Fire by Forge

4.5 (221 reviews)

ModerateNew American, Latin American

Closed • 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

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

Fire by Forge - Industrial atmosphere (Photo by Deanna Troy Travels) - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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

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

Fire by Forge Popular Dishes

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Wild Mushroom Empanadas

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FIRE BY FORGE ATMOSPHERE

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Moderate noise

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Upscale

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Melissa T.

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.

Kathleen S.

.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!

Joseph L.

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!

Danielle K.

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.

Mia A.

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.

Chuck D.

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!

Vegan tofu scramble from Fire and Forge (Photo by Deanna Troy Travels)

Deanna H.

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!

Christine M.

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 !

Moni W.

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.

Jazzlyn S.

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.

Sara R.

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.

Eric W.

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.

Ron D.

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.

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Wynne L.

Elite 23

119

105

101

3 years ago

Went to Fire by Forge on a soft opening night. Excellent service and love their mission. Food was perfectly portioned and pricing was fair. Bar service was a little slower than our party would have liked but also understandable seeing that there were a lot of patrons there and it was a soft opening. I was hoping to order a Manhattan but we only had the option of ordering from their cocktail menu (hopefully full service bar once the restaurant is 100% ready!). I ordered the branzino and it was delicious and beautifully plated. Looking forward to going back! read more

Fire by Forge - Yuzu cowboy. If you like mezcal-Delish! - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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

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Adrian B.

We've reached out to you in a private message to thank you for taking…

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Grace M.

142

3 years ago

I had lunch here + to go coffee. I love the mission and have eaten at the Kitchen many times in the past. I found the Kitchen pricing to be reasonable + good quality ingredients. I am giving 3 stars because of the high price of menu items + 18% service charge. I totally appreciate the service charge as a way to pay better wages + benefits, however the charge is added even to to go coffee orders which makes ordering coffee, cookies, pastries to go more expensive. The price point of menu items + 18% service charge makes this restaurant inaccessible to the neighborhood. The customers that can afford to eat here end up being legislators, lobbyists, state employees, non profit employees. Fire by Forge should consider including some lower priced options/ affordable grab and go items to make the restaurant more accessible to all. Fire by Forge could offer a discount to Hartford residents to make the restaurant more accessible. read more

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Adrian B.

We've sent you a private message to personally address some concerns…

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Faith F.

2 years ago

I could give this restaurant a 10, I would! We were a party of six and from the young woman who offered to valet our car right down to the person who bused our table, the service was outstanding! Angie, our server was knowledgeable about every dish and was patient with helping my husband navigate the menu with his dairy allergy. The food's creativity was only surpassed by its deliciousness (highly recommend the short ribs). To add to this exceptional dining experience is the mission behind this wonderful spot! You won't want to miss Fire by Forge! read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Faith! We've sent a message to your inbox.

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Vernette T.

2 years ago

I visit this restaurant often. I am always pleased to see the 5 star service is consistent! Adrian was my waiter tonight and he was kind, conversing, accurate with the order, timely and smiling all the time. An awesome member to have on your team! Wonderful job Adrian! Vernette read more

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Adrian B.

Thanks for the kind words, Vernette! We sent you a private thank-you,…

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Wendy V.

126

2 years ago

Service was good, food and food creations were very delicious! Ambiance was open, cool, friendly, comfortable. The drinks were delicious! Again, the customer service was helpful and came with a sincere smile. We will return and highly recommend this establishment! We're looking forward to returning! Keep up the great service and great grub! read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Wendy! Be sure to check your inbox when you get the chance.

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Emily L.

2 years ago

Service sucks, which is too bad because the food is always good. Ambiance is nice. But like I said service

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Adrian B.

We want to personally connect with you regarding your recent…

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Angelica R.

2 years ago

I have ate here on two different occasions-- one for lunch and the other for brunch. Both times the service was amazing. Our waiter was attentive, kind and very informative. Nowwwwwww the food, it was better than I expected. Everything I had was so good! I highly recommend Fire x Forge not only for the quality and service but what they stand for. A Hartford gem. read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Angelica! Be sure to check your inbox when you get the…

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Samantha A.

2 years ago

Went on a night there was a show near by so they had a prefix menus as an option. It included an appetizer, main course and option to add on dessert. We opted to just order off the regular menu. We ordered the tostones nacho. The flavor of the pernil was good, but the tostones were a little soft and not crispy. I ordered the Mac and cheese with the pernil. It was great flavor but the pernil was a little over cooked in a mushy way. They have a fun drink menu. I ordered a dragonfruit cowboy which tasted great and had the right balance of alcohol and flavor. Inside there's a television screen that shows happy hour everyday from 4-6 and we were there at 5. I asked our waitress about the happy hour specials but she said they don't offer it when there's a show nearby. The place seemed chill and had great ambiance. Our waitress was busy but was attentive. Overall, we enjoyed our meals but nothing spectacular stood out. read more

Fire by Forge - Mac and cheese with pernil - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Samantha! We love the pictures, be sure to check your…

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Gabrielle B.

3 years ago

My husband and I stopped here in a whim before a concert. Boy am I floored. The food is absolutely out of this world. For an appetizer we had spinach and cheese pupusas. PHENOMENAL. Smash burgers were great and the drink selection exotic. All of the staff were beyond polite and sweet. I can not recommend this place enough! read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Gabrielle! Please check your inbox when you get the chance.

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Suzanne A.

2 years ago

I had a work event and team dinner was here. Ambiance was asthetically pleasing, and music set the mood that we were in for a good experience. Reading about the owner who wanted to make this all about your community's ownership is an exceptional idea!! I will support and recommend to all those I know to try you. read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Suzzane! We've sent you a message to your inbox.

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Bea F.

3 years ago

Came for Easter Brinch. Excellent food, excellent staff as well as delicious coffee. I will surely be returning. There is a parking lot for this restaurant so one doesn't have to look for street parking. The ambience is nice, but it was too loud in the dining room for my guest, so we were moved to the middle room. It was fine. There was also some weird smell in the back room. Don't know if it was metal polish or varnish or what but it was off putting. Perhaps that was a one-time smell. As I said, I will definitely be returning. The food was delicious. read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Bea! Be sure to check your inbox when you get the chance.

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Sarah H.

