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    Outdoor seating
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    Recommended Reviews - The Laurel

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    French toast sticks with Ube
    Tiffany G.

    I'm glad I gave this place a second chance before writing my review. Our first visit was for dinner and while things were good, I did not love it. But it wasn't their fault, I didn't realize that there were olives (in some form or another) pretty much in every single dish I ordered and I don't love olives. As in, whatever I saw, say fish or duck with something I wanted, so I just ordered it without reading the fine details of what were in the dish. So that was my fault, I am sure they would have either suggested things without olives, or told me what things the olives could've been removed from. I knew the service was good and the food was beautifully plated, I just didn't love the things we ordered that time. I saw a post on Instagram that they had a French toast with Ube sauce and I knew I needed to go! I fell in love with Ube in Seattle a couple of years ago and now anytime I see it near me, I have to go get it. I saw the post on a Saturday morning and jumped online and made a brunch reservation for 11:45 the same day! Everything we had was fantastic, rather than wanting a basic sausage or bacon to go with the French toast sticks. I ordered the Bella Bella wings as my protein to go with my Ube French toast, and they were fantastic. I also had to start with the watermelon Crudo, which was interesting, the flavors were excellent, but the texture of the watermelon did not resemble watermelon so it could throw you off if you're not at least a mildly adventurous eater. My husband had the prawn and grits and said it was fabulous and that he would order it again. I did not try it because the portion is not that big and the French toast was filling me up so I let him enjoy his own meal, and did share a couple wings with him and he agreed they were really good. The service was great again, and as simple as it sounds, I loved how when we were seated the hostess asked what kind of water we wanted, we did not have to wait for any period of time for a server to come over and ask us. The attention is in the details and that is always important. The cocktails were great, though a little pricey, which is on par for things in CT. We enjoyed them both at brunch and on our first dinner visit. We will be back, and I actually already prepaid for a dinner experience coming up with Filipino food and I'm excited for it! I have friends that went to the first one and said it was epic! So, while we usually go to brunch only if there are bottomless mimosas, this is one exception that will stay in our rotation! The restaurant is cute, intimate and clean.

    frank z.

    Went out to celebrate my birthday. The Laurel absolutely delivered. The kitchen started us off with a complimentary Watermelon Crudo...the exact dish I had almost ordered. Thinly sliced marinated watermelon over tahini green goddess with chili crunch and sesame seeds. Bright, refreshing, tangy, with just enough heat on the finish. A surprisingly delicious combination. The Brussels sprouts were loaded with flavor. Crispy sprouts, pretzel crumble, kielbasa, mustard vinaigrette, and whipped crème fraîche created the perfect mix of smoky, creamy, salty, and crunchy. The Picnic Chicken was comfort food with a creative twist. Pickle-brined drumsticks over smoky baked beans and fresh slaw. Every bite tasted like summer. All it needed was a wicker basket and a checkered blanket. The special Liempo was phenomenal. Tender Berkshire pork belly with a savory calamansi-soy marinade, crispy shallots, and herbs. Rich, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The Wagyu Beef Skewers were another winner. Tender souvlaki-style beef paired with whipped feta and an olive and date salad that balanced salty, sweet, and briny flavors beautifully. Dessert was their Unbirthday Cake. A light, airy angel food cake layered with marshmallow meringue frosting and a sweet soak that kept everything moist without becoming overly sweet. A fun, nostalgic ending to a fantastic meal. I love restaurants that aren't afraid to borrow inspiration from different cultures while still respecting the flavors that make those dishes special. The Laurel does exactly that, and the execution backs it up. Excellent food. Outstanding service. Another birthday dinner that won't soon be forgotten. Highly recommend.

    Girl dinner.
    Jojo S.

    Went for "girl dinner" on a Thursday and it did NOT disappoint They have a special with a kale Caesar salad, fries, and an Aperol spritz for $25! (You can add chicken tenders for an upcharge $10) The drink can't be swapped for another alcoholic drink, but you can switch it for something non-alcoholic if you want. Everything was sooo well flavored. The kale Caesar? Literally to die for. I never take salad home because it gets soggy...but I ate it the next day and it was STILL so good and the croutons were somehow still crunchy The chicken tenders were amazing, the fries were perfection, and even though I'm not usually an Aperol spritz girl, I finished the whole drink 10/10 would go back for girl dinner

    Brûléed Cornbread
    J E.

