We tried to go to a nearby restaurant but it was packed; instead, we stumbled upon this place and was pleasantly surprised. This CT chain first opened in Hartford in1936. They also have a location in Glastonbury and one that closed recently in Avon. They serve Italian fare; to name a few, pasta, pizza, chicken parm, and more. My family and I had dinner at this location (Plainville). The service and food were fantastic. The portions were huge and the flavors were on point. I love the complimentary bread basket; it was soft and abundant. I had the bbq brick oven wings and they were so delicious; juicy and flavorful. My family also enjoyed their food. In the end, yes we will definitely be back. No pics because my phone died and I lost all my pics :-(. read more

A solid 3.5 stars. Maybe they were short staffed, but we waited a while to be seated and the hostess was less than enthusiastic to do so. Then we waited quite a while for drinks...and starters...and mains... The meatball sliders were great, though. The sausage grinder was just so-so and doused in coarse black pepper. I tasted some of my husband's chicken Philly and I'd probably order that next time. read more

First & Last Tavern - Meatball Sliders - Italian Near Me - Plainville, Connecticut

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I've been to this First & Last location many times, and it's always consistently good. I was saddened the Avon location closed but this one seems to be going strong. The pizza is always solid, and today my buddy & I dove into some wings along with salads ... because, y'know, that'll offset the wings ;-) They also have a nice bar area! Service was good. read more

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Decided on a night out for some za, sat at bar. Service was amazing. Disappointed they were out of goose and only had enough Belvedere to make one drink each for the two of us but that's a mgr ordering issue and not the server/bartender fault. Still annoying as I don't want a martini with Tito's or still. The poutine was on point Had the sausage potato pie and subbed the sausage for the pepperoni. I love th pepperoni here and always have, it's the small kind that cups up when cooks . The pie was amazing, cooked perfectly, very filling. (I only had a couple pieces and then ate more at midnight lol. It heats up amazingly on a grill. My husband hat the prosciutto sandwich which did not disappoint. Dessert was great, All in all good, and look forward to coming back, hopefully they order enough bottles to get through weekend service read more

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A sports bar that sells pizzas is the best description for this place. Good variety on the menu. My wife had a chicken parm sandwich and for $14 she could only eat half of it. I split a pizza with my daughter. It was good, not great. We all enjoyed the garlic bread while waiting for our food, and it's good thing it was there. Service was dreadfully slow. It took over 30 minutes for her to take our drink order and another 20 to receive them. My daughter had to ask several times for a refill. I don't want to blame our server because it looked like she was the only waitress and had lots of tables. We were part of a larger group and the bill came with a 20% added on. Our server did not point that out and read more

This was my first visit, and unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. I was seated promptly and my order was taken shortly after. My friend ordered the Pear Salad ($12.50), which she thoroughly enjoyed. I ordered the Cajun Burger ($16.95), which includes two 4oz patties, American cheese, spicy mayo, and Cajun rub, served with garlic parmesan fries. I was asked if I wanted to add bacon to my burger. While I appreciated the suggestion, there was no mention of an additional charge. According to the online menu, the add-on is listed as "$3.00," but I was charged $20.40 in total--suggesting a $3.50 upcharge. I don't mind paying extra, but I do feel that any additional cost should be clearly communicated upfront. Service was where things fell short. Our server was not the one to bring out our food, and after quickly clearing some empty plates, she didn't return to check in or refill our waters. Another staff member eventually cleared our dishes, and we waited quite a while for the check. By the time our server returned to ask if we wanted dessert, I was quite thirsty and ready to leave. At that point, I noticed the billing discrepancy, but she didn't return again, so we paid and left. That said, the restaurant itself was clean and nicely presented. Other staff members were attentive and helpful, and I don't believe my experience reflects the overall standard of the restaurant. The food was a mix of highs and lows: the burger was absolutely delicious--cooked perfectly, with crispy bacon and great flavor. However, the garlic parmesan fries were soggy and not enjoyable. Overall, I wouldn't write off the restaurant based on one subpar service experience, especially since the food--particularly the burger--was excellent. read more

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After a long drive back to Connecticut, I stopped here to grab a quick sandwich and soda at the bar before going home I ordered an eggplant grinder. The grinder arrived cold; the cheese wasn't even melted and the sauce was lukewarm. The eggplant itself looked OK, but it was only warm. I arrived 45 minutes before the kitchen closed so there shouldn't be any excuses. This was sad. I trusted First and Last to give me a great meal, but they failed miserably. Now I know why it's called First and Last! Just imagine being so hungry and choosing First and Last as my choice to satisfy hunger. Expectations weren't even a thought as I figured they would be so reliable Boy, this was just a bad choice. I hope to hear from the manager regarding this disappointment. This was big First and Last, this was big. I was thinking they were gonna comp the grinder due to my complaint to the waitress on the poor quality; but my thinking was thinking too much. I paid for the grinder. On a positive note, the restrooms were clean read more

