A couple weeks ago I went to listen to the "Alter Ego " band in the bar area of Gates Restaurant & Bar. It was the perfect intimate venue with a combination of table & Bar seating with excellent customer service. The band played at the perfect tempo, not too loud and not too soft snd even ventured into the idle around the tables as their lead singer and keyboard player sang. I was with 2 friends, one of whom ordered food and loved her meal. We all enjoyed our libations and would definitely return with or without a live band. The only challenge is finding nearby parking on a weekend. read more

Really great space for a relaxing meal. Drinks were excellent and the staff was attentive. I was just trying appetizers and they hit the spot. I definitely want to go back for Karaoke night on Fridays and check out bands on Saturday. read more

Gates Restaurant & Bar - Tots with cheese and jalapenos. - American Near Me - New Canaan, Connecticut

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Love going to Gates for the specials. $2 tacos on Tuesdays with Marg specials and Wednesday night buy one get one Burgers & 1/2 price bottles of wine. I usually get the Ram smash burger with truffle fries. Bartenders are always very attentive. It's an upgraded local bar scene which is great. read more

Update: new ownership has changed the formula, removed the garden room and ruined the menu. What a shame. We won't be back.

Seems dirty and old. This place needs a makeover. Food was blah. Service was fast and indifferent. read more

Great location, fun ambiance, and very welcoming to kids. I wanted to like this place, but the food was really disappointing. The nachos came out with liquid cheeze completely cold, and the chicken bowl I ordered had bland chicken, lumpy rice, watery salsa, a small sprinkle of shredded cheese from a bag, and completely unseasoned beans. The kids chicken was bad and even the fries were hard to eat as they were fried to a crisp and just tasted like oil with no actual potato. With so many great restaurants in the area, it's hard to justify coming back based on the food alone. It felt extremely overpriced for what we got, and unfortunately the quality just wasn't there. read more

I loved this place. The food was amazing the ambiance was a vibe. And the waitress Kristin was AMAZE. this is going to be my new favorite restaurant. I would 100% recommend!! The tuna tartare was the best. Oysters amazing as well. Tacos and rigatoni alla vodka also great!! read more

Ordered a burger to go. Was told 25-30 minutes. Arrived after 35 minutes and was told it would be 5 more minutes. I got my food 23 minutes later after asking for perhaps the 3rd time. Honestly, it's really unacceptable. The staff / manager made no effort to make things right. And the food isn't better or differentiated than its peers in town. I won't be returning anytime soon. read more

Here's the translation: "I am a Grubhub delivery driver, and most times I come here, I end up waiting longer than acceptable. I have to say, it's impossible not to notice the difference in treatment between a regular citizen from New Canaan and a delivery driver. I'm not accusing anyone of racism or anything like that, but I don't see any urgency in attending to someone who is working. I arrived here at 6:20 to pick up the order that was supposed to be ready by 6:23. It's now 6:50, meaning nearly a 30-minute delay. I'll attach a photo of the order, which is just a single dish. I regret having to make this post, but this issue is recurring at this restaurant." read more

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We arrived on time for our reservation, which had been made online for a table in the child-free area. Instead, we were seated exactly where I'd feared, next to a rowdy table of unsupervised (with 4 parents turning a blind eye and letting the staff act as de facto baby sitters). 15 minutes later no water no silverware no bread (?) no attention paid. Finally decided to get up and take matters into own hands and ask for some and were rudely rebuffed by two servers that had passed us many times. This was the beginning of the poor service that was a theme all night until what I can only assume was the manager stepped in. Now to the food: I didn't expect much, just a nice American dinner out with simple dishes like burgers tacos and pasta. All were either bland or in the case of my burger cooked to hockey-puck consistency. Next, the rowdy uncontrolled boys in the unattended booth started wrestling and things went off the rails. To top it all off the bill was exorbitant for what we ate. Do not go here unless you too want to dump your kids on the staff and eat bland dishes with limited wine options all while being treated like you're lucky to be there. Ps- the only reason we went here was bc it was the only joint in town with tables available. Now you know why. Do better, Gates. The town wants you to. read more

Meh. The food was ok (except their wings were awesome!!). The vibe is trying to be trendy. The server was very nice and attentive. Overall a nice place but the food was just not as good as expected but ok. read more

Was a regular patron for many years. I work nearby and have ordered take out several times and each time there is an issue with my order. Tonight was my last try. Brussels Sprouts that were completely black char, covered in gloppy sauce and completely mushy. So inedible I took the time to walk back across the street and give them back. Had neither time nor interest in waiting for another order. No offer to refund, just a "look me up" from the man at the desk I gave them to. Also ordered a pizza that had nearly raw toppings and was undercooked. That I will take it home from the office and finish cooking it tomorrow because I didn't want to waste the entire $40 I spent for an inedible dinner. read more