2 years ago

A delightful find in Hartford! Fantastic food - I'm not really a chicken and waffles aficionado but to my surprise these were amazing! Crispy and so juicy with a perfect balance of sweet and savory. Applause to a great mission for equity in employment and sustainable business practices read more

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Adrian B.

It's great to know we've given you an amazing experience, Sarah!…

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Taylor K.

2 years ago

Good ambiance. Didn't LOVE my meal but didn't dislike it either. One of the waiters wore his pants below his ass cheeks and you could see his underwear and entire butt underneath. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. I don't know how or why the managers were letting him get away with it without saying something. My waiter was fine but not exceptional service. He wasn't paying attention when my friend was trying to ask for something and he did not provide us the option to take our remaining French fries home, which I would have liked had he not taken my plate away before I could ask for one. My friends got the chicken soup (I can't remember the name of it) and the rice in their bowl was not fully cooked and the soup itself was mediocre at best. read more

Fire by Forge - Sydneys Omelet, mocha, chicken soup. - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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

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Adrian B.

Thanks for sharing your comments with us, Taylor. Check your private…

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Sue V.

2 years ago

First time dining here with a friend, and we'll absolutely be back! To start, the service was outstanding. My attire tonight was more than casual due to not having time to change, and the staff completely overlooked that and treated me us nicely. Furthermore, after requesting clarity on a menu item, the manager himself came over and chatted with us. It was very unexpected and so appreciated. When I go for a drink with friends, we usually order a bunch of appetizers to share, to get different tastes and an idea about the place. The Chopped Salad we intended to share was presented in individual bowls for each of us, which was beyond thoughtful. It was delicious, packed with veggies, and perfectly seasoned vinaigrette. Pupusas were soft and filling was light and creamy - simply delicious. I did not try the mushroom empanadas as my belly was full of pork buns, but I was told they were scrumptious. My favorite were the Bao Buns. Quite frankly, they blew me away. They weren't the traditional dumpling type but generous portions of whole pieces of porkbelly in a soft bao bun taco-like shell. I'm obsessed. Gearing for Happy Hour next time, and an Uber, so we can indulge and stuff our bellies. read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Sue! We've sent you a private message to your inbox.

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Brian O.

3 years ago

Blown away by my experience tonight! First time here and I'm already looking forward to coming back. Im 100% on board with the mission so it's something I feel good supporting. What I didn't expect was how good the food was! We ordered a bunch of appetizers and four meals. Being vegetarian we had plenty of options which was nice. Honestly the best new restaurant I've had in a while. Drinks were equally as good! Our server was amazing, high energy, super attentive and you could tell she was passionate about her job. Highly recommend!! We will be back soon! read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Brian! Please check your inbox when you get the chance.

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Denise B.

110

3 years ago

5 Star restaurant! They got everything right! Ambiance is low light moody with outstanding customer service and top notch ingredients went into all of our meals. read more

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Dennis C.

2 years ago

Great mission, great service, yummy food. It's an awesome space as well. Will definitely go back!

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Dennis!

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Penny B.

3 years ago

I ordered take out a few times but had lunch inside the dining room yesterday. My Cubano sandwich was amazing! I'm still thinking about it! The chips were also amazing! I've been going to The Kitchen for years and the new Fire by Forge did not disappoint! Jose was an amazing server, knowledgeable and attentive. Everything looks beautiful inside. WILL BE BACK!!! read more

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Adrian B.

Glad to hear you had a good time during your visit, Penny! Check your…

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Jen P.

3 years ago

By far the best brunch experience in West Hartford/Hartford area. Had amazing drinks including Bloody w shrimp and Key Lime Waffles.

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Adrian B.

Thanks for your review, Jen. We responded to you privately so check…

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Jessica C.

3 years ago

The ambiance is the traditional rustic feel the building has had through the different restaurants housed there. Fire by Forge however, is my favorite of them all. The food was fine dining quality without the stuffy atmosphere. The cocktails were unique and so delicious. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Justin leads the team well and makes everyone feel welcomed. We couldn't eat anymore in one night but would have tried everything on the menu. Needless to say- we will be back. read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you so much, Jessica! We sent you a private message, so be sure…

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Periple P.

2 years ago

It's a cool place and what they are doing as a nonprofit organization is great! For what's worth it the food is expensive. they charged us 18 percent for their mission and then waitress asked if we want to tip her separately because that 18 percent is not going to be hers although we were not going to leave without tipping here because she was a good Waitress but that 18 percent without knowing added on check was not cool. You will lose customers. read more

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Adrian B.

We appreciate your feedback and are glad we could connect with you…

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Emily G.

Elite 24

142

3 years ago

I was a big fan of Firebox and have been a consistent supporter of the Kitchen, so I am thrilled that Fire by Forge is back in this space. I've been there for dinner twice since their opening for dinner service, once with one of my sons and the second time with my whole family. My kids were huge fans of the Firebox Brussels sprouts (as am I!) so having that on the new menu is awesome. On the two different nights, we tried the salmon dish (perfectly cooked and the veggies with it were great just on their own), the Brussels (twice), the "side" of fries that is a whole damn meal, two kid meals (Mac and cheese and a burger), the skillet Mac and cheese (with Nashville chicken on top), the tuna poke tartar and a special dish with octopus. No complaints at all. The tuna, salmon, skillet Mac and the octopus special were the standouts. We also shared desserts -- absolutely try the quesadilla Salvadorena. It's a cake that's not quite savory but not too sweet, made with cheese and eggs and milk, and served with affogatto (a scoop of ice cream and an espresso). My new favorite thing. The place looks fantastic, the staff is great and very attentive, and the mission of the place is a bonus. We will definitely return soon! read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you so much for the compliments, Emily! We sent you a personal…

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David W.

2 years ago

Excellent brunch. The cinnamon rolls were warm and the havios rancheros was very unique

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Adrian B.

Thank you, David!

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David R.

2 years ago

Me and my wife and friends are our enjoy the meal tonight. Very very good good service and very my wife and friends enjoy them self. Good service. read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, David! We've sent a message to your inbox.

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Star B.

3 years ago

I ordered the wild mushroom empanadas for lunch. If you're a mushroom enthusiast, this would definitely delight your palate. The empanadas were light and crispy yet able to hold its structure against the juicy mushroom filling. The filling was seasoned just so to not negate the mushroom taste that you're looking for. The three empanadas are roughly 3-4" each and just enough to satisfy a lunch belly without feeling like an oompaloompa after. This will definitely be my go to for mushroom cravings. The ambiance of the bar area is a dimly lit, but not so dark, industrial style setting with soulful tunes playing in the background. The music volume is just enough to enjoy without having to make a proclamation everytime you want to speak. read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Star! Be sure to check your inbox when you get the chance.

