The food and view at River are the reasons to go. The service on a moderately-busy Monday (about 5-6 outdoor tables were occupied), however, was subpar. Items were forgotten and we waited a long time for things like tea and salads, though our main dishes came out promptly and were warm. read more

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - View from the outdoor seating. - Steakhouses Near Me - Wethersfield, Connecticut

The only reason I give this restaurant 1 star is that the food tasted good. Otherwise I'd give it Zero stars! Here's a list of what went wrong here: 1. I reserved an outdoor table for 4. When I arrived I was told it would be a 45 minute wait. Basically my reservation was useless. The 2 greeters made no attempt to address this whatsoever and didn't care at all. We decided to wait at the bar 2. The bar was not crowded with a couple of bartenders. We placed our order. The bartender looked like she didn't know what she was doing and greeted us with about as little enthusiasm and happiness as possible. (Maybe she was having a bad day). She didn't seem to know how to mix two drinks; a manhattan and a Negroni. She couldn't answer our question about what gin she had at the bar and just told us to ' look' as she pointed behind her. Then it took about 10 minutes for three drinks to arrive; the poorly made Negroni, a Coors light in the bottle (she never asked if I wanted a glass), the wrong glass of white wine that she had to redo with the correct one, then after 5 more minutes the manhattan arrived, also made poorly. She didn't charge us for that drink due to the delay saying she had to wait to get the vermouth. That's an odd excuse from a bartender. I've been a paid bartender, I know what to expect and she was just horrible. I'm sorry but that's a plain fact. If she worked for me I would have fired her on the spot and took over myself. 3. By this time, about 7:50, we were seated at an outside table. The crowd was dying down but our waitress was less than attentive and certainly not prompt. We have dietary allergies that she promptly noted but did nothing about as she said she would check wth the kitchen about of couple of possible choices we had interest in, but never came back to give us the answer. Now being quite impatient, we ordered anyway based on the menu description. One appetizer could not be eaten because of the allergy. We asked for the wine list, that never arrived, and it was 10 minutes until she came back to the table, but we ordered without it. The waitress seemed like she could care less about how we were doing or how she was performing her job. After dinner, ironically, the manager stopped by to ask how everything was, but we quickly said things were OK only because it would have taken too much time to make note of everything that had gone wrong. By now it was after 9 and my reservation was at 7. We had to leave. Suffice it to say, we won't be back. A sad overall experience indeed. I don't expect this restaurant and or management will be around for long as I have no reason to believe we were the only party to endure this horrible dining experience. read more

Great views, I wish it were warmer so we could have sat outside on the deck. With that being said the food was not good, the Calamari came out in a puddle of oil (you can see in the photo). Got the smash burger, clearly a frozen patty and even though it's on the happy hour menu as a happy meal deal I think McDonald's burgers are far superior. Service was incredibly slow but I suppose that's what happens when your bartender is doing everything. She needs a raise! What bar/restaurant doesn't have tonic (Gin and Tonic is on the happy hour menu as a drink that goes with the happy meal). Trust me, the 8 people in the place didn't drink all the tonic. Just laziness by management. Only getting 3 stars for the view and friendly staff. read more

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - Oil soaked Calamari - Steakhouses Near Me - Wethersfield, Connecticut

At a local bar listening to a bartender that just got off her shift listening to her talk crap about all her customers. Not liking people from Wethersfield. So unprofessional. Know your audience at all times. Don't assume you're better then anyone. Exact reason I will never go back to The River. read more

This place has a unique location on the banks of the CT River. Extensive outdoor seating provides great views! It went through a period of change over the last year or two but now seems to have its act together with an interesting menu, well trained staff and fair pricing. For lunch today we had the fish (haddock) sandwich and the BLTA Club sandwich. The sides are fries or salad. Both sandwiches were excellent! read more

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - The BLTA club. Delish! - Steakhouses Near Me - Wethersfield, Connecticut