Gates Restaurant & Bar - "Crispy" Brussels Sprouts - Both burned and mushy. - American Near Me - New Canaan, Connecticut

The interior is gorgeous and has a very nice atmosphere. I appreciated the variety of seating options as it allowed us to sit somewhere we liked without feeling too crowded. The menu is on the smaller scale but there were a couple dishes that sounded appetizing to me and I'm happy with what I got. What we got: Lime, mint, & basil virgin mojito - 3.5-4* it was quite refreshing though definitely got watered down and less sweet. I wish there had been less ice in the drink to help prevent that problem and allow for longer enjoyment of the drink. I am grateful that they do have an amended price for the non-alcoholic version, not all restaurants do. Spicy Tuna Bowl with Cauliflower Rice - 5* this is what I got and I thought it was delicious! The cauliflower rice was so flavorful (you could choose between a few different base options). The tuna was also very good and the spicy sausage paired well with the dish. The pickled vegetables also went very well with everything. There were two big slices of radish on the side and it seemed like one of them had an old spot on it, so I just set it aside. Salmon BLT - my partner got this and didn't love it. He also wasn't as excited about any of the menu options. As I mentioned, slim pickings. I tried it and agreed that the salmon didn't really add anything to the sandwich, it was lacking in flavor and a little dry. The bacon was fantastic though. The fries that came on the side were average. Lobster Roll - my friend got this and said it was very good. Sorry I can't add more to the review than that, haha read more

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i went here today with my mother and my younger sister. i got the ahi tuna bowl, my mom got the korean bbq bowl, and my sister got the children's pizza. while my mom's and my dish were good (nothing fantastic), my sister's pizza was incredibly bland, even for kids' pizza. we had more family at home, so we decided to bring back some mac and cheese, wings, and more pizza. while the pizza was as bland as before, the mac and cheese tasted funky, and the wings were horrible. not even my kid brother who eats anything and everything wanted them. i will give this place one thing though, i liked the seating area and their ranch and service was absolutely great. the food wasn't as good as the place looked on their website, but not terrible. still, i probably wouldn't come back, though. especially at the price we paid for everything. read more

I have had extremely negative experiences on multiple occasions with ordering take out from this restaurant. In fact, it lead me to create a Yelp account to write this review. I had considered over time just avoiding this establishment but I wanted to voice my concern over terrible experiences. Three times now we've ordered from the "New" Gates while hanging out by the fire in the backyard. Granted we've been more dressed down but nothing that's not casual and in line with Gates dress code. Due to the influx of Uber Eats orders it seems the host service has gone down the tubes. This gentleman who was the greeter has talked down to myself, my partner, and my sister each time we've shown up to pick up the take out. We order big for the family, so we wait and expect maybe a bit of a delay but we do not like or tolerate being disrespected by a business we are trying to frequent. After an hour, my partner showed up to grab the food. The guy looked at her and told her it would be another 30 without even checking. When she asked why the wait was, he said "you have to wait 30 minutes after ordering before your food will be ready", presuming we had just placed the order, when she let him know we'd ordered an hour prior, he still snubbed her with, "it's going to be a half an hour, sweetheart" When I picked up the takeout, similar story. Granted I was in jeans and a T-shirt but that's in line with what other patrons were wearing. The gentleman who was the greeter still snubbed me. I showed up an hour after we ordered the guy told me it would be a half an hour without checking and then proceeded to blow off the front for 30 minutes. The kitchen brought my food out cold, apologized, and told me it had been sitting back there for a half an hour. No refire, which I don't blame the kitchen, because they had enough courage to acknowledge the blemish by front of house and maybe you guys are pressing them to not waste any food or supplies even clearly botched orders. Still extremely disappointing. This was the final straw! Gates is on the banned list for life!! Also customer of 40+ years!! Do not frequent this establishment it's an overpriced watering hole for d-bags! read more

Disappointed with Mothers' Day outing. Said no reservations till late; we arrive and place is almost empty! Drinks were so bad, had to ask for extra shots. Kitchen out of many entry items; food we got was just okay. read more

What a great spot! I stopped in to Gates one afternoon for lunch and had a fantastic experience - I can't wait to return for drinks and dinner soon. The restaurant is huge with an awesome bar area as well as a stage for entertainment. Patrons and staff all were respectful, observing all COVID-19 regulations and guidelines. I had the Cuban sandwich and is was superb! The pork was so juicy and the portion huge; ham, cheese and pickles also added delicious flavor. The bread selected was a perfect fit for the sandwich - not too crispy but it still held the contents well. Sweet potato fries are a worth-it upgrade that made my lunch go from really good to great. Service was friendly and efficient, too. Can't wait to be back! read more