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Leah B.

3 years ago

Love everything about this place! My only wish is that the amazing sandwiches were available on weekends, which becomes primarily brunch. It was great for meeting a friend with a child (the flexible seating in the cafe portion was perfect for the toddler to walk around without bothering anyone), and it's also great for a date night. Kind and attentive waitstaff. Great cafe food/drinks, and amazing dinner food and dessert. Best NA cocktail menu I've seen at a restaurant. read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Leah! Be sure to check your inbox when you get the chance.

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Laura L.

3 years ago

This is currently my favorite restaurant! I really love the concept and the mission, but even more importantly, the food is AMAZING! I dream about the mushroom empenadas ( and I'm not really a fan of mushrooms).....The baked stuffed acorn squash could turn this carnivore into a vegetarian, and the cocktails are whimsical and delicious!! I can't wait to go back. Again. And again. So many things to try..... read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Laura! Check your inbox when you get the chance.

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Alis T.

3 years ago

We will give it 4 stars because of there mission! It couldn't be more wonderful! Culture & neighborhood is everything and we are in short supply these days. Service was wonderful and theater service was timely . Food was a bit less impressive but good. Beef rib offered on both menus was in short supply - understood but only offered on theater menu? Harvest Salad was gorgeous and full of wonderful nuggets of beets, nuts and cheese with herbs. Cod was not great - a bit boring and poached (swimming) , Beef rib and potatoes was HUGE!! but sweet, not my jam. We will return but to the bar for happy hours! we will be back read more

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Tawne C.

3 years ago

We were excited to try this place after seeing the menu on line, but were disappointed to find a different menu with the explanation that the menu was seasonal and had changed a week ago, so no pastrami beef rib. Also the online kids menu changed, so no cheeseburgers. We ordered fruit with the kids meal but got French fries served. We requested a replacement and the fruit cup was pretty lame. Having said that, the empanadas were very good and my wife liked the smash burger. The desert for the kid was a small scoop of vanilla. Service was good, not great. Had to ask several times for salt and pepper as the food was under seasoned. The table we were at was very dark and I had trouble reading the menu. Overall average. read more

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Adrian B.

Tawne,…

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Jerry D.

3 years ago

Breakfast is wonderful! Recommend the Sydney's Omelette with bacon and Cholula with a spicy Bloody Mary or a lavender lemonade. Great story behind this industrial yet cozy place. read more

Fire by Forge - Spicy Bloody Mary - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Fire by Forge - Sydney's Omelette with bacon and Cholula - New American Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Adrian B.

Jerry,…

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Nick D.

2 years ago

Great food and atmosphere! Staff is kind and attentive! Highly recommended with a great a mission

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Adrian B.

We appreciate the review, Nick! We sent you a private message - check…

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Briana M.

2 years ago

Had their curry chicken salad and it was delicious!! I pile definitely recommend giving this restaurant a try.

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Adrian B.

Thanks for your review, Briana. We responded to you privately so…

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Catherine F.

3 years ago

Live the mission! The waitress could not have been better. The food was amazingly creative and tasty. We will return.

Business owner information

Adrian B.

Thank you, Catherine! Check your inbox when you get the chance.

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Mickey Z.

1040

377

2 years ago

Wow. Haven't been here since it was Firebox and I'm so glad we went back. Food was amazing, tried the mussels app, entree steak chimicurri and the scallops. All perfect ! Bartender was on fire. Tried the basil verde, ghost rider and the pink Negroni. All amazing. We will definitely be back! read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Mickey! Be sure to check your inbox when you get the…

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Sara K.

3 years ago

Fantastic Alvarado toast at a reasonable price. Excellent service. Easy parking. Cozy booth.

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Adrian B.

Thanks for the 5-star review, Sara! We sent you a private message,…

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Husnain K.

3 years ago

What a delicious meal and fantastic service. The back room is definitely a quieter experience with a beautiful ambiance. The food service was prompt, beautifully presented and tasty. Highly recommend - the halal chicken made this even more enjoyable, but lots of options also for vegetarians as well as their accommodation of food sensitivities. read more

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Adrian B.

Thanks for leaving our business a 5-star rating, Husnain, it's truly…

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Michelle K.

119

2 years ago

We were in town for the Capitol Groove Festival and found this spot on Yelp. The breakfast here was so fresh and delicious. My husband and I each got a breakfast sandwich on amazing cranberry bread, mine with tempeh bacon (yay!!). The service was attentive, kind and professional. Oooh and the coffee drink was divine. Super great spot! read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Michelle! We've sent a message to your inbox.

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Jasmine R.

3 years ago

The food was delicious, service fantastic and great ambience ! I just wish the menu had more options for brunch

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Adrian B.

Glad to hear you had a good time during your visit, Jasmine! Check…

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Abigail A.

2 years ago

My husband and I had dinner here before a concert. The food was amazing! One of the best meals I've had out in a long time and we eat out a lot. I highly recommend it. Service was great, too! read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Abigail! We've sent a message to your inbox.

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Jai S.

2 years ago

My husband and I stopped by for a quick bite and ordered the plantain nachos. We substituted the pork for chicken and it was absolutely delicious! I've also been for brunch and the chicken and waffles were also very tasty! Service was great and very attentive. Would definitely recommend and we will be back. read more

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Adrian B.

Thank you, Jai! We've sent a message to your inbox.

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Page 5 of 6

539 Broad St
Hartford, CT 06106
Frog Hollow
Directions
(860) 727-8066
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order
Visit Website
https://firebyforge.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does Fire by Forge open?

Fire by Forge opens at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Fire by Forge opens at 4:30 PM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Fire by Forge opens at 10:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Fire by Forge close?

Fire by Forge is closed on Monday and Tuesday.Fire by Forge closes at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.Fire by Forge closes at 9:00 PM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Mon-Tue ClosedWed-Fri 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PMSat 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PMSun 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Fire by Forge take credit cards?

Yes, Fire by Forge takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Fire by Forge have catering options?

Yes, Fire by Forge does have catering options.

Does Fire by Forge have a drive thru?

No, Fire by Forge does not have a drive thru.

Does Fire by Forge have a happy hour?

