The Charles…read more Delicious food and a great atmosphere in beautiful Old Wethersfield We love the vibe here!

Food: 3.8/5 Service: 3.4/5…read moreAmbiance: 3.7/5 Value: 3.6/5 The Charles is a nice upscale restaurant on Main Street in Wethersfield which opened in 2020 and quickly made Connecticut magazine's list of best restaurants. It is inside an old house of some sort, so it has a charming ambiance. They have a small parking lot so the spaces are a bit tight. Then, although we were on time for our 8:15pm reservation, we found out that they didn't have a table for us on the main floor, which is bad because my parents have mobility issues and cannot climb stairs. They asked us if we would be ok waiting five or ten minutes. Sure, that was fine we said. The host was very reassuring and he let us know that the corner table near the fireplace was finishing up and he'd get it bussed promptly. So that was good. But after we sat down we experienced service issues. Many items were unavailable. No orrechiete. No crab cakes. No sirloin special. It was weird. We hadn't arrived that late, on a Saturday night, how could so many dishes be sold out/unavailable? We ended up going with the scotch egg $11 and butternut squash arancini balls $12 for appetizers, which were both great. The scotch egg was a decent size and came with a mini salad. The arancini balls were small, but the truffle gorgonzola fontina cheese filling was really nice. Entrees were not bad. My Berkshire pork chop cooked medium was tender enough and had decent flavor. My Dad's veal ribs over mac and cheese were really good. My Mom's wagyu burger was tasty and my sister's salad was satisfactory. However the cost of the additional protein to the salad seems high (Grilled Chicken +14 / Seared Salmon +16/ Grilled Shrimp +21 / Churrasco Steak +24). The drinks were well made, but took a while to get to us. The "Charles... In Charge!" with old forester bourbon, montenegro, spiced cherry bitters, luxardo $15 was a hit. My Dad enjoyed his $17 Manhattan made with Angel's Envy bourbon. My $11 FreeBird mocktail was refreshing. Yet, throughout the night we found it difficult to get our server's attention. All four dishes did not arrive simultaneously. We had to flag someone down for more silverware after the appetizers were cleared. Right at the end when we were ready to pay, she got tied up listening to a couple at a neighboring table tell her a story or something. This must have been quite a yarn because she was totally enrapt and oblivious to our needs. We started wondering whether our table was actually her responsibility or not. Finally she came by and we let her know we were done, no dessert or after dinner drinks, just the check and a few boxes for takeout please. This was a new restaurant that we hadn't tried before, and maybe I took a risk by booking it for my Dad's 89th birthday, which was supposed to be special. Our experience was okay, and maybe we'd go again in the future, but there were too many more ups and downs this evening than I would have liked for a special occasion. I am rounding up to four stars overall, even though on this particular evening I didn't think each individual component met that mark exactly.

Decided to check out this location. I've been to the Big E and to running events around town and…read morehave gotten to eat small portions of Bears food, specifically the Mac and cheese with pulled pork, and I love it. Checking out this location was pretty cool. The restaurant is really well decorated and comfortable. Great bar too and staff. I was recommended to doing a trio platter so that I can get a little of multiple options to try so that's what I did. I got the Texas sausages, brisket and ribs with a side of Broccoli salad and Mac and cheese. Sausages were awesome. Mac and cheese was good, and the broccoli salad was fantastic. I almost ordered another portion. The meats however were very dry, which was disappointing, but I just ate as much as I could (I was stuffed.) When I finished I got asked how it was and provided my honest response, without expecting anything in return. I did choose to eat my food anyway after all. Still the manager came out and apologized and quickly provided me another portion of ribs and brisket to-go which looked much less dry. It was surprising and not necessary, but I was very grateful and the leftovers were delicious.