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The River never disappoints. I haven't experienced their events or dinner menu yet. But, I do love their brunches & happy hour menus! There's never an issue with seating or service. The views are always amazing & relaxing. The food never fails to hit the spot & leave me satisfied. I will advise if you're their during brunch & they have the cinnamon roll...don't miss out! I also recommend asking for additional icing for dipping. The roll will absorb it quickly. It's crunchy on the outside, but warm & soft on the inside. Delicious! read more

Okay. From the receptionist to our first bartender....rude! First of all the receptionist asked if we had a reservation and there was absolutely no one in the place! She didn't even greet us. We sat at the bar and the first bartender was rude. She ignored us for a while then begrudgingly took our order. The restaurant has happy hour on Saturday which I appreciate. However I ordered a margarita and can honestly say it was the worst I have ever tasted. It was like lemon water. No bueno! I can most certainly say that we will not be back as we never felt welcomed. read more

Winner of best waterfront dining, best fine dining?brunch, most romantic, business lunch, steakhouse, seafood, and more. Hartford County winner and statewide finalist for overall excellence, Italian and desserts. Wethersfield had gym located on the bank of the Connecticut River. They've got a new Happy hour concept which features an adult happy hour meal your choice of drink and combo meal deal, with a chance to win a prize. A social spot to enjoy the outdoors and sunset views! read more

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Hubby planned a date night here to surprise me one evening. It was a good dinner. We started with a bottle of red wine and an appetizer. For entree I got the short rib and it was delicious. Hubby got the steak. We had a lovely dinner. Waitress was nice. read more

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This is such a hidden gem. It's a bit tricky to find this restaurant on the opposite side of an office building, but so worth it! We visited for brunch, and it was fabulous. The inside of the restaurant is nice, but on a summer day, sitting out on the deck is great. There's such a pretty view right on the water. The food was delicious and we plan to head back. I got the sweet special - a Belgian waffle with a chocolate-like mousse on the inside, served with fruit and homemade ice cream. I was debating between two options and asked our waiter and he was so friendly and recommended the sweet special! So glad I got it. read more

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - Belgian waffle (sweet special) - Steakhouses Near Me - Wethersfield, Connecticut

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Amazing view by the river! Plenty of outside seating on the patio, snazzy vibe on the inside with a piano (have been looking for a piano lounge. Could this place be it?) Waitstaff was attentive and friendly and allowed us to take our time after dinner having some drinks. Will be back! read more

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - Swordfish. Yum! Mash potato's are green because of the garlick/onion called "ramp" they made it with. - Steakhouses Near Me - Wethersfield, Connecticut

My friend and I wanted to dine by the water and have lunch, so we decided to come here. We wanted to sit outside, but they told us to sit at the bar as dinner wasn't being served yet, and the outside area was not open yet, and I'm glad we did. It was happy hour, and we decided to order drinks and appetizers at happy hour rather than go outside for appetizers. We had appetizers at the bar and had dinner outside. I ordered a happy hour drink called a Glass of Ambition, and my friend ordered the River Margarita. The drinks had a punch, but they were good. We ordered the Parmesan Truffle Wings, Sweet Chili Wings, and Calamari. The wings are not on the regular menu and only on the happy hour menu, so I'm glad we got to try them. The wings were delicious. They were flavorful, and the Parmesan Truffle was a dry type of wings, but full of flavor. I don't eat calamari often, but I tasted it and it was okay. They could have been more fried in my opinion. The wings were so good that we decided to get another order of Parmesan Truffle Wings. When we had the second wings that came out, they didn't look like the same ones we ordered the first time. The wings were more of a wet sauce instead of the dry rub wings, and they seemed like they didn't have the same fry as the first order. Consistency is everything, so I was disappointed with not having the same consistency. We decided to sit outside, so we were seated outside. The outside was relaxing and beautiful, overlooking the river. There is also a view of another restaurant located downstairs, which is owned by the owner of this restaurant and serves Mexican cuisine. I ordered the Salmon with Risotto, and the service outside was a little slower than the bar, but it was packed outside. The Salmon came out, and it was okay. It needed flavor, but it was cooked well. The Risotto was good. It had a nice flavor, but the food came out lukewarm. The customer service was great, and the staff was friendly and outgoing. read more

