On the other side of Connecticut from where I live, I wish it was closer. This is an awesome hang out spot. The wall decorations are eye-catching. I spent a lot of time just staring at the paintings and decor. We ordered spinach artichoke dip, French onion soup, pork berry grilled cheese sandwiches, and a few others that I can't remember the name of. It was all good. Expertly crafted by someone you could tell was passionate about the food. We devoured everything. Definitely would go again if I'm in the neighborhood. read more

See all

$22 for Tater Tots?? As a mom of 3 I know the value of tater tot's. Believe me. But really? Let's start there. As a side-If you don't have small children then this review probably doesn't pertain to you...or maybe it will... Got there with my husband and three kids shortly after having an amazing time seeing a local performer at Taylor Brook Brewery (which' was great btw). We're from out of town so we asked around as to where to go and were directed to the Stomping Ground for good food, especially for kids. At first server was pleasant and accommodating. He suggested 2 "crocks" or tater tot's for my kids and two plain grilled cheeses. My son ordered the State Fair and I ordered the Arturo grilled cheese. Things started to go downhill when we were seeing multiple people who had come in after us (still relatively early, like 6pm) eat their food and ultimately leave before we even saw an "appetizer" come out. After 45 minutes of waiting my husband inquired and the server explained that the wrong tater tot's were made ?? Long story short, he forgot to put our order in. After 55 minutes we asked to just get the bill for the drinks we had so we could leave and the other server/manager? implored us to wait because our food was coming out immediately. So we did. I'm the end they charged us full price for a white bread and one slice of cheddar cheese grilled cheese for two younger children ($12 each) and $11 apiece for a "crock" (handful) of tater tots. I will give credit where credit is due and the other two grilled cheeses were delicious but my husband's $18 quesadilla was comparable to MAYBE Taco Bell's. All in all, super disappointing. I wish we could've been taken care of properly and charged fair prices because the two specialty grilled cheeses were delicious. But unfortunately we will never step foot into this establishment again because of the price gauging and lack of customer care. If a dive bar with good specialty grilled cheese is what you seek then this is the place. If not, I suggest looking elsewhere. read more

This is a cool funky little bar in downtown Putnam. They have a nice selection of beer and a good variety. Not just IPA's. They also have live music. The staff was friendly. The place was kind of small, so I wouldn't recommend a large group. That being said it was rather quiet when we went in on a Tuesday night. Lots of interesting art work. There is a cool vibe to the whole place. More interesting than the courthouse bar across the street, but has a much smaller kitchen. read more

I recently revisited The Stomping Ground for a night of music. I bumped into the owner outside. He was very delightful and warming... The music was outstanding...my drink was perfect...and it was a great night all around. It's nice to have a place in our community for live music and smiles. Thanks for a great night Terry and staff. read more

Great beer selection and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Only down side is the place is small and seating may be limited during peak hours read more

Love this spot. They always have great entertainment and food. Most importantly, they allow my puppies to hang out outside. Thank you for that. We always feel welcomed here. The beer and drink selection is amazing and all low key small business providers. The chicken wings are the best, try every flavor. read more

Walked in by chance after visiting the antique shops. Great find! Live music, jocelyn & chris arndt...found a great new band. Chili, wings, pot pie and grilled cheese sandwich...all Awesome! read more

We finally found a new local! Live music on most nights, trivia on others, local artists featured on the walls, attentive staff and cool casual atmosphere. The roasted veggie quesadilla was amazing; veggies were roasted perfectly and not overdone or wet, cheese not overwhelming, and salsa outstanding. There is a long list of beers. Jessie chose the Rogue Hazelnut Brown and it was delicious. Not being a beer drinker I chose a margarita and it was just the way I like it. Great place. We will be back. read more

The Stomping Ground - Bars Near Me - Putnam, Connecticut

Great energy and vibe. Creative menu items. Very loud during 'performances". Small cozy atmosphere.