Gates Restaurant & Bar - CUBAN SANDWICH - American Near Me - New Canaan, Connecticut

Food is just ok. And it always takes forever to come out, so if you need to be somewhere after, don't come here. The bang bang shrimp bowl was ok, it sits very heavy. The rest of the food is also not the best read more

Gates Restaurant & Bar - American Near Me - New Canaan, Connecticut

Good for groups, brunch, watching sports, group drinks. Great salmon club sandwich, burger,fries! Great location in New Canaan town. read more

I never write reviews but my awful experience at this restaurant prompted me to write. I have been to this restaurant many times for lunch, and this was the first time for dinner. Justin, the manager, was extremely rude and dismissive to us when we raised an issue with our bill. Sadly, though I had been a frequent guest in the past, I will not be returning. read more

Service was great. Bartender was very nice and helpful. Food was less than subpar. The salmon was hard as a rock!

No pics, not worth it. Went for dinner last night (2for1 burger night) and must say, the restaurant itself is adorable. There was hardly anyone there, granted it was a Wednesday night, but seems weird when every other restaurant on the same street was packed. That was red flag #1. We ordered our drinks which were fine; he had a Guinness and I had a rum punch. Bartender was fine but seemed busy tending to the other guests at the bar and the few other tables. That being said we started to get a little hangry by the time she came back around to take our order. We decided just to get a dozen oysters and find somewhere else for dinner. As we were waiting for our oysters a young girl went behind the bar and helped herself to a Margarita from their frozen machine, and proceeded to drink It in front of the guests and settle at the end of the bar with an older gentleman sipping a high noon (maybe dad, maybe business owner, maybe she was also of age?). Ok weird. John Taffer would have had a field day with that. The couple next to us ordered a Smokey Paloma, to be told they didn't have Mezcal. Kinda weird also, considering it's a pretty hot item these days. Fast forward, oysters come, looking a little shabby, but maybe my inner Joe Pesci was out due to starvation. Asked for the mignonette and "oh I don't think we have that any more". Oysters are an acquired taste, and I love them but I need my mignonette. I ate one, which what appeared to be only ketchup and horseradish, but was "ok". My guy went in for his second and spit It out in his napkin immediately. They were in fact rancid. We threw in the towel. Literally. The older gentleman then came behind the bar and rather than asking why our napkins and silverware were atop 10 uneaten oysters, he just looked and walked away. Our bartender took the tray away without saying a word as well and that was our cue. Super disappointed but feeling terrible for the bartender, we chose not to cause a stink or have them take anything off the bill. Won't be back, but I guess not all restaurants can be worth the 5 stars! read more

The food here is absolutely terrible. Had the absolute worst fried chicken where the breading fell apart and kids pizza was so awful they only had one slice. read more

In a nutshell, Gates is like New Canaan's "Cheers" with a much more family friendly vibe. There is something for everyone on the menu- want a delicious smash burger? check! awesome tuna poke bowl and cauliflower rice? check! Need an excellent cocktail? check! check! check! You do not have to sacrifice your taste buds to take your kids out to dinner- you can go to Gates. Order the most delicious mussels and the kids can have a pizza they will love. Want a meet a few friends, have a great meal and not break the bank? Go to Gates. The fact that they have live music and support community charities is just icing on the cake. read more

Went Saturday night for dinner and to hear a band we like perform. Since this was our first time here, we arrived early so we could have a drink in the bar before dinner. The bar area is small. There's about a dozen stools at the bar and maybe 6 tables in there. We asked the bartender if we could sit at one of the tables to have a couple drinks, he said sure as long as we could finish up in an hour so the band could setup. Perfect. This was the smallest band area we've ever seen. We didn't believe that the band would fit, but they did. For dinner they have a separate dining area and a couple tables just outside of the bar area, we asked the hostess if we could sit at one of those tables so we could hear and see the band, she was able to. Our table was in a great spot. Food was good too. I had the crispy kale pizza, which was very good. The service was excellent as well. Knowing that parking in downtown New Canaan can be very limited, we Uber'd there and glad we did. We'll go back again. read more

Gates Restaurant & Bar - View of the small bar from the tiny band stage - American Near Me - New Canaan, Connecticut

Went to this restaurant on a Friday night. I did not make a reservation but was able to be seated quickly at a table for two. The atmosphere was nice inside and casual. Perfect for any situation. They also had great music playing. The drink menu was nice and they had a good draught list. We didn't order any appetizers, but there were breadsticks and hummus on the table to snack on while waiting for food. Drinks and food came pretty quickly after ordering despite it being busy. I got the churassco which had good flavor but was a bit over cooked for me. The salmon had lots of tropical flavors but was also a bit overdone. Service was good and checked in several times. I found prices to be fair as well. I'd be back if in the area again! read more