Yes, Fire by Forge has a happy hour.

Does Fire by Forge serve alcohol?

Yes, Fire by Forge serves alcohol. Full Bar

Indoor Amenities

Does Fire by Forge allow dogs?

Yes, Fire by Forge allows dogs.

Does Fire by Forge have TVs?

No, Fire by Forge does not have TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Fire by Forge have bike parking?

Yes, Fire by Forge has bike parking.

Does Fire by Forge have outdoor seating?

Yes, Fire by Forge has outdoor seating options.

Does Fire by Forge have parking?

Yes, Fire by Forge has parking options. Private Lot Parking, Street Parking, Validated Parking

Other Amenities

Is Fire by Forge wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Fire by Forge is wheelchair accessible.

Does Fire by Forge have free WiFi?

Yes, Fire by Forge has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Fire by Forge is a Pan-American-inspired, chef-driven, concept that includes a café, full-service restaurant, bar, and catering operation. Our restaurant features seasonal menus and sources fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients whenever possible.

Fire by Forge Reviews in Other Languages

Chinese
1 Review

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Explore benefits

La Casita Del Sabor

4.5(66 reviews)

0.8 mi•Frog Hollow

•$$

The food here never disappoints! I came in for lunch and had four tacos that were incredibly…read morefilling. This charming little restaurant had been closed for renovations, and while I'm not exactly sure when they reopened, the updated space looks wonderful and cozy. The service is humble and friendly, but please be patient - the server is also the cook, and the whole staff pitches in to keep things running smoothly. Since it's a smaller establishment, if you need anything, it's best to walk up to the front and ask for assistance. I ordered two chicken tacos and two spicy beef tacos, and they were absolutely delicious. Honestly, everything on the menu is worth trying!

If I could eat at this place,every night without worrying about my health, I would. The food is…read moreamazing and the portions are generous. My favorite thing to order from here is. Bandeja paisa, elite Colombian meal. Usually when I come here, I am greeted with a smile and friendliness. They do a variety of Latin American dishes very well. If you're not from the area, you won't know about this place, but I can guarantee you it'll be the best decision you ever make in your life.

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La Casita Del Sabor II

4.8(4 reviews)

1.3 mi•Parkville

Tantalizing, delectable, oh so craveable Latin American food. It's always amazing to find eats like…read morethis way up in the northeast. And especially welcome during the colder months because it warms you right up. The flautas I got were abundant, and total flavor bombs. Crunchy flavor bombs piled high with veggies and cheese. I can't wait to try what else they have here, will definitely be coming back. They got it going on.

Love this place with the best food, soft music and juice bar. It sure doesn't hurt when the staff…read moreis so friendly and helpful. Had a bunch of people with me and the pork chop set lunch was ever so popular. Tasty is not a forgotten word here!

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Barbacoa burrito filling, rice, beans, shredded beef, melted cheese, pico comes with red salsa

Auroras

4.4(77 reviews)

0.1 mi•Frog Hollow

•$$

In New York, we would call this a hole in the wall. Very tiny space off the street. Counterspace…read moreand four large, basic wooden tables. You can do takeout or dine-in, but even when dining in, you look at a menu, pay at the counter, and then it eventually comes to your table. I was lucky enough to come in when there was only one table and some takeout customers. As I left, several more people came in, so this place can become crowded. Aurora's is Guatemalan. They have a lot of brekkie stuff--huevos rancheros, omelettes with veggies, sausage, peppers, ham, sausage, etc. Breakfast sandwiches (BEC, beans, queso, ham, turkey, avocado, cheeses). Burritos (chorizo, loaded, veggies). Appetizers, like tacos, nachos, tostadas, and more. Sandwiches (burgers, steak sandwiches). Bowls and salads (house green, classic caesar, burrito bowl). Quesadillas and wraps (turkey avocado, buffalo chicken, churrascov, burrito, chicken bacon ranch). I had the Churrasco. It had a lot of fat, but it was more steak than fat, and the fat came off easily. The meat was tender and fall apart. I ordered the fries, but got rice, and that was okay. The black beans were great. The salad was a little palate cleanser. The thing I LOVED, ADORED, would help me ignore the fact the restaurant was so cold that I had to keep my coat on and shivered throughout my stay--the drinks. They have these great fruit drinks--grilled pineapple lemonade (my choice), homemade horchata, fresh melon juice, watermelon juice, etc. My choice, the grilled pineapple lemonade--I literally sucked that stuff down. It was fresh, refreshing, not too sweet, but just sweet enough. Let's go back to my elder millennial roots--"It's all that and a bag of chips." Would come here again, food, drinks, and service are great, but turn up the heat please!

I ordered from Aurora's via DoorDash and had a great experience overall. The carne asada Guatemalan…read moresandwich (Shuco) was hearty and flavorful -- the grilled steak was juicy, tender, and well-seasoned. The sandwich had that street food-style flavor I was craving, and the bread was soft but held everything together nicely. The sweet plantains were tasty and ripe, but a little on the greasy side for my liking. The watermelon juice was fresh, light, and refreshing -- not overly sweet, which I appreciated. Even though I didn't dine in, I've passed by the spot and it always smells amazing and has a warm, welcoming vibe. My order was neatly packed, and everything arrived intact, which shows care and attention to detail on their end. That kind of service goes a long way, even through delivery! Can't wait to stop by in person soon -- if the food tastes this good through DoorDash, I can only imagine how much better it is fresh off the grill.

