50 Best American Restaurants near East Hartford

“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.“

“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!“

“My boyfriend & I recently visited WINGSPOT and we left thoroughly impressed. We ordered the Honey BBQ & Dry Rub wings with a side of Mexican Street Corn, and everything hit the spot: the wings were perfectly crispy with so much flavor. The Mexican Street Corn was delicious too, though it leaned a little heavy on the mayo for my personal taste.. I still enjoyed it thoroughly. Overall, a fantastic spot for wings done right, and we'll definitely be back!“

“God is so good!!! An absolutely blessing I found this place!!! The food is so worth it!!! I'm not from Connecticut but hands down the best food I've had in a very long time!!! So good!!! ♥️♥️♥️ The owner Con has the best attitude and make the experience a million times better!! You can taste the passion in the food! Just amazing 🙏“

“Hosted our Holiday Party here, amazing atmosphere, food & music!! Holly & Carmine are the best! Check them out ♥️“

“Flavorful food and a great atmosphere!“

“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.“

“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!“

“🥰 Excellent food. Dining experience.“

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

“Through the grapevine (social media pages I follow), we heard that Chef Van Hurd from Season 6 of Hell's Kitchen was now the executive chef here at Fire By Forge! So naturally, we pulled up to check it out! (Disclaimer: Chef told me that he was so new there that his featured items hadn't hit the menu at that time. ALSO, he's been long gone from there at the time of this review.) So anyway, here's how things went! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right in Hartford, just a little on the outskirts is this gem. It's on Broad street a little out the way and there is a very small parking lot next to the restaurant, but street parking is also available. The outside looks very well put together and rustic. Once inside the restaurant is kinda split into 2 sections. You have the main section which is nice, open with high ceilings, bright red bricks, big windows, soft leather couches and all kinds of seating arrangements. If you walk past the bar you get into a smaller section, but it's kinda like a tunnel of tables. Lol. That tunnel of tables then opens up into what almost looks like a different restaurant, but feels like a space they expanded into. So there's plenty of places to sit, though I still encourage reservations! The atmosphere was lively and full of energy. This place also lets you know that it's a cooking school too! Amateur chefs can come here to learn knife skills and cooking skills as well! (This is just a small snippet of what they do, but I encourage you to visit the businesses website to learn more about what they offer.) Service: Here's my only gripe about this place. Right online it says "Happy Hour is from 4:30 PM to 6 PM daily and 8pm-9pm, except on holidays, events, or show nights." But like, when isn't there a show or some sort of event going at at The Bushnell or some nearby theater?! You have to literally call and check with the host to see if they're doing happy hour before you come because if you THINK you're in the clear, they can just say... oh there's a show tonight so there will be no happy hour. So that bothered me. Oh well. We still dined. Now for the good stuff! Let me tell you something about Suzie Johnson! She is the bartender here and she won BARTENDER OF THE YEAR in 2024 via the Connecticut Restaurant Association! She is a TREAT! She's full of personality, knows her stuff and is just a true pleasure. Food: First off was the Up In Smoke Old Fashioned. It had great, subtle sweetness up front, warm taste from the Up & Down branded bourbon, cold, smooth, not too harsh and of course, a bit smokey. As a courtesy to guests, they're served pickled carrots as palate cleansers instead of bread, crisps or anything like that. Clever. The first small plate I got to try were the Duck Mole Wings! These are described as "5 crispy duck wings with a tequila mole barbecue sauce, served with sesame seeds and pickled onions. These certainly looked the part! These were smooth, not necessarily crispy, extremely tender, hardy and just balanced. Mole is a very ingredient-heavy sauce and these were delicious. My 2nd drink was the Ghost Rider which is Up & Down bourbon, spiced Nightrider espresso, Licor 43 and an orange twist. This had a sharp cinnamon/hazelnut/nutmeg flavor/spice-y flavor. Very good and warming as well, even though it was a little sweet. Next up was the Knife Skills Soup! This is a soup compiled by the trainees and all the vegetables they've chopped in class! How cool is that?! It was a very thick vegetable soup, hearty, salty and warm. Next up were the Tostone Nachos! These were so fantastic. The pulled pork on top was so meaty, so tender and the queso fresco was lightly cheesy adding subtle notes to the hearty pork and carb-y tostone. This was my favorite thing of the night. My last drink of the night was the Sazerac. If absinthe is in the building, I must try that restaurant's version. This one was spectacular, but could've used more rye bourbon. The last thing we had to try was their Smash“