Gates matches a fun, approachable menu with a perpetual "Sunday Brunch in the City" atmosphere. The combo works and presents another attractive New Canaan eatery option. I'm particularly fond of the lunch menu, heavy on salads and grain bowls (but it also has burgers and a taco bar). It's a menu with tons of options for any eater. The menu is build for large groups as there are quality options for everyone. Attention should be paid to the the bowls and serious consideration should be given to the Ahi Tuna bowl with large and delicious chunks of fresh Ahi tuna. Next up: the atmosphere: somehow, they've designed a place that is equally fitting for the Sunday Brunch Mimosa crowd and the Family Out For a Bite crowd. The inside bar works for those not interesting in mingling with either of those, with a solid beer selection and easily viewable TVs. read more

If you're looking for a casual place that has decent food and a decent bar, look no further. The only thing I might add is that this place is pricey. As an example, at the bar you can get a 16 ounce IPA which typically sells at other places for $8 or $9 , for $14. That' ridiculous ! Four stars for the atmosphere, minus one star for the price. read more

Good food, lots of space and variety. They just need to get rid of the glass ketchup bottles. I worked in a restaurant and I know how they are refilled. They are also impossible to get ketchup out of without making a mess. read more

So, we came back here to try again. The bar area is nice and would suggest sitting in there to eat. The service was better than our previous experiences which was good to see and the food is fine. However, we sat in the main dining room where they have walled off the area that was once a pizza bar. Not sure why they did that but it hurt the ambiance of the room. Plus limits the usefulness of the room. There was also a roll away salad bar like you would see in a chain restaurant. It seems very odd and as though the decor/ambiance isn't sure what it is supposed to be. I'll say it again, I don't think we will return here when there are many other food dining options in town. read more

Bartender was fabulous!! I'm an eggs Benedict fiend. The skirt steak variation was outstanding. Great place to hang and watch the game. read more

Gates Restaurant & Bar - American Near Me - New Canaan, Connecticut

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They are so nice they know my order every single time I go there. I love their music and how they treat their Customers.I really love the food I suggest you go there. The pizza and the chicken in the sauce tastes awesome read more

Great environment / décor, friendly host and servers. Got the Gumbo Special, recipe was based off a server's great, great (may be another great in there) grandmother's recipe. We've had Gumbo in New Orleans a number of times, and this was on par... really delicious. Wife got a Veggie Bowl, loved it. Smiles on family's faces after dinner, everyone enjoyed their meal and the service... that's what matters most. read more

Fantastic menu with lots of space inside and outside seating for everyone. New Fall menu is outstanding. I just had the best Sunday Brunch in a long time. Takeout is great too. read more

I visited Gates this morning for their Brunch. I had an omelette that was amazing! It was actually creamy and just how a really good omelette should taste! It came with dressed greens and they were excellent too! My daughter ordered chocolate chip pancakes with strawberry butter and she loved them! I was there several months ago and the service was slow but that looks to be resolved. The service team was attentive, friendly and really good! I definitely recommend! They now have live music on Saturday nights so I might try that next. read more

The entrance makes it seem small but it's actually huge inside with several different rooms. The pizza was some of the best I've ever had and all the other food and drinks we got were great too! read more

Gates Restaurant & Bar - Margherita Pizza - American Near Me - New Canaan, Connecticut

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Have been to Gates many times and have enjoyed much of the fare offered here, but would like to give and example of inconsistency. Went on a Sunday and had the burger med/rare (5 stars!) Yay! Went one day during the week, ordered the burger med/rare again, this time it was pretty raw. Today once again ordered the burger med per their suggestion and got it medium well and the meat was tough. Guys it's a burger for God sake! Get it together! read more

Food and Service was really good Try the Brussel Sprouts and the Fried Chicken Really good will be back again

I can only speak on the services provided while I was using their bar, I cannot comment on the food. The bar grossly over charged drinks. Beers were around $10, cocktails around $15. After buying just 2 drinks, the bar tender complained to the bouncer that I wasn't tipping (note: I leave a tip at the end of the night). The bouncer demanded that I offer a "good tip", or the bar would relinquish their services to me. So I gave her a tip and left. It would be one thing for the bartender to receive a tip if she DESERVES it. She was rude and extremely impatient. There is also no law that requires one to give a tip as well. Not a friendly establishment in the slightest. Clearly not a bar for those in their 20s. That was and will be the last time I set foot in that place. read more

I recently hosted a Sunday brunch. I chose an upscale menu including eggs Benedict, salmon, and Texas toast. The food was excellent. The service spot on. Thami, the manager, delivered what was promised. I recommend Gates for special events and routine dining Alan Sharpe read more