Stopped in mid week in the Fall, nothing going on in Downtown Putnam. Always wanted to try so why not go on an off day. Good selection of draft beer, and some interesting appetizers. We ordered their version of jalapeño poppers. You have a choice of them wrapped in and we picked bacon. They had to be the best poppers we ever had. I heard about their grilled cheese so I ordered the "house of pain". I also ordered a chili to try it out. The chili was really thick and tasted good. The grilled cheese was also very good. We finished off with their version of a brownie. It had bacon in the batter and a jalapeño cream cheese on the side. All I got to say is you have to try it. Why 4 stars if everything was very good? It took a long time for the items to come out. They have a very small kitchen. You shouldn't have any expectations of going in, sitting down, ordering and leaving in a half hour. We came in, ate and left and it took a little over and hour and forty five minutes. This is a place to sit and talk, and if we came at night, to listen to the features musicians. But IMHO I believe that maybe things should speed up a bit. Other than that, this should a go to and try place when in Putnam. read more

First of all, I don't always review places, but I felt compelled, based on a recent negative review, where - if you parse the sentences - indicated the "review" is possibly clinically insane. This place has a freak beer selection, live music, gourmet level food, and a wonderful staff. There is a special food menu for lunches and weekends usually, where you find some amazing goodies (just had the mahi mahi wrap). The place is cozy, warm, petite: let's not mince words: its SMALL. But on a fun or value per square foot rating, they are number one. It is NOT a place to go to watch the latest game. They mercifully have no TVs; which is an island of refuge. It is NOT a place to go for a "gut-buster" meal; portions are filling and delicious and locally sourced and fresh; but not served in a 30-gallon drum. It is NOT a place to go for an evening reading; there is live music; as in real people. And tip $5 for heaven's sake. NOT a place for Bud Light on tap. They do serve a few lighter lagers in bottles (as all do), but the tap/bottle selection is a reason to come. Has it really been 5 years; seems like yesterday... read more

Great food, fantastic service. Wonderful chill spot with AMAAAAZING food and live music most nights of the week.

The food here is just OK, they have good spinach and artichoke dip and they have good chicken wings, but both have left me in the bathroom the next morning on numerous occasions. It's a really cool spot... kind of small, kind of not worth he money, but not too expensive for Putnam. They always have live music and I think they are closed Mondays. You should definitely give it a shot but it's really not somewhere you need to go more than once which is too bad considering the type of establishment that they are trying to be in the end. read more

This place is awesome! Amazing and unique food - especially coming out of their closet sized kitchen! Craft Beer selection is excellent and ever-changing. Always fun to start with a flight and then choose a favorite. Music is generally very good - a mix of blues, jazz, etc. in the many times I've been, I've only seen 2 or 3 bands that were just so-so. Vibe & crowd - what a fun place to people watch! All ages are there all the time. I used to see an 88 yr old gentleman who went regularly along with newly 21 yr olds and everything in between. Vibe is very casual and fun. Always a lot of fun. I saved bartenders for last - Sam is literally the best bartender I've experienced. She can run the entire place by herself AND provide exception service. She only needs help on Friday and Saturday nights. She's friendly, fun and has a memory that astounds me! She remember what specific beers I liked from several weeks before! I can't even remember...lol Overall, it's a great place and always fun! read more

I was sad to see Pangaea go, but I am really excited about Stomping Ground! Guys, I finally tried this place for the first time and it's wondertastic-splenderful good. Primarily a small music venue, Stomping Ground has a full bar and a respectable small menu ... with intriguing offerings like apple & grilled cheese sandwiches, a bacon brownie, and all kinds of delicious-sounding pot pies and burritos. Comfort food with a twist! Most plates run $8 to $12. We loved the fresh fruit martinis and the mojitos- made the right way, of course, with fresh lime and mint! Lots of interesting beer on the menu as well. We talked with Sarah, one of the owners. She was our server and she was very friendly! Definitely my new favorite spot in town. This is how good it is: I already know what I'm getting next time. read more

Great food!! Worth the short drive! Funky little bar, nice people, great wings, great grill cheese. read more

The Stomping Ground - State fair, Guinness pot pie, house of pain. Great food!! - Bars Near Me - Putnam, Connecticut

See all

Disappointing grilled cheese sandwiches. The descriptions sounded great, but there was a lack of ingredients. My husbands onions were burnt not caramelized. It needs a thicker slice of cheese, too. Service was super slow but we were in no rush and the bartender who tended our table was nice but way too busy to do the whole place on a Holiday(Veterans Day) Friday lunch. Poor planning by the management . read more