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Tried this restaurant on a Sunday and appear to have caught them in transition. The waitress explained that the chef had quit that week and was the reason they were out of several menu items. Most noticeably, anything made with lobster (counted at least three items on the menu) and the short ribs. Seemed they only had cheesecake for desert. We both started with the clam chowder which was a little spicy but very good. Then we both had salads with either salmon or shrimp. The salads were fine. The outdoor patio was near the river which was nice. Odd location situated in business park building. read more

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - Spicy Clam Chowder - Steakhouses Near Me - Wethersfield, Connecticut

I feel the need to confess that we only tried this restaurant because we were given a gift card. I also need to confess that after parking our car, we literally could not find the restaurant and only persisted looking because we had a gift card. Just my opinion, but they really need to improve their signage. The restaurant is located at the back of an office park. It creates a lovely view of the river, thus the name, but it sure is hard to find. We were there on a very hot day, so opted to sit inside at the windows in the bar area. I really liked the ambience. The umbrella is hanging from the ceiling were adorable. Both our drinks and food were delicious. Both my husband and I ordered the summer salad. He put salmon on his. I got shrimp on mine. It really was outstanding. For what it is, it felt a tad pricey. Two salads with protein and two drinks was over $100. The service was friendly and prompt, and the place is lovely. You should give it a try. read more

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Really nice spot! Great views! As you dine you are able to have a really nice River view. The food is excellent. When you first walk in, it is a bit weird because you think you are going to an office complex. The staff is really helpful and nice. For my meal I had the burger which was cooked perfectly at a medium rare temperature. The burger was very filling, it was a big burger with all the fixings. read more

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I was really excited about trying River because of the beautiful atmosphere, but was a little disappointed with the food. I ordered the salmon salad and was shocked at how small my piece of salmon was. Especially since they charge an additional $14 for protein. I was disappointed and left still hungry. I would say the food here is just average but the views are nice. read more

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Horrible Waiter was inexperienced and inattentive. Forgot a meal order and it wasn't comped. No drink refills. No checking in on meals. The food was not good. manager saw issue and did nothing. Would not recommend at all read more

So we came to this restaurant for the lobster rolls. We both ordered the lobster rolls with truffle fries. The lobster roll was ok however we were expecting a different taste in Connecticut. The truffle fries were awesome. Not a do over for us. The restaurant is beautiful, it sits on the water and our server was great. read more

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I was debating between a 2 and a 3 for this place. Decided on a 2 because it was such a strange experience. 4 for the view. 2 for food and everything else. Online it said they were full so we made a reservation for the "Mexican restaurant" onsite for 7:15 and showed up early so we could have a drink at River. Note - it's in an office building. We walked into the building and there was chafing dishes set up in the lobby so it appeared there was a private party, and there's a boardroom right there - clearly a working office with a restaurant onsite. Awesome for the office staff. Weird for guests coming to the restaurant. We walked up to the hostess stand at River and they ended up having a table open so we got a table outside and were able to enjoy the nice view. I ordered the Cioppino and you pick either the garlic sauce, fradiavolo sauce or marinara sauce. I chose the garlic sauce and gluten-free pasta. The dish was bland and had these massive clams in it which were quite chewy. I also didn't get a spoon and asked for one and didn't get one until I was done eating - was hard to enjoy the broth without a spoon. Wine is priced well. $9 for Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc. Place isn't insanely expensive like a lot of restaurants are so that's good. Boyfriend liked his Bolognese, but was excited for the fresh pasta that they advertise and he said he wasn't sure it was fresh. Then we walked down to the "Mexican restaurant" which is down below the restaurant to grab a drink and realize that it's a food truck with a portable bar and quickly realize that there's no way we would've ate there or had a drink down there. We thought it was a restaurant??? I guess it should be advertised better that the Mexican place is not a restaurant. We did see some tables walking up to River INSIDE that looked like could be part of the Mexican place but it looked closed as the chairs were turned upside down and the place didn't have lights on. Maybe they only use the inside portion if it's raining outside? There's also a tent outside for private events that does not look very appealing. I saw they were hiring for an Event Manager. No way I'd do an event there. Whole thing was just strange to me. read more

