Gather55 is a Hands-On Hartford initiative that is part of its commitment to serving neighbors,…read moreengaging volunteers, and connecting communities in the Hartford area. Diners may participate by paying the full posted price of the meals or a minimum price of three dollars, or they may choose to volunteer with Hands-On Hartford. Additionally, the chefs are rotated every month to give back to the community. Gather 55 has a pre-fix menu, and you get an appetizer, main course, and dessert for fifty-five dollars. I ordered the Milanese Pork Chop with Arugula. It also came with grilled lemon. The Pork Chop was beautifully cooked and had great flavor. The Pork Chop was crispy and not overcooked. The grilled Lemon brought the Pork Chop to another level. The grilled lemon gave the pork chops a nice pop and brought more flavor out of the pork chops. The Argula was cooked to perfection. It tasted great, and you could tell that the grilled Lemon was squeezed into the Argula while it was cooking. The food was fabulous. The customer service was too notch, and I will be back again.

Gather 55 has an amazing mission in serving the Hartford community and performing outreach. They…read morealso have great food with a rotating menu and nice ambiance, and generally is a nice, clean place with cool art and a cute vibe. Last night I had dinner with my friend after seeing that Ashley Flagg from the Laurel was the guest chef for this month. We were greeted warmly, given bread and butter to start, and our server kindly explained their mission. We both ordered the prix fixe menu for $55 which included an appetizer, entree and dessert and loved all the dishes. The pasta bolognese was perfectly al dente and with a rich, flavorful sauce. The ghanian peanut stew chicken was great-- chicken was tender with a crispy skin, and the peanut sauce was subtle and the sweet potatoes really came through more. The flatbread was also warm, crispy and added a yummy texture. My friend enjoyed her tom yum soup and tagliatelle as well. My flourless torte was rich and chocolately, but slightly on the drier side. Overall we had a wonderful experience, and would definitely recommend this restaurant for anyone who enjoys food and wants to support a good cause.

Went to Fire x Forge last evening and it was amazing. What an incredible cause and experience…read more First of all the space is stunning. It's incredible to see the restoration of a historic building. We had reservations and were seated promptly. Our server Shamille was attentive, made great suggestions and took care in explaining the mission and impact they are having on the community. The food: -Biscuits were TOP NOTCH. The warm flavors and flakiness were to die for. -The hummus was also amazing. Perfect seasoning and flavors. Lavender lemonade? So Good! -All of the mains were good; we had the ribs, beef shoulder, Mahi with banana leaf and mahi tacos. Flavors were good, albeit spicy on a couple. -The ají verde sauce is no joke lol definitely has a kick. For the kitchen: larger pieces of fish, a slaw or cilantro crema and cotija would elevate the tacos. The flavors were good, but the taco was a little empty. Also perhaps drops of the verde sauce on the ribs versus a drizzle to tone down the heat so nothing takes away from the flavor which was amazing by the way. Epically delicious! Desserts: -The cheesecake was nice, soft and not too sweet. -The marshmallow was like a mochi. You had to chew it well before swallowing but it was well executed and delicious. -The sweet potato cobbler would probably be better as a crisp with an herbed streusel. The ice cream was amazing! All in all it was SO WORTH it. Everyone did a fantastic job and we were so proud of the work they all are doing. We will definitely recommend to others and will return.

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

Went for "girl dinner" on a Thursday and it did NOT disappoint…read more They have a special with a kale Caesar salad, fries, and an Aperol spritz for $25! (You can add chicken tenders for an upcharge $10) The drink can't be swapped for another alcoholic drink, but you can switch it for something non-alcoholic if you want. Everything was sooo well flavored. The kale Caesar? Literally to die for. I never take salad home because it gets soggy...but I ate it the next day and it was STILL so good and the croutons were somehow still crunchy The chicken tenders were amazing, the fries were perfection, and even though I'm not usually an Aperol spritz girl, I finished the whole drink 10/10 would go back for girl dinner

The Laurel Brunch today was selected for a special birthday--it was a delicious, pleasant…read moreexperience. The interior of the restaurant was lovely- beautiful wallpaper; comfortable booths. Food and cocktails were delicious.We shared delicious Brussels sprouts and chicken wings for appetizers. I had a creamy tofu scramble for my meal. My companions all had egg dishes which they all said were very tasty. For dessert I had scrumptious Tiramisu- not too sweet, just right! My companions had slices of confetti cake - the frosting was meringue! Their specialty cocktails were varied with interesting, flavorful combinations- not the usual. I decided to try a Manhattan instead which was very, very smooth. Our server, Lonnie, was very gracious and attentive. At the end of our brunch she served us sparkling wine, courtesy of The Laurel with a happy birthday note for our birthday celebrant- such a lovely surprise!