    While staying in the Hartford area for work, I needed to find a decent restaurant that offered some vegan and vegetarian options. I chose The Laurel based on the great reviews, not knowing much more about this place. Upon arriving, the parking lot was packed. I also had a difficult time getting in when walking from the parking lot, which is behind the restaurant. The issue here (which is my only negative about the entire dining experience) is if I were with a person with disabilities (as I am at times) who doesn't walk fast and we walked to what we "thought" was the entrance, only to find a sign saying to use the front door, but no arrow as to where that is (and keep in mind, I don't know the area, this place, never been here before) and if it were raining - This would have been a horrible way to start the dinner. PLEASE post a sign on the door with an arrow showing which way to go. Also, the door says it's for disable folks, but it's locked. OK - My griping aside... Coming in, I was quickly greeted and seated. The staff here was GREAT! Very engaging and VERY helpful! The menu here is AMAZING! Good thing it's a joint that specializes in small plates and that I was part of a group of three, it gave us the ability to try a bunch of items; seven, in fact and that's not including dessert! The flavors from their vegetarian and vegan dishes were so darn good, you don't miss the meat! Everything was plated beautifully and perfectly! We also placed our entire order (not desserts) all at once and they brought them out as they were made, which worked perfectly with our timing too. They not only have a full bar here, they have a "craft cocktail" quality bar! Upon walking in, one of the first things I noticed was their yellow chartreuse! Of course, next to this was green. So, when I sat down I asked about it, and my server told me how they were able to get this and so I ordered a Last Word, which came out SPOT-ON PERFECT! When it came to the food, some favs of ours - Their Watermelon Crudo - This looked and had the texture of tuna - AMAZING!! The Vegan Empanadas had amazing flavor and texture! I also liked their Stuffed Peppers - The "Samosa Potatoes" in them really hit nicely as well as the sauce on top. Save room for dessert, they have some great options here! We couldn't decide, so the 3 of us ordered 4! We tried their crème Brûlée, their Unbirthday cake, Tres Leches Tiramisu, and their Brûléed Cornbread. The Unbirthday cake was nice - reminded me of what it looks like, Funfetti! But their Brûléed Cornbread was AWESOME! Loved the crispy edges of the cornbread and the entirety of flavors. It wasn't until mid-meal that we really had a talk with our server about the amazingness of the food, the artfulness of it, as well as the attention to detail and creativity of the menu and that's when we learned that the chef here recently won an award for best chef in Connecticut! Well, now it's obvious - Why the parking lot was packed and why everything was so very good! Highly recommend stopping in - but make reservations!

    Archana P.

    Food was yummy ! Burger delicious Spicy Caesar, spicy! Choc cake decadent Chicken and stew yum! One concern is some of rhe sharing plates are less food and others are more ... Hard to estimate . Enjoyed going , and will go again !!

    Briar L.

    Food and service were impeccable, the espresso martini is the best I've had in the area. The place could use a little sound dampening but overall I love this local haunt,

    Wagyu skewers
    Jazz A.

    I finally got the chance to check out the new restaurant the laurel located where the old "corner pug" was located in west Hartford ! I had heard so many amazing things about, so I was super excited to visit ! To start off I ordered the maize runner cocktail which had this amazing apple cider foam in top and it was sooo good ! Highly recommend. Next we ordered the brussel sprouts which were very good ! Highly recommend . The waygu skewers were very tender and a little chewy but tasted fantastic . The sausage rolls cooked to perfection ! Highly recommend And finally the pasta which was very good however there were a lot of onions which I personally didn't like much . The dessert I think was my favourite ! The salted crème brûlée was to dye for ! So tasty ! And the Tiramisu très lèche cake was sooooo good ! Highly recommend both ! Overall the food was very flavourful and delicious the staff was so lovely ! The only issue we had was my husband had an upset stomach that night ! Overall I had a great time though !

    Lucuma, No Hands (Milk Clarified)
    Mark S.

    We went to the Laurel for our wedding Anniversary. The ambiance was elegant and laid back. The service was impeccable. Some drinks suggestions weren't great like the Lucuma No Hands I think the chili oil addition is only for certain pallets but I found it to be a little too spicy. The Haluski Pasta was memorable but needed to be mixed so the flavors meshed better. The Wagyu skewers and brussel sprouts were delicious and I would highly recommend (although the Wagyu was more like a NY strip). To top it off the salted caramel creme brulee was a hit!