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My mother and I wanted to get steak frites and decided to drop by here. We were a bit early so the lunch menu wasn't available. BUT they accommodated us and converted the steak and eggs to a steak frites and the servers were amazing! The restaurant is literally siting on a river which means we had an amazing view of the river and boats passing by. We loved our visit! read more

Hey guys as we all know when coming to you with a good review I'm going to be honest. And these things are based off My Opinion. Calamari needs to be more crispy it was too soggy, salmon sliders was mid too fishy needed more seasoning, some of the shrimp was raw, but the short rib sliders was pretty good and the meat was very tender. The service was not bad, and honestly our server brought my ratings up cause I was honestly disappointed with my meal... She made our happy hour drinks very good. As far as the ambiance goes it's a nice spot near the river, it's a vibe. read more

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I wish I had read the reviews beforehand... had to wait for a table, despite having a reservation on a week day in the spring, so a little chilly to enjoy the outdoor dining space. After it took 45 minutes to get acknowledged by the waitstaff and a first round of drinks, we ultimately gave up on trying to order food and closed out & left. read more

Restaurant is hard to find, hidden at the back of what looks to be a large office building and there are no signs outside to guide you. But the inside is a nice surprise as the view of the river is relaxing. There is a large outdoor patio, which must be great during nice weather. Server (Kat) was attentive, helpful and very pleasant. Actually most of the staff was like that. Meals weren't bad -- people in our party had the pulled chicken wrap, burger with fries, rigatoni bolognese & fried chicken sandwich with house-made chips. We also enjoyed our $9 mocktails. The burger was ok, topped with a large slice of winter tomato and giant onion ring ~ the truffle fries were quite salty ~ the pulled chicken wrap was basically chicken salad ~ the rigatoni bolognese was over-seasoned ~ the fried chicken sandwich was moist and everyone liked the house-made chips. But the lunch portions were pretty decent and the presentation was on point. read more

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The good: Ambience is wonderful right on the CT river. Plenty of outdoor seating. Service was excellent, attentive, polite. The bad: Ordered a rare filet mignon received a well done steak not a hint of pink. They did replace the steak. The lobster bisque was the absolute WORST bisque I have ever seen. It was brown, thick as glue and tasted like flour. They offered a replacement or clam chowder but I was too afraid to even try. If I were to return I think I would just have drinks and possible an appetizer I have eaten here at least four times prior and food was at least fair not sure what has transpired. read more

This restaurant is located by the water with a good sized indoor area and a heated outdoor area as well as a generous bar seating area. I went for brunch where they offered a nice selection of drinks and food both breakfast and lunch. The waffles were really good, the bacon was cooked to perfection. That sausage and home friends were good as well. I got the eggs scrambled, they were a little watery for my taste but the rest of the food was great. The drinks were good and the ambiance was quite nice. They a bunch of Christmas trees setup giving it the right amount of Christmas spirit. read more

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River is fantastic! It's hidden away in an Xerox building looking out on to the Connecticut River. So as long as you find it you're guaranteed a good meal. The food is delicious! With a slew of options ranging from brunch to dinner, chicken & waffles to salmon, there is something for everybody! The staff is well versed in the menu and great at pairing drinks with different entrees. Not to mention, the service is quick and friendly. Definitely recommend stopping if you find yourself in the area! read more

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - River Burger - Steakhouses Near Me - Wethersfield, Connecticut

Weird location, inside what seems to be a commercial style office building. Food was just okay, bit overpriced. Wouldn't return.

