I had driven by the Old Well Tavern many times, but last night I decided to try it. I'm so glad I did. In fact I enjoyed it so much I decided to write my first ever review. It was a cool place with good food. I was most impressed by the service. Lindsey was awesome and I really appreciate the way I was treated. I will definitely recommend the place to my friends! read more

Food is incredible, staff is top notch. TRY THE COBBLESTONES! 10/10, great for a meal, or a night out playing pool, once a week stop for me!

The Food is pretty good bar food. The service was excellent. We attended the Dave Reilly comedy show. It could have been better organized regarding seating. Since we were a party of two we got put on a table with others which was fine but the table was off to the side near a door that led to the outside so it was cold every time someone came in and out. I paid the same price for tickets that others did. We did enjoy Dave. Of course the organizers had seats front and center. Just seemed wrong. I may not attend another event there. read more

Food was mediocre. Steak undercooked. Fish that tasted like old oil. Service was inconsistent. Way too long to spend for lunch no one enjoyed. read more

I love a dive bar, but this establishment masquerades as a viable restaurant and it's a stretch. To be fair, I attended a 50th class reunion there, not my own, and it was just plain sad. We headed to the bar to get our drinks and it was challenging for the reunion customers and the one bartender. It was a Saturday evening so there were some "regulars" who were feeling no pain planted at said bar. I always appreciate good recommendations, but I think the gentleman was joshing when he recommended the Beef Wellington and then took a little rest on the bar. The pulled chicken was not looking super fresh, but the bbq sauce was good. I know it's not the OW's fault that the class of 1974 didn't want to spend much money, but the spread was not impressive. Happy to report that the class of 1975 won't be repeating that mistake. I remember the OG Old Well from childhood: all great memories. Only the name is the same now. Gemini's was a crazy blast which I may not remember quite as well. The current incarnation has no relation to any past situation. It's a great dive bar. read more

The Old Well has been around for decades in some form or other. I have been here through some 50 years . Now it is. Decent tavern with live music, pool tables etc. The last incarnation centered around BBQ. This version centers around sandwiches, burgers, wings and a few simple entrees. There is a selection of 14 beers I had the Jacks Abby Shipping Out Amber ale . Dark for an amber , malty and absolutely delish. The French fries are doubled fried , crisp and near perfection the El Diablo Griiled cheese ( cheese, thin slices of sourdough, crisp bacon and pepper jelly ) was awesome. I usually don't like grilled cheese that leaves the basic very far but this was excellent . I was here on a quiet afternoon. The bartender/waitress was fine and the service was very good. read more

Last night was my first time visiting The Old Well and it will be my last time. Upon ordering our first round of drinks at the bar, the bartender named Anna R. (name on receipt) was less than pleasant. That's ok, it happens. We found a table & enjoyed our time for a bit. My friend & nephew went up to order another round, and again, Anna seemed rude. I went up to the bar around midnight to order a beer and she seemed confused on what beer I was asking for. I asked for a different one instead & asked her when last call was. She checked & told me 1am. Around 12:15, we went to play a game of pool, and shortly after, we realized that we were the last patrons there. The 2 staff members begin putting up chairs & closing out. They were talking loudly to each other and Anna was complaining about people not closing out their tabs. Realizing that she was trying to close out, I headed up to the bar to close out our tab. I informed her that my nephew & myself wanted to split the tab. She said ok & went to the computer & seemed annoyed when she came back. She informed me that she thought we left & closed out the tab on my nephew's card & automatically included a 20% tip. She said she would refund it & let us split it which I agreed. Our bill totaled a little over $74 including the 20% added gratuity. Our bill included 2 or 3 cranberry vodka's, 2 wines, 1 beer & 2 shots with Red Bull. Between the split bills, we gave an additional $8 tip because she said our bill already included 20% gratuity. She walked away after giving the receipts, but I realized she did not give my nephew his receipt for the refund. The older gentleman that was closing the area came over to ask if I needed anything to which I asked for the refund receipt. Anna came back over with an attitude to ask what we needed, and again, I asked politely for the refund receipt so my nephew had it for his record. I thanked her & told her to have a nice night. Upon walking towards the exit, she was speaking rudely to us and told us never to come back there. I turned around and asked her what she said to which she repeated her statement. I asked why and she said we didn't tip. I told her we did tip and she proceeded to tell us to leave and would not let me say any retort. I was trying to explain to her she already included a 20% tip like she told me, and we still gave her an additional 10%. My nephew made a comment about her poor manners to which she mouth off further. My nephew then said she was acting like a b-word which caused her boyfriend to come charging after us. I told my nephew that was uncalled for and told her boyfriend that he should not advance my nephew. Her boyfriend was following me very closely while talking about my nephew. I told him I already said something to my nephew and he would not follow him outside. I told him that Anna was extremely rude and that he will not threaten my nephew to which he responded by pushing me towards the door. I told him to not put his hands on me nor to push me. I must include that 5'1'' female with a painful chronic foot condition. At that time, Anna surpassed me and was waiting at the door. She then threatened to attack me and as I passed the through the door I told her that I was not speaking to her, but to her boyfriend. She snapped that if we can't tip then we shouldn't go out. Again, we did tip additionally to what she already added to our bill. I have never been treated like this at any reputable establishment in Simsbury, Avon or Canton. I did not use any obscenities nor raise my voice during this altercation. I would NOT recommend anyone to visit this bar/restaurant especially if you have a physical disability because you may be pushed down by an overzealous boyfriend or girlfriend of an employee. read more

