pm, except on holidays, events, or show nights." But like, when isn't there a show or some sort of event going at at The Bushnell or some nearby theater?! You have to literally call and check with the host to see if they're doing happy hour before you come because if you THINK you're in the clear, they can just say... oh there's a show tonight so there will be no happy hour. So that bothered me. Oh well. We still dined. Now for the good stuff! Let me tell you something about Suzie Johnson! She is the bartender here and she won BARTENDER OF THE YEAR in 2024 via the Connecticut Restaurant Association! She is a TREAT! She's full of personality, knows her stuff and is just a true pleasure. Food: First off was the Up In Smoke Old Fashioned. It had great, subtle sweetness up front, warm taste from the Up & Down branded bourbon, cold, smooth, not too harsh and of course, a bit smokey. As a courtesy to guests, they're served pickled carrots as palate cleansers instead of bread, crisps or anything like that. Clever. The first small plate I got to try were the Duck Mole Wings! These are described as "5 crispy duck wings with a tequila mole barbecue sauce, served with sesame seeds and pickled onions. These certainly looked the part! These were smooth, not necessarily crispy, extremely tender, hardy and just balanced. Mole is a very ingredient-heavy sauce and these were delicious. My 2nd drink was the Ghost Rider which is Up & Down bourbon, spiced Nightrider espresso, Licor 43 and an orange twist. This had a sharp cinnamon/hazelnut/nutmeg flavor/spice-y flavor. Very good and warming as well, even though it was a little sweet. Next up was the Knife Skills Soup! This is a soup compiled by the trainees and all the vegetables they've chopped in class! How cool is that?! It was a very thick vegetable soup, hearty, salty and warm. Next up were the Tostone Nachos! These were so fantastic. The pulled pork on top was so meaty, so tender and the queso fresco was lightly cheesy adding subtle notes to the hearty pork and carb-y tostone. This was my favorite thing of the night. My last drink of the night was the Sazerac. If absinthe is in the building, I must try that restaurant's version. This one was spectacular, but could've used more rye bourbon. The last thing we had to try was their Smash Burger. The burger consists of 2 1/3 lb angus beef patties, a "crystal bun", American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and special sauce. You can add bacon, egg or anything else if you'd like. This was delicious. The whole thing just melts in your mouth. The flavors were all there and so defined. Excellent. Value: This place won't break your bank, but it's not cheap either. Each of my drinks hovered around $13.00 a piece. As I'm late to write this review as I'm still catching up from years of backlog, none of the food I wrote about is on their current menu except for their smash burger which came in at $19.00. So like I said, not cheap, but... reasonable. In conclusion, I really liked this place, but as I am a happy hour hunter, not knowing if they'll have it or not based on how busy it is... is kind of a turn off. Like, just make up your mind and the people will as well. read more

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Stopped by for lunch and was immediately drawn to the restaurant's mission. Their commitment to supporting the community through job training, internships, and apprenticeships for individuals overcoming challenges such as poverty, incarceration, homelessness, and addiction is truly inspiring. It's the kind of mission that makes you want to support the place before even looking at the menu. I ordered the NOLA Shrimp Po'Boy, and my colleague went with the Smash Burger. Since it was a cold December day, I also ordered a cappuccino while my colleague chose a lemonade. Our drinks arrived quickly, but the food took noticeably longer. We had already finished our beverages by the time our meals arrived--about 30 minutes later. The food itself was okay, but the service could use improvement. I understand there was a large corporate group dining in at the time, which may have contributed to the delay, but consistency is important, especially during busy hours. It's an opportunity for the restaurant to refine their operations to match the strength of their mission. Overall, I appreciate what this restaurant stands for, and I hope they continue improving the dining experience to match the heart behind their purpose. read more

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I've been twice recently and both times had a wonderful experience. The service was quick and smooth. Staff was very friendly. And it can get very busy with holiday gatherings around lunch time. The food was delicious! I got the Mac and cheese and it was so yummy the only downside to this place is the parking lot is super small so be prepared to park in the street and have to walk or try and carpool if you can. 10/10 would recommend and will for sure be coming back. Plus feels nice knowing the proceeds are to help the community! read more

Fire by Forge - Mac & Cheese - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

I go to Hartford every summer for a conference but it never occurred to me to skip out and explore what the city has to offer. I'm so glad that I did this time, and that I found Fire by Forge. Food was fresh and interesting and tasty. The hit, for me, is their social enterprise approach and their impact on the community. They make good food while empowering people who often are overlooked and undervalued, enabling them to experience mobility and contribute to a thriving economy. Beautiful stuff! read more

