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The Russell

3.1 (170 reviews)
Closed • 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

The Russell Photos

THE RUSSELL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
DJ
Casual
Trendy

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Shrimp & Grits
Deedee M.

I really hate to rate this restaurant so low because it has so much potential inside, but potential doesn't fill stomachs nor pay bills. For starters parking is atrocious. There are two parking lots directly next to location which require you to scan shady QR codes to Zelle someone to park. So we ended up driving around looking for street parking. I made a same day reservation, with no issues online. I ended up getting a call from restaurant to ensure we were coming to reservation although I had just made it 5 minutes prior. Upon walking in we were the first patrons, so i was confused on what the call was for. The inside gives very TikTok grass wall chic. Service is extremely slow and answering questions about menus isn't their particular forte I guess. I had to waive waiter down for to to boxes, water, to order, and to ask for the check. Mind you we drove so far out of our way to come and support this establishment, tragic to say the least. We were immediately seated and given some sort skimp and overpriced menus. I had inquired on which would be best out of curry goat or oxtails and I was told goat because there's no bones, which she came back later to clarify she meant minimal bones. But Unfortunately I ordered the "curry goat" and had nothing but bone and 5 tiny pieces of goat, I brought this to the managers attention and she brought me out a side of goat and apologized. The manager was working is the only reason for the extra star Passion "margerita" as it's spelled on menu 0/10 Me and my friend both sent back our drinks because it's taste as if the passion fruit was old, they took about 20 minutes to remake the drink. After the wait the drink taste the same but I didn't want to be one of those people who go complain so I just accepted defeat Sweet chili wings 6/10 Sauce was really good but wings were not cooked well done as we had requested, and their ranch tasted off. Serving size is 8 wings Curry goat cheese with rice & peas 1/10 Mainly bones until I brought it to managers attention, even after she brought out the side of goat I just packed the food up because it was not good. Everything was cold in temperature and high in price, it makes no sense. The goat was bland, no flavor no spice Shrimp & grits 6/10 Okay portion size, but definitely should have more shrimp in dish as well as maybe some beef sausage and bell peppers. Really lacking in flavor and substance Brown stew chicken 2/10 Absolutely no flavor and watery, I asked for extra gravy beforehand and wish I didn't. Mac & cheese 5/10 Definitely better than traditional macaroni pie, and what other Caribbean restaurants offer. Could use ANY seasoning to help make this better, and I feel like it only looked like this because I asked if there was going to be a cheese pull with theirs. Ackee & sailfish 3/10 Again bland and lacking flavor, also a small portion. Red & white sangria 2/10 Do not recommend, definitely not traditional. After all of our mishaps obviously nothing was done nor offered after the manager dropped off the curry goat that should've initially been on my plate. This location needs a menu revamp with fair pricing, better music & new staff

Penne Pasta
Michelle I.

I really wish I could have given this place 5 stars. The food was delicious, the vibes were great (suitable for a date, girls night or family night out) and the drinks were great. Unfortunately the service was SO SLOW. we were left waiting to be greeted by our initial server, waiting long for drinks, and ran out of water that was only replenished when we were ready to pay. It wasn't that busy so they may need to work on staffing and reading the room. Tried the pasta with jerk chicken and it was really good. Also tried the nachos. I'd definitely come back but be aware the service may disappoint.

Pomegranate rose  Russlletini
Katie M.

The vibe and ascetic was amazing. The service was top notch. The oxtail mac and cheese was delicious I would definitely order it again. The salmon looked amazing the glaze was just right. The jerk chicken sandwich was reasonably priced and ok but I wouldn't order it again everything else looked and smelled so much better. The drinks were creative and delicious. I would definitely make a road trip down again for dinner and would love to try the brunch.

Service was HORRIBLE we made reservations for 9:30 got there at 9:31 got seated right away. Placed our order for our drinks, appetizer and entree all at once. Got our drinks within 15 minutes. As we looked around we noticed people that got seated after us already got their food and we have yet to get our appetizer. Hour and 15 minutes later we get our appetizer. By this time we were already turned off from the first time experience. We didn't get our entree until 10:50 and it didn't even come out hot. We just decided to eat a little because if we send it back who knows how long that's going to take. So overall our first experience was horrible to the point we didn't even leave a tip and they had the nerve to ask us if we want to order desert.

Chicken n' waffles
Gloria B.

Sunday brunch with the girls. Great decor, high energy, awesome DJ, friendly staff, good food, definitely a VIBE!

Jerk Calamari
Shanice G.