We arrived at 9:20pm in a Sunday evening, six of us. Once we were seated our server happily took care of our staggered beverage and food orders. Nothing tasted old, or hastily prepared. I was very impressed with their hospitality and quality at this late hour. We'll definitely be back. read more

Good food, good vibes, we love a good tavern with cold beer. Great people this is a food local spot to hangout with friends

Me and my girlfriend were on our way down to CT for a family event and wanted to stop for a bite somewhere before getting home. We were coming into CT a little late and weren't too sure what was open. We were going to be passing right through Simsbury, and after a little research, we decided to try the Old Well Tavern. We were greeted by friendly bartenders as we came in the side door and were asked that if we wanted to order food that we do so soon as the kitchen was closing. Both of us have worked in the industry so we respected the ask and quickly looked over the menu. The menu was full of excellent options that sounded delicious. After a quick chat we decided on the Smoked Turkey Club and a Cobb Salad. After ordering, we looked over their drinks and decided on a cosmo and a Sam Summer. The Sam Summer came out ice cold from a unique and eye catching draft tower. We asked that the cosmo be made not too sweet and the bartender was happy to accommodate the request. The cosmo was perfectly made and served in a chilled glass. It was shaken enough that little ice chips were floating on the top of the drink, something that we enjoyed and appreciated. After our drink order, we found a nice high top for 2 between the bar and the dining room. Soon after we sat down our food was delivered. The portions were generous to say the least. The Cobb salad was enough for a meal for two and same with the sandwich. The sandwich was hot and tasted delicious. The homemade ranch dressing that came on the side of the Cobb was excellent as well. We were able to polish off the sandwich but the salad had to make the trip home with us. It held up perfectly and we had it for lunch the next day. Once at our table, service continued to impress. We were often checked on by passing servers and bartenders and felt attended to. We both finished our drinks and they weren't dry for more than a minute before the bartender arrived and asked if we wanted another round of drinks. We happily ordered another round and the 2nd round was as cold and quickly made as the first. Overall, we couldn't have had a better time. Our only regret is we weren't hungry enough to try more of the menu, everything looked incredible! We will absolutely be going back for lunch before we leave after the weekend. 10/10 read more

A great casual pub that offers the best wings, burgers, and prime rib in the area. You won't be disappointed. Get the wings "Gary's way".

The Old Well Tavern just seems to continue to improve with age. We've always enjoyed the foot here and having grown up in town with the owner & his siblings, just makes frequenting this local establishment even sweeter! The Old Tavern frequently agrees to co-hosting fundraisers, tonight was A Promise to Jordan, which is a cause close to my heart. So tonight we ordered dinner, lunch & then some. I have to start with Smoked Brisket Sandwich! It is the best thing I have eaten recently. Just look at it! The bun was fresh and soft, the brisket was perfectly-cooked, thick slices of meat, covered with BBQ sauce and cheddar. It was so good I abandoned my plan to eat only half... I kept telling myself, one more bite. A must try! My husband ordered the Sausage & Pepper special and also could not stop himself, and polished the huge portion up! He loved it. I hate to admit this, because they're one of the most popular menu items... I keep ordering them, but that's because I forget I don't care for them too much. The cuts of meat is great and they're cooked perfectly and can be pulled apart with your fingers should you try. They always have a bottled Smokey flavor that is too strong for me. That said, these have been on the menu for *years* and they are sometimes sold out. I keep ordering them, and the flavor hasn't changed (so I need to stop ordering them ), but what that tells me is that Everyone Else must love that Smokey flavor! So try them if you love smoked flavored meat. The brisket had the perfect amount of smoke flavor for me. The Rueben and Boneless Chicken wings are old reliables... always amazing. Great serving sizes and always perfectly cooked, never dry. The tater tots were also delicious. I love knowing we have the chicken & Rueben for lunch tomorrow. read more