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Entrance

Aurora's Bowl with shrimp

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Large Pizza and Wings

Babe Restaurant

2.6(16 reviews)

1.7 mi

The place was really cute!! The food was pretty good especially the Cardi B burger!! I was a bit…read moreskeptical due to other reviews but was pleasantly surprised ( : I would say the food service was pretty slow though and we were the only ones there. They were friendly

Last night prior to attending a show nearby, my friend and I stopped by Babe for some apps and…read moredrinks. Babe is a cute concept, the interior is all pink with a rose covered wall and plush pink seats. There was no one here, other than the very poorly trained staff, there were no patrons inside or outside. However, both restaurants to left and to the right of Babe were super busy. We decided to sit outside, because it might have been less awkward than being the only ones inside. The chairs were super uncomfortable, they were the very hollow metal chairs without any cushions or padding. The waitress come out with the waters. The waters come in these fancy whiskey glasses with a lime slice and a pink straw. She brought us the QR menu. This is when she informed us that we may only have alcoholic beverages inside. I have never heard of such nonsense in my life. She's telling us this after we got seated. I got the Melon Crush mocktail and my friend got the Cocoberry Bliss. Since I wasn't very hungry, I got the Guacamole. My friend got the three beef tacos. They weren't letting her get an assortment of tacos, they had to all be the same. The mocktails tasted like kid's juice, super sugary and carbonated. Not impressed. The waitress forgot about my guacamole. We waited a few minutes after the tacos came out, then asked her about it. She said she forgot. The tacos were a generous size, they were on a soft shell packed with beef, tomato, lettuce and cheese. These tasted super bland to me. They tasted like they hadn't been seasoned at all. Once my guac has finally come out, I couldn't believe my eyes. The guacamole was in a small dish in the center of a donut shaped plate, surrounded by tortilla chips. However, the chips were super tiny broken pieces, they were obviously the remaining crumbs. The guacamole was very smooth, but again lacked zest and flavor. To say I was disappointed in Babe, would be an understatement. To be honest, with such poor service, low quality food, and worst of all an empty establishment, I don't see them staying in business much longer.

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The inside

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The inside

MIA - Platter MUST TRY !!!!! Highly recommend, you can share it or have a feast for yourself.

MIA

4.0(75 reviews)

14.2 mi

My friend and I went to Mia for happy hour on a Thursday afternoon shortly after they opened for…read morethe day. The staff were very pleasant and attentive. The restaurant has a fun casual atmosphere and the premises were very clean. The happy hour menu prices were quite reasonable and we thoroughly enjoyed our margaritas. The Ronda Mia sampler platter was a great choice to enjoy a variety of apps. I will be returning here again!

Food, drinks, service, vibes ALL 10/0. I will definitely be back here soon. Personal faves Lomo…read moreand Pina colada.

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Jungle Bell and Empanadas

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Margarita

Coracora Original

4.3(498 reviews)

2.9 mi

•$$

Had a fun date with my fiancé walking around West Hartford and shopping. We got hungry and were…read morelooking for a place to eat. We saw many restaurants we chose this one. We actually didn't know anything about and what they served. Inside was beautifully decorated and we were seated quickly. We looked at the menu and saw they served Peruvian food. We never had it. We started with the trio empanadas and each one was delicious. If I had to choose one I pick the chicken as the top empanada. I didn't know what to order for the entree and the waiter recommended the Seco De Tría and Lomo Saltado. One was a short rib and the other was a beef stir fry. Both were very delicious! The waiter was very attentive and friendly. I would definitely come back here again.

Cute interior but...Awful. Took forever to get table side…read moreservice and when server finally came to table, took for-ever for drinks and food to be served. Corn nuts for an appetizer?? Seafood entrees are piled with rice and not much seafood. Prices are ridiculous for the kind of food that they're serving. No, I don't recommend this place at this time. Hopefully they'll get it together.

Photos

The best part about this visit was the cheerful happy interior.

Causa Rellena

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Red Sangria with a rose shaped ice cube

Puente Pub

4.4(145 reviews)

10.3 mi

THIS IS MY 2ND FAV PLACE TO BE WHEN IT COMES TO EATERIES !! The food is out of this world delicious…read more The service is ideal and the ambiance is magical! I love plant life and Spanish foods , this place is perfect A+

Food was ok.. had fish tacos and The Plate Lickin Rice .. I…read moreExpected more based on reviews. Ambience and drinks (habenerno margaritas) were good .. What was bothersome was , when I asked for a side of salsa for the rice ,I was brought a small amount salsa and charged $1.50 for it . Not life changing charge but On a 90$ tab, that just landed as ridiculous. When a manager asked how everything was, I shared my thoughts on changing for a tiny amount of salsa on a tab of almost $100 and she was defensive about the charge .. why ask then?? not really customer service I care to revisit

Photos

Flan dessert. Incredible. The caramel and flan texture was just perfect.

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Pineapple express

Aqui Me Quedo Restaurant

4.2(36 reviews)

1.0 mi•Clay Arsenal

•$

Food is always delicious! I've ordered trays of food for a party and it did not disappoint!…read more Everyone is always pleasant and friendly. The dining area is cozy and culturally inviting to sit and enjoy a meal!

I didn't get a chance to take pics , but the food was good but needed a smidge of salt. I ordered…read morethe small rice and chicken and the chicken was falling off the bone, literally. I also ordered a pastellios de carne but they gave me one with cheese and sauce instead that reminded me of pizza. Lastly , my favorite was rellenos de papa and theirs was pretty good. I also ordered a coco drink that was basically coconut and it was good. The lady who took our order was really nice and the food was done so fast . We literally did not have to wait any time at all. There was also a bar that a few people were hanging out at enjoying themselves. I don't live here, but I would definitely come back if I did.

Photos

Alcapurrias de Guineo con carne de cerdo (Fried banana stuffed with pork.)

Ensalada de pulpo

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PERNIL con ARROZ BLANCO (ROAST PORK AND WHITE RICE

Mamajuana Cafe

3.2(67 reviews)

