50 Best American Restaurants near East Hartford

“That buttered hot dog roll 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤 oh.my.gawwwddddd! SO good! And it doesn’t break at the bottom like most hot dog buns do. Service was super fast and all the staff was friendly and looked happy and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Great environment! Will go again!“

“We stopped here for a late breakfast on the way home from a vacation in the Berkshires. We had a great breakfast and our server was very good. We both had egg breakfasts, but I also had pancakes and bacon. The pancakes were very good and had a little bit of crisp to them which I enjoyed. The maple syrup was provided in a little bottle which we thought was a nice touch. Then we took advantage of their $6 take home meals if you have bought an entree, so we got their Meatloaf Dinner and their Grilled Chicken Dinner to bring home for our dinner. This was a pretty good deal making their regular eat-in menu even better.“

“The many positive reviews on Google and Yelp are correct. This storefront in a small strip of businesses might not look like much—plastered with brightly colored, probably stock images of the wide variety of dishes available, and possessing decidedly utilitarian tables (4) and chairs, this is decidedly more of a take-out than dine-in sort of establishment. My husband and I both opted for the combination plate with both lamb and chicken. ($12.95, includes a salad of iceberg lettuce and tomatoes to the side of the rice and meat and a can of soda; there is a surcharge for credit cards.) The ingredients were fresh and well-cooked (no dried-out chicken here); the salad was still crispy despite being in the same container as the entree. Lamb was the nicely spiced stuff found in gyros; chicken had been marinated in a faintly sweet savory sauce, almost like teriyaki. The long-grained rice was fluffy, and brown in color, similar to the fried rice one gets at same Chinese restaurants (soy sauce?—though it wasn’t salty). We asked for, and received, a generous topping of the white yogurt-based sauce. The white sauce had bits of minced herbs in it, which is different from what I’ve seen elsewhere, but very tasty. Portions were ample—I didn’t finish my rice, but my husband ate all of his.

If we lived in the area, we would definitely become regulars.

Dietary restrictions: Halal“

“Absolutely incredible food, music and service! Kitchen is always open. Come check out the CT Super Open Mic on Thursdays as well as their Monday and Tuesday open mics!“

“Decent little place, i had the 5pc boneless honey bbq wings and they were good, they were pieces of the tenderloin so they are pretty large and they weren’t breaded very heavy(a definite plus for me) just lightly breaded enough to hold the sauce, they were cooked all the way but not over cooked, they were tender and juicy. Staff was friendly and service was pretty quick, from order to table in about 5-7 min. and that was around 17:45. The table I sat at was clean an comfortable as I had eaten it there, they had tv mounted on the wall to watch while waiting for my order. The price was also reasonable. I will visit them again.“

“Flavorful food and a great atmosphere!“

“Had dinner at Gather 55 last night and it was the most pleasant dining experience and best food I’ve had in months! Crystal’s service was excellent! She is a master at her craft! Not only was the experience worth every penny, the mission and purpose of Gather 55 is wonderful! I wish we had one in TN!“

“I have been coming to this fine dining establishment for many many years. You can't go wrong with any item on the menu. The cocktails are absolutely delicious. Best I've ever had. And the steaks? Oh hell yeah absolutely awesome!!!“

“Best waitstaff I’ve ever seen. Highly recommend.“

“EXCELLENT staff!! Great food!! Always an awesome experience whether dining in the restaurant or enjoying the deliciousness at one of the events catered by FxF. Can’t say enough about the amazing FxF team!“

“Great food, great staff, great music! And patio season is coming!“

“The staff were very friendly, accommodating and professional. The duck dinner is totally outstanding. The burger and beer special was good. But I found that having two burgers with the sauce and the other accompanying items included on it, made it difficult to eat it without it falling apart, even with cutting it in half. Plus for my preference, there was way too many raw onions on the burger. I did not know that the burger special was different than the House Burger. If I had known that fact, I would have ordered the House Burger. The side dishes should be listed on the menu. Overall, it's a great restaurant and we will go back there again.“

“Best kept secret in CT. Outstanding food and service with good pricing, with a 7 day a week happy hour. Every server is excellent, Oscar is a great guy. I would like to give it 6 starts!“

“We had an incredible dining experience while celebrating our anniversary tonight. It was our first time visiting and certainly won’t be the last. We had a table outside and our server, Eric, mentioned it was one of the best in the house. We couldn’t agree more as it was a beautiful setting and view. Eric was wonderful - so attentive. Our meals were delicious, we had the lobster pasta and stuffed shrimp, then ended our night with a champagne toast and dessert on the house, an amazing touch of thoughtfulness and hospitality. Exceptional service. Thank you for making our special occasion even more special! We will 100% be back!“

“First time here. Service was excellent but food was mediocre. Burger was ok. Fries were not fresh. You could tell they were frozen. Pickles were really good.“

“Went here for lunch with my sister! I couldn’t believe how packed they were on a Monday! No wonder- the food and drink were ON POINT! Our waiter was very attentive and informative on wine. We shared the spinach and artichoke dip- delicious! I had the harvest vegetable bowl and added steak. The flavors mixed so well creating a palette of fresh, and my steak was cooked perfectly! My sister got the burger and a Cesar salad. The dressing was really fresh and lemony! The burger was delish as well! I will definitely be back! All the food I watched going by looked like 10 stars!“

“Brian is a amazing waiter. I can’t say enough about him. Makes our meal even better. Thank you for your wonderful service!!??“

“Food, staff, atmosphere top notch.“

“Awesome place to take a step back in time.
Waitresses dressed in uniforms with little caps. Terrific hamburgers,cheeseburgers and wonderful ice cream?