I was really looking to trying this spot out for the first time, but it was pretty underwhelming…read more The style of the venue was fitting, but I didn't realize it was cafeteria style. I felt like it took away from what the experience should have been for $50 dollars worth of food. I got the ribs, brisket, mac and cheese, broccoli salad and the smoked wings. Ribs were top tier and I wish I just got a half rack of them as the brisket was dry and flavorless. Had to have it smothered in the BBQ sauce to have it taste like anything. The sauce was amazing but good meat shouldn't need a ton of sauce. Mac and Cheese was so bland we needed to add salt to it. Smoked chicken wings were above average but nothing I would be running back for and didn't have a strong smoky flavor. There are better options out there for a kick as wing. For the price, I was expecting to have my socks blown off and that did not happen. Better smokehouse places in CT that knock it out of the park with flavorful sides and meats.

I'm back! The restaurant is located on 389 Main St. in East Hartford, CT. It's been a few months…read moresince I was last here (December) which is a crime. Carmine's is a fresh from scratch kitchen that is ALWAYS open. Their appetizers, pastas, entrees and desserts combine old-world traditional Italian flavor with a modern flair for presentation, and the freshest ingredients around. Menu staples like rigatoni bolognese, fettuccine carbonara and chicken Milanese are coupled with unique recipes like chicken ala vodka and toasted almond cake. They've staffed the kitchen with a dream team of chefs and you can tell instantly! They also do parties, catering and online ordering/delivery. The restaurant is well known for its live music. There is never a cover and parking is always free. This place and produces absolutely amazing food and drinks. I have noticed quite a few menu changes. The Happy Hour menu has expanded. It's also no longer all day Monday. The main menu no longer has prices on featured drinks (although that's the tre d these days). Note that the Bar Bites menu is available open to close! The Main Menu looks the same although there is a new Wine List (that's a first here). The music is very pleasant and the right volume level. It's always a big cool in here too. For my first drink, I'm having a Pratt N Whiskey. This is made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, sweet vermouth, red wine and sour mix. It's definitely an unusual drink. It's not garnished, but it tastes great. The wine sticks out for sure. It's clearly a shaken drink not often found with a whiskey component except for maybe Whiskey Sours. For my first item, I'm having the House Salad made with spring mix, basil, tomatoes, julienned (thinly sliced) carrots, cucumbers and house red wine vinaigrette dressing. This is a big portion! I love this dressing! This tastes great! For my next item, I'm trying the Carmine's Secret Tenderloins. These are off of Carmine's "Secret Menu." They are pan seared, caramelized chicken tenderloins, made with wine, olive oil, cracked black pepper (dried black peppercorns broken into coarse, uneven pieces), kosher salt (a coarse, flaky salt named for its use in the Jewish koshering process of drawing blood from meat), shredded Parmesan and a very special "secret sauce." I'm curious as to what this sauce tastes like. Wow! Nice presentation! These are good! I love that sauce! There's a good crowd in here (20 people). Only one worker (bartender and server). She's damn good at what she does! For my next drink, I'm having a Connecticut Cosmo. This is made with Litchfield Vodka, Wild Moon Cranberry, Triple Sec and lime juice. This vodka is the Gold Medal Winner 2018 & 2019 at the New York International Spirits Competition. Silver Medal Winner at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition!Our Gluten-Free Batchers' Vodka is distilled from luscious corn grown during the beautiful summer months in Somers, CT. We distill 4 ¾ times and use a gravity-fed charcoal filter that takes 12 hours to filter 100 gallons. The longer the vodka sits on the charcoal, the more impurities are removed, which creates an incredibly smooth taste. Bottled at 80 proof. It is impeccably clean, slightly sweet, velvety smooth mouthfeel and sweet buttery overtones. It's smooth with a warm finish with subtle notes of sweet ripe corn at the end. I actually sat down next to the owner of the Distillery at a wine pairing dinner at Flemings in West Hartford about 7-8 years ago. This looks nice! Wow! This has great flavor! For my next item, I'm having the Rigatoni Matinara. Rigatoni is a large, tube-shaped pasta with ridges on the outside and straight-cut ends. Marinara sauce is a tomato sauce usually made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and onions. I don't eat pasta all that often. This will serve as my appetizer before I hit the main course. This is a BIG portion! It is very good! For my entree I'm having the Pan Seared Salmon which is "hand cut" salmon with zesty orange glaze served over mashed potatoes with seasonal vegetables (broccoli). Add LOTS of crushed red pepper. Nod that's "LOTS." This is spicy! My kinda spicy! The plate is nice and hot! I like the presentation. This tastes great! What a great meal here!

