I'm back! The bar/restaurant is located on 623 Main St. in Manchester, CT. It's only been open…read moresince February 2025. It's very clean and organized in here. It's early in the day so it's quiet right now. I love the decor! It's just the right amount. The music is the right type and the appropriate sound level. There is plenty of parking in back on the left. It's cool in here too. This place is well managed and well taken care of. It's very obvious. The Happy Hour menu is a cute, little paperback-sized, laminated piece of paper. The countertop is transparent with a nice pearl theme. That's impressive! The bar is named after Pearl St. where it is located (corner of Main and Pearl actually). The menu has a lot of very sophisticated drinks and high end food of an Italian influence.
For my first drink I'm having the Happy Hour Manhattan. A Manhattan is a cocktail made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. While rye is the traditional whiskey of choice, other commonly used whiskies include Canadian whisky, bourbon, blended whiskey, and Tennessee whiskey. The cocktail is usually stirred with ice then strained into a chilled cocktail glass and garnished traditionally with a maraschino cherry. A Manhattan may also be served in a champagne coupe or on the rocks in a lowball glass. They serve it in a martini-type glass. This is very good!
For my first item, I'm having a House Salad. They have a Happy Hour Tues-Fri from 4-6 PM. There's a lot of $7 food items and discounted drinks. There is a large menu posted on the wall next to the bar. This salad comes standard with a delicious balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It is made with romaine lettuce, mesclun greens, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions and black olives. A house salad is a simple, versatile American-style salad featuring mixed leafy greens, sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, carrots, and croutons, often topped with cheddar cheese. Typically served as a starter, a House Salad is paired with various dressings like ranch, vinaigrette, or blue cheese. It is quick to prepare, usually in under 15 minutes. This is quite good! It is very fresh tasting. The use of quality greens helps. I love the dressing! It appears to be homemade with a unique taste.
For my next item, I'm having the Caesar Salad. This is made with hearts of romaine lettuce, shaved parmigiano cheese, seasoned croutons and a house-made Caesar dressing. A Caesar salad is typically a green salad with romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese, tossed in a creamy dressing made from olive oil, egg, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and anchovies. The dressing is key, creating a rich, savory, and tangy flavor that coats the crisp lettuce and crunchy croutons. Please toss it (don't served with dressing on the side). This has height! It is very lightly doused with Caesar dressing and gets thicker as you work your way down. This is very good! Yummy croutons too.
For my next drink, I'm having a Mojito. Mojito is a traditional Cuban punch. The cocktail often consists of five ingredients: white rum, sugar (traditionally sugar cane juice), lime juice, soda water, and mint. Its combination of sweetness, citrus, and herbaceous mint flavors is intended to complement the rum, and has made the mojito a popular summer drink. This looks nice! I like the taste! I do y have these very often!
For my next food item, I'm having the Fornarelli's Meatballs. There are 2 of their famous meatballs served with marinara sauce and topped with ricotta cheese (light for me). These are fantastic! You have to try these! Melts in your mouth!
For my next item, I'm trying the Grilled Chicken Sliders (2 for Happy Hour). This is a rare find! "Grilled Chicken" sliders are NOT common. They come with lettuce, tomato and mayo (light for me). No cheese. These sliders are the best! You have to try these!
For my last drink? I'm having a Margarita. A margarita is a cocktail of tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and sometimes simple syrup. It is served shaken with ice (on the rocks), without ice (straight up), or blended with ice (frozen). Most bars serve margaritas in a stepped-diameter variant of a cocktail glass or champagne coupe called a margarita glass, often with salt or Tajín on the rim of the glass. The margarita is one of the US most popular cocktails and the most popular tequila-based cocktail. No salt/sugar rim but it tastes just right!
For my entree, I'm having the Black Bean Burger with fries. This is an all natural bran burger made in house with lettuce, tomato and grilled onions. I like how they spread the fries all over. How about the metal fries bin? I've the pickle too! What a great meal here!