    Sausage rolls
    Jackie S.

    I recently celebrated my 6th anniversary and our dinner at the Laurel met and exceeded my expectations for a wonderful date night dinner. I had eaten at this restaurant months ago and was happy to see how their menu rotates with the season and their local suppliers, with an eclectic menu of wonderful items. They also changed their cocktail menu around as well. My partner and I ordered 4 dishes-- the spicy caesar salad, the haluski pasta with duck bacon, sausage rolls and wagyu skewers. The spicy caesar was crunchy and delicious with a nice kick of chili crisp. The sausage rolls were tender on the inside, while nice and flaky on the outside with a really delicious horseradish sauce that balanced the richness well. The portion was rather small for the sausage roll but taste bites. The haluski pasta was very al dente and has a nice denseness to the pasta, the creamy oniony sauce was delicious and the duck bacon added nice texture and umami to this dish. The wagyu skewers were my boyfriend's favorite dish-- very tender, with delicious sauces we savored with every bite. We also ordered the luna llena cocktail and false alarm cocktails, from their extremely interesting and at times out there cocktail menu (of which there is a caprese-salad inspired cocktail). The luna llena was very smoky and tart, and the false alarm had a spiced quality to it that was very seasonally appropriate. The cocktails were nice, but pretty expensive, however very worth trying. At the end of our dinner, our waitress kindly congratulated us on our anniversary and brought over a card and surprised us with champagne. It was incredibly nice and made the dining experience extra special. We closed out the night with a salted caramel creme brulee, which was deliciously caramelized with a soft slightly salted custard inside. Overall another amazing dinner here with obvious care going into the menu, ambiance and service.

    Bar
    Agnes P.

    The Laurel and their amazing team were such a fantastic host! My best friend and I came over to celebrate our birthdays with a few drinks and shareable bites. There's a parking lot in the back to support the few businesses at that corner with an accessible handicap entry on the side while the front had a short few steps.l that faces the patio. We sat at the bar with high-stool chairs and were able to take advantage of the happy hour menu for the next 30-minutes after arrival. I enjoyed every dish we ordered! I got Gold Rush as a starter drink. It contained bourbon, lemon and honey. It was a sweet and lovely combination. I recommend this cocktail! Starting with chicken wings evenly coated with buffalo sauce that was not overly dripping. It was arranged and stacked like a set of dominoes on top of each other and garnished with beautifully sliced carrots, celery, and scallions that was tossed with dressing accompanied by a side of blue cheese. I love spice and probably quite accustomed to it so I could taste the kick of the buffalo wings without actually getting kicked by it. Even though celery is a regular accompaniment of this dish, the way it was served was unique! The colors also had a nice contrast making it quite attractive. Did the chef know what they're actually doing? Oh yes, I think so! We also asked for Hearts of Palm Ceviche. This is the first time I've had hearts of palm. It is very similar to an unripe jackfruit. The sweet potato chips that came with it is absolutely delicious! I can eat either of those two things daily! It was also topped with cilantro! I feel spoiled already! Ashely brought us their Spicy Melon Crudo and explained the whole plate to us which is supposed to be a watermelon marinated with gochujang topped with chili crisps, scallions, and I think mint leaves too. To tie in all the flavors, tahini green goddess dressing decorated the edge of the dish for a dance of flavors and not only for plating. This one is quite the delicacy! The Crab Tostada came shortly after and Ashley wished us to keep enjoying. This combination is an inspiration! The description says "marinated crab meat, nuoc cham, red curry crema, blue corn tortilla, sweet chili." I have to be honest that I was afraid to try this because I didn't know how the peppers were going to burn my tongue. Lol. It actually wasn't spicy at all. The corn tortilla remained crunchy despite the red curry crema sitting on top of it long before I made a bite into it. The crab was fresh and meaty while the fish sauce brought out a sweetness to this starter. The portions are well thought out. We then had the Wagyu Beef Skewers which is beef souvlaki with whipped feta. It was also mixed in with date and seed salad, and olives. Ahhh! It's so yummy! We were getting pretty full so we couldn't end the evening without dessert! Opting to share the Tres Leches Tiramisu, they also gave us the Unbirthday Cake. Thank you Ashley!! We both enjoyed your hospitality and cannot wait to come again! Thank you so much for the birthday cards as well! This will be a memory I will never forget!