A staple spot in Hartford to come to. I went to their old location back when I was like 21 but only been to this location twice. I don't ever come to get full - maybe some appetizers or something but it's really the vibe and strong drinks that keep me coming back. We sat at the bar this time and Quasi was super attentive, prompt on the service and very hospitable. I recommend you ask for him if at the bar if you can!

The Russeltini!
Jennifer B.

My first time here and I'm hooked! The martini was the beat I ever had. Seriously....the best! I scarfed down the happy hour specials and a side of Mac n cheese so quickly that I didn't even take a picture. Mac n cheese was a mix of amazing oooey, gooey goodness. They have half priced bottles of wine during happy hour which makes for a great night The bartender was so friendly and courteous. She was attentive and always made sure our drinks weren't empty. Definitely will be going back

Bottomsless Mimosas
Eric W.

If you're in the mood for an incredible brunch, lively music or good ol' Caribbean food, this is your place and I'm going to tell you why! Atmosphere/Appearance: The Russell used to be a small, almost hole-in-the-wall spot on Pratt Street, but Hugh has MOVED ON UP! This place is huge and it used to be the old Black Bear Saloon nightclub. Kinda crazy that I've partied in the exact place that is now a sit-down restaurant. Lol. There's private parking around the side of the restaurant, but you do have to pay for it. See if you can find some parking on the street. It's free after 6:00pm and I believe all day on Sunday. This place has lots of exposed brick, high ceilings, 2 bars on opposite ends of the restaurant, a VIP section and PLENTY of seating all over. The music is lively and the atmosphere is just full of energy. Service: Shacoia is our favorite server there! She's down-to-Earth, sweet, funny and just all-around amazing. Make sure you ask for her! Food: So at the old location I'd go STRAIGHT for the jerk wings because they were INCREDIBLE! They still are, but I've since branched out to try the curried goat, which is fantastic and the yuca fries. OMG the sauce that comes with the yuca fries is making my mouth water and I'm 700 miles away from them right now. Lol. The food is good, period. Now, the bottomless mimosas. THEY ARE THE MOVE. So unlike most places where a pre-made carafe is brought to your table OR EVEN WORSE, a pre-made GLASS is brought to your table... here, you get the entire bottle of Prosecco and 2 carafes of juice! You make your own freaking mimosas and that's PERFECT and the way I'd prefer it! When you run out, just ask for another! It's that easy! You can also switch the juices up too. Value: This place isn't cheap, but it sits comfortably in the middle between dirt cheap and fine dining. The entire experience is absolutely worth it. I believe the bottomless mimosas are $25.00 a person, but if you're a REAL drinker, you'll get your money's worth! In conclusion, I'll always love this place. It's never done me wrong and it's a reliable place for good food, good fun and good drinks! Check it out if you're in the area! Be sure to check out my YouTube channel, "The Hungry Road" for more restaurant and car-related content! You can copy and paste the following link into your browser to be taken directly to the channel! Be sure to subscribe, like, comment and turn on notifications! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEZJPcprSoq00kgDLUb57yA

Nicole J.

I got an opportunity to experience this restaurant while visiting the area for the lacrosse tournament. I wish I lived closer because I would definitely be back here more often. There is an abundance of parking next door it is also right near a train station so there is easy access. There was a variety of seating options. You could sit at the bar, there were quite a few hightops by the bar for groups. There were high tops for doubles. They were regular tables and then a comfy couch seating area. I appreciated that aspect of the layout. All of the food I got had a great flavor and beautiful presentation. My drink also had a sufficient amount of fruitiness any satisfying level of alcoholic kick. I highly recommend a visit here!

Lounge area
Erica T.

Came here for a birthday party. Pretty roomy place to do something like that. Even has a lounge area. The staff was pretty decent and wait times were not that long. I ordered the jerk chicken plate. It came with rice 2 plantains and cabbage or "mixed vegetables" it was not overpowering spicy. Chicken was pretty tender. I also sampled the jerk pork... SO SPICY. It blew my mind how the difference in the meat changed the spice level. I couldn't enjoy that but I really did enjoy the chicken. I really want to go back and try the red velvet cake. Since moving up north I have not seen many places that make it so next time I'll probably go for desert and drinks. Their drinks were VERY strong so please drink responsibly.

2nd bar
Marsha J.

First Timer... The ambiance is amazing. Visiting in January of 2022, so it is VERY cold. We made reservations and they tried it... tried to sit us by the front door. Uhm NO. So seated in the middle dining area. We waited a good 15 minites for the waitress. I asked about the non-existent heat. She said it would be warmer soon. No one mentioned that you have to scan a Q code for the menu. So we finally were able to order. It took forever for our food to come out. The server seemed too preoccupied to care. I know the price of food has risen but... to serve someone a plate of bones for an order of oxtails is ridiculous. The presentation of the plates was ok but it was not hot nor worth the price charged. We were soo ready to leave but held hostage by the preoccupied server. Patronize at your own risk... your stomach and your wallet will not be happy with you.