See all

If I could rate this zero stars I would. I used to love coming to Oldwell Tavern, but the recent management change has completely altered the atmosphere. It used to be a lively spot and now it just feels disorganized and lacking. The new ownership has made terrible changes and to make matters worse, the new owner was rude and condescending, which made the experience even more unpleasant. Disappointed and unlikely to return. read more

Was visiting family in Connecticut and we went here because it is one of their favorite places and I have to say it was really excellent food and barbecue, a lot better than I thought it was going to be. We got wings, burnt ends, sampler appetizer, and sampler barbecue everything was great. We'll definitely be back again to try their famous burgers. read more

See all

Bad service, below average to at best average food and brutally awful ambiance. The prices aren't desirable either.

Great Sunday Prime Rib special that comes with vegetables and garlic mashed!! Nice cut and very tasty and you get it with some nice horseradish sauce. I finished with cookie monster sundae!! Yuum! read more

Old Well Tavern - cookie monster sundae!! Yuum! - American Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

Service by "Eve" was excellent. Friendly, efficient. Broccoli cheddar soup an Baked onion soups were very good. Fish and Chips entree at $16.00 is dream price for very Nice dinner, Setting is still a "bar". But food is much better than expected read more

Old Well Tavern - Fish and Chips Friday 9/1/23 - American Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

I came to watch the band All or Nothing... They charged a 10.00 dollar cover. We decided to come a little early and eat since they offered food. I have read many amazing reviews for this place but everything I ordered was not good at all. I tried their burnt ends and they were super dry in the middle. Like over cooked in a bad way. And I've had barbecue from all over and the sauce and how they tasted wasn't good. I also tried the soup of the day which was Bland and salty. And that I had potstickers which just tasted like they came from a food service. Our waitress at first the service was a little rocky but once we were sat and our orders were taken she was right on it. My friend ordered the sliders and she didn't really appreciate them at all. . Curly fries though that were served I tried some and they were good. But we really enjoyed the band All or Nothing they were worth the $10 admission. Maybe it was an off night. But the food wasn't good. read more

My wife & I really liked this place. A LOT. A very comfortable & unpretentious bar. Place was not crowded at all on an early Sunday afternoon. The wife started off with a Bloody Mary, she thought it was very good. We shared an appetizer off the specials -- Potato Barrels (which were basically huge Tater Tots). They had bacon, chives & cheese inside. We thought they were just OK. Our meals were much better. I ordered the BBQ sampler, a very generous portion of meats (so much so, that I actually brought some home, that rarely happens). I did prefer the brisket and smoked chicken over the ribs and pulled pork, but I still felt all the Q on the platter was decent. Coleslaw that accompanied the dish was delicious. My wife had the Tavern burger, it was excellent. So many times when you go out, for some strange reason, you realize you could have made a much better burger at home (same goes for steak). But this was not the case today, the Tavern burger was as good as it gets -- tasty, juicy & cooked perfectly. I'll admit, it was better than I could have made at home, and I rarely say that. We washed it all down with a few Angry Balls ( an Angry Orchard with a Fireball shot mixed in). They hit the spot. Service was outstanding, the bartender was very friendly & attentive. We'll definitely be back in the future, only problem I have is that I just can't decide whether I'm going to order a Country Fried Steak or a Cuban sandwich on my next visit. Good problem to have. read more

See all

Are further comments necessary.? Apparently the less said, the better. I was sent over here by an acquaintance, in what I consider to be a bum steer. There were a few strays at the bar; an unfriendly, unpleasant lot to say the least! I did not linger where I was not wanted, but totally do not appreciate anyone wasting my time. Ever. read more

This is a fabulous local watering hole that we recently discovered through a friend's recommendation. The food is delicious. We had lemon pepper wings, a Reuben and a fish sandwich. The wings had a great citrus flavor (light). Both sandwiches fantastic and we liked the fries a lot! Erica the bartender is super sweet and incredibly efficient. A real pleasure! Yes, the inside is "dated" - but, what matters most to us is excellent food and service - which is exactly what they offer at the Old Well. They even have a few pool tables! The other customers were friendly and welcoming. Music was a bit loud but that could just be my old lady ways coming out (ha ha). Great first impression. We will definitively be back - often! read more

