Eating and Drinking in Hartford, CT

August 30, 2019 2:13 PM

I will be spending three nights in Hartford. I like all types of food and beverage, and enjoy trying local specialties. Where and what should I eat and drink in Hartford? Are there any iconic Hartford foods that I shouldn't miss?
posted by lumpy to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

The white clam pizza at Pepe's is often cited as one of the very best pizzas in the world (and is on my bucket list.)
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:31 PM on August 30, 2019

Best answer: I grew up there and the old school options would be a grinder or a pizza at First and Last, and some Italian bakery items at Mazzicato. It’s where I go when I see family; I didn’t realize until I was in my 20’s that Italian-American food is not ubiquitous and fantastic.

(Pepe’s is in New Haven, an hour away, and if you go down there you may as well get a second pie at Sally’s, #5 on that linked list, to participate in the full rivalry experience.)
posted by tchemgrrl at 3:10 PM on August 30, 2019 [4 favorites]

As someone who grew up in Hartford and is back regularly visiting family: Spare yourself, leave the city, and go to the surrounding towns (West Hartford, Avon, Farmington, Simsbury, etc.) for both food and entertainment.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:18 PM on August 30, 2019 [2 favorites]

Best answer: The original Pepe's is in New Haven, but there there is another one in West Hartford now.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:37 PM on August 30, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I was in West Hartford a few years ago and had some good meals at various places in the Max restaurant group: oyster bar, burger spot.
posted by kevinbelt at 5:50 PM on August 30, 2019 [1 favorite]

I believe Harford has a large Vietnamese community, so there's probably a Vietnamese option, but I don't know for sure and I can't give any more guidance.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:45 AM on August 31, 2019

Best answer: I'm from a town near Hartford. While there are good restaurants and bars in Hartford, I don't think of there being any distinctly "Hartford" foods. I don't live near CT anymore, and the local specialties I miss most from CT are hot buttered lobster rolls (as opposed to the mayo-based cold lobster salad rolls that are prevalent seemingly everywhere else) and local CT produce, like apples or fresh cider made from local apples.

I would second the Mozzicato recommendation. I grew up loving their homemade arancini, which is unique.
posted by bananana at 1:59 PM on August 31, 2019 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I currently live in the Hartford area and love to eat out.

Depending on if you'll be able to drive around, I would definitely suggest a trip to West Hartford Center/Blue Back Square. It's just west of Hartford and has some great dining options including The Max Group (Max Burger, Max Oyster etc.), Zohara (Mediterranean), Avert (French Bistro), Savoy (Pizza), Barcelona (Tapas) and Bar Taco (Mexican) etc. There are probably 20+ restaurants in a 6 block radius that are locally/regionally owned and have good to excellent reviews. There are also a lot of good people watching and window shopping opportunities.

I'm sure Hartford has a ton of options as well but I'm less well versed in that area. I do know that the following places have a huge following -

Bears BBQ
I think the guy that runs this place won a TV cooking competition and is an up and coming chef. I can't remember the details but everyone talks about the bbq from this place.

If you want to go fancy, try The Capital Grille. I've eaten here and it's amazing. Super pricey but the service is great and the food it top notch.

If you want a pho experience then you should try Pho Boston which is right on the Hartford/West Hartford line. It is DEFINITELY NOT fancy but it's delicious. Depending on what time you get there, try to check out A Dong which is the Asian market in the same shopping center...it's fantastic. If you want a higher end meal, there is also SHU in that same center which is pricey but is supposed to be super authentic. I've eaten there once and I noticed that there seem to be two menus...one for the newbies and another one with photos and specials for the regulars....I was challenged enough by the regular menu but you might want to see about the special menu if you're feeling adventurous.
posted by victoriab at 5:40 AM on September 1, 2019 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Oops, forgot a few:

Black Eyed Sallys is very well known for live music and food. I didn't love the food when I tried it but that was years ago....it's probably worth a trip for the music alone.

Firebox is a well known restaurant that people seem to really like. I've been a few times and it hasn't blown me away but the food was good. There isn't much to see in the area after dinner (not really a walking, browsing neighborhood).

Trumbull Kitchen is part of the Max Restaurant group (mentioned above) and it located in Hartford. It has lots of buzz a few years ago and I think you probably can't go wrong with trying any restaurant in their group.
posted by victoriab at 5:49 AM on September 1, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I'm in downtown Hartford and agree with many of the above recommendations. Really it depends on where exactly you'll be. Hartford Hartford, or general greater Hartford area?

If downtown Hartford proper then I must fiercely recommend our absolute favorite place, Salute. The website is a little lacking but hot damn the food and service are SPECTACULAR. For real we are here All. The. Time.

Also downtown is Max Downtown another white tablecloth steakhouse similar to Capital Grille this is where the power people go. We prefer to eat on the tavern side, same excellent food and service with a more chill atmosphere). Trumbull Kitchen mentioned above is another Max place and is excellent. Always a fun happy hour. Tyler Anderson (TopChef) has Porron and Pina in the beautifully renovated Goodwin Hotel. Spanish/New England fusion. Sorella has great wood-fired pizza and a warm friendly atmosphere.

In the Front Street/Convention Center/UCONN area is Capital Grille and Bears mentioned above (I'd recommend both, mmmmmBears), and if you're looking for fast casual you can't go wrong with El Pollo Guapo.

Once you're out of Hartford I'm not as helpful, but would agree with West Hartford center in general, Pho Boston specifically, and anything Max (Max Fish in Glastonbury is my favorite).
posted by spinturtle at 6:42 PM on September 1, 2019 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Folks we are meeting for dinner have already requested Pepe's and Salute, so two out of our three dinners are settled.

Thanks to all for the great recs!
posted by lumpy at 1:42 PM on September 6, 2019

Response by poster: To close the loop on this, we had an outstanding fresh tomato pie at Frank Pepe's location in West Hartford and a decent business dinner at Max Downtown.

The other highlight was the amazing wings at J Timothy's, which also had a great selection of local craft beer.

The only other thing I can report is that local Uber drivers are NOT affiliated with the Hartford Chamber of Commerce. Two different drivers immediately launched into lengthy monologues about how depressed and dangerous the city has become.
posted by lumpy at 8:30 PM on September 30, 2019

Oh man, I've heard stories about the wings at J Timothy's...that place is legendary and I'm so glad you got to go there :).

What your Uber drivers were saying is sad and seems accurate from the statistics I saw online. I don' t have any great knowledge of what started or contributes to Hartford's problems today but it's a city with some bright spots and a group of passionate supporters that are trying to improve it...but it struggles with a small tax base, residents in extreme poverty, poor municipal management and oversight, struggling school system, high crime, etc. The suburbs are isolated from most of this (which is it's own issue) and I know many folks that live in the city with no problems...but it's sad to see the disparity in resources that the more affluent suburbs have for their residents versus what Hartford can provide to theirs.
posted by victoriab at 11:29 AM on October 18, 2019