First & Last Tavern - This was the half I didn't eat. I even invited the server to bring it back to the kitchen and let them try it. She refused. - Italian Near Me - Plainville, Connecticut

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Just went to this restaurant after a long hiatus because I wasn't happy with the food but they have really redeemed themselves! Im thinking they must have a new chef salmon dinner was delicious done perfectly! Not a big potato eater but these were amazing! My husband had the veal parm & it was delicious! So will be very happy to return soon! read more

Depends on the day you go in and who's working. Not always consistent on the food due to this. Main go to's are their wings (5 stars) and chicken parm grinder, as well as meatballs al forno. Prices have increased which is to be expected in today's world, but do not always align with quality or service as well as positions unfortunately. On any given weekday you can expect a quiet dining room ambiance wise. read more

The first and last in Hartford is amazing, this one left much to be desired. To start on a Sunday afternoon, the place is pretty packed and they are clearly understaffed as they had the bartender serving all the tables in the bar area and tending to all the people at the bar which led to us not even getting our drinks within 30 minutes our food came out all out of order and we had to send the chicken Parm back because it tasted funny. Overall, pretty disappointing given how great the Hartford location is read more

Terrible!! Ordered sausage and peppers, received a bowl full of pasta with a few strips of peppers approximately 1/8th inch wide by 2 inch long total equivalent less than one fried pepper. The sausage looked and tasted more like extremely small slices of pepperoni. In the past I've enjoyed this meal at other First and Last locations with full size bell peppers and abundance of full size frying peppers and sausage. Didn't even bother to complain. Just paid my bill and left and never going back. I'd like to give it 0 stars!! read more

Great food great service. Bar is great to eat at. Friendly staff and atmosphere. Try the specials

I was in the area and looking for a change of scenery. The bar and restaurant were busy, as it was dinner time on a Saturday. I was able to sit at the bar. The bartender was very nice and attentive, but she was definitely busy. Drinks were on point and needed after a busy day! I had the peppermint baileys specialty cocktail, and it was delicious. Dinner included pretzel bites and the turkey BLT panini. My friend had the burger, which she said was good. All the good was delicious. In fact, the smells and looks of other customers' meals were inviting too. There were definitely several things on the menu I would like to try. If I'm in the area again, I will surely revisit! read more

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Good service, good atmosphere, food was boring with no flavor, disappointing. They need to fire the chef and get someone that knows what they are doing. read more

Nice looking interior, my dining partner and I both got the 1/2 wrap and soup lunch combo which turned out to be a pretty hearty meal since you get a pretty big bowl of soup. I got the butternut squash bisque which was very good, and the honey walnut chicken salad wrap which was great. The bread that was brought at the beginning was also very good, although a bit of an odd combo - garlic bread and raisin bread. The raisin bread, however is EXCELLENT. Service was quick, kind and attentive. read more

The ambiance is nice, but I feel that their pricing went up recently and maybe a little disproportionate. The pizza is good, but a little less than what is now expected if you define yourself as a pizza place in CT. The staff is always very nice and if the weather allows for you to sit outside, I would definitely recommend it. read more

First and Last Tavern is a great spot to stop in for happy hour or dinner. Their homemade bread served before each meal is a pleasant touch and does a lovely job working up your appetite. The spicy chicken panini tastes delicious and is great as a leftover lunch the next day. Will definitely be back!! read more

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I really was debating on a 4 or 5 star. The food was so good I chose the 5 star. It was the waitress that made me debate that decision. She was horrible. Not attentive kept ignoring our party of 6. I had to literally beg for a water refill & lemon for my water (which I asked for in the beginning). We called ahead of time so our table was ready. Waitress brought out bread. Garlic bread was delish. Also, the raisin cinnamon bread was tasty it had cinnamon on top. Really good. We ordered a bunch of BBQ wings & French fries. I was a little full so I only had a couple of flats & fries. Flats are my fave. The wings were cooked to perfection. The bleu cheese was delish. The French fries came w/ some specialty white sauce that was on point. Inside was spacious & decor was nice! read more

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Delicious food. Really enjoyed the garlic cheese bread and the meatballs. Some great autumn drink specials too. Amazing service. You can tell they really care about their customers. The restaurant was very busy but spacious enough that you still felt comfortable. read more