I'm sitting here now and I've been sitting here for an hour and a half and still no food. A table that ordered after us is getting their food. The food looked good from the reviews but at this rate I doubt I'll get to taste it because I may walk out. No food is worth this wait. Just got my food and it was NOT worth the ridiculous wait. I don't recommend this place at all. read more

The Stomping Ground - This is "pot pie".......this is not pot pie. - Bars Near Me - Putnam, Connecticut

We walked in, the place was bumpin', The live band was straight-up jumpin'! Great craft beer and happy vibes, Come on down and bring the tribe. The Stomping Ground is the coolest place to go in a very fun downtown area. The live bands are talented. The craft beer selection is on point. The waitresses are attentive. The decor will hold your interest. Only drawback is that the layout of the place is like a hallway, so it gets really loud when a band is playing. Don't expect to hear your friends unless they are yelling in your ear. read more

Only been once. Hope to come back soon. Grilled cheese sandwiches with unique, delicious twists. Many, many craft, local and international beers to choose from. Funky, laid back atmosphere. Very comfortable. Looking for an excuse to get back out to Putnam so I can try this place again... read more

Rarely have I experienced a bar so perfect. A splendid Friday night date 45 minutes from Providence. Fun, quirky, intimate, high energy, and many surprises. Live music 5 nights a week. Solid craft beer list. Simple but inspired bar food (extensive grilled cheese list!). Rotating art on the walls. Juuuuuust grungy enough to not take itself too seriously. But not for the faint of heart. It may get cramped. It may get loud. You may have to wait for a seat. You may have the entry way blocked to get to the back of the bar because the front is clogged up with locals and visitors having a stompin' good time. So totally wonderful. This is the type of place where people jump to their feet to dance with strangers, try a new beer, tip the live band generously, and come back for more again and again. Totally magical. read more

I sort of want the stomping ground to be my bar down the road. It's not, but, then again if it were the people watching wouldn't have been half as amazing. Putnam seems to be a fairly sleepy area. We asked most of the people that approached us at the bar if it was the only bar in the area and it was a pretty unanimous "yes". Went last night and the place was consistently jamming. Seats throughout the joint were constantly full. My friend's band played several sets throughout the night going with the flow of things. The food was pretty awesome. I like that they have a good array of items but that its not that far reaching either. I had the Belle Gunness, a take on lox and cream cheese made into a yummy grilled cheese. A fresh delicious not too fishy or too smokey portion of smoked salmon, smooth cream cheese, tomato, capers, red onion and lettuce on delicious sourdough bread. The grilled cheese came with a bean salad and a nice sweet homemade pickle. The bar was ample. I only had a couple of angry orchards but they had rotating taps and a selection of fresh fruit infused vodka drinks. The people watching was amazing. The food, the music and the alcohol drew in all sorts of life. Hipsters, townies, MILFS taking selfies and grouping each other, everyone intermingled. At some point a man from switzerland spoke to us and then thought my friend;s boyfriend was going to come and fuck him up for speaking to us.... Wild night in Putnam. read more

Run by a very passionate person! Everything fresh! Made my daughter a blueberry soda from scratch. read more

The Stomping Ground - Bars Near Me - Putnam, Connecticut

This place has got so much character! Great beer on tap, awesome love music. Their sriracha wings are our favorite wings *ever.* And they always have super creative specials too! Can't say enough about it - our #1 go-to in downtown Putnam! read more

Great drinks, good food, service has been a hit or miss there but always try to take it with a grain of salt with covid. Fun atmosphere & cool clientele. Love how they usually always have live music too. Really adds to Putnam read more

LOVE THIS PLACE! The bartenders are great and the Wednesday night Trivia is pure adult entertainment, Love it!

My wife constantly wants to order artichoke dip. I am not a fan of artichoke dip. Stopping Grounds had the best artichoke dip I've ever had and I enjoyed it very much! The owner is a super cool guy and his passion for food, music and life really shows. They also had a great band playing (they do lots of live music). read more

Great small friendly unpretentious place. Awesome music which is s soundtrack of the music played there live. Best nachos ever. Fresh! Fresh! Fresh! Staff works together. read more

Good live music, good food and drinks. Only complaint is minor, they only have one oven. So sometimes during rush hour it takes awhile for the food to get there. read more

Amazing food. Probably the best beer selection around! Kitchen is way to small to keep up with orders, so prepare to wait. And while your waiting there's not a single tv to keep up with need or sports, so make sure to bring good company!!! read more