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The concept of this restaurant will keep me coming back time and time again. I absolutely adore their message and there needs to be far more of it than there is! Kudos to you Fire by Forge! My husband and I had the pleasure of trying this wonderful restaurant for brunch this morning. Our server, Amy was friendly and attentive. She answered our questions and gave a great overview of what Fire by Forge stands for. We tried pour over coffee for the first time and the flavor is so much fuller and bolder than traditional drip coffee. We shared a cinnamon roll to start and it was by far the absolute star of the show. The roll itself was gooey and had a beautiful cinnamon swirl but it was not overly sweet. It complimented the warm decadent cream cheese frosting smeared on top perfectly. I would go back just for that and a coffee in the future! To eat - I had the biscuits and gravy with an over easy egg on top. The yolk broke so was cooked instead of gooey but it was still tasty. Additionally - the biscuit to gravy ratio was just a tad off in my opinion. There were 4 hearty sized biscuits and not enough gravy. They should give an option: 2 or 3 biscuits and they needed a little extra gravy. All and all, however - it was still super tasty! My husband had the steak sandwich on warm ciabatta. He had a side of fire fries which added the tiniest hint of smokey paprika. He really enjoyed it. We thought it was going to be a lot heavier than it was. It was a charming spot with a beautiful vision and I can't wait to go back! read more

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A beautiful building refurbished to a restaurant with a mission. The philosophy of helping give people a second chance does not compromise the excellent food or friendly service. A bonus is the variety of vegan options. Everyone was happy with their lunch choices. We can't wait to return for buck a shuck Thursday or Wing Tuesday read more

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My family and I had the pleasure of visiting Fire by Forge yesterday. I didn't know what to expect and boy were we blown away! Grace was fantastic and I know we definitely made sure she got her steps in. But she always returned with a smile. They are so attentive to anyone with allergies. We even had a visit to our table by the Chef. That was so appreciated! Thx Chef!! The drinks were fabulous from the Mojitos to the blackberry and fig margaritas. The Fig Margarita is a must try! The happy hour menu had a nice variety of choices. I tried my first plant based product, which were the crabcakes. I was very pleased with the flavor and texture of the crab cake. Brick interior and dim lighting makes for a nice date night or special occasion dinner. I honestly want to go back again very soon! read more

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Oh my goodness I love this spot. We tried to come here once on the weekend but realizing that reservations are almost required if you would like a seat. We were told to book out two weeks in advance. We tried again and were able to get a spot. The story behind the not for profit restaurant is beautiful! We both had lattes & they were great. I had the avocado toast which was a 10/10 & he had the chicken and waffles which was a 8/10. We would definitely recommend this place and come back again :) read more

Fire by Forge - Latte, Chicken & Waffle - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Very nice I love everurging about it! I hope to go over again. Would most definitely recommend to people Fire by Forge was very welcoming to us. read more

Tried the Buffalo Mac & Cheese at Fire by Forge in Hartford--chicken was seasoned well, mac could use salt and more cheese. Tasty, but $20 for that portion? 7.5/10. Would I eat it again? Maybe... if someone else is paying. read more

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On our way to see a UCONN football game we went to fire by Forge for brunch. The location is absolutely beautiful and very spacious. We started with the avocado toast, which didn't have a lot of avocado on it for the price, but was still delicious. The sourdough bread was so fresh and it onions were so good. I had the buenos dias tacos, taco tacos with eggs I added bacon. They had a major kick to them, which I didn't expect, but it was good. My son had the biscuits and gravy, which was so unique. It had almost a sweet flavor to it and was very filling. He really enjoyed it. He took a cinnamon roll home to have later. The server was average. He didn't clear our dishes, and he didn't take our order in a timely manner also, their beer offerings are very lacking. Their mission is phenomenal and I would definitely go back. read more

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This place was certainly a find. The place was packed at 5:00pm so I would definitely call in ahead for a table. I also liked the story behind the restaurant and the opportunities it creates for second chances which was explained to us by our waitress upon being brought out menus. Onto the food. 1) Kids mac and cheese - this was really good. The kid liked it a lot and liked the fruit cup selection of really good strawberries and raspberries. 2) Pan seared snapper over spinach risotto (daily special) - this was really good. had a nice crust on the outside of the tender/flaky fish. The risotto was flavored well, a little tight (firm), but was still good. 3) Chocolate chip empanada. this was the recommendation by our waitress as her favorite so why not try it. Boy it did not disappoint! hot and crispy outside and nice and gooey inside and pair it with the sauce was a perfect combination. I would eat another plate of this any day and any time. Do not miss out on this gem. You will not be disappointed! read more

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This was my 2nd time here and it didn't disappoint. There is limited street parking and they do have a parking lot that can get full quick. The ambience is really nice with great music and very friends and accommodating hostesses. All staff have a smile on there face which says a lot. While there were no reservations available online, we took a chance and showed up and they had seating for the four of us. Teal, was our amazing waiter. Even while new, she still was able to give her opinion on options we considered. Food is flavorful and has beautiful presentation. I recommend the wings with the dry rub, tostones, flatbread, and wild Mushroom Empanadas. If you go on Tuesday and sit at the counter during happy hour, their Tacos are great! The poached pear and flan is very good too! I look forward to coming back! read more