Random selection in my travels off Rt 84. Food was delicious and I happily stumbled on live music…read more Mixed crowd Cappuccino gelato truffle, JD tips over pasta and 1/2 Caesar salad

This place is incredible! We had brunch on a Sunday morning while traveling with a large group…read more(20+) and they accommodated us easily. Friendly and helpful staff, great food with a good selection for different palates, fabulous presentation and attention to detail on all of their plates. The restaurant is broken up in a few smaller rooms so each one feels a little more cozy and it doesn't turn into one big echo chamber. The only thing they are missing are typical brunch alcohol-based drinks (Bloody Mary, Mimosas, etc). Would definitely come back if we're in the area again.

Food didn't disappoint!!! Service was good…read more It's a great place I will come back when I'm in town

All pre-packaged. 3 hard-boiled eggs, an Okio yogurt and a regular coffee = $20…read more Employee was nice and professional.

I should have read the reviews but the weather kept me at this 'restaurant'. The lone server was…read morenot only crass having been bothered with a question, but all around miserable. NOTHING is fresh. The food is frozen and heated in this industrial convection oven. When she "checked" on me about the 3 bites of the omelette I said it was gross - Mamaw wanted to jump over the table in 75 year old attack mode. I was not mentally ready for full on WWE - then when I asked for a refund, one would have thought I kicked her feral cat. WALK TF AWAY

Sunday brunch was great! The DJ (Shawn (sp)) amazing! The vibe was everything! The food delicious!…read moreQiyaa amazing bartender super friendly and made fabulous drinks! The do bottomless mimosas for $25 but they are premade so initially I opted for that but the pitchers can sit around so bubbles get flat. I ended up just purchasing a bottle of the Wycliff and it' has a screw top so you can take it home if you don't finish. Honestly it was only $5 more than bottomless, you can poor it yourself and they can provide a side of juice if needed. I personally think it's better than doing the bottomless. Will come again!

Great food & drinks - best buffalo cauliflower I've tried. We sat and ate lunch at the bar on a…read moreSaturday afternoon. Bar tender was very nice and attentive.

I ordered a fried chicken sandwich with Parmesan fries through DoorDash. The sandwich was pretty…read moregood--the chicken was crispy with a nice hint of spice, and the chipotle aioli had a great kick. But they forgot the avocado, which was a major disappointment since it's listed as one of the main ingredients. The Parmesan fries didn't hold up. They were soggy and lacked that bold Parmesan flavor I was expecting--not nearly enough cheese, and overall just underwhelming. Delivery was on time, so props there, but the accuracy and quality missed the mark. I've been to Wood-N-Tap in person before and really liked the vibe--fun, welcoming, and upbeat. That's why this delivery experience was a bit of a letdown. Three stars for decent flavor and past good experiences, but I expected better consistency--even with takeout.

I love this Hartford location - it has parking! There's a lot across from the building, and…read moreauxiliary parking across the street next to an apartment building. There's also pickup parking next to the restaurant for take out and delivery drivers. You can make reservations online. Inside there are a combination of tables and booths. I went during their St. Patrick's day menu, which was very good! They had house-made Irish cream that I wish they would bottle. The corned beef and cabbage was a little overly cinnamoned, but otherwise very tasty. The baked potato soup was tasty with lots of ingredients inside. The staff were very nice and friendly. If you made a reservation just be clear about the time and number of people it's for, otherwise it may cause confusion and a call during dinner asking where you are! :⁠-⁠)

Like a moth drawn to the light, I was attracted to this restaurant walking by. I love an upscale…read morevibe - and a restaurant that takes care to craft a comfortable atmosphere usually means my patronage will mean an evening spent well, and this place delivered! Most notably, the food was especially delicious and full of flavor and texture, albeit salt being a bit heavy on the pallet, but not overbearing so. Good date night location!