Coconut shrimp. Sorry I was hungry.

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2 years ago

The the wait staff. Was incredible, the food was even better. The ambiance was amazing

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1001 Hookah Lounge

1001 Hookah Lounge

3.3(46 reviews)
2.2 mi
•$$

This is to hookah what Taco Bueno is to fine Mexican dining. I visited on a Saturday night and we…read morepromptly decided to go elsewhere. For starters, the two-people-per-hookah policy is obnoxious. I get the trade-offs here and why the business has to do it, and more and more hookah bars are adopting similar policies. But when you're telling me if I've spent $50 on 2 hookahs for 4 people and one more friend shows up, our tab is now $75, I really don't appreciate that. I get that most customers are younger and would smoke 10 people on 1 hookah if given the chance, but you've got to have a middle ground. 5 people wanting to share 2 hookahs is not taking advantage. Then comes price: I'm from Texas where tobacco taxes are sky-high and businesses have about $20,000 of prep work to do for special tobacco-oriented zoning, and you still don't see prices this high. $25 for a bowl is obscene, especially with the aforementioned policy. Then comes the atmosphere. Loud, cramped, poorly ventilated, dark, and uncomfortable. It may seem novel to novice smokers but is less likely to be enjoyed by a regular hookah bar attendee. I also am not a fan of the pay-when-you-walk-in model. The register is up front and you cash out before you sit down. We made sure to walk into the back and have a look around before doing so, thankfully. Again I do get that their clientele may be a little younger and more stealy than other establishments, but it does not make for a friendly or inviting experience. There are myriad websites that will sell you an entire hookah package including pipe, tobacco and coals for the same price as a single 5-person smoke session here. I know he's got some overhead but a single bowl of this stuff pays for a whole box of the stuff you're actually smoking. Save your money.

This place has the total potential to be a 5 star lounge, but here are the pros, cons and…read moresuggestions to gain the extra 2 stars. Pros: Hookah: -good flavors (al Fakher and starbuzz) - packed well - small hookah with a lot of smoke - coconara charcoals Seating area: - very spacious - can handle large groups - unique floor seats - custom tables hold hookah and garbage - homey set up with actual couches - very laid back (music tempo maintains atmosphere -smoothie was on point Cons: Hookah: - not maintained regularly (they come every 20-30 mins), so it's not good 5 mins after they fix it Seating area: - the music can be updated - no worker is ever present, making it extremely difficult to order anything (waited 20 mins to order smoothie) - prepaying seems very unwelcoming Suggestions: This place mainly lacks in service. The seating area being unattended is a big disadvantage. Regular maintenance of the hookahs served out would make this place go a long way.

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1001 Hookah Lounge - There's never too many hookahs

There's never too many hookahs

1001 Hookah Lounge
1001 Hookah Lounge - Hookah & snackage

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Hookah & snackage

Society Room of Hartford - Pirate audience members dancing

Society Room of Hartford

4.3(49 reviews)
0.4 mi•Downtown

I only wish I had taken pictures of the stunning interior design here. I attended as a guest of a…read morebirthday party and everything was perfect from the parking, the welcoming entry into the event, the appetizers and drinks, dinner and eventually dancing/snacks. We had no idea that this venue even existed, mostly because we rarely go into Hartford for social events and weddings as they all seem to be in the suburbs. The building interior is so beautiful from the high vaulted ceilings, interesting lighting, tasteful fabrics, wood decor in the bar area, and just such an elegant feeling. We will definitely be back soon, either having our own events or hopefully we get invited back to someone else's again!

I haven't thought about this in a long time but just came across the old review. I've been…read moredeleting old reviews. Thinking back... We were never offered our deposit back (thousands of dollars), despite the date getting booked by another party shortly after our decision to postpone the wedding. We cancelled with several months notice. We didn't receive any follow up communications. I suppose I am still really disappointed by the lack of compassion and the poor business practices. Aside from the money, which I made my peace with soon after, the gossiping about us was just plain hurtful. Despite the beautiful ambiance, I would never ever recommend this place.

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Society Room of Hartford
Society Room of Hartford - Female pirate

Female pirate

Society Room of Hartford - Stage set up for the Pirate show

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Stage set up for the Pirate show

The Russell - caribbean - Updated October 2026

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