I ordered shrimp and veggies. Originally I was told there wasn’t any available . Then the waiter came back told me there was. I took the order back home and it look like they just booked the shrimp and vegetables it wasn’t seasoned , it was bland and disgusting. I didn’t even eat and wasted my money. I will not be eating there again
Food: 1
Avonique Daron
I recently attended a family friend’s wedding at The Lions Den, and unfortunately the experience was very disappointing, especially considering they paid thousands of dollars for the event. The décor and setup were beautiful, but the service and professionalism from the staff were extremely poor. Several staff members were rude, unprofessional, and had attitudes toward guests. Even though this was supposed to be a private wedding event, the restaurant stayed open to the public. Customers kept walking in to pick up food and place orders in the middle of the event, which completely disrupted the atmosphere. The food was not worth the price at all. The oxtail was hard, the fried chicken was chewy, and some dishes were served cold without warmers. No appetizers were provided, even though they were part of the agreement. Guests sat for almost an hour and a half with nothing to drink. When guests asked about mimosas, the bartender claimed they had “already given two” and acted like giving one more was a problem, even though mimosas and fruit punch were included in the package. The fruit punch was a bitter mix of random juices, and even the water tasted off. Staff also started taking food to the back before guests could even make plates to bring home. The cake was cut into tiny pieces and guests were not offered any to take. Throughout the event, staff kept walking back and forth through the space, causing constant distraction. The DJ that was part of the package was never provided. Instead, someone played music from a phone on YouTube—including ads—until a guest stepped in and connected their own phone. The photographer also had no transportation, so the bride and groom had to provide a ride for them, which is completely unprofessional. To get to the back parking lot, guests had to walk through the kitchen, which was not ideal or sanitary. The venue itself was small, and although we were told there would be servers, food was brought out by three different people at different times with no gloves or protective gear. Eventually guests had to serve themselves because there was no organized serving area. Overall, this experience was not worth the money paid. The event felt disorganized, unprofessional, and stressful. You can definitely get a better value and better service elsewhere. Be careful and thoughtful about spending your money here — the beautiful decorations do not make up for the poor service and lack of professionalism.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Landon Vance
The Lions Den is a hidden gem. The staff made us feel like family, and every dish was perfectly seasoned. Can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Andrew Harris
Fantastic vegetarian food. Even if you're not vegetarian, you've got to try it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matthew Slowik
Lion's Den is a standout vendor in the hall! The vibe at their counter is warm and welcoming, and