21.3 mi

MamaJuana Cafe in Waterbury is an absolute gem! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt…read morewarm, lively, and inviting. It is the kind of place where you can settle in, enjoy a delicious meal, listen to great music, and truly have a memorable night out. The background music made the experience even better, with Chayanne's "Bailando Bachata," Romeo Santos, Nicky Jam, and other amazing Latin artists creating the perfect upbeat, feel-good vibe. The service was exceptional from start to finish. Our waitress, Angie, was wonderful--friendly, professional, and incredibly attentive. She made sure we had everything we needed and checked in throughout the meal without ever making us feel rushed. The entire staff was welcoming and attentive, which made the experience feel even more special. We began with the Empanadas de Queso, and they were easily a perfect 10! They were fried to a beautiful golden crisp without being overcooked, with a light, flaky exterior and a warm, perfectly blended cheese filling. The cheese was savory, creamy, and melted perfectly with every bite. The sauce served on the side was the extra touch that took them to another level--so flavorful and delicious that it left us wishing there was more. This appetizer is an absolute must-order. The Yuca Bites were another highlight. They were crispy on the outside while remaining soft, warm, and tender inside. The seasoning was just right--flavorful without overpowering the natural, comforting taste of the yuca. Every bite had a satisfying crunch followed by a smooth, buttery texture, making them incredibly easy to keep reaching for. They were simple, well prepared, and full of delicious flavor. The Rice and Green Pigeon Peas was also very good. It was not the traditional Puerto Rican-style rice and peas, but it had its own delicious flavor and character. The rice was fluffy, nicely seasoned, and complemented by the hearty, earthy taste of the green pigeon peas. It was a satisfying side that paired beautifully with the rest of the meal. The Salmon Fettuccini was outstanding. The salmon was cooked perfectly--tender, moist, and flaky, never dry or overdone. It blended beautifully with the fettuccini and flavorful sauce, creating a comforting dish with a wonderful balance of creamy pasta, savory seasoning, and fresh salmon. The flavors came together so well that every forkful was just as enjoyable as the first. For dessert, we had the Tres Leches and Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream. The portions were on the smaller side, but they were still absolutely delicious and the perfect sweet ending to the meal. The Tres Leches was moist, soft, and wonderfully rich, with that classic sweet, milky flavor that melts in your mouth. The Bread Pudding was warm, comforting, and full of sweet, spiced flavor, while the scoop of vanilla ice cream added a smooth, creamy contrast as it slowly melted over the top. Both desserts were satisfying and definitely worth ordering. Overall, MamaJuana Cafe delivered an amazing dining experience. The food was delicious, the service was impeccable, and the music and atmosphere made the night feel fun and memorable. Angie and the staff made us feel genuinely welcomed and well cared for. We are already planning our return and cannot wait to go back on a night when the DJ is there for an even more energetic and festive experience. If you are looking for flavorful food, attentive service, great Latin music, and a welcoming atmosphere in Waterbury, MamaJuana Cafe is a place you absolutely need to experience!

I've been here three times and keep forgetting to leave a review but here it is!…read more I can't break it down by dish since I've been here a few times and have tried a few things from their menu but highly recommend you visit. Location is great, lots of parking and it feels safe. Inside the restaurant there is a lot of space and the way it's set up makes it feel very open. They always play Spanish music which is one of the reasons I love coming here. Make me feel like I'm on vacation LOL! As a girl there's a lot of cute places to take pictures. This spot is cute to come with your girlfriends. The birthday song the play is so fun and really gets everyone excited. The service is a bit inconsistent- there have been times I've gone and they're not really too friendly or personable and then there are times that they're very friendly. I went yesterday and our waiter was William and he was so fun, he was dancing while taking our order :) I love love their food. It's always an explosion of flavor. This time when I went it stood out to me more, I had just had dinner at Don Coqui in Edgewater the night before and WOW!! If you ever thought about Don Coqui please save yourself the drive, money and stress cuz Mamajuana is where it's at!!! Their food is 100x better than Don Coqui. Their drinks are always on point and service is generally fast. Highly recommend this place. Great for birthdays or just any occasion. You'll surely have a great time! I dare you to not dance in your seat while you eat LOL ***PS- they do not share this info when walking in BUT they will charge a fee for using credit card. I think it's bs and their only downfall. I'd understand it if they were a small little restaurant cuz those merchant fees suck but they're a pretty big location so they should be able to handle those and I don't think it's ethical that they do not disclose this info anywhere. So BEWARE. I believe it's like a $5 difference from paying cash.

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Skirt steak with rice and beans

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Come enjoy our delicious drinks!

Gather55

4.7(69 reviews)

0.9 mi•Frog Hollow

•$$$

Finally got a chance to try this place with guest chef Ro in the house and delivering something…read morespecial. We started with what the ground remembered: a salad with heirloom tomatoes and bing cherries with whipped ricotta and it had that sweet tango was that you didn't know you crave. The Smoke and Soil dish of lamb chops with mojo rojo and fried potatoes was also excellent with the lamb tender and flavorful. We had other dishes from creations of prior chefs which were also top shelf. The best of all is that this helps to support the community with all the services Hands On Hartford offers. Just a winning combination: great food for a cause. You can't go wrong.

Excellent award winning chef selections.. tonight was Chef…read moreRoshara Sandra of the CIA.. The fresh tomato and bing cherry salad was amazing. Followed by the perfectly prepared Lamb Chops in Mojo Rojo . And finished with a spice rum carrot cake..

Photos

Beautiful decor and cool music. Great vibes!

Crispy Yucca Rellenos ($14)

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

10 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Joyce M. B.

3 years ago

Dining at Fire by Forge was a delightful experience; from the moment I stepped into the restaurant, I was greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that set the tone for the evening. The Tostones Nachos were an absolute revelation. Bursting with flavors and a Puerto Rican flare, they were a perfect start to the culinary journey that awaited me. The dish was filling and exuded a comforting essence. The combination of flavors in the pot pie was masterfully executed, showcasing the chef's skill. The Pumpkin Flan was a sweet and salty masterpiece, concluding the meal on a high note. The ambiance, calm and welcoming (granted, I went during early dinner hours), provided a fantastic setting for American fusion cuisine enthusiasts. Our waitress, Sam, added to the experience with her enthusiasm and insights into the restaurant's community commitment. Learning about the restaurant's big bet and how my patronage contributed to the local community left me with a sense of fulfillment. Although there's room for improvement in dish temperature consistency (the only plate that was room temperature was the tostones; everything else was piping hot), Fire by Forge stands out as a restaurant that goes beyond the plate, offering a remarkable dining experience. Highly recommended for those seeking a culinary journey with heart. read more

Alyssa D.

Elite 26

249

368

383

2 years ago

I recently met a friend for brunch at Fire by Forge and loved it! I felt that the menu was reasonably priced. The restaurant was on the smaller side but had ample space between tables and sufficient parking. The staff was very friendly and great at communication. The menu was diverse enough that there were several things that sounded good. I ended up ordering the sweet potato hash and I really enjoyed my meal! A highlight was that they offer a full espresso menu and their latte was to die for. I really enjoyed my visit at Fire by Forge and would recommend it to anyone in the area. read more

Karen L.

1 year ago

We arrived at the restaurant at 6:30 PM as a party of three. The host told us the wait would be 15 minutes, we ended up waiting a full hour to be seated. The service was fine, but the food was disappointing. Everything we ordered was way too salty, and definitely not worth the hype. To top it off, a 19% tip was automatically added to the check. That's ridiculous, especially considering the overall experience. I honestly don't understand how this place has a 4.5-star rating. Definitely not coming back. read more

Sandy D.

