Great dining experience! Attentive server, busy but not overly noisy, and excellent food. We had…read morethe cheese plate and small size pea agnolotti to start, followed by the duck and steak dishes and each was stupendous. There was a nice variety of cocktails and mocktails. Ended the night with some raspberry ice cream and left happy!

I really wanted to love Arethusa al Tavolo. We chose it for my wife's birthday, hoping for a…read morespecial fine-dining experience in a lovely setting. Unfortunately, the evening became a three-hour waiting game. We were seated promptly, ordered drinks and were off to a nice start. Then everything stalled. Our starters took nearly an hour, and our main courses arrived almost two hours after we sat down. We were patient at first, but eventually the relaxed pace simply became frustrating... more bread, another glass of wine and still no food. When it finally arrived, the food was delicious. The duck dumplings, onion tart, crusted lamb loin and corn agnolotti were all beautifully prepared. Michelle also did a great job on the service side, but the kitchen was painfully slow. What disappointed us most was the lack of hospitality. There was no meaningful apology, acknowledgment or real effort to make things right... and we were charged for everything. More bread and a pint of ice cream didn't address the situation. We left impressed by the food but deeply dissatisfied with the overall experience. The prices reflect a fine-dining restaurant, but the service and hospitality did not come close. At this level, excellent food isn't enough. Fine-dining prices demand a fine-dining experience... and this simply wasn't one.

Horrible experience. Hot cakes and a hot mess!…read more Walked in with my 89 year-old mom. Was told to take a seat on the bar side but we preferred sitting on the other side by the windows because it was sunny and my mom wanted the sunlight on her. The ONLY server motioned for my mom to get up from the table because the "section" was closed. There was no indication that the section was closed when we sat ourselves. I wasn't having my elderly mom get up. The owner (Jackie herself) came over and rudely huffed and puffed asked us to move 12 feet to the other section. We left. On the way out I remarked "your server couldn't just walk an extra ten steps?" She had no words except to storm away nearly plowing over my mom. Not accommodating the elderly is disrespectful. Having one server on a Sunday morning is a service failure that your customers should never have to pay for with rudeness and disrespect. Her business has not been doing well for a decade and it's evident in the upkeep of her establishment. There is a musty smell in her carpet, and as a staunch advocate for women's businesses my entire 30+ career helping build hundreds of women owned businesses with my marketing services, she should consider hiring proper staff and making over the dilapidated interior and exterior and treating people kindly. This is not a business for people who operate on rage, nerves and anger. At this point she's only keeping the business open for income and not to properly serve her community. As a Litchfield resident for 20+ years we deserve better than this mess. I suggest people read how they insulted customers in the other post 3 days ago-- calling them "karens." The next time Jackie tries to mow over a customer (my mom) by huffing and puffing and storming away carelessly, she'll likely have to deal with an assault charge. Try Arethusa A Mano, Patty's, or Toast & Co for great service and quality. Avoid Jackie at all costs.

Jackie's is a small, privately owned restaurant that needs help. It is one of several small…read morebusinesses in Bantam that is near the end of a major thoroughfare now blocked because of construction. There are signs letting motorists know that the restaurant and other businesses in the affected area are open, but not many have visited them. And according to the owner, Jackie's has been majorly affected with the number of weekly customers way down. And that's likely to continue until construction ends, hopefully by the end of August. So we're doing a short update to remind everyone in the vicinity that unpretentious Jackie's is indeed open and worth stopping by to dine. We've been doing that for around six years now, meeting regularly for breakfast with a small group of folks. Here's the skinny: Jackie's is open for breakfast and an early lunch (except Wednesdays). They are cash only, but there's an ATM inside. The menu is pretty standard breakfast/lunch items, but it's all prepared freshly and is pretty darned good. They know how to cook eggs, they make the bacon crisp, and they serve a good Benedict. We're fans. And we think they deserve to stay in business. Oh yeah, they have wonderful servers, too. We're looking at you, Lesley...

ORIGIN: Clubhouse Provisions opened in Fall 2022 as part of…read morean effort to revamp visitors' experience. (Thanks to Bill S., Litchfield-based CT Yelp Elite, for bringing the restaurant to mind through his informative review.) The revitalization effort was initiated by a couple -- Jill Farrarotti and Jonathan Philips. Farrarotti's family owned the site since 1955 and Philips has professional food service experience. LOCATION: The restaurant is located at the edge of Stonybrook Golf -- a nine hole public golf course set on a picturesque rural road. CONCEPT: Clubhouse Provisions serves modern American and Asian-inspired dishes in a public clubhouse setting. ATMOSPHERE: The clubhouse is modern and bright, with wraparound glass windows overlooking the golf course, cathedral ceiling, and light-colored painted wood paneled walls. SERVICE: Service is informative and friendly. FOOD: The Crispy Thai Calamari ($20) is worth a visit in itself, and is available during brunch (Sunday), lunch, and dinner service. There is a mix of baby spinach, thinly breaded, crispy Calamari, and chunks of mango and grapefruit veiled by an Asian dressing. It shares top place for best iteration of fried calamari I've experienced (the other is Rhode Island style at a RI restaurant). Pork Belly Bites ($21) makes for a good small plate to share when looking to enjoy a drink and a bite on the porch or at the bar. The Avocado Toast ($25), a popular brunch item prior to 2025 season, has been modified and in my mind has an overemphasis on vinegar flavor, delivered through balsamic drizzle and mound of pickled onions. TIPS: The restaurant is only open seasonally due to its relationship with golf course. The absence of sound-absorbing ceiling material makes the dining experience uncomfortably noisy when the dining room is full. The space is available for hosting events.