    Margarita
    Devyn L.

    Talk about an incredible experience. Rarely does a restaurant so heavily raved about, that I have built up mammoth expectations for, meet the hype. The Laurel absolutely did. From the moment we entered (party of 2), we knew we had made an excellent choice. Extremely welcoming and comfortable, even having elected to sit at a bar table to enjoy their incredible happy hour. Super friendly, warm and helpful staff. We started with drinks, the gold rush and a margarita, both excellent. For food, we ordered the cornbread, the hand cut fries, the hearts of palm ceviche, and the spicy Caesar salad. What really stood out was how brilliantly composed each dish was. The cornbread had a nice crumb while still point, and the pepper jelly balanced nicely with the pimento butter. The fries were textbook and crisp, with two luscious and flavorful dipping sauces. The ceviche was a masterclass in what vegan cooking and food can be. It had a texture reminiscent of what you would find in a traditional seafood ceviche, as well as the citrus forward punch. I'm a Caesar salad lover, so the idea of a spicy Caesar with chili crunch sounded perfect to me. It absolutely was. All the flavors necessary to maintain its "Caesar" identity while being elevated to another level. We then decided to try the brown butter spaetzle off of the main menu. It was in a brodo with just enough richness while still being light, which was a welcome change from traditionally heavy spaetzle dishes. Incredibly flavorful. The basque cheesecake was highly recommended, so we were sure to end with that. It was heavenly. Best basque cheesecake i have had. It was not overly sweet while still staying firmly in the dessert realm. The elderberry and cherry sauce was the perfect counterpoint. Again, brilliant composition. The dishes were obviously carefully put together and thought out. I loved the space. Rarely am I that comfortable in a bar area. The entire space looked warm and inviting as well. I am very eager to return, especially with the amount of dishes they offer that I can eat being a pescatarian. Easily one of the best restaurant experiences I've had recently, and one of the finest spots in an area with no shortage of good places.

    French toast sticks and Cornbread and Gravy
    Alex V.

    The food was delicious and light. The atmosphere is very laid back and the decor is tastefully done. The service staff was attentive but not overbearing

    Vegan Empanadas (VG)   Plant based Argentinian empanada, chimichurri  'aioli', walnut (Photo by: Deanna Troy Travels)
    Deanna H.

    Wow! The Laurel is truly impressive. Located in what used to be an Irish Pub the brick interior gives a cozy vibe. The food is fancy and delicious! My husband is vegan and I'm vegetarian so we just ordered every vegan option they had and spilt them! Including their Vegan Empanadas, Sweet Potato Flautas, Hearts of Palm Ceviche and Vegan Chocolate Mouse. For dinner we spilt this vegan roasted chic pea and yellow squash that used to be on the menu in February 2026 but now is not. The service was kind and helpful. The Heart of Palm Ceviche was our favorite! The flavors were so popping and bright! Every dish was amazing! I have removed one star because the portions are small and the prices are high. Which is normal for a fancy restaurant. I wish for them to add another vegan dinner item to their menu soon!

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    Ask the Community - The Laurel