I've been wanting to get up here to dine and it only seemed fitting to start the New Year off right…read morewith Union Kitchen's fried chicken and champagne brunch. New Year's Eve dinners/New Year's day brunch specials, in my experiences, have always been a cash grab by restaurants where you would get a decent meal but always leave hungry or the opposite where the price was super extravagant yet food was mediocre at best. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE!!! Food was amazing. Chicken was spiced and fried to perfection. Crunchy without being greasy. I refuse to eat fried chicken in public yet almost human eating this with people around. Juicy meat, 4 piece of half breast, wing, thigh and drummy all meaty. Sides of picked pepper mac&cheese and Cole slaw. My wife tore into that coleslaw like her life depended on it and was everything she's been looking for in a slaw Breakfast burrito was packed full of goodness, substantial. Side of potatoes which could've been a meal in of itself. $19 and well worth it. Brought half home for breakfast the next day. All in all, not only was their value in the prices offered throughout the menu, the food is incredible. Service was amazing. Our server was attentive without being intrusive, good eye for when we needed something without us having to ask. Perfect start to the new year and aching to come back for dinner. It was worth staying home NYE and falling asleep early in order to be fresh and ready for this dining experience.

This spot has five stars so I wanted to join in on singing their praises!…read more I first noticed Alebrijes on a walk around the neighborhood because of their brightly colored sign. Inside follows suit with colorful booths and Mexican ponchos and tapestries on the walls. Service is super friendly and quick! I got the steak tacos, and the meat was very juicy and tender. The onions and cilantro refresh and since I ordered the homemade tortillas, they were amazing. I'll be back!

Alebrijes is a new, Mexican fusion restaurant on Maple Ave in the Hartford South End still in its…read more"Grand Opening" phase. The artistic and colorful sign caught my eye when I recently drove by. Given the attention paid to aesthetics of the sign, I figured they might successfully execute the food on a similar level. They do. The inside of Alebrijes started on the modest side, but was loved into something more special. The accent pieces include Oaxacan animal folk art adorned seat ends, vibrant streamers, wall hangings, traditional sombreros, etc. What could have been a brief stopping off point for quality takeout, is an inviting dining area where multiple tables of people were eating lunch. The menu includes both Mexican and American food, and food inspired to varying degrees by both. They're open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast includes orders such as burritos, French Toast, chorizo hash and breakfast sandwiches. Lunch and dinner offerings include tacos, burritos, fajitas, tortas, more elaborate entrees, and dishes that are outside my vocabulary. I ordered the "Memelas", with pork pastor. New word for me. A memela is a thin cake made of masa and then fried. In Alebrijes's version, it presented as a heartier soft corn tortilla taco. It was topped with the pastor (including pineapple pieces), shredded cabbage, queso fresco, refried beans, "pork spread", cilantro, onions and "guacamole sauce". It's served with your choice of red salsa or green salsa, which of course means I ordered both. The Memelas were very good and I would definitely order them again. The pork was tasty and had good texture. The other toppings were on point. The salsas were terrific. Getting salsa to such a dense rich red, must require knowledge, skill and ingredients beyond me. The salsa verde was very good too. I also ordered a side of chorizo hash. One of the best hash's I've had in a while, although it presented more like seasoned home fries with fresh sautéed green peppers and onions, and delicious chorizo. Alebrijes may be a bit off your normal path, but it's well worth finding. Alebrijes deserves to be found. 4.5 Stars

New spot in Hartford and it's right off the highway with a great little patio. The server was…read moreattentive funny and friendly. The prices are great and the food is authentic Puerto Rican food. Very delicious! They also have great bar food. The wings are my fave. Can't wait to go back.

Delicious food, great hospitality. I had the lunch special with fried pork, plantains, and rice…read moreand beans. You better believe I ate every bean and every grain of rice. And I was treated very well.