If you talk about hot dogs in Central CT, and you don't mention Original Ranch House, people will…read morebe annoyed that you didn't mention Original Ranch House in Windsor. I had never been. So I was like, I guess I need to go. I tried to go. And GPS took me to Paul's Ranch House in Hartford. When I learned that wasn't the right one, I tried again. And GPS brought me to Ranch House in East Hartford. This is just to tell you, that if you want the OG that has been open since 1950, you need to go to the one in Windsor, which is conveniently located next to 91. The building and surrounding area, have likely seen better days. There is more trash outside than there should be. The inside is fine, but nobody was eating there. The hot dog I had was good. They didn't have many specialty dogs. I ordered the KMOR, which was just Ketchup, Mustatd, Onion and Relish. The dog was a grilled Bogner. Not cut. The bun was grilled. A good dog. It was clear that they have some loyal fans. 3.75 Stars overall, but the dog was a solid 4.

A new hidden gem in Windsor !! Today I had a tuna melt with onion rings. I was trying to eat…read morehealthier. So I wouldn't say it was out of this world. But that's by my own choice. I know if I had tried a signature Junk Yard Dog or one of their world class burgers it would have been different. Additionally, their breakfast burritos are ginormous !! The service was spot on, the food came out super fast. The atmosphere is cozy and comforting. Definitely will be back. I highly suggest trying this nostalgic restaurant !!

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.

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.

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.

This has always been a good spot to eat. No matter what you order it's delicious! I had to do a…read morereview because their potato pizza stole my heart lol. Also please bring back your shepherds pie. Our waitress was a gem, my friend and I were cracking up after a year, not ready to order and she was patient with us and attentive. Parking is limited, I had to park on the street, but no big deal. Try it out, you will not leave hungry or disappointed.

Our party of 7 was seated quickly Super martini The Brussels…read moresprout and calamari apps were the best ever had Parm crusted chicken was moist and flavorful and the green beans roasted perfectly

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.

If youbare hubgry for an awesome soup food breakfast this is a must stop. I always enjoy eating…read morehere. Breakfast is classic with callalou and grits and ackee, etc. salt cod in their dishes is a reminder of the Caribbean. Go hungry! They give you a lot.

terrible service!! had me waiting 45 mins for my order to take care of their favored customers…read more.. didnt get my order until i showed signs of frustration and then they decided to fulfil my order!

10/10 we love able!! lol…read more drinks 10 appetizers 10 entree's 4 -ability to make what i asked and accommodate me and my likings.... big fat 10 for a specification, i had the chef special scallops in something sauce and to be clear. i didn't know what that sauce was when i ordered it and the texture to me. it was terrible, but that is definitely a preference thing and a lack of knowledge on my part however the scallops were not seasoned to perfection. the way the pork belly was and the way the crabcake was so there was also that.... nonetheless able, and the staff in the kitchen were so accommodating they were able to make me exactly what i wanted and i just picked a few things that i wanted and they were able to make a plate for me so that's amazing. the ambience was classy quiet i think me and my girlfriend made the most noise there just laughing and enjoy f ourselves, but it was festive and lively for the most part. uconn was playing by the bar and uconn one so there was a lot of noise for that as well, but the vibe was really quiet and classy over all.

Came here because we wanted oysters with only 1 hour of time to spare. We sure lucked out coming…read morehere! Our waitress Courtney was such an incredible human being. She remembered every single word we spoke to her. I was truly impressed and wouldn't be surprised if she's the best server they have! We told her we were in a rush because our daughter was competing in a dance competition. Not only did she get all the food out quickly, but she even brought out a mini dessert, a cookie and wished our daughter good luck on the receipt. People like Courtney are few and far in between. I can tell she is someone who truly enjoys what she does. Ok now for the food haha everything was honestly impeccable. The bread was heavenly, soft and crunchy through every bite. Warmed enough where the butter was smooth to the spread. Oysters didn't last very long and it was exactly what we wanted. If we had more time we certainly would have ordered more! My wife got the Halibut and I got the NY Sirloin with the asparagus and truffle fries side. The Halibut was insanity; it was the perfect cut, the perfect blend of sauces with fish. I was almost jealous that I got the steak haha The Asparagus has to be the best I've ever heard. It came with a hollandaise sauce and crunchy prosciutto, I mean WOW. I was scraping the plate for the sauce and the prosciutto. I ordered my steak medium and it was cooked to perfection. My only wish is that I had more time to actually sit down and enjoy my meal even longer or maybe even an espresso. Honestly it's probably for the best that I was in a rush cause who knows how much money I would have spent. The place is definitely on the higher end so you will spend a good amount of money. I loved the ambiance and the music. I constantly found myself either wanting to dance to the music or just sit and chill while I sipped my wine. They have valet parking which is clutch because the parking in the area is awful. If I am ever in the area I am definitely coming back and definitely asking for Courtney to be our server once again. Oh I forgot my wife got a dirty martini and even though she messed it up by not getting it extra dirty; she still really enjoyed it !

Been at St. Francis since 5/30/23 with an injury. Thought I'd do some reviews from my adjustable…read morebed! Chicken pot pie was good. Very low sodium because it's hospital food that needs to fit a lot of dietary requirements across the board. Hubs brought me some seasoned salt to accentuate the nice blend of flavors going on. Look how beautiful the presentation is! #gourmethospitalfood

Officially known as The Shed Bar & Cafe, this place has been around for a looooong time. The…read morebuilding is nondescript, but the interior definitely has charisma. I would characterize The Shed as a local bar. On a recent visit, it seemed everyone knew each other. Patrons were friendly, and I got to know many, including the owner, Mike. Mike also wields a spatula in the kitchen. On a recommendation, I tried a "smashburger". Served on a brioche bun, it was excellent. Perfectly cooked w a nice charbroiled flavor. The bun did not fall apart, an important consideration when inhaling a burger. Fries were also excellent. Barmaid Mimi handled the crowd well. And there was a pretty decent crowd for a Tuesday night. I'm a fan, and will definitely be back. 4 stars!

Great bartenders great people all ages always something going on. Pub menu that is great. Home town…read morefeel