Kid-friendliness: Good spot for kids. Very nice relaxed atmosphere.“

“GREAT FOOD, FAST SERVICE!“

“My favorite spot to hang out. Been around a long time, very consistent.“

“Great food! Definitely try the Hugo burger or loaded brisket wedges!“

“food was good, service was good“

“We played a great round at Wintonbury Hills, then headed here for pizza and beers. 24 guys and all loved the pizza and wings we had, Perfect spot will be back, Sammy and the staff treated us great,“

“Wings were the BEST we ever had! Caesar salad w/chicken was outstanding! Stopped by randomly for lunch. So happy we did.“

“I was a little taken back at first but the setup just adds to the atmosphere of this place. The people were fast, attentive and the meatball calzone was soooo good. Huge calzone! I ate half for lunch and the other half for dinner. It tastes like it was made fresh as well as the pizza sauce. Delicious!“

“Found our next ‘excellent’ food restaurant up in this area. Def recommend.“

“Treated my sister to an excellent dinner on Easter weekend. Loved the with artic char with chef’s specialty , ginger rice and a delicious pablano sauce!“

“Red rock is a great place to gather and have a delicious meal. They have great rotating specials and a menu that can accommodate a wide array of diets. Some of my favorite items they serve are eggplant Parmesan, their homemade hummus, all of their salads, and any pasta dish they serve.“

“Cannot say enough good things about The Hollow. Whether you are a golfer or not the restaurant should be added to your regular rotation. The food is top notch, everything on the menu is fantastic. My favorites are the loaded potato chips and the Brit burger. The staff is friendly, the drinks are perfect and everything is reasonably priced (especially here in 2022). Did i mention the view from the patio is beautiful? This restaurant is a must taste!“

“What an amazing place! This is the second year going for Christmas. Just to see Santa and Mrs. Claus, and my 3 year old absolutely loved the “train” ride! The hot cocoa and donuts are delish. Absolutely the most patient and pleasant Santa and Mrs Claus I have ever met. We will continue to come back year after year! Mrs Claus even remembered my son from last year!!! Thank you for helping make my family’s Christmas special. ❤️🎅🏼“

“A-Z everything here is great, from service to bar to food. A great experience all around!“

“Jordan, the bartender is great!“

“Came in around 6p on a Sunday so it wasn’t busy. The inside is what you’d expect for similar restaurants; darker ambiance , booths and tables, and outdoor seating as well. We were sat and addressed quickly, placing an order for drinks and an app. We then chose two entrees to share. For an old fashioned, a glass of Prosecco, an egg roll appetizer, a Cobb salad, and a steak sandwich with fries came to about $90 (with tip).

Our waitress was attentive without being invasive; she was quick and friendly .

My only complaint is the sticky table.

We would definitely return

Kid-friendliness: At the right time of day this could be a decent spot for a family to enjoy a meal“

“Had our 37 grammar school reunion Our waitress Mary Lu was amazing We had a set up in the back which was perfect as we were a fun 🤩 group The food was great and the cocktails 🍹 amazing (recommend Strawberry coconut martini)“

“We booked The Tavern for our October 2021 wedding right before the pandemic hit. Throughout the entire planning process and hundreds of questions, Jasmine was always readily available via email or text up until wedding day (even when we became date twins). Everything came out beautiful, the set up for dinner and our ceremony was perfect! The grounds were perfect for our pictures. Everyone loved the appetizers during cocktail hour and our cake was delicious. We had a few mishaps during our dinner, but we didn’t let that fog the happiest day of our lives. Jasmine also quickly took action and made things right. They will likely be my go-to for other events because ours was greatly executed with the help of my in-laws, Lynne (sorry if I spelled it wrong), and Jasmine. My favorite thing about having them as our venue was that we didn’t have to clean up anything or set up anything. Lynne made sure things were arranged accordingly and brought my vision to life. Even when we had to create a back up plan because of weather Jasmine and Lynne helped to calm my nerves about the last minute changes.“

“Celebrated our daughter’s birthday on Friday and everything was AMAZING! Our server, Jaden, was fabulous and our food was incredible!! Definitely a great experience!“

“Five stars all around. Great, friendly staff. Tasty dishes with an artistic atmosphere!“