I've heard of Country and Western I've heard of Blues and Barbecue. I've heard of Hip and Hop. But have you ever heard of Opera and pool (as in Billiards)? These two unlikely worlds joined forces tonight at the Old Well Tavern where a fundraiser for the CT Baroque Opera Company shared floor space with some of the regulars racking them up at the Tavern's three pool tables. The Tavern graciously hosted close to 80 friends, family, and supporters of the Opera Company. Our buffet dinner consisted of a nice green salad, macaroni and cheese, pulled pork, chicken wings, and a fifth tray that was cleaned out by the time we arrived, so whatever it was must have been good! It was quite surreal watching the pool players and listening to the young opera singers. The pool players graciously stopped their games and listened as the singers took the stage. The Old Well has a private room in the back, and a central dining room adjacent to the bar with those three pool tables off to the side. There is a good sized bar by the front door that had decent prices- my big draft of Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy was just $5 and a double Amaretto was just $6. By the way, the young opera performers were jaw droppingly great! read more

See all

This place used to have the best fish and chips in the state . It was a thin but delicious coating. They lost the chef who did it that way and now they are not good at all. Breading is soggy and thick and the portions are 1/2 of what they used to be. Very disappointing. read more

Came in on my own. Sat down. Got a menu. That's it. For 10+ minutes no one came back. I didn't get a glass of water, nothing. Two waitresses went to tables twice within eyesight of me. I left. read more

Little dark and musty for me, but I do hear other people thought the food was pretty good there

My husband drives by Old Well Tavern twice every day on his commute and has been telling me about the place and their prime rib special for a while. We finally made plans to meet a friend on an early Sunday evening, looking forward to enjoying their advertised prime rib dinner. Upon entering, the layout reminded me of a social club we used to go to. Immediately in front of us was a room with tables, on the other side of the room, a step up to the bar area. There were high top tables in this space with the bar directly ahead. Other tables wrapped around the bar. We chose one of the high tops. (Warning to the vertically challenged like me, don't try to get on or off the high top stool while preserving your dignity. It's not happening.) We all ordered the prime rib, DH ordered medium, our friend & I medium-rare. We had a couple cocktails and a tasty appetizer sampler while we waited. A few people who appeared to be regulars were having a good time talking & joking together and with the staff around the bar. As a couple of boomers born at the tail-end of the era, DH & I felt very comfortable being there. Music was playing in the background, maybe from a juke box. I don't remember specific songs but know I enjoyed the mix. The prime rib arrived with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables. The ribs were thick, not overloaded with fat, and had been rubbed with a peppery mixture of spices. They were tender and delicious. Mine was perhaps a tad more medium than medium-rare, DH said his was just right. The potatoes & veggies were unremarkable, but I came for the beef, not the sides! If you are looking for a white table cloth type place, Old Well is not that. But if you want a good meal in a welcoming place, give them a try. I look forward to returning soon, I just wish they were closer to our home! read more

Amazing place, amazing owners, and even better food. I highly recommend. The atmosphere in this place is welcoming and friendly and the bbq is to die for! read more

Second time eating from here. Got the wings both times and they don't disappoint. Finally a place that has extra hot wings- and they're crispy too! Dry rubbed with their XXX sauce... If you're looking for good wings, don't hesitate ordering from here! read more

It's a dive. It's a big, open space with pool tables that looks like a VFW hall. It needs a remodel. Even still, it was really good bar food! I had the burger, which was huge, cooked perfectly, and served with great fries. My wife had the Rueben, which was also big and delicious. There is a decent beer selection with local brews. The bartender was super nice and social which helped ease our initial reaction to walking into what looked like a strange experience. This made it welcoming, which turned out to be a great lunch. read more

This is my mentors favorite spot! She invited me out tonight to check it out! They had a live band tonight which is always a plus! The people here are awesome! I feel right at home! The service is phenomenal and the bourbon molasses wings are definitely a go to item! I asked Ericka the bartender to surprise me with a great martini and she hooked me up with a Marilyn Monroe martinini with a unique strawberry creme blend! If you are ever in the Simsbury area, please give this place a try! read more

Old Well Tavern - American Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

See all

Though in Simsbury, the tavern has a real divey feel. We had to pay a cover even though we were only eating dinner and left before the concert even started, which I was not happy about. If not for that element, this probably would've been a three-star experience. You don't expect much from the food when you walk in. The tables were diner-like with that "sticky" appearance, even though clean. It was loud, and the diners were diverse --- from the country folks to the hipsters. That said, the BBQ and pulled meats were very good. But, the service was slower than molasses. Really, really slow. Especially the getting the check part, which is usually when the staff is the quickest. read more

My husband and I tried the restaurant for the first time tonight. I had the brisket sandwich which was absolutely delicious. My husband had the blt sandwich and was just as pleased. We will definitely go back again. read more