Clubhouse Provisions has re-opened (March 20th) after a two-month winter break which in hindsight…read moreseems like a brilliant decision; no one was going out in the midst of our awful snowstorms. Chef Jon is back, and his opening menu for Litchfield Restaurant Week is an excellent one, fully supported by the kitchen which is blending in some newcomers with its experienced staff. We like the wait staff we encountered, too: Jonelle and Abby, super friendly as always, and quick to respond. The early menu is limited but tasty: the fried chicken breast sandwich is back and as yummy as could be hoped. We enjoyed the salmon poke bowl (a little more acidity needed) and the splendid calamari. The deserts we sampled, cheesecake and flourless chocolate cake, were simply delicious. We are so happy to welcome Clubhouse Provisions back and look forward to many more visits and an update on the full menu later this year.

My friend and I came in here for lunch a few weeks ago. It was not very busy but it was a cute…read morelittle spot in town. They have a front seating area and a bar area. We ordered the beer flights and a glass of wine. Their signature cocktails are premade. The staff was friendly as assisting with our orders. The side of fries were so crunchy and good. I ordered the Ruben, which was absolutely delicious. The corned beef and rye combo was delicious. It is defiantly a nice spot to stop at for lunch with a friend in this little town.

I was really disappointed by this place. The food and service were not great…read more Food: we ordered an appetizer and I got the Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese was really bland, I do not recommend Service: the service was honestly awful. Our food took forever and they took really long to take our orders. Ambiance: nice spot with ample seating

Community Table was a fantastic find and easily one of the best meals we've had in the area…read more We started with a couple of excellent cocktails before sharing every course. The smoked trout dip was outstanding, especially paired with the incredible house-made seeded crackers. The spring pea soup was fresh, vibrant, and absolutely delicious. For our mains, we shared the duck breast, which was cooked perfectly and served with an exceptional beet purée. We also ordered the trumpet mushrooms, which turned out to be the ideal complement to the duck. To finish, we shared the orange upside-down cake, a light, flavorful dessert that was the perfect ending to a memorable meal. The experience was made even better by Hannah, who provided warm, attentive service with a wonderful disposition that made us feel genuinely welcome. Beautifully prepared food, thoughtful flavor combinations, and impeccable execution throughout. We'll definitely be back.

We have celebrated special occasions at Community Table for many years and have always enjoyed our…read moreexperiences there, which makes this review disappointing to write. Our party of four spent over $800 celebrating my mother's birthday. A few hours after the meal, my brother became seriously ill, and because I had also sampled his chicken dish and later experienced nausea myself, we were concerned the illness may have been related to the meal. When we contacted the restaurant to share our concerns, the conversations with management were disappointing. Joanne spoke separately with several members of our family and asked whether my brother had gone to the hospital, undergone testing, or had proof of illness. When I asked whether the restaurant maintained food safety documentation, I felt the question was viewed as accusatory rather than as part of a reasonable concern following our visit. Overall, the interaction lacked the empathy and reassurance we had hoped for. No refund, credit, or acknowledgment was offered. As longtime customers who have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones here over the years, the response was surprising. Beyond the health concern, the overall dining experience felt noticeably less positive than in past visits. The bread exterior was very hard, and we noticed other nearby tables eating only the soft interior. The vegetables served with the scallops were tough, the pasta was dry, and most of the dishes (except for the pea soup) lacked flavor. The deserts were lackluster, though the goat cheese cheesecake was delicious. The cheese board appetizer was presented without explanation of the cheeses or accompaniments. Crumbs were not cleared between courses. While our server was friendly, we were repeatedly asked whether we had finished dessert, which made the evening feel somewhat rushed during a birthday celebration. The server also spent time discussing personal matters during service, which distracted from the dining experience. We had to find someone to get our coats otherwise we would've walked out without them. The ambiance at Community Table remains beautiful, which makes the experience especially unfortunate after so many positive visits over the years. Unfortunately, after this experience, our family will likely celebrate future special occasions at other restaurants in Litchfield County that we feel provide a stronger overall dining experience.

Zini's is what I imagine a medieval pub in the forest designed by Disney to look like. It's a…read morelittle dark, but there's a fireplace going in the back and you're surrounded by beautiful stone walls inside. The ambiance is gorgeous. The food is very good - a little heavy handed with the pepper sometimes, but that can be a matter of taste. The artichoke hearts came on a plate of six and were well sauced. They had a good taste of lemon. The Cesar salad was well dressed, but the dressing was more oily than creamy. The nights special, the lobster risotto, has a good bite in the rice and actual lobster! It was one of the stars of the evening, it was tender and delicious! The second star was dessert - I've never seen a tartufo before, but Zini's had chocolate and vanilla, and was well displayed cut into slices like a pear. Our waitress was very pleasant, and even as tables began to fill up provided consistent attention. All in all it was a great meal in a charming location!.