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    Babe Restaurant

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    Smoke Public House

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    (44 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    My expectations aren't super high, but I think the "ska club," "night at the Roxbury" music playing…read more that didn't fit the vibe might have something to do w/ it. There were 6 other people at the bar, a couple in the corner & a table if 6 behind me. The manager came out to talk to the couple in the corner about their experience, which is not a great sign, but we'll see. He saw that I was writing a review & never went back in the kitchen after that, unless it was for a brief moment. He involved himself in pouring drinks & barely left my side. He made small talk & I learned that he had been open for 4 years. It was difficult for me to eat, take pictures of the food or write the review with his constant engaging presence. He was pleasant & made sure to pick up the bartenders slack. For instance, a coaster under the drinks, offering me a glass, or putting down a placemats under the food or supplying silverware, none of which she did. I ordered a Modelo, but when she grabbed it out of the cooler, i saw that it was Especial not Negra, so i asked do you have the dark? She said no & w/ out hesitation opened it, not giving me a chance to ask for something different. Not a big deal, but she seemed indifferent & with no affect. None of this is a deal breaker, just an observation. The food, that was a deal breaker. I ordered the (smoked BBQ sandwich) & opted for the brisket. It came with a side & I chose onion rings. They were pre-salted, almost too much, but they were good. No complaints there. The sandwich however was impossible to eat. The meat was very tough & stringy. It was impossible to tear, bite or cut. The roll was soft, untoasted & soggy, causing it to fall apart making a mess. I gave up, turning to fork & knife to cut what resembled a tangled bunch of hair in both in taste & texture. There was something on the meat, but it was more of a marinade than BBQ as we know it. The same goes for the cheese. I did not see any caramelized onions, but there were two jalapeños. The owner asked how the meal was & I said eh. He said only ok? so I elaborated. He said he would relay the information to the kitchen & I thanked him. After that he never came back into the dining area until after I had left. I do feel bad writing this review because he was so overly involved in my experience & he was a nice gentleman that I would like to succeed, but I do not think I would want to return there after my experience with that sandwich, especially for the price. The meal alone was bad enough. Maybe a change in staff would help, unless they were related. I felt bad writing this review because the owner made it a point to be overly engaging with me once he saw that i was writing a review, but the better way to handle things is to make sure that you guest's experience is top notch. I felt like he tried to keep me engaged, so i wouldnt be rough on him, but it is supposed to be about the customers experience, not my empathy for the friendly owner. I wish him the best of luck.

    It wasn't wine that I had too much of It was a double shot…read moreof my baby's love" (The Swinging Medallions) We had a Double Shot of fun at Smoke last night when we enjoyed a Dumpling Making/Prosecco Tasting Experience followed by a terrific dinner. Shout out to Smoke's owner Rich who dreamed up the Dumpling/Prosecco Experience for a dozen regulars and social media followers. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by Rich and a small split of Maschio Prosecco. After all the participants arrived, Rich's wife Claire and Claire's mom (the star of the show) walked us through the process of making homemade dumplings. Claire and her mom made the simple dough using just two ingredients -water and all-purpose flour. We watched our instructors mix the dough, stretch and roll into a thin rope, snap it off into small chunks, squish it into a disk, use a mini-rolling pin to flatten it out into a small circle, fill it from a pre-made bowl of Ground Beef and Cabbage, then fold and pinch it into shape. Then our dozen attendees tried their hand at replicating all of those steps. Our mother and daughter team's dumplings looked as though they came off a 3D printer- just perfect and uniform. Mine looked like rejected factory seconds. The mother didn't speak English, but I had a blast watching and copying her little tricks on folding in the corners and squeezing the wrappers together. Once the dumplings were folded and squeezed together, they went into a pot of water, and we all enjoyed them before dinner. Dinner was a real pleasure. I loved the vibe at Smoke. If you want to cool it hip and chic I won't argue. I loved all the paintings on the wall. There is a large painting of a ghostly looking, red-lipped female blowing out a puff of smoke. I told Rich what a cool painting it was, and he modestly said he had painted it. So not only is Rich a fun and engaging personality, and a talented painter, but the food at his restaurant is great. Our friend ordered a $15 Spicy Smoked Philly Cheesesteak with American Cheese, Peppers, Onions on a Grinder Roll with fries. I sampled a small slice, and it was terrific, and yeah -it was spicy. My wife ordered a $11 Shrimp and Roasted Corn Bisque served with pita chips, She loved it. I ordered a $10 Smoked Beef Brisket Chili served with tortilla chips. It was a big portion, full of flavorful chunks of beef, and packed just enough heat to make it perfect to my taste. Smoke offers a Sunday Brunch from 11-3 and a Happy Hour Mon-Sat 4pm-7pm. Their pricing is excellent, the vibe is super fun, the food is delicious, and the service from Rich and his staff is excellent. What a fun evening!

    Photos
    The bar area
    The bar area
    Triple Chocolate Layer Cake
    Triple Chocolate Layer Cake
    Very small. Now I know why the parking lot could only handle 10 or so cars.. but that is what the street is for.

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    Very small. Now I know why the parking lot could only handle 10 or so cars.. but that is what the street is for.

    The Laurel - cocktailbars - Updated August 2026

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