We celebrated our first anniversary here and had a truly magical evening. The ambiance, food, and…read moreservice were exceptional, making it a wonderful place to mark such a special occasion. We both started off with mocktails, and they were exceptional. Unbelievable taste - light and delicious. My compliments to the bar master. We chose the six-course tasting menu, and every dish impressed us. Our favorite was the Carmelle pasta filled with sweet corn and topped with truffle--an unforgettable highlight. The staff seemed delighted to introduce each dish on the tasting menu, and were extremely attentive and professional. We're so happy Hartford has a restaurant like this. Thank you for making our first anniversary so memorable!

Honestly, the meal felt like I was being edged. Everything was close, flavor wise, but just needed…read moresomething. We got hamachi crudo and I don't know if the supplier of fruit is in cahoots with la Croix but I've never had a slice of citrus taste so bland. The dish was in desperate need of some acidity. Foie was great, I think the only plate aside from the halibut that didn't need any tweaking. We also got the pour over and over as our first drink -- I am fascinated how a cocktail can be both an espresso martini and not at the same time. I wanted to love it, then I saw it and wanted to hate it - then was left feeling perplexed and intrigued by the experience. I think that's a good way to describe the evening, perplexing and intriguing and I'm not sure how to feel but I do not think I will be back for anything other than cocktails because it is frankly a waste of time and money. The place itself is pretty and very Instagramable. The service was fine. You have to put in your entire order at once because that's what the chef prefers which feels a tad pretentious to me -- kind of the vibe of the whole place. Two key words as a takeaway: overpriced and underwhelming.

BEAUTIFUL! inside and out love the atmosphere and the workers are so kind. would definitely…read morerecommend

Food was excellent Service was impeccable…read more Drinks were delicious Great night out supporting a wonderful mission

Finally got a chance to try this place with guest chef Ro in the house and delivering something…read morespecial. We started with what the ground remembered: a salad with heirloom tomatoes and bing cherries with whipped ricotta and it had that sweet tango was that you didn't know you crave. The Smoke and Soil dish of lamb chops with mojo rojo and fried potatoes was also excellent with the lamb tender and flavorful. We had other dishes from creations of prior chefs which were also top shelf. The best of all is that this helps to support the community with all the services Hands On Hartford offers. Just a winning combination: great food for a cause. You can't go wrong.

Excellent award winning chef selections.. tonight was Chef…read moreRoshara Sandra of the CIA.. The fresh tomato and bing cherry salad was amazing. Followed by the perfectly prepared Lamb Chops in Mojo Rojo . And finished with a spice rum carrot cake..

First time at The Laurel, and honestly, I am lost for words trying to describe how amazing the food…read moretasted. OMG, the place is so cute and cozy, and the espresso martini was so good. The potato flautas and crème brûlée were definitely my favorites. I wanted to go in during brunch, called the restaurant to check if they serve potato flautas during brunch, looks like you can only get them during dinner. We were a group of 4, and our server, Soley, was incredibly kind and helpful. She suggested a few vegan options for us, and everything we tried was absolutely delicious. Such a lovely experience all around. Can't wait to come back and try more! Thank you to all the amazing chefs who takes time to come up with these kinds of scrumptious recipes

Three stars for a night with real highs and lows. The staff was fantastic. We were driving in from…read more90 minutes away on a Friday and hit traffic, and when I called ahead they happily moved our reservation time to accommodate us. It was greatly appreciated because we were so excited to eat here. We went with a variety the small share plates. The spicy Caesar was one of the *best* I've had, crunchy with what I think was kale mixed in for structure. Highly recommend. The vegan empanadas were also great, smoky filling with a good chewy texture (my husband wasn't as into them, but that's just preference). The rest didn't land for us. The Cubano focaccia special tasted more like a deconstructed corned beef sandwich than an actual Cubano, and as someone who grew up near a huge Cuban population, I know the difference. The shrimp and grits went almost untouched, the prawns were mushy and stringy and the grits texture was off. Dessert was a duck egg flan with a cherry brandy syrup that didn't work for us, the flan was dense and firm, closer to cheesecake than the creamy custard we expected. Drinks were good, I had a glass of Rioja and a glass of tawny port. The service alone makes me want to give this place another shot, but this visit was a mixed bag.

Went for happy hour drinks - unfortunately they cancelled happy hour for the Rodrigo concert…read more The food we got was great and everyone was happy with our appetizer of the whipped ricotta with squash and bread. We had to order the pear sangria 3x it was so good! Tasted like an apple pie, the photo doesn't do it justice. I wish we had sat at one of the cozy booths, the bar was very nice as well. The other menu items looked great, especially the steak and burgers, cant wait to be back.

I honestly do not know why this place is not busier because the food is very good. The drinks are…read moregood too, but my favorite thing here is honestly the guacamole. I first tried the guacamole at Hartford Taste, and now I stop by just to get it. It is that good. I also really enjoyed the pad Thai, which was gluten-free and not too sweet. That is always a win for me because sometimes pad Thai can lean too sweet. Overall, Trumbull Kitchen is a solid spot with good food, good drinks, the service can be a tad slow initially but it speeds up. I will definitely keep coming back.

I dropped in, and to my pleasant SURPRISE, a beautiful renovation was underway! The space is open,…read morewith high ceilings, an airy feel, and a modern aesthetic. It's FIRE!!! (as the kids say) It was crowded despite being early evening. The only available seats were at the bar area near the windows, which was fine because we were determined to experience the "new" place. We ordered the tuna tartare and lobstah rolls. The accompanying chips are homemade (slightly salty, but my taste buds are really close together). The host was attentive and gave us the royal treatment. We put this gem back on rotation and we are definitely returning!!!