A quiet little place with delicious food and great service. Everything is first rate.read more

This is a very low key but upscale restaurant. Understated style with full bar and top notch…read morecuisine. Professional waitstaff provides quiet, competent service. We had the portobello egg sandwich and the Scottish salmon with an excellent French Sauvignon blanc. Both were delicious and not run of the mill fare. Expect to pay a little more for the quality you will enjoy. This is a destination restaurant.

The website claims that West Street Grill is "fine dining". That's far from the truth. It's a…read morebeat up old place where the food is ok. Skip the peasant bread - which is one slice of store bought bread with some cheese sauce on it. They should be embarrassed to charge $15 for that. Their signature pasta dish is a mishmash of ingredients smothered by red sauce. The 1/2 chicken and steak frites were good. The server was nice but it was not a "fine dining" experience by any definition.

I really like this place. I've been to the location in Avon, too. It's the type of place where the…read moreclassic pub foods are slightly elevated and any person in your party can find something they'll love. Much like my review of the Avon location, I love the apps. I enjoy the food. Service is terrific. The location and feel of Litchfield is way cooler as it's the old jail. Really really great spot. Can't miss. Just read the menu carefully. There's some interesting ingredients in typically classic recipes. For instance, there's truffle in the nachos. If that's not your thing (like it's not mine) don't make the mistake I did is lead with my love for nachos and huger and not read the fine print.

I love coming here! I try to get here at least one time during the summer to sit outside. I called…read morea few hours early to see if I could make a reservation. They were able to make one but couldn't guarantee to sit outside. When I got there they had a table ready outside, which was nice. My friend and I sat for a bit before were given water and menus. I was about to ask but our waitress came over and apologized for the delay. The food came out quickly and was really good! I look forward to going back!

OMG. Wow. All I can say is this was fabulous from start to finish. Ok yes you will pay for it - but…read morewow! The service was 5 star from the moment we arrived Joe was not only the valet he also answer our first few questions and really represented the farm. The location was beautiful with lush green spaces and large vegetable gardens, unique cottages (for overnight stays) we started by taking a quick walk around - glad we showed up 45 minutes fly for our reservation. We then sat in the tavern and had two well made drinks, my wife loves a good French Martini and they made an excellent one. They the called us to the upstairs dinning room and sat us by the window overlooking the path down through the open space towards the Spa. The sun was setting at the tree tops. We decided to try the 4 course dinner instead of the 3 because all the dishes sounded so good we didn't want to skip any. Anthony took care of us but there were also others making sure we had everything we needed. I added pictures for each. The bread was fresh and tasty, shrimp cocktail and a whole radish with a nice dip, the salad was great with watermelon and plums, the game bird (can't remember the name) was perfectly cooked with fresh figs, the pasta starters were fantastic one with red sauce and sausage the other with a pesto sauce with pine nuts -yum. The main was a filet mignon perfectly cooked medium rare with creamy mashed potatoes and a delicious sauce. Finally the desserts were great, 1 chocolate mousse and one cheese plate. We splurged for our 31st wedding anniversary. It's that kind of place. What a special night.

We dined at Winvian Farm last night, and it was fabulous. Cocktails on the patio as the sun went…read moredown, followed by a delicious four-course dinner upstairs, were the perfect finale to an incredible summer in Litchfield County. We enjoyed our meal in one of the side dining rooms, which felt both cozy and bright. The staff was warm and hospitable, the pacing was perfect, and the beautifully manicured grounds added to the entire experience. It was a truly memorable evening...and a superb celebration of life.

A small neighborhood market with a kickin' deli. Not really the place to do "normal grocery…read moreshopping", as others have previously stated, it's on the expensive side (in some cases, outrageously so). But if you're looking for unique food items, this is your place. For me, I stop in often just to pick up some fried chicken from the deli, it's the best around -- juicy & meaty, but not greasy, and the coating is very tasty. $6.99 a pound. That fried chicken is 5 Stars every time. Friendly crew, but the checkout can be a bit of a process though, the place does a brisk business, and the parking lot is always full.

We're briefly updating our commentary about the Bantam Market, but our thoughts about it haven't…read morechanged all that much. It remains a small, independently owned store with a surprisingly full stock, lots of fresh meats, deli items, produce, a large beer cooler with all the local and foreign brands you night desire, and a very friendly and helpful staff. We're especially fond of the nice folks behind the deli counter. Our complaints are about the same: the prices hover on the high side. The prices are generally quite a bit higher than the nearby Stop and Shop, but honestly, the quality of their locally produced items is far higher. Still, if you're buying some basics like soup or milk, you'll pay more here, and some prices can be really way up there. Sometimes we're frustrated by that, other times we're grateful to find some delicious fresh fish or prepared salads. Bantam is not our first market of choice, but we're here regularly for some things we like and want.