First, it will be our LAST time there. Start with the good and great first: Great: The Tiramisu, to be honest it is the reason we went there. Always good, fresh, and a nice portion. Good: The busboys worked their butt's off, our busboy was more our server than our server was, he was friendly, attentive...and also a Tiramisu lover. The busboy made this trip bearable...First/Last give them a raise...and let them serve. Um, now, this. So, it was 5pm on a Friday night, many of the booths were taken, the tables in the middle of the floor were empty. We were seated without menus, which wasn't too much of an issue since our waitress was MIA...for a while. Once again, homage to the bus crew. Ordered a Margherita Pizza, took a bit to get, but no big deal...busboy brought it to us...then we tried to eat it, TRIED, it was the hardest pizza ever, our forks couldn't cut it, had to use knives to cut through the crust, didn't dare just bite it since our dental insurance is a bit lacking. Told our waitress (yes finally showed up at the table) about the stoutness of the pie to which this, "Looks good to me," and "all our pizzas are like that." Um. As a kid I worked in a pizza joint, I still know the difference between pizza and plywood. Kudos though to the apparent manager who offered to replace it but who also thought it was "our normal pizza." We passed. Interesting though when he came back and told us we should/could order a pizza "soft baked." Hmm.... Maybe "medium rare," or "pink inside," might be an option as well. Um. Last but not First...trying to pay the bill. Our waitress never showed back up so after 15 minutes or so we got up with our check and went to the front counter to pay, not much luck, I tried to look like I was about to run out and not pay but anyone who looked at how old I am and how awful I look would ever take my flight risk seriously. Once again though the busboy had cleared off our booth and they actually sat someone there before we could even pay our check and leave. So, bottom line: The Tiramisu is great, order that and an appetizer, maybe an espresso and you'll have a fine time, and if the busboys are working, no issues. We recommend it. So, bottom line two: If you happen to order your pizza pie as you do your steak dinner, RE: "soft baked," or, if you happen to have very strong teeth or dental plan, give the place a shot, maybe we just had a bad night...maybe. Or. Drive past First and Last, turn right at the stop light and turn into J. Timothy's Restaurant parking lot. Dine there instead. Trust us. read more

First & Last Tavern - My slice of the apparently Hard Baked margherita pizza. - Italian Near Me - Plainville, Connecticut

I grew up with the original in Hartford, which is still the best, then we moved to the Avon location which slowly deteriorated every year until it's now gone, knew that was coming and now trying Plainville. Well it's absolutely horrible !! I really can't think of a good thing to say as over the years that we've been there. Service has been horrible, The food varies like crazy time to time, and the employees are not friendly. That's for sure. I really would hope the owners would sell to someone who really cares more and appreciates customers or else this place will not be here very long. I asked for a lightly cooked pizza which I was able to get many times in Avon with no problem, but Plainville has a hard time with Light? it and the owner thinks it's kind of strange someone would order that? So, as I expected, it came out like Pepe's pizza which I don't care for a matter of fact, they even have a light baked pizza now. I used to buy many, many gift cards every year. But I'm totally now done with that. The only good thing I could say is the building is quite nice and make a nice lawyer's office but not a restaurant. read more

Went for happy hour and food. Never offered water or bread. Food we ordered was good. Waitress wasn't attentive, sour face....Probably take my happy hour elsewhere.... . read more

Had a mediocre experience at First & Last yesterday. The restaurant was not busy, yet service was terribly slow. The tossed salad was bland. It needed more vinegar and seasoning. The signature salami was missing from the salad. The angel hair was completely overcooked and mushy and served in an un-sauced mound with not enough sauce on the top. It should be well-tossed in the sauce with added sauce on top. The meatballs were very good as always. The bread, fried mozzarella and bruschetta were good. We asked for extra lime in our drinks and were given two miniature slices of lime that were so small you could not even squeeze them into the drinks. The chocolate cake dessert was dry. I was also so disappointed that the scallop risotto is no longer on the menu, which was a huge reason we went. They now have shrimp risotto with lemon and spinach that does not sound good. read more

I'm being generous for a few reasons. I always get treated well here and the pizza with eggplant is so good and generous. The last time they added ricotta, which I didn't ask for, and within seconds they offered to refill-make it and we got to keep the one they messed up, which I gave to my son. But that is a sign of a business that will make their patrons happy no matter what. The pizza at First and Last reminds me of my favorite pizzeria in Mamaroneck. The crust is NY style, the sauce and cheese as well. The eggplant I got on it was breaded and fried to perfection, and they covered the entire pizza with it. I was in heaven. The chicken Milanese was outstanding. A huge flat piece of chicken that was succulent and fresh. The difference in the one in Glastonbury is they are very stingy with the size of their chicken, the last few times. Very small piece, almost embarrassing. But here are some areas of opportunity. The restaurant interiors are starting to look worn and outdated. The one in Glastonbury is okay. The worst offender is Avon, of all places. The tables and entire back area needs a major facelift and fast. The one in Plainville has a nice patio, but the inside is drab, way too bright. The middle tables ruins any chance of an intimate setting. The high ceiling also creates very little romance. But mostly, it just all needs a facelift. People are coming back out again, and it's just time. read more

