This place is great. We went with 3 little kids and 4 adults. Music was a little loud but it is a tavern after all. We liked their fancy restaurant Saltbrick Prime so much, we had to give this a try and it did not disappoint. They give you popcorn while you order your food, pretty cool and different. The garlic bread that we ordered was meh and the chili was not my favorite but pretty much everything else tasted very good. Service was great too and management here is great. Overall score 8.6/10 read more

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I stopped by Lockworks Tavern on a Friday after work, craving something really good to kick off the weekend and it definitely hit the spot. I originally planned to sit at the bar since I was dining solo, but it was packed for happy hour (always a good sign). I ended up in the dining room instead, and honestly, it worked out great. Service was quick and attentive from the start. My server, Christina, checked in on me several times without being overbearing, and I really appreciated how often my water was refilled especially since I skipped alcohol this visit. For food, I went all in: a dozen oysters, bang bang shrimp bao buns, and salmon sushi rolls. I finished with the crème brûlée cheesecake (which I already knew I loved from their sister restaurant). Standouts for me were the oysters, the bao buns, and that cheesecake absolutely delicious. The sushi rolls were fresh and flavorful, just a bit oversized for that perfect bite. Overall, a great experience with solid food and attentive service. I'll definitely be back maybe next time I'll snag a bar seat! read more

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Have been back a few times and while I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt I do have to update my review. This restaurant is about an hour away from me so to go there for dinner is not easy. Went back twice and both times were just ok - especially since they changed their French fries which was 1000% the best thing on their menu! And for being over $10 they have to be mind blowing (which they were) but now they just taste like generic frozen fries... super disappointing. If they bring back their old fries and aren't out of 1/4th of their menu (the issue the last time we went) I will definitely go back. Until then I'm not sold on the hour drive for this meal read more

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Food is wayyyy overpriced and very disappointing. My date and I were very hungry and very tired when we stopped here. My date had the burger for $25. The meat was flat in size and overcooked. Chili's has a better burger in both size and taste. I had the Prime Rib sandwich for $32. Remember the commercial "Where's the beef?"? I instantly thought of that. If I'm being charged $32, I better get some sizeable portion of meat and not have it completely overcooked. There were several, very hard pieces of something in the sandwich, too. Also, $5 sodas?!! Really?! Thank God I didn't get that beer I wanted. I would have sent both of them back and refused to pay the amount that they were priced but I did not want to embarrass my date. I called the restaurant a couple of days later, and I did not receive a call back. I LOVE a tavern! Just not this one! read more

A 3.8, but I'll round it up for star purposes. We made reservations originally for 4 for my husband's birthday this past Wednesday. Right as they opened, I change the reservation to 6 people for some surprise guests to join us. Well, most likely my bad for using his number, but they texted my husband's phone with the updated quantity and it ruined the surprise. When we arrived, we were promptly seated and given bowls of popcorn to snack on. We requested kids menus and were brought and told they only had one copy (for our two children). After we ordered, the copy was taken away. It's too bad, they were interested in coloring the pictures on it (but we weren't given coloring materials either.) The timing of the meal was great. First we got our drinks. Soon after we got our meatball sliders and spinach and artichoke appetizers. For the meatballs, we requested an up charge for an additional slider so we got 3 to split between 6 people, otherwise the regular order only comes with 2. Both apps were delicious. The kids meals were adorably plated on school lunch tray looking platters. They were rather pleased and are already asking when we can go back there for dinner again. All of the adults enjoyed their meals as well (check out the pics for what we ordered). All in all it was a nice meal. Holiday music was playing along with The Grinch on all TVs. Aside from a few hiccups, we'll be back. read more

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The waitor was awesome! The food was awesome, yet very overpriced! However, they cut me and my friends off at 3 drinks...I've never experienced this. They told us that the bottles were disappearing and my friends and I were flabbergasted. The fact that they cut us off without any reasoning really threw us for a loop. You're welcome for giving you $300... you will not be getting our business anymore. I also hope that the manager doesn't get any of the tips because he's terrible. read more

I might have written my first review hastily. I returned less than a week later and ordered the pork chop again. Not great, very fatty and parts of it was rare (pork is not very tasty when it's rare). And on the cool side. The mashed potatoes came out cold. I was bummed. I really enjoyed the entire experience during my first visit. Second visit, not so much. read more

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Very lovely decor. So warm and cozy! We had excellent service and the food was really top notch. The award winning chili was so unique and good! read more