We go out to dinner a total of maybe 5 times a year, usually just once to a fancy restaurant. Having had an incredible time the first time, i thought this would be a great choice for my 40th birthday. This was a huge mistake. Our waitress was awful, completely abandoning us after apps. Our nearly 60 steak made two full rounds to tables that werent ours, letting lots of people breathe on the food, before making to us. Having seen what happened to our steak, we skipped the lobster mac and cheese that we had ordered since we were certain it would befall the same fate as our sad steak. Our waitress only appeared after having spoken to the manager and a few other servers. The food was subpar, and though we were offered free prosecco, we did not want it. We were offered free dessert, but the night was already ruined. My 40th birthday, already a bummer because it was spent without my parents and siblings, was a total wash. They gave us 30 off the bill but 100 for some calamari, a few sliced of bacon, and a steak which was sub outback level did not warrant such a high price tag. Dine at your own risk, maybe you might enjoy strangers germs on your food. read more

Server was nice! My pork chop was very good but I was disappointed it didn't come with any sides at all! My boyfriends salmon had veggies that looked a tad overdone. We sat for quite some time waiting for an additional member of our party and waited until just about last call to place our food orders! They were extremely patient with us. Owner was out and about. Drinks were beautiful. Outside patio is heated from the ceiling and was not too bad on a 46 degree November night. It was mildly windy but not too bad and our party of 8 sat out there for about 3 hours! read more

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - Entryway - Steakhouses Near Me - Wethersfield, Connecticut

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Road trip to River Restaurant in Wethersfield, Connecticut for Brunch. It was definitely worth the trip. You have to walk through an office building and the restaurant is located in the rear. The Decor was awesome a very relaxing vibe inside and outside. We chose outside seating so we can enjoy the River view. We started with cocktails - sex on the river and some like it hot. The sex on the river was a little too sweet for me but it was a really good mixture. The some like it hot was an awesome drink. The peppers gave it a nice flavor. For brunch we ordered the Glastonbury and the River's Pat La Frieda Burger. Both items were really good with great presentation. The waffles were made with a batter that had a nice flavor to it and of course the burger was on point. The wait staff was very attentive, and the service was really good. This was a great restaurant to visit on a Sunday afternoon. read more

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I actually had to wait to review this because it bothered me so much and I haven't been back. I really hate to give any restaurant a bad review, BUT, this is no fault of the chef... I made reservations for Mother's Day Brunch for my father's wife and myself. We were sat at the base of the stairs so everyone had to basically brush by us with their plates of food coming down the stairs. I asked when the Momosas were coming out, every restaurant gives you either an orange juice or a Momosa, especially if you're spending $60 pp, Right? NOPE! I did ask to move, the hostess said there were no more seating at the moment. I saw plenty of 2 tops. Then they made me feel like I was like I couldn't afford a Momosa for us. Don't judge me! You don't know me. I left a review on their website also. It has been a whole year and I won't go back. The food is good, Just don't go on a Father's /Mother's day. read more

We tried the prix fixe dinner that started tonight. Everyone was happy with their choices. The bread was delicious..served with butter or dipping oil. Our starters were lobster bisque, clam chowder and French onion soup. The chowder was the hit . Entrees were homemade pasta with chicken parm, rigatoni with bolognese and cod over risotto . Again everyone enjoyed their choices. The desserts included a big slice of blueberry cheesecake , and bowl of rice pudding. The chocolate cake was presented in a bowl and served hot. This was unexpected and not the highlight of the meal. Our waitress Jen was lovely and attentive and we were greeted by a very friendly hostess named Kate. It was a lovely night to dine outside by the scenic river. They have heaters which were not needed but provided warmth. For $36 if you come from 4-6 it was well worth the visit. read more