I was immediately smacked in the face with the lack of ventilation. My clothes and my hair took on…read morethe aroma of the restaurant, and my desire to eat here was immediately shaped by our first step inside. Notwithstanding, we looked forward to something unique and outstanding, given the constant advertising on Yelp for the Parker House Rolls. The hostess was friendly, the waiter a bit snobbish, but perhaps that's the "exclusive" vibe they are trying to project. We went on to peruse the menu, which is a bit abbreviated; I assumed it's because they are focused on their "specialty." We took in the views, which, hailing from New York City, were not as vast or fascinating as those we were used to. Granted, we knew where we were and really had no expectations. We just wanted to enjoy dinner. The meal's presentation was beautiful. The Parker House Rolls were delicious. The Hamachi Crudo appetizer was perfection. I did not enjoy the Skate Wing and did not eat it; it had a tough rubbery texture; probably overcooked. I mentioned to my waiter that I didn't enjoy it, and he offered no alternative, so I ate more rolls. My husband enjoyed the Dry Aged Rohan Duck. We topped it off with a chocolaty dessert and French press coffee. The friendliest of the staff was a young man who collected our plates after our entrees. He smiled and interacted in a very down-to-earth manner. Overall, the appetizer, rolls, and dessert were delicious. The service was stoic and not warm or welcoming. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be visiting again.

We had a 7 course tasting menu for three. It took a little over two hours. It n my honest…read moreopinion, I wanted to see what the hype was about and I don't get it. It's decent food but not the greatest. I get it, it's fine dining but not all the flavors were there. Three of us paid almost $800, so, yes, I was expecting to be blown away with my tastebuds in overdrive but my tastebuds were underwhelmed. Started off with canapés: east coast oysters (green grape granita); could've used sprinkle of salt. Beef tartar (green garlic kimchi aioli, lime, mint, anchovy breadcrumbs); needed more salt, very bland with little flavor & carrot veloute (coconut milk, red curry, cilantro, peanuts), very delicious and flavorful. 1st course: Hamachi Crudo (celery, sorrel, green apple), needed salt. 2nd course: Foie Gras Torchon (black mission fig, five spice, brioche bun). Brioche was extremely dry and cold, not buttery and soft like a brioche should be. 3rd course: Mackerel (thompcord grape, lardo, smoked yogurt); extremely fishy and unpleasant. Grapes were sweet and delicious and smoked yogurt and lardo didn't contribute anything great. 4th course: Chestnut Tortellini (browned sage butter) was great! 5th course: Dry Aged Rohan Duck Presse (beet, huckleberry, port jus) was underwhelming. Breast was cooked to right temperature but skin was super fatty and soggy. As an avid duck eater, I think a crispy skin and more seasoning in the actually meat would've been nice. It needed salt for sure to enhance the flavors but the roasted and pickled beets were delicious. The port just didn't do much for flavor and huckleberry was delicious and could've used more of it. 6th course: A5 Wagyu Ribeye (roasted daikon, black garlic bordelaise, hen of woods) very delicious in every aspect. The black garlic bordelaise brought this entire dish together with its incredible flavor! I wish the bordelaise was served with the duck as well! 7th course: Foie Gras Ice Cream & Apple Tarte. Interesting ice cream flavor by itself but eaten with the apple tarte it worked well. The tarte had crispy bits of caramel that added great texture and flavor. Ambiance is beautiful on the 20th floor overlooking Hartford. I'm sure it's beautiful during sunset. Again, I wish I was blown away like others have been. Maybe my expectations are too high, I'm not sure. I'm neutral as I am unsure if I would recommend this establishment. I do know that I wouldn't return.

Can't believe it's been 9 years since I reviewed this place. Julian was a wonderful waiter, and the…read moreplace was hopping with pre theater folk. It took a while to get our drinks but we still managed to get to theater in time . The steak taco was delicious, and my husband enjoyed his burger. Be sure to have a reservation, especially when Bushnell has a show .