Lockworks Tavern - Wedge salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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Price is too high for the food there. It is not in line with other restaurants. All beers $8 in bottles only? Soup and sandwiches too pricey! Service at the bar was slow and impersonal. Bar back was swearing and banging around items in back corner where I considered moving to not get hurt. Bar tenders took their time to acknowledge us while they continued talking to each other. I had to ask after 7 minutes if we could have a server. We felt we were imposing on their time. Food was good quality but we probably won't go back. read more

I had a great experience dining at Lockworks Tavern in Branford on a Monday night. I've actually been wanting to try their fancier steakhouse neighbor Saltbrick Prime for awhile now, but Lockworks was a no-brainer once I heard I could order their steaks there, enjoy a more casual atmosphere, and most importantly, bring my 2 year old along. With a variety of dishes to suit different budgets, Lockworks is a perfect spot for any occasion or crowd. The ample staff created a relaxed and efficient service, contributing to the overall positive dining experience, and should allow the restaurant to be better prepared to handle any sudden rushes. They have TVs everywhere, an extensive bar, a grand open kitchen, and it looks like some of the decor and items on display were inspired by the history behind the Branford Lock Works. We enjoyed everything about our meal, from the drinks, the complementary popcorn, the oysters, the burger, but for me the standout was definitely the 18oz 55-day dry-aged ribeye. The flavors were rich and the seasoning was perfect, making any additional condiment purely for indulgence. One of the coolest things about Lockworks Tavern is their late-night hours, closing at midnight on weekdays. Where else can you go in Connecticut that late on a weekday? I hope this becomes a trend for newer places opening up. They also offer a loyalty program where you earn one point for every dollar spent and unlock $5 off for every 50 points. That's potentially a 10% discount per visit which is an awesome deal, making it even more of a reason to keep coming back! I hope Lockworks Tavern continues to thrive, doesn't get complacent, and most importantly, continue to offer and maintain all these cool perks and unique traits that set them apart. Keep up the great work, and continue to build on your quality, standards and service. I hope to see them around for years to come! read more

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Have not eaten there yet. Most likely will only visited the bar area which is represented extremely well by well well-trained bartenders. Their happy hour is superb but very happy with the location. Plenty of parking and always seems to have a joyful crowd read more

Loud. Pretty good food, overpriced steak for quality provided. Servers good and friendly, not their fault. read more

Came back to try lockworks again and was disappointed yet again. My friends were in town so suggested we meet here for lunch. Two of us had wine and another had a margarita. The wine pours were good this time but my friend said her margarita tasted fishy. We decided on the onion blossom and a wedge for starters. Both were great! We all ordered burgers. My friend looked at me and said her burger tasted like fish. Mine did too, like rancid fish. I'm not sure if the oil went bad or something with the beef. It was awful. I had the burger the first time I came here and it was delicious. Service again here needs improvement. We had to hunt down our waitress for a water refill. I think at this point we will just stick to the steakhouse. read more

Lockworks Tavern - Onion blossom - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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This place seems to be having an identity crisis. The building and interior layout is really appealing. Warm and inviting. Tables set nicely with candles. But, TV's on every upper wall was mood busting. Music was pretty loud and, although not hard rock, it was weird choice based on the setting. Maybe turn down the volume when the restaurant is somewhat empty. I was immediately blasted by the strong odor of a cheap home decorating store...a cross between cinnamon and outhouse odor blockers. The smell permeated everything and it distracted from the food. The fish and chips were tasty. Fish cooked perfectly, not too greasy. Sadly, the salt! Wow, so much salt. Even the salad tasted salty. This is a tavern yet no beers on tap. Disappointing as beers taste so much better on tap vs a bottle. Staff were friendly and basically attentive so they get most of the points. We probably would not visit again based on the over salting and smell. But great location. read more

When here for a election watch party. They provided numerous foods to snack on while watching the results. My first choice was their shrimp cocktail, the shrimp were huge, firm and good. Next was steaks on a stick, full of flavor and tender, they did the same with chicken and that was very good. They had sliders with ground beef and a special sauce that was delicious. Their fries were salty with vinegar The place was wall to wall with people, but I was able to find a space in their parking lot. Had a nice decor and a homey atmosphere plus a huge bar read more

We travel from New Jersey to see our daughter and grandchildren in Brantford. First time we have ever eaten here and it's the best meal. My wife and I have had quite some time. Webster, the owner was very cordial and charming and was happy to show us the whole place, including the steakhouse attached next-door. We will definitely take our family here next time we're up here to visit. read more