First & Last Tavern - Chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - Plainville, Connecticut

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so we decided to try this place because could not get into jTim's. we were seated and after a while given water and the waitress kept saying she would be right back and then almost an hour passed before our order was taken. They tried to give us appetizers that were not ours(we should have eaten them) and then tried to give us another tables dinners. they actually put them on the table then took them back and brought to another table. Several tables around us got there food first when we had been there much longer. when we did get out food most of it was cold. it was not that busy and the waitress did not check on us at all she just kept giving us napkins. This experience has made it the first and last time we will go to this establishment. the food was also overpriced for the actual taste of the food. We should have waited for the table at j Timothy's. read more

There are four First & Last Taverns ringing the Greater Hartford area. Their Avon location is about 5 minutes from where we live, so that explains why I have 27 check-ins there. But yesterday we had some business in the Southington area, so we decided to have a late lunch at the nearby First & Last in Plainville. Their dining room is big and bright with quite a few windows for natural lighting. That's a departure from the window challenged Avon location which is a converted furniture store - anyone remember the Yield House? Our visit didn't start off that great as the silent hostess walked us to our table and pretty much flung a single menu on the table for both of us to share before she silently walked away. But like a great relief pitcher coming out of the bullpen,  our server Christina saved the customer service aspect for us by being friendly, professional, and just plain nice. A smile doesn't cost anybody anything, does it? One of the the things we love about our hometown First and Last is their complimentary and wonderful focaccia bread basket, which was every bit as great in Plainville. We ordered a bowl of Tomato Bisque ($6), a Chicken Milanese ($19), and a Calamari ($12.95). I had the soup and enjoyed it -great flavor, generous portion, very colorful presentation with little slivers of basil ribbons in that sea of orange. The Milanese was a delicious big portion of two chicken cutlets with a side salad of arugula, red onion, cherry tomatoes, with a lemon vinaigrette dressing. I've ordered the Calamari at Avon many times and have to say their version was better than what I had yesterday. My first reaction to yesterday's Plainville plate was that it could have spent a few more minutes in the old fry basket. I compared yesterdays photo with a few I've taken over the years in Avon, and the Avon portion was decidedly darker and crunchier, which in my mind equals better. I had a few undercooked rings yesterday, and the last one ended up in my napkin because I couldn't eat it. All things considered, we definitely enjoyed our visit to Plainville's F&L. read more

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Bright clean restaurant. Lots of space. Probably a little loud if crowded. It was Sunday night and after 9 hours in a tech rehearsal, I was hungry. It was 7:40 on a Sunday night and a lot places I the area were closed or apps only. They let me 10 minutes before closing. I returned the favor by ordering something simple like shells with sausage and tomato sauce and a small side salad, The salad was stored in the cooler premade and being the end of the night maybe not the best. But it was good and a bit different. Lettuce , tomatoes. Red onion , a salami and some provolone. And a health dose of chick peas. A nice and welcome surprise . . The pasta was excellent. The shells perfectly Al dente. The tomato sauce was nicely balanced with a solid tomato flavor, a little bit of heat not too sweet. Good job. The sausage was nicely flavored. It was a very finely ground sausage like a German weisswurst. It was nicely seasoned. I just prefer my Italian sausage to be a little chunky. . A very good meal. Nice and accommodating staff. I could have fed a small family with this serving. I took 3/4 of it home. read more

First & Last Tavern - Sausage and shells - Italian Near Me - Plainville, Connecticut

Food is good, but don't sit at the bar. You will be overwhelmed by fruit flies and yes, they land in your food. No big deal. read more

Cute restaurant with cozy booths. Good food and decent service. Lots of choices and the Parmesan garlic fries are great! read more

First & Last Tavern - Hot Italian Combo with a side of Garlic Parmesan French Fries - Italian Near Me - Plainville, Connecticut

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We visited on Valentines Day with the family to what used to be a reliable spot for a decent meal. While the service was exceptional and our server very attentive, the quality of the food has suffered and prices increased for it. Either they cut corners stretching ingredients past when they should or have a different chef. The ingredients didn't taste as fresh as they might at Naples in Farmington. The garlic flat bread was floating in oil. The meatballs were dry. For the increased prices, we expected more and were disappointed. Because the service was good it gets 3 stars. read more