“Tenth Hole Tavern is the best spot for casual dining/takeout this side of Glastonbury. Their food is excellent and the staff really knows how to show the customers a good time. Kendall and Kelly are the nicest and are very accommodating. Not to mention the full bar, expansive beer selection, and wide variety on the menu. Some of my personal favorites include the chicken tenders (with their house made buffalo sauce), the buttermilk chicken sandwich, and the oven roasted turkey wrap. Don’t sleep on the brick oven pizza either. Tenth Hole Tavern has earned a special place in my heart❤️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Arrived for a very late lunch and happy to find them open. Hamburger cooked as ordered, very good as were mashed potatoes. Friend enjoyed her chicken rice soup and chicken sandwich. Attentive and accommodating service. Large multi level dining room with separate entrance for private space“

“Short Version! Best smoked BBQ. Cannot recommend enough. Chef and staff are excellent. Wethersfield has a gem — the ‘secret’ needs to get out! Long Version! Earlier this week, to celebrate our anniversary, my wife and I went to a smoked barbecue restaurant, Smoked on Main, in Wethersfield. It was her surprise to me. I did not know where we were headed. Both of us love BBQ, my wife grew up in the Kansas — St Louis area; I had spent quite a bit of time in Dallas, our daughter lives in Carolina. There you have it: Kansas City, Texas, and Carolina BBQ! After we arrived and parked, we decided to walk a bit as its location is in an incredibly beautiful quintessential New England restored area (we live in New Haven). There are numerous beautiful old homes (dating from the 17th century), a colonial cemetery started in 1634, the same year as Wethersfield was founded. When I read over the menu, by its choices, its depth and descriptions, including several additional smaller a la carte menus (including the one for five different varieties of smoked tacos) I knew this was some place special. But I reserved my opinion until the food arrived. My wife had the smoked St Louis ribs; I had smoked spicy pork and smoked steak tacos along with the corn salad. Some, if not all, was the best I’ve ever eaten. After I saw the food presentations, tried them, coupled with the sophistication of the menu, I believed the chef had to have been professionally trained. His name is Bronislaw (Bernie) Gorski, and came out to say hello. He is a classically trained chef, started at Ernie’s in San Francisco having been a chef in NYC, Paris, and Brazil, to name just a few. We talked shop for some time. Delightful and incredibly knowledgeable. I say shop because while not in his league, when I was much younger, I was trained as a chef and sommelier in a French restaurant, and worked in the industry for quite some time, including as a consultant. That background expertise is what led me to expect and recognize the quality and presentation of the menu. I cannot recommend Smoked on Main enough. It has not been open long and also does catering. I want to give a ‘shout out’ to Wethersfield. If you are not yet aware of the rich culinary gem you have in your wonderful city — please give them a try! They do a brisk take-out business as well. Thanks to Bernie and to Jennifer who serves as a mainstay there in the evenings (and met us outside as we we were coming in — so hospitable). All the best. We had a delightful time.“

“Hands down Steve’s place is the best lunch in the Newington Center area. I have been coming here basically my whole life. Doug is such a great guy very outstanding. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you meet Doug. I can’t say enough great things About Steve’s place Definitely a great gemstone in the community! You gotta check out their meatball grinders and their chocolate chip cookies are outstanding definitely one of my favorites. I have never had a bad experience here ever so check them out today!

Thanks, Steve’s place!

Jerry’s Pathways & Patios LLC

Kid-friendliness: Very homey cozy place lots of booth seating.“

“I’ve been going to sisters for almost 15 yrs
Best Dine in or take out in Hartford City
The Owner Michelle is one of the kindest women GOD has created I Love her hospitality, her spirit is a blessing to be around Thank you 🙏🏽“

“I'm visiting from out of state, and I like to find places to eat that I don't have back home. I love loaded fries, so this was a no-brainer for me. I ordered the taco fries without jalapeños. The service was great, the presentation was gorgeous, and the taste was excellent. The fries themselves, aside from any toppings, are thick-cut, earthy-tasting, legitimate freshly-made from handcut potatoes. The toppings were generous and flavorful, and didn't taste generic or store-bought. 10/10 would recommend, and I hope to eat here again on future visits to the area!“

“My husband Jeff and I(Terry) had the best Valentine's Dayy!! Your wings, your service, Food is amazing. Our standards are very high and appreciate all you do for our community!!! Happy Valentine's Day From the Vagell's!! ❤️“

“I think that the concept and menu are good. The drawback from my point of view is that it smells a lot like food inside the establishment. They should solve that if it is not too much to ask and perhaps explain a little more specifically how to order and pay for the food in the establishment. restaurant, I think the young women do a good job.“

“We love max burger. We've been going here for years but on this trip, we took our 9 month old. We brought peaches for him since he's not eating off the menu yet. And he proceeded to make a huge mess. Our waitress, Molly, was so sweet and said it was totally fine. They're a family restaurant. All of the staff were super sweet to our baby, and it was a really great experience.“

“AMAZING we will miss him after his stellar career!“

“Best latkes that I’ve ever had!“

“Ordered the baked stuffed shrimp, crab cakes, steak tips and chicken. Absolutely amazing, taste is unreal and perfect portion for my husband and I. We also ordered a few more items and can’t wait to try. Krafted Kitchen will be part of our weekly dinners.“