Had the privilege of dining at this fine establishment for my wife's birthday, and let me tell you, it was a very nice experience. The interior is all brick--very old-school, very charming. And the walls are lined with TVs, so no matter where you sit, you can enjoy the rustic charm of masonry while debating the finer points of whether that touchdown was actually inbounds. If you're looking for a place where you can savor a steak and shout at a referee in Branford, look no further. Our server was accommodating, which was impressive because, let's face it, we're not an easy group. My wife's parents were with us, and they brought all the energy of people who treat the restaurant menu as a philosophical debate. Bless the server's patience--truly a saint among humans. Now let's get to the good stuff. The highlight? Not the steak. Not the burger. Not even the scallops. Nope--it was the kids' meal. I kid you not, they served it in a cafeteria tray, but not just any cafeteria tray. This thing was the Rolls Royce of cafeteria trays. My daughter was over the moon. Meanwhile, the adults got white plates. No flair, no pizzazz. Just plates. She was the queen; we were the peasants. I got the steak, my wife Kim got the burger, and my father-in-law followed my lead with another steak. My mother-in-law ordered a salad but then proceeded to commandeer half of the steak and scallops like she was starring in a culinary heist film. Respect. The burger was juicy and well-cooked but came with minimal frills--think of it as the Steve Jobs of burgers: simple, efficient, and confident in its lack of excess. The steak was cooked to perfection--chef's kiss--but fair warning: this is an à la carte operation. Sides are extra, and my beloved creamed spinach was missing from the lineup. My father-in-law, however, ordered a baked potato that was approximately the size of a small planet. Salad? It was chopped. That's all I can say. For dessert, we went for the s'mores thing (very good), the cappuccino gelato (melty and disappointing), the chocolate cake (excellent), and cheesecake (which looked amazing but was inhaled by others before I could try it). A true mixed bag of dessert emotions. All in all, a great spot. If you're in Branford and want steak, patience-tested service, and a kids' meal that will make adults question their life choices, this is the place. Highly recommend, even if you have to bring your own creamed spinach. read more

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Great date night out as the two of us, but easily could've brought kids too. We shared several smaller plates and they were all great. Korean BBQ wings, pimento Mac n cheese, lobster BLT bao, wagyu corn dog, and a crème brûlée cheesecake to top it off! We'll be back. read more

Lockworks Tavern - Creme brûlée cheesecake with freeze dried strawberries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

My Husband and I went to try it for the first time, since it was Donavan's Reef that closed, we were meeting friends. Walked in and went to the bar, sat down and was greeted nicely by the bartender with facial hair! We called our friends, that haven't arrived, they decided to go to the Little Pub, we apologized to the young hosstees. We started to leave and the girl went over to the bartender and told him that ewe went to the wrong place, which he commented "Thank god" why? We and our friends will try to go again and see what happens! read more

Great service and fun atmosphere! Some really interesting menu items, something for everyone. read more

Lockworks Tavern - Capuccino gelato - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Went last night and dreaming about it today. They exceeded my expectations! There is the tavern and then salt brick prime is on the other side. The open kitchen separates the two. Saltbrick is upscale and more for date night or any night without kids. Gorgeous dining area and large menu of the best steaks and a few other options for those that aren't steak eaters. The tavern side has its own menu but in addition to that menu you can also order off of the saltbrick steak menu. This is a wonderful option if you want a nice dry aged steak but don't want to necessarily eat in the more upscale side. You can sit at the bar or a table. You can order anything from a burger, steak and cheese, halibut or a dry aged ribeye. Endless possibilities on the tavern side. Here is what we had: Porterhouse for 2 - absolutely delicious and tender. We ordered medium and it was perfectly cooked. Many sauce options for an up charge and we chose the bone marrow butter. I was hesitant but so glad we tried it as it was a delicious accompaniment to the steak. They will cut it for you if you want or you cut yourself. I let them carve it. 35 day dry aged ribeye - amazing flavor and again so tender and juicy. Halibut - beautiful presentation and a nice flavorful fish with leeks. Mashed potatoes- best damn mashed potatoes I've ever eaten in my life! So creamy and buttery and perfectly salted. Asparagus with bernaise - it was good Desserts - ordered every dessert on the menu to share (four of them) they were all delicious but everyone agreed the s'mores one was by far the best one. Could have eaten 6 of the them, lol. If you are only ordering one then the s'mores is the way to go. Service was phenomenal, checked on us multiple times, water glasses refilled quickly. Oh and they start you off with a bowl popcorn which is very addicting! Im not a popcorn fan but I asked for a second bowl! This place is a great addition to the area and a must try! It is gorgeous inside and the parking is easy since there is parking lot. No need to drive to either casino for a premium dry aged steak anymore, it's right here for you in beautiful Branford. read more

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This is our second visit and again the wait service is shockingly inconsistent and not attentive. They usually have four bartenders and two waiters and the bartenders stand around talking most of the time while the waiter seemed to be too busy and not experienced. For a tavern, the food is very overpriced and the steaks are average at best. The ribeye was slightly chewy and the filet mignon dry.They are charging top-tier Connecticut steakhouse prices and the service and food do not justify it. The ambience is great. read more

The food was overpriced and mid. Services was slow. Drinks were small and overpriced too. Skip it.