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Had a great time for my Mom's birthday this past week. Who doesn't love the focaccia bread that they bring to the table to start off your meal? Bread- gotta love it. We started off with the Meatballs Al Forno- two meatballs baked with mozzarella, two long-hot Italian peppers and garlic toast. The peppers were spicy hot! I like spicy, but of you are sensitive- tread lightly. The cheese pull from the mozzarella was impressive!! My Mom had the Turkey BLT Panini- sliced turkey with bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo. She loved it. I went with the Cioppino-clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp over linguine. On the menu it comes with a red sauce but I love white, so went with that and it was delicious!! Thanks for being so accommodating! I also started with the Pear Salad- poached Anjou pears over baby spinach with goat cheese, candy spiced walnuts and a raspberry vinaigrette. It was sweet and delicious! We were going to get dessert originally, but ended off satisfied, even taking home leftovers for the next day. Those were great too! Fun spot for sure. I'll be back. read more

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This restaurant is old, outdated and stuck in time. It's a relic from the past. The upkeep was a big problem for me. While the food was OK as well as the service it was the drinks that we enjoyed the most. We were a party of 14 and we ordered salads and calamari and pretzel bites and fried mozzarella as appetizers to share for the group. I ordered the salmon with roasted potatoes and spinach. The potatoes were over cooked and the spinach was slightly undercooked. The salmon needed a little bit more seasoning so I had to sprinkle salt on it. It was not my idea to go to this restaurant I was just part of the larger group but I definitely do not plan to return read more

Not sure what's happened hadn't been in awhile but seems like all the recipes have changed and the plating is different. The plating seems to make the smaller portions seem bigger, but makes it hard to eat. Prices are a lot higher than I'm comfortable with so we probably won't be going to often. Staff is always friendly and the restaurant is always clean. read more

I've gone to first and last numerous times both in Avon and Plainville. They have busy times such as the weekend and dinner time but overall service and quality are consistent. My last time going was very good and our waitress was very attentive. Although it might not look like it in the pictures you will be amazed at how much pasta you get in each dish. The carbonara is a little on the heavier side but is very tasty as was the penne ala vodka with chicken. Lastly, the environment is very Italian like for plainville which adds to the whole experience. read more

First & Last Tavern - Penne a La Vodka w/chicken - Italian Near Me - Plainville, Connecticut

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I haven't been to a First & Last in awhile, and it was nice to be back! This was my first visit to the Plainville location. We devoured the complimentary basket of focaccia and raisin bread. It was so good! We also indulged in the eggplant marinara app, and a large Neapolitan pizza with sausage. The fresh tomatoes and garlic on the pizza are divine! I think their sausage is flavorful too. I forgot how filling their pizza is. We could only eat a few pieces each, but we're happy to bring home leftovers. We didn't have to wait for a table on a Saturday night, and we had super friendly service. The next visit will be soon! read more

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So disappointed. I was really looking forward to a nice meal and even invited my friend to come along. I got the chicken parm. The chicken was so dry and the sauce was thick and bitter. I ended up throwing most of it out. The service was fine and the everyone was friendly. Restaurant was clean including the bathroom. Too bad about the food. {AKA the main event of the reason you go to a restaurant} read more

Just had a small event here. I can't say enough great things about everything. Rachel was amazing. She took care of everything. The room was great and set beautifully. Our food was amazing. She took care of all our needs. Special thanks to Curtis and the team at the First and Last tavern of Plainville. You guys rock!! read more

Haven't been to this location in years for dining in, but decided to order take out through Toast Tab (linked on their website). First and Last has a designated take-out counter that has been in place for years, making take-out incredibly easy! It is always staffed during peak hours. I ordered a large pizza with sausage and pepperoni, as well as garlic parmesan french fries. The sausage is so delicious here, as is their sauce! The garlic parmesan french fries smelled so good, I opened them in the car and stole a few before arriving home. Really glad I decided to order pizza from here today - was so much tastier than I remembered! read more

First & Last Tavern - Garlic Parmesan French Fries - Italian Near Me - Plainville, Connecticut

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I ordered penne ala vodka and bolognese to go. Very disappointed. This cost me $55 and they didn't even provide and bread. The vodka pasta was pretty dry. Not a fan of this place read more

The pizza is pretty good (not New Haven good but good for Hartford county). It was more expensive than I thought it would be. I wouldn't make a special trip to Plainville for pizza but if I am in the area or driving through, I would consider stopping again. read more