Elite 26

105

1 year ago

Fire by Forge stands out not just for its delectable dishes but also for its commendable mission. The 19% "Compensation & Benefits" charge ensures staff are paid a living wage and have access to benefits, making dining here feel even better. The ambiance is upscale yet welcoming, and the staff are friendly and attentive. Fire by Forge is a must-visit for those seeking delicious food with a purpose. read more

Jennifer N L.

1 year ago

Fire by Forge is an absolute standout! From the first bite to the last, every dish is bursting with flavor and clearly crafted with quality ingredients. The menu strikes the perfect balance between creativity and comfort, offering something for everyone while keeping it fresh and exciting read more

Milla R.

1 year ago

Farm to table restaurant. Very friendly staff. Good, moderately expensive food. And a lot of the proceeds go to a trust fund for the neighborhood. This is a replacement for fire box which folded during Covid. Not quite as good but up there and I definitely recommend it. read more

Michael W.

3 years ago

This place is a statement downtown. The food is awesome and the vibe is very distinct. A little pricey but there are a few options you may like. The music is always pleasing and the host are always professional. I recommend that you check them out. read more

Jason S.

1 year ago

The staff are wonderful. They are very polite and the place is very clean. The managers in there are wonderful especially Javon Mifflin always make sure that we will check up on and we had everything we needed. I recommend this place to everybody. read more

Wyatt D.

9 months ago

I order from here at least once a week, and never have been disappointed! One of the only places I can say that is better than a home cooked meal. read more

Mike V.

2 years ago

nasty place old seafood you will get sick it's not the same place as the old owner

Fire by Forge - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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People who viewed Fire by Forge also viewed

Max's Trumbull Kitchen

4.0

(902 reviews)

•$$$

Went for happy hour drinks - unfortunately they cancelled happy hour for the Rodrigo concert…read more The food we got was great and everyone was happy with our appetizer of the whipped ricotta with squash and bread. We had to order the pear sangria 3x it was so good! Tasted like an apple pie, the photo doesn't do it justice. I wish we had sat at one of the cozy booths, the bar was very nice as well. The other menu items looked great, especially the steak and burgers, cant wait to be back.

Stopped in for a dinner around 5:00 on a Sunday and had a very okay experience. The interior of the…read morerestaurant was cute and comfortable. We started with cocktails which were delicious. They had a fantastic dietary guide for each dish, saying which ones were gluten free, could be gluten free with adjustments, as well as dairy free, vegan, vegetarian, ect. For our entrees, we got the Caesar salad w/ salmon, chicken sandwich, and the gluten free pappardelle with shrimp. The salad was excellent and the salmon was perfectly cooked. The chicken sandwich and pasta were a little lackluster, maybe missing a little seasoning. Unfortunately, the shrimp on the pasta was overcooked. Staff was friendly but slow, it took forever to get our bill. We also ordered truffle fries but didn't receive them with our entrees and they didn't come out until we finished our entire meals. Our waitress was apologetic, but it looked like she was running the whole dining room.

Leon Restaurant & Bar

4.0

(42 reviews)

Just average.. and I think in this location, with this layout, you need to be excellent for people…read moreto come back unfortunately. It's such a tough spot. Margaritas we okay, we had a few spicy pineapples and they were inconsistent. Guac was decent.. the chips are super crunchy which I enjoyed. Everything else was okay to decent. We came at 6pm on a Saturday and was a group of 4 and when we left at 8 there were maybe 12 other people there. Very quiet, but again it's the location, layout, and vibe that are tough.

Ambiance: The actual restaurant is on the second floor but…read morethere is an elevator available. The music selection isn't good. I went on a Thurs evening so not sure if it's different on weekends but it's not giving Peruvian vibes!! It's very boring and the entire setting with music is giving old forgotten hotel bar. Food: Got the guacamole as an app and it wasn't bad but it wasn't great. It was VERY basic. No salt or pepper on the tables so I can at least make it a little better. It comes with these giant HARD "chips" (think Bartaco guacamole - if you've been there). Was not a fan of their guac. I got the buffalo cauliflower tacos as my entree. They were OK. My boyfriend ordered the chicharrones and they came with pico so I took the pico and added it to my tacos and it made them better. For an entree my boyfriend had the chicharrones, a shrimp tacos and al pastor taco. He said all of the dishes were ok. We didn't bother with dessert since everything else was pretty much a miss for us. Service: Wasn't bad, there were only maybe 10 people so they were very attentive and nice but nothing to rave about. WeHa is not easy - I wish them all the best luck and hopefully they can make some changes to elevate the food and the energy/environment to keep up with WeHa Blue Back.

Millwright's

4.2

(616 reviews)

•$$$

Super cozy and incredibly fresh food. Service was great, and had an incredible time…read more Drove a little under an hour to come and it was well worth it.

This review is really 4.75 for reasons I will explain but regardless of the 1/4 point deduction,…read moreMillwright's remains one of my five favorite restaurants in CT. The grounds, the old millwork setting, ambience and views just feel comfortable while still upscale. I prefer the main dining area to the tavern or covered walkway because you get a glimpse of the kitchen that consistently generates fabulous food with seasonal ingredients and re-imagined classics. Tyler Anderson is back in charge these days and his food is just really good Trusting in him we did the five course menu tour: local oysters with mignonette; cornbread with sesame butter; then one of those classics that has been played with a bit: tapioca pearls prepared to channel clam chowder with bits of bacon and herb! The next jawdropper was frozen shaved foie gras over a strawberry cream compote with pumpkin seed granola. The entrees (you get both) were monkfish schnitzel with a pickle and potato salad and seared strip with potato galette and cioppolina onion. Dessert was a panna cotta with strawberry and angel food crumble All of these were delicious and unique in there on way. Our table relished and discussed every course in an a way that was fun and social. The food made sing and think! The only knock was this: the menu had some redundancies with strawberries and soft textures: the tapioca, foie gras dish, and panna cotta were delish, we could have done without three dishes for people who can't still chew! Service was very pleasant but painfully soft spoken and could benefit from some more fine dining polish. These are minor quibbles. Two weeks later and we are still telling everyone we know what a terrific meal we had... This is a must go restaurant

Treva Restaurant & Bar

4.3

(741 reviews)

•$$

Can a restaurant be this good consistently? All the yes…read more I recently went back for a quick lunch and was floored by how good their pastas still are. I had the gnocchi with sausage and broccoli rabe and I wanted to eat it in mini bites to savor every morsel. It's just creamy and melt in mouth delicious. A little salty, a little savory, just a little slight bitter of the broccoli rabe that just works in the best way. Service was professional and attentive. Treva remains a standout in the Center and a must visit for anyone. Top tier.