Great food ! The restaurant is beautiful this was our first time here. Our server was attentive.

This place is sooooo good! I took my husband here last night for his birthday. There were four of us. Our friends were running a few minutes late so my husband and I went to the bar for a cocktail. The bartender greeted us immediately and was very cheerful. The overall vibe of the place is awesome- I like a bit of a noisy restaurant with good energy. Our server also greeted us right away and had a fantastic personality. He was attentive the entire time. We ordered the ricotta dip, Street corn and oysters as an appetizer. They were all good, but the street corn was outstanding. Everyone at the table ordered steak, which all came out perfect. This is a very fun place for a date night, girls night out (or guys!) and a special occasion that doesn't require too much formality. read more

Lockworks Tavern - Birthday dessert! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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In town for work. I am a chef and would highly recommend this place. One of the only places that has a decent NA beer. Really enjoyed the atmosphere. Staff and management was attentive. Best prime rib I have had in a long time read more

Went a few times. Bar tenders are good, good food, good drinks. The DJ on the weekends is very good but no one dances.

I tried out the new Lockworks Tavern and it was definitely amazing! They have a beautiful interior and bar area. It is a very cozy vibe. I also enjoy that they offer a late night menu. The staff seem very welcoming. All the food we had was amazing. The corn ribs were a 10/10, and the steak on my Cobb salad truly melted in my mouth. I was very pleased as it wasn't too expensive to add the steak to the salad. They have dishes that correspond to different days of the week, and the night I went they had a meatloaf special. It was very good. The only reason I took off 1 star is because their menu is somewhat limited. There may not be something for everyone. They do have some basics like a delicious burger, but everything is unique and may not call everyone's name. With that being said, everything is uniquely delicious! read more

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That's a good dry aged steak. Good ambiance. Took my wife there twice. Took picture twice. I Ate that steak twice. I'll be back.

$52 for a slice of prime rib on a plate. I assumed when I was asked if I wanted a side they were included. I asked for horseradish sauce and mac and cheese. Plus $20. Their food is good. Their prices are obscene. Next time I crave prime rib I'll make it myself. read more

Easy dinner out. Upscale tavern. Good pleasant service. Great parking and accessible for wheelchair. read more

Lockworks Tavern - Smore pot de crème white chocolate mousse. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

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My wife and I were happy to hear about Lockworks Tavern opening. Sometimes we enjoy a casual dinner out instead of upscale places. We made reservations because we have heard from others that it can be busy and we were planning on going on a Saturday. We were able to find a good parking spot due to the parking lot being large and well lit. The restaurant is located in an old factory so the space had lots of exposed back and large timber beams with super high ceiling. There is a hopping bar along the back wall which is separated from the main dining area with low walls and screening. Lage tvs are hung around the entire perimeters of the space. On the wall opposite of the bar is a semi open kitchen. One really cool touch was an electronic sign with constantly changing quotes. We were seated and given a complimentary bowl of popcorn and our menus. The menu is small but plenty of choices including a selection of dry aged steaks from the sister restaurant Salt Brick Prime. I believe that the menu changes with the season. We ordered a couple cocktails from their specialty cocktails menu..an Aviation for my wife and a pear martini for myself. Both arrived quickly which was surprising due to the place being pretty busy. The drinks were well made and we sat back to make our choices for dinner. Our waiter, whom I believe was new , had a bit of an issue with understanding us. Not sure if English was his first language but he was doing his best. We chose to start with the acorn squash "potato " skins and burgers and fries for dinner. Our appetizer also arrived quickly. The squash was cut in perfectly cooked wedges with a 3 cheese blend melted on the fluffy squash and a dollop of creme fraiche topped with a generous amount of crispy prosciutto and scallions. It's an inventive dish and quite delicious and very filling. After a second round of cocktails our mains arrived. The fries, served in metal cups, were hot crispy and perfectly salted. We all know how disappointing some fries at sit down restaurants can be. Our burgers were cooked as ordered. The buns did not overpower the meat but remained intact until the last bite. The pattys had a nice crust and were flavorful. Even the Toppings were nice and fresh. We were stuffed from dinner so declined desert. I would like to come back and try some of the other offerings and maybe desert. All in all it was a good experience. read more