I love everything here!!!! The food, the drinks, the staff, the ambiance, all amazing here :)read more

This is a very unassuming place when walking in, not knowing you are going to be kicked in your…read moreculinary taste buds. This food was probably some of the best that I've put on my tongue. If you get a chance to try this farm to table joint out, please do and thank me later.

We have been here numerous times and have had a good experience every time. The food is excellent,…read morefresh and interesting. There's always something we are excited to check out when we haven't been in a while. The restaurant is both nice enough that you feel really good bringing your out of town friends here to try and impress while also being low-key enough for a simple date night with your significant other. They have a few non-alcoholic drink options. As someone who's living the sober lifestyle, it's always nice to see that. The restaurant is well managed and well maintained. Always clean, servers seem invested. It doesn't hurt to make a reservation if you're coming on a Friday or weekend night. Chicken is the star of the show here, and we almost always order that with some of the ala carte sides, but my wife also likes to grab something else off the menu and I'll usually sneak a bite. We've never had anything that fell below expectations.

We have been coming here for years and the experience is always memorable! Their pizza dough is…read morefermented and the oven leaves the crust fluffy and delish. The menu is always revolving so each visit has something new to try. The outdoor seating is wonderfully set next to a stream and waterfall and the dining room is accented with reclaimed wood and barrels to add to the rustic atmosphere. Our mixed drinks and wine came out quick and were delish! The staff are always warm and have excellent knowledge of the menu. Be sure to make a reservation because seats go quickly! We'll be back!

Delicious HH espresso martini and burger/pizza! Pizza is a very fresh, fluffy round disc of bread…read morewith cheese/pepperoni all in the middle. Upset bc floor all sticky and I'm sticking everywhere. Ugh!

Mother's Day dinner with the family! There were 5 of us…read moreand it was great! We ordered Shrimp cocktails Caesar Salad Complimentary warm salted rolls Three ordered the filet mignon One ordered the Filet Oscar One NY strip We ordered sides to share and try French fries Onion rings Creamed spinach Brussels sprouts Whipped potatoes Asparagus The steaks were the most tender I've ever had The sides were all very good Dessert Cookie plate. ( meh) Baked Alaska. Really good Valet parking makes it nice and easy Being Mother's Day we appreciated not being rushed and kudos to the kitchen. Once our order was in it went right along smoothly. All steaks were cooked to order. In addition, the turnaround for the bar was not bad for it being a full house. We enjoyed our dinner at this iconic landmark and of course will be back.

I really enjoyed my experience at Max Kitchen. I had the shrimp dish for my entree and our table of…read more5 shared the baked Alaska for dessert. The coconut flakes on the rice added just the right amount of flavor with the shrimp and the baked Alaska was sweet but so delicious. Our food took quite a while to arrive, but Eddie, our server, provided wonderful service and kept the drinks coming and our water refilled. They had run out of bread, so we teased him about it, when a fresh batch finally finished baking, he packed some for us to take home.

I had an incredible first lunch at The Charles. I have wanted to go for years, and I have been…read morespecifically eyeing their fish & chips as of late. There wasn't any question going in what I would order. The hostess started things off perfectly and was exceptionally welcoming, setting a relaxing and comfy tone right away. The building has lots of charm. The dining room was beautifully and warmly decorated. They allow the character of the old house to shine. As for the much anticipated fish and chips, they were extremely well executed, and even more delicious. The fries were great, just fairly standard. The other components shined a lot brighter, for example the inclusion of minted peas was extraordinary. The "kitchen sink" remoulade in place of tartar sauce had to be darn good to make up for the omission of the classic, and it was. The coleslaw was also exceptional, creamy but still light. The fish of choice was a cod loin. That was the game changer. I find loin vs filet to make a world of difference. It stays far more moist, has more flavor, and has a much more pleasant texture for me. The breading was light and delicate, too. Every aspect of my experience at The Charles was excellent. I'm extremely anxious to go back. I have heard great things about their salads and appetizers, and they have a beautiful tented front lawn for outdoor dining in the summer I would like to try. Highly, highly recommend a visit. I would say it was one of the busier lunch services I've encountered recently on a weekday, so keep that in mind.

Absolutely divine…read more It has been so long since I've been able to have a crab cake that's gluten free, but at The Charles, their crab cakes are gluten free and lovely. But first, walking into The Charles is a step back into time yet still fresh and intentional. Plenty to look at all around the restaurant. The layout of even the bar is nice with seats by the windows and plenty of TVs playing the games without being disruptive. The building is gorgeous, well kept, and I can see how this restaurant gets packed quickly! But back to the gluten free crab cake. I would have loved some slightly larger chunks of crab, it was the crispy texture on the outside and soft inside that made my heart melt. The cakes sat lightly on an aioli and beside some greens, and each bit was delectable and delicious. Lovely appetizer. I also have the octopus basquaise, and I loved it. The potatoes needed just a smidge more seasoning and were sitting in oil, but I cared not, because it was an oil with Kalamata olives and tart, and how lovely it all was together. The octopus was nicely cooked and tender and not greasy. The potatoes were a lovely vessel, and the aioli was not too overpowering. A delicious fish overall. The service was great, friendly, and you can tell they love their regulars. Everyone was on the move at all times and overall very efficient and kind. Tons of gluten free dishes naturally. I loved coming to The Charles and look forward to coming back later this week to try their actual dishes. But if the entrees are even close to as good as the appetizers, I'm sure it will all be delicious!