Second time to Treva Saturday night. Always busy. All the restaurants are like this in West…read moreHartford but they pack you in so tight you can barely move. To the point where trying to get in to the table my purse knocked over a water glass and it smashed. I'm not large either. Anyway. First time here I felt my dish was much better. I had the Branzino and it was great. This time I had the fruitta de mare and the sauce was extremely bland. Dish felt dried out. Not enough variety of seafood either. Mostly mussels and calamari. Was presented in a weird dish too. I did not care for it at all. They gave me gnocchi for gluten free pasta. It was fine just sauce was bland as mentioned. My boyfriend loved his Orrechiete and it was very good. I will say from the mozzarella bar we had the burrata and the tomatoes were flavored beautifully and the bread also looked quite nice. Bf said it was great. Giving Treva a 4 for last time it was great and everything other than my entree this time was good.

Farrell's Restaurant

3.5

(61 reviews)

•$$

My wife and I stopped into Farrell's this afternoon on our way home and decided to have some…read moreappetizers before crawling in a day. We ordered the Barada appetizer which was arugula and cooked baby tomatoes covered in Barada with a delicious balsamic glaze. We also had which we never had before was the steak egg rolls. They were the best steak eggrolls we have ever had. They didn't drip grease They were very tender and reminded both of us of a steak sub. The flavor was right on. Recommend those all the time atmosphere was quiet because it was before happy our usual time of 4 o'clock, but the service was very friendly and they took care of us and highly recommend a place.

Cute little local place. We usually sit in the bar - Jen is the best bartender in the area. Her…read moredrinks are great (and strong), and she does fun things around the holidays like 31 days of Christmas or Halloween drinks. Their food can be iffy, it's a lot of pub food but the current chef does mix it up a bit. Their French onion soup is fantastic. We often go just for that. Some of the apps and entrees are just unexciting bar food. On a recent trip, I enjoyed the special of the night which was a linguine with scallops and a sherry cream sauce. It was great and exactly what I needed that night. Don't be afraid to try the specials. I enjoy their seasonal salads as well. And don't forget to finish with a slice of their famous carrot cake!

Uncle D's Diner

4.6

(227 reviews)

•$$

Wasn't pleased at 1st. Arrived 10am Hostess said no tables right now only counter seats as I'm…read morestarring at a table for 2. I was told the table was too small for 2 but we took it anyway. Table was perfect. We were traveling to Maine and somewhat wanted to be quick. Waitresses passing us by left and right. I side to my husband let's go. Then finally a young lady said "are you being waited on" and I said no. She apologized and happily took our order right away. I thanked her and asked her name and she said Giuliana and then our moods instantly changed for the better. Our beautiful granddaughters name is Giuliana.

Great food !! Big menu…read more Very nice and friendly staff!! It's a bit crazy on the weekend but you just have to be patient!!

Enclave Grille

4.5

(46 reviews)

I would give a higher review if I could, amazing service, great environment good music, amazing…read morefood. Even if I was trying to find something negative, I I couldn't. this place was top notch in every regard. From the outside it looks like just a random spot in the plaza. But once you enter, you enter a new world.

First Timers to Enclave Grille this afternoon, but it certainly won't be the last. EVERYTHING we…read morehad was stellar, we all felt our meals were outstanding. I had Faroe Island Salmon, was cooked perfectly, melt in my mouth goodness. The Gorgonzola mushroom sauce complemented the dish well. My wife had the 14oz Strip, the steak was tender & tasty. And my Mother In Law had the Maple Chicken, she loved it. Appetizers were Home Runs too, we all were blown away from how awesome the savory Lollipop Lamp Chops were. The owner takes pride in his cuisine and business, it's obvious. The rest of the staff was also personable & attentive, this place is simply a Winner. It's a "Hidden Gem" in small-town Burlington, CT. We're looking forward to the next time we drop into the Enclave Grille.

Spitz - Hartford

4.8

(29 reviews)

This place had great reviews and I had to try it for myself. The interior was spacious and clean…read more The vibe was hip and fresh. You grab a menu (and seat yourself) but you order at the counter. Met the owner Paige who was at the counter taking orders. She was very pleasant and gave great recommendations. Food was great. Got the Doner Basket which has everything with quinoa as my base (your choice of fries, rice or quinoa), and beef and lamb (your choice of chicken, beef-lamb, mixed meat, or falafel). Beef-lamb went well with the tzatziki! It had different textures which I enjoyed very much. Before we left, got a chance to chat with Paige. I did not know that Spitz is a chain with other branches scattered all over the US. She was open to feedback and provided excellent service. This place is a 5/5 for the great food and service.

overall a cool place fast service interesting choices…read morethe food came out fast the gyro meat was very dry i tried to eat past it but ended pulling the dry out tasted pre cooked the wings were good but small overall we won't be back

Tunxis Tavern

4.1

(7 reviews)

Great atmosphere. Consistently good food, and nice and welcome service…read more It's a good place for happy hours!

Very good food and consistent too. Service is good as well. There are various rooms or spaces to…read moreeat; main dining area has booths and tables but can be noisy. The center section near the take out counter has booths and is comfortable and quieter. The next area is the small bar area with bar seating and high top tables which is nice. The last area is the lower level which is all open and great if you have a private group. And of course when the weather is warm they have a nice patio with outdoor seating. Overall, It is one of my favorite "go to" restaurants!

La Casita Del Sabor

4.5

(53 reviews)

This restaurant already came with a recommendation and it lived up to the expectation. The sopes…read morewere incredible with tons of flavor. The chicken quesadilla was great and had some serious stretch factor with the cheese. The waiter was very polite and it is a quaint place that we will be visiting again.

Exceptional Latin cuisine! I ordered a Pechuga de Pollo which came with white rice, delicious red…read morebeans, a fresh salad, and extra crispy tostones. I also ordered a jugo natural de Parcha. Big portions, amazing food, and great service. No corners were cut. Everything was truly authentic and made from scratch. I highly recommend!

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Max's Trumbull Kitchen

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Millwright's

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Enclave Grille

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