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Finally, a chopped salad on a menu! It was wonderful. Servers were great. Nice new restaurant. read more

Lockworks Tavern - Chopped salad!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Branford, Connecticut

Ambiance is nice, food was average. 1st restaurant I've ever dinned in that ran out of bottled water and mashed potatoes at 6:00pm but also had 2 managers working?? Will Not be returning read more

For some reason management felt it was a good idea to leave the curtain to the kitchen open while we dined about twenty feet away. We had a lovely view of the dishwashing station and garbage bins that all the staff clear plates into as well as the dishwasher emptying bus tubs of slop into. We asked our server to please close the curtain, and she made her best effort to do so against the will of her manager. Literally the second we paid the bill; the manager fully opened the curtain again. My wife and I are lifelong Branford residents and dine out about twice a week, Lockworks will not be in our rotation going forward. The food is mediocre and overpriced. read more

***Although GF options, they were not labeled and serve wasn't exceptionally knowledgeable. Met two friends here in a Monday night. Wasn't crowded at all which was nice to catch up. Service was friendly. We ordered the shrimp (had an interesting marinade that most people in our party didn't enjoy), and the chickpea fries. I had the half chicken which was good but the greens had a tang to it I wasn't expecting. Others got the burger which looked great and the asparagus Cesar with steak which I think I would have order next time. I'm not necessarily running back to Lockworks Tavern. It was ok ... but nothing special. The bar looked nice though! Maybe for a drink? read more

The place is nicely redone. I've eaten here a few times the foods not bad, but it's not great either. Nothing worth rushing back for because the prices are little head scratchingly high. Also the staff can be stale. My latest server had the personality of the door knobs they have displayed. Definitely worth trying though! read more

Our first time here. Nice place the staff was friendly. Me and my wife order 2 specialty manhattans for $16 each. They came back WAY TOO SWEET! We offered to pay extra for an extra shot of Rittenhouse rye to try and cut through the sugary sweetness in the manhattans (manhattans shouldn't be sweet!). They ran out of Rittenhouse. The bar tender apologized and asked us to pick a different rye whiskey. We picked a different rye. The drinks were good. We get the bill. They charged us $25 per manhattan. Wait, it gets better. They also charged us another $3 extra per each manhattan because they wanted to. I travel the country and eat at the FINEST restaurants in every great city in the USA. I've never paid almost $30 for a manhattan anywhere! I will NEVER EVER be back to LOCKWORKS TAVERN EVER AGAIN. THE OWNERS AND BARTENDER ARE DELUSIONAL! read more

Reconsider, suggest waiting 6months ( from July 2024) Farm house wine glass is $16, I think 4oz bartender said 6,0z, costal sells 750ml (24oz) for $10/btl Service is fast Great atmosphere, it's loud Food is D-, eggplant was room temperature and dry, Salad was left over and brown Tomahawk streak was 50% bone, look up the price ( make sure your sitting down) Wine list started at $70/btl and went to $350, glass was $13-15 ish Wings are excellent, 6 for $15 read more

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We ate here wanting to try the place because it's new. It looks like the former restaurant was divided into two, one of which is a steakhouse. The dining room was fine for us since it wasn't busy, but I can see how it might get crowded and noisy. The cocktails we ordered were tasty and well made, about average price for our times at $15 each. Whoever made the cocktails knew what they were doing, though, as there was a finesse in the preparation. They serve popcorn to start, which was fine, though I might prefer bread. My dining mate ordered fish tacos, which were Tuesday's special. Apart from being a bit salty, the portion size was good and the ingredients were fresh. It was filling, as was my Cobb Salad. The bacon chunks were large and rather hard. As tasty as they were, I left most of them. I ordered chicken with my salad but didn't really need it in the end. The salad was very large. For dessert, I ordered pudding with melted marshmallow on top. They served it by removing a glass dome so that it was steaming. The marshmallow was swirled and heated soft, though the pudding was cold. . Overall, I think they're doing a good job with this new place. I see it as a venue where you can enjoy drinks and sides. Our waiter was friendly, and and service was prompt. The high ceilings and ambiance give the place a historic appeal. I would welcome the chance to eat here again and try more dishes. read more

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