Super chill place with great staff who really take pride in their bar/restaurant! We ordered the spinach dip and a grilled cheese, and both were delicious! My husband said that it is perhaps the best spinach dip that he has ever had. We were so happy to find out that they get local and organic goods as much as possible. They also had some live music while we were there, and the band was wonderful. Great place!!!!! read more

Great ambience for a midday meal or night out. They have a big bar and a wide selection. Food wise- I felt it was an honest attempt to be contemporary and adventurous , however after a few bites the sweet potato, pinto bean burrito didn't whet my palate. The rest of the table had similar opinions, the food tasted fresh and well cooked, but it just didn't quite hit the spot. That being said, we'd probably go back to try out more of the menu. read more

Nice vibrant and cozy place with music. Went on a Friday night w my wife and had a great time. Nice selection of craft beers and drinks. Loved the jalapeño poppers, wings and Grilled cheese. Worth the drive read more

Excellent beer selection. The food is really good, especially considering the size of the kitchen. You can't beat live music, either. The only draw back is that with live music and a small sized bar it is sometimes difficult to have a conversation. Bacon brownie was a nice dessert to pair with a stout. The bacon jalapenos were spot on. I really need to try their grilled cheese next time. read more

Good vibes. Eclectic atmosphere with paintings on the walls, funky hanging art suspended from the ceilings, and live music starting at 8:00. Pretty tight quarters adding to the feel of neighborhood bar meets anywhere but Putnam, CT. Ten revolving taps plus kick-ass mixology. Good place. read more

The Stomping Ground - Bars Near Me - Putnam, Connecticut

See all

We love the Stomp. Terry and his crew have created an eclectic music and grub venue in the heart of Downtown Putnam. There is nothing like it. Belle Guinness is our highly recommended meal choice, but everything on the reasonably priced menu won't disappoint. There is a large offering of beers, but we stick to the bottled brands due to our palates. Live music 6 nights a week. Without a cover. Folks, you can't beat this place. Sometimes crowded, often loud, but always worth a visit. read more

Finally made it to the Stomping Ground for a late lunch and I was not disappointed! Great music, good food, and great beers on tap that change seasonally. The gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches are delicious and have such clever names, like the Frank Sinatra with an Italian twist and the William Shatner with four different types of cheese (Get it? Really cheesy, just like him!). Having live music was a real treat too. The musicians are top notch, and anyone is welcome to perform on Sundays at Open Mike Night. However, my lunch companion, a 13-year-old, had a real hard time finding something to eat on the menu. She is a notoriously picky eater and is also lactose intolerant. If I had any suggestions at all, it would be to include a few basic, run-of-the-mill items on the menu for those types of clients, or at the very least post a menu in the front window if they don't have one already (I don't remember seeing one but I wasn't really looking for one either) for those hard-to-please customers. To be fair, though, this place is really more of a bar and live music venue anyway, so perhaps a picky child is not the type of clientele they wish to cater to. That being said, I will be back, and hopefully soon. Think I'll leave the 13-year-old at home though. read more

Fantastic find in a great antiquing square! I had an incredible take on a pot pie featuring the staples: ground beef, potatoes, cheese, and beer. My wife had a great grilled cheese featuring a nicely done pulled pork. The beer list was surprisingly diverse with a nice selection on tap. The music was intriguing without being obtrusive. We enjoyed the selections but could turn to our conversation when we desired. Go antiquing, take a break, enjoy a great meal, and enjoy some tunes. read more

Only my third time there but the food keeps getting better. Sam the bartender was great and the cook on Tuesday afternoon was dead on. Had the Billy Bragg and it was awesome!! Thanks for the great food an service!! read more

Searched for a half way place for a first date, did I mention blind date? (Online). I emailed the owner, Terry asking if it was a good place to talk, get to know someone, he said definitely. I walked in alone, the people warm welcoming, locals who didn't stare out a new person, smiles back at me everywhere. And the music?!!!! The Silks, big sound, beautiful which helped so much, for it was not a match date alas. But I've fallen in love with stomping ground and are bringing friends back, wish it was closer I'd go alone in a heartbeat. Thanks Terry and staff for making me so welcome. Pamela. read more

The Stomping Ground - A view from my corner cozy chairs for two - Bars Near Me - Putnam, Connecticut