“Tasty food, but the service is lacking. My food came out wrong (the sever admitted it was wrong) and then she didn't key in a new entree so I had to wait 20 minutes before a new entree arrived. All of the other guests at my table were finishing up their food and they cleared everyone's plate as they put my fresh plate down. I felt very rushed. The service really took away from the dining experience.“

“The seafood, the atmosphere and our server, Amanda“

“I would be there right now if they still had the chicken parm sandwich“

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

“The food here is delicious and thoughtfully prepared. The owner is very friendly and the staff make the dining experience here a pleasure. Would definitely recommend this restaurant.“

“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!“

“First-time customers at Ryan’s Sports Bar and we were seriously impressed. The atmosphere was welcoming and fun from the moment we walked in. The French Onion soup was absolutely amazing, the wings were cooked to perfection, and the shredded pork nachos were packed with flavor. And those Margaritas… on point! We had a great experience all around and would definitely recommend 👍🏼👍🏼“

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

“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!“

“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❤️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“I just went to Country Kitchen and bought 2 chili cheese hot dogs for my co-worker and myself, it was "hot dog" day after all :-) Our office staff has gone there many times and loves the food. The mom and her son, Dave are so sweet! Nice to see a family business. Not only do you get GREAT food, but great service with a smile! Can't ask for more......Thanks for being right down the street from us!!“

“Great food and very friendly staff. A real classic Northeastern diner, with all the right looks inside and outside. Highly recommend this place!“

“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!“

“Stopped in for a very last minute birthday dinner. The staff quickly accommodated a large group (with kids) no problem. Food and service was excellent and the live music really made the night. We were very impressed. Thanks for a memorable night.“

“Visiting my home state of Connecticut led me to stop in at Shady Glen’s for a bite to eat before going up to Storrs to watch the Women’s Basketball Champions take on Villanova. Emma was a 💎 gem. Her hospitality was warm and she made me feel like it hadn’t been 20 years since I last visited.
For anyone who hasn’t stopped in a while, you won’t be disappointed.“

“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!“

“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.“

“GREAT FOOD, FAST SERVICE!“

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

“Red Rock Tavern is the hidden gem of Hartford—warm energy, great people, and a vibe that always hits. If you’re stepping out on a Saturday, the 90s Karaoke Sip & Paint is the move. Nostalgia, creativity, and good music in one room… it’s the perfect way to elevate your weekend.“

“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.“

“Great atmosphere. Food is delicious - great flavor and not cooked in seed oils. Love the energy of the restaurant.“

“This is my first time at the place, and I'm writing a review five minutes after sitting down to eat my food. First of all, everyone who works here is awesome. Special shout out to chef Foster, I think that's his name. He served up a great meal and entertained with his great personality.“

“Max Burger is a good solid choice for burgers and salads. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting and the staff friendly and accommodating.

The food is quite good with a nice selection of burgers along with protein alternatives like tuna and turkey. They also have vegan options should that be your jam. Salads a good but they have slowly gotten smaller over time. One can assume this is to keep profit margins solid. What is nice is they source from many local suppliers.

They offer a decent selection of drafts as well cocktails and NA selections.

When in the mood for a good burger add this option to your list.“

“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!! ❤️“

“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,“

“Went for my first time and holy hell, these wings are great! Got the smoked ones with garlic sweet chili and honey chipotle flavors, and both were amazing! The texture is really good, and while they’re a little on the smaller side, i just wanted more. The philly rolls were also pretty good, and the drinks were solid and reasonably priced. Gonna be introducing more people to this place for sure.“

“Best latkes that I’ve ever had!“

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

“The food Is pretty good. The service isn't bad. It's just a bit unorganized and quite slow. They only accept cash, but they do have a ATM area. You can differently have a conversation and talk.It's in a church cafeteria. I would encourage. Trying to at least once. The turkey wings are my favorite from this location.“

“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.“

“excellent food stuff. fresh prepared with good taste which vibes you for good startup.for a days work.“

“Fast and friendly service. Able to change menu items to suit individual taste“

“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)“

“My first time here and definitely won't be my last. Servers were so friendly, food was outstanding, and very clean restaurant“

“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!“

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

“Gina and the staff were so helpful and accommodating with our baby shower, they even got up on a ladder to help hang decorations! Beautiful venue, view and food, great place for a private party“

“Great pizza ! And quesadillas“