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I came here for my birthday dinner with family. We requested to sit outside because the view of the Connecticut river is lovely. We started off with drinks- I ordered the Giggle Juice Pink Sangria. It was dark red, not pink, but tasted delicious. Another in my party ordered the Captain's Orders and seemed pleased. Baskets of crunchy fresh little loaves of bread were brought to the table with herb infused oil. We all really enjoyed this! The app of Traditional calamari was enjoyed by others at the table. I don't eat seafood. Luckily they had one vegetarian entree option- the eggplant tower. It had 2 slices of fried eggplant with a beefsteak tomato between them. I thought the tomato would be lightly grilled but it appeared to be over cooked and without flavor. The linguini Alfredo was decent. Others at the table ordered the Seafood Linguini. This was a big portion of assorted seafood with linguini. I heard no complaints! Our server was a sweetheart. She was very attentive and offered suggestions even though she said she was fairly new. The manager checked on us during our meal as well. Unfortunately it started to get windy and rain hard. We had to move our party of 6 inside. Luckily we had finished our entrees before the rain hit so we ate our desserts inside. They were kind enough to bring me a chocolate peanut butter cake on a decorated plate. Nice touch! We also ordered the sorbet flight. This was odd- it came on a flight board for 4 items but there were only 3 sorbets. They didn't fit into the cut outs so they slid around on the board. Overall, this was a very nice experience. I don't think I will return for dinner since they only had that one vegetarian option, but I would like to come back for a weekend brunch sometime. read more

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I went there with my sister to have a sisterly dinner and the first thing was that they were unwilling to accommodate some of the menu like for example she didn't want a certain topping on the pizza and they said they couldn't do that. "The pizza came as it was" Then we looked to our right, and, the gentleman who was preparing what looked like to me from where I was seated a wrap. But before finishing the wrap The" chef" stopped to floss his teeth in the kitchen area that customers could clearly see, he then threw away the floss in the garbage right in the kitchen and proceeded to spit in the hand sink and finished wrapping the wrap that he was making without washing his hands. I guess because he had black gloves on he didn't think to take them off and wash his hands. Smh! I was appalled and advised the waitress of what we saw and we immediately left so that's why I'm giving them a two and not a zero because we never were able to experience their food. I wish I had taken a picture of this situation or of the person, but I was so in shock and disgusted that I just up and left. Positives we were seated quickly, and the view of the water was beautiful. read more

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - Menu - Steakhouses Near Me - Wethersfield, Connecticut

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We are here for Thanksgiving and it was amazing. The servers were all great and the owner even came over to the table. The chef made artful displays of the food and their in house pastry chef made delicious desserts! The views of the River are also great. read more

So we went back again. This time with another couple. So the view: still great. The short ribs:still great. The seafood linguine great. The prices:still on the high side. The fish and chips: bad. Greasy on top of greasy. Wish I had ordered something different. read more

River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - The wife's short ribs. - Steakhouses Near Me - Wethersfield, Connecticut

We came her New Year's Eve for a comedy show, booked tickets online, the day of received a call to arrive early as the buffet included in the show ends when the show starts. On arrival we were surprised to enter into a literal office building parking and enter into an office building. They had a hostess that gave out wristbands for the buffet but only after we waited in the lobby for setup of the buffet. Then you seat yourself for the show. The buffet was weird examples would be penne ala vodka with long strips of vegetables in it. And meatballs that were taco meat meatballs. The bar had no ipa options and this didn't affect us but others were grumbly. I did ask for crown and ginger for my husband no crown royal either. The comedy show was stellar. read more

We stopped by the River for a small dinner and a drink the day before the July 4th holiday. At first. We were not going to be able to be seated, due to short staffing, but the manager and owner made sure that we were able to have our dinner. What a lovely dinner it was! I love being able to sit by the River. The restaurant itself is beautiful inside and out. Perfect for a date night as it is dimly lit inside. Beautiful ambiance! I ordered the Salmon and Risotto with veggies. It was absolutely perfect. My friends got a steak and a pasta dish. The evening was enjoyed by all! Make sure to make a reservation before you go to secure your table. read more

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Not bad. Great atmosphere, quiet yet not silent on the patio. Storm rolled in allowing for an intimate setting on the covered porch. This was tasty. Only problem was the "shrimp bruschetta". This was shrimp toast. Tasty in its own right, but not expected according to the name. Everything else was flawless, including a more toasty calamari with red peppers fired to a strong crunch. Service was consistent, drinks never remained empty for long, and food came at a pace appropriate so not rushed, but surely not looking for the waiter. read more

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Unfortunately, not a positive experience. Food was below average and service was average at best. Beautiful view of the Connecticut River- nice spot for a beer or glass of wine. Would not recommend the food. read more