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This spot has been on my list for a while, and I finally had the chance to stop by -- totally worth the wait! From start to finish, everything was phenomenal and exceeded my expectations. I came in for a quick lunch break that I honestly didn't want to end. The dry rub (highly recommended by our wonderful server, Dayanara) was a perfect 10/10 -- full of flavor and cooked to perfection. The truffle mayo deserves its own fan club, and the passionfruit mimosa? Absolutely the highlight of my day -- refreshing, balanced, and just the right touch of sweetness. The atmosphere was welcoming, the service attentive, and the food outstanding. I'm already planning a Part 2 visit because there's no way I'm stopping at just one experience here! read more

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Based on a catering order: we had food catered and it was decent but wouldn't call extraordinary. The BBQ pulled pork came without any kind of BBQ sauce. There were quite a few fatty pieces though that tends to happen with pulled pork. The butternut squash ravioli was probably the best thing we got on the menu. Delivery was also late though unsure if this was due to busy location. Desserts provided also would say average (cookies and brownies). read more

Great food! Great staff and environment. Easy parking around downtown and great place for a happy hour or dinner.

Never as good as Firebox was and they are sliding downhill :-( The interior is a little grungy - restrooms needed to be cleaned , stuff stacked along the wall, etc - basic stuff that a restaurant manager should be keeping an eye on. Food varied from meh to flat out bad - yucca fries drowned in brown sauce, mac and cheese that was mediocre at best and the added chicken was just thrown on top. Service was very inexperienced - didnt check in, didnt refill water, didnt clear dishes that were finished, etc read more

Fire By Forge and amazing upscale casual, chef driven Pan-American inspired cafe, restaurant and bar. The restaurant is committed to a farm to table menu in addition to fully integrating culinary and customer job training program. The food is absolutely delectable and I will say that 100% at every visit. I've not had anything served to me at this establishment without being awed. I have tried, Bagel & Lox, Huevos Rancheros, Avocado Toast, Karrigan's Biscuits, Mushroom Empanadas and Downtown Mac & Cheese with Fried Buffalo Chicken. Thinking about all that makes my mouth water!! I also, always get a Cortado and Lavender Lemonade. Both options are a compliment to any meal! The biscuits had a smoothly textile textured butter and enhances the biscuits flavor. The mushroom empanadas are a true appetizer. I would love to see that as an entree. The Mac and Cheese is piping hot and the chicken is fresh indeed. The breakfast items are a delight as well. I absolutely can't wait to dine here again! read more

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There are not enough superlatives to give this restaurant I booked a bridal shower after dining at the restaurant several times. The food for our event was amazing. All the staff were so kind and extremely attentive. Totally recommend the baked goods, eggs, home fries, pancakes were tasty. We had fresh fruit which was extremely fresh and in a beautiful displayed. My guests complemented the staff and loved the food. The manager,Adrian, worked to accommodate my requests. I will definitely book future events here and return for dinner. read more

I had a great experience at Fire by Forge for Sunday brunch. Lots of foot traffic on a Sunday around 11 so definitely recommend a reservation. We were seated promptly. Love the industrial decor vibe. I started with a mimosa with a mango orange foam which was great. Next, we sampled the cinnamon roll. Perfectly executed, wish it had even more of the yummy icing. I had the up and down burger which was seasoned well. It was a bit thicker than other smash burgers I've had but it was delicious. Other dishes on the table looked yummy and got great reviews. We ended with an order of cookie dough empanadas. Love the innovation and they were rich and decadent. Love the mission of the restaurant as well and our server was great. read more

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Went for brunch. Drinks were not bad (one drink was fabulous the next was terrible), service could have been better. Food was decent. Maybe with a different server it would have been fine read more

Excellent food and drinks at at reasonable prices but with a couple of very progressive twists. 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! read more

The food and cocktails were amazing! The seasonal Macadamia Manhattan was so unique and delightful. The burrito was upscale and yummy. The guys behind the bar were friendly. I gave an extra star for the high quality of the food/drinks and the commendable mission of the restaurant. However, the burrito and fries came out cold, which was a huge disappointment. The management has not figured out how to handle a busy night. We made reservations well in advance and showed up about 5 minutes before we were supposed to be seated at 6 p.m. but they were still seating people with 5:45 p.m. reservations at 6:10 p.m. We all had shows to get to since there were events at the nearby Bushnell and Webster, so it's understandable that it was busy, but this is a regular occurrence at this location. We opted to take a seat at the bar after waiting about 15 minutes after our reservation time had come and passed rather than keep waiting for a table. It took quite a while for someone to take our order and over an hour for the food to arrive. Several people left before their food arrived because they didn't want to miss their show. I hope Fire by Forge gets a handle on how to get folks seated in a timely fashion and get food out warm and more quickly because they are doing amazing work by hiring folks who have a difficult time securing employment. I want to see them thrive but pretty much everyone around me on Saturday was complaining about the service and indicated they wouldn't be back. read more

My family and I were so excited to dine here for brunch. Their mission is awesome! Sadly we left a little disappointed. The pros: Service was decent. Mimosa was good. Unfortunately our table was sticky and we asked for a rag for us wipe it and that never happened. Our food came out barely even warm. read more

Fire by Forge - Shrimp and Grits - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Great food and menu! Those brussel speouts are dynamite! Just a little noisy but if you go early that helps