Very disappointed in my last meal there. It used to be a solid place there but lost a lot of it…read morecharm and creativeness.

Like a moth drawn to the light, I was attracted to this restaurant walking by. I love an upscale…read morevibe - and a restaurant that takes care to craft a comfortable atmosphere usually means my patronage will mean an evening spent well, and this place delivered! Most notably, the food was especially delicious and full of flavor and texture, albeit salt being a bit heavy on the pallet, but not overbearing so. Good date night location!

I've been wanting to get up here to dine and it only seemed fitting to start the New Year off right…read morewith Union Kitchen's fried chicken and champagne brunch. New Year's Eve dinners/New Year's day brunch specials, in my experiences, have always been a cash grab by restaurants where you would get a decent meal but always leave hungry or the opposite where the price was super extravagant yet food was mediocre at best. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE!!! Food was amazing. Chicken was spiced and fried to perfection. Crunchy without being greasy. I refuse to eat fried chicken in public yet almost human eating this with people around. Juicy meat, 4 piece of half breast, wing, thigh and drummy all meaty. Sides of picked pepper mac&cheese and Cole slaw. My wife tore into that coleslaw like her life depended on it and was everything she's been looking for in a slaw Breakfast burrito was packed full of goodness, substantial. Side of potatoes which could've been a meal in of itself. $19 and well worth it. Brought half home for breakfast the next day. All in all, not only was their value in the prices offered throughout the menu, the food is incredible. Service was amazing. Our server was attentive without being intrusive, good eye for when we needed something without us having to ask. Perfect start to the new year and aching to come back for dinner. It was worth staying home NYE and falling asleep early in order to be fresh and ready for this dining experience.

Went for a family birthday! Food was great and atmosphere very casual which is perfect!…read more Pomegranate martini great! Service was on point!

Smoked wings - Kitchen Sink - Extra crispy Best wings I've…read morehad in a very long time. THE FLAVOR WAS INCREDIBLE. Juicy wings. Will be back asap

Food didn't disappoint!!! Service was good…read more It's a great place I will come back when I'm in town

Finally I got the chance to get brunch at one of the most instagramable restaurants in Hartford !…read more Located right across trinity collage , parking is sparse , however customers are able to park across the street ! The ambiance was amazing I felt transport to the early 2000s with the music playing we got ne-yo , akin , old school Mariah Carey , Nelly ! Fabulous vibe . They have booth and table seating . Staff was very nice and friendly they were so sweet and attentive!! To start off I ordered the caramel cappuccino which was delicious highly recommend and presentation was top tier ! My husband got the hot chocolate which was really good ! And perfect to cozy up to this winter season ! Next I got the banana split French toast ! Yes and it was AMAZING ! If you have a sweet tooth , love French toast and ice cream ! This is the one for you !! I added an extra Nutella drizzle on top of the caramel drizzle ( and it was perfection !) highly recommended! My husband got the western omelette which he enjoyed the home fries were one of our top favourites !! They offer so many options with large portions. from pancakes/ waffles / eggs to lunch options ! Fabulous presentation of food and drinks and delicious too ! Definitely can't wait to be back! And try more food options

I chose this location strictly based on novelty and the ratings. They delivered! The drinks, apps…read moreand the entree were wonderful. The environment was perfect for me. Families loved it too. Don't skip this gem.

My husband and I usually end up here for our Friday night dinner!…read moreAlways delicious ! Service is great! Atmosphere is Amazing

Definitely one of the best spicy chicken sandwiches I've had. This was located in the Parkville…read moreMarket. I ordered The OG chicken sandwich which has 8 oz of chicken breast, cole slaw, comeback sauce (not sure what is in it), pickles, on a briche bun. I was being bold that day and decided to order their spiciest "What the Cluck RIP" which has 6 fire symbols next to it. I'm a spicy food lover and can handle spicy plus I'm half Thai and half Cambodian, our food is usually spicy. However this one burned, but in a good way. I will definitely get the hot (one step lower) next time which will probably be more enjoyable and I won't have to sip milk with each bite haha! The fries had good flavor, just wished it was more crispy. Overall, definitely one of my new favorite spicy fried chicken spots and glad I got to try it out.

Always good chicken here on spicier side, but very tasty and fresh. I ordered the chicken tenders…read moreand it was delicious! Some of the best hot chicken around.