A FINE establishment with a very home-town dive bar feel. We decided to stop in after our hike to Heublein Tower because we were starving and dehydrated and the place had decent food reviews. Immediately upon entering we got a total old school vibe. The dark wood, green vinyl seats, pool tables and outdated arcade games transported us to another time and place, but the bar seats were full and there were plenty of regulars at 3:30 on a Sunday which we found endearing. It sort of felt like Cheers and we were two of the background extras. The whole Establishment was being served by one staff person, Mary, and she was very nice and friendly- she appeared a little short staffed running around the whole place getting drinks, food, bills, etc. taken care of, but we only waited a little longer than usual to be served. It was fine because we were hot and tired and the cool, dark, calm atmosphere was great for relaxing. My fiance ordered a burger with cheddar and bacon and curly fries, and I got the garlic parm chicken wings. Both entrees came out super hot and freshly prepared, and we liked them a lot. Very decent pub food, and a lot of good beers on tap. I was sad there was no iced tea available but I suppose I shouldn't have expected it from a dive bar. I did fine with just water. The bill was reasonable, the service was polite, and the atmosphere was friendly. We immediately agreed that if we were locals, this would be a regular place for us. It's really a 3.5 star spot but not quite a 4. I think with another staff person to help with the longish wait, and having some unsweet tea on hand for those of us who can't drink (it's not like it goes bad, even if it isn't the most popular drink), I would have given 4 stars for this nice, quiet, spot. read more

Went to the Old Well last night for New Year's Eve with friends, our first time there. Erika and Frank are absolutely lovely, so friendly and welcoming. Cozey atmosphere, fabulous food, all topped off with great music. We will most certainly be returning! read more

Had a great night here. Just a nice place to hang out. Friendly service. I enjoyed their French onion soup and salad with steak. Nice beer selection. There was a band the night I went. They were good and everyone seemed to enjoy them. Nice crowd but not too crowded. Baseball on the TVs. What more can you ask for? read more

I have driven past many times, but finally had the time to stop for dinner. It is NOT a restaurant. It is truly a tavern with a bar, pool tables and rather good food. It is also fairly noisy. They have quite a full menu, but I had the brisket sandwich which was very good. The fries were also very good. The portions were large and the meal was a good value for the money. The two waitresses were very attentive and helpful. I will definitely be going back to try some of the other items on the menu. It is a low key, relaxed, unfancy place with good food. read more

The place is a dive but the food was great.. the service on the other hand was horrendous. Typically when u sit at a bar the service is better than sitting at a table, not the case here. Yes, she did have costumers outside & 3 others besides us at the bar but she choose to stand there and look at her Facebook page instead of tending to her customers, never asked us how everything was or if we wanted another drink.we were standing up waiting for our check and she was still looking at her phone. Never apologized for the lack of service or said thank you..Manager should take note and tell his employees to leave their phones at home . read more

Great food, great service, great prices. Every time I have had the daily special, I have been very pleased with whatever they cook. read more

Great service and amazing food. Frank was very friendly and provided awesome recommendations for food! read more

Old Well Tavern - Brisket club all bbq made in house along with fries. Highly recommend - American Near Me - Simsbury, Connecticut

A local joint with some really good food, a big bar, and a lot of pool tables; that's what you need to know about the Old Well Tavern. We lived near here for years and never went in, my loss. We decided to try it after seeing some good food reviews on Yelp, and weren't disappointed. The bar itself is huge, and there are a few tables scattered around in the bar area; most of the interior is taken up with pool tables, and more seating tables around the pool area. There are lots of TVs for catching sports during your meal. We usually grab one of the booths near the bar, and are served by the bar staff; occasionally we might wait a few minutes for service, as they cover a lot of ground, but we've always been happy with the overall attention, and speed of service. We've stuck with more of the traditional bar food on our several visits - wings, burgers, etc. They do them well. The wings are crispy, and they offer a few different flavors; this week's choice was honey mustard horseradish - tangy, sweet, and a bit of heat. The burger was cooked perfectly medium as requested, and had a nice char taste; they must cook over an open flame vs. a griddle. The BLT was generous with bacon, and offered fresh lettuce and tomato. The menu has a lot more to offer which we'll certainly try, as we are fans for sure. It's a local place, lots of pool players who obviously know each other, and it's more of a bar than a restaurant, but it's a great place to unwind with some good food. One downside; the bar environment tends to have smokers congregate outside at the entry doors; I don't enjoy walking through the smoke in / out of the place. They should move the smokers over to an area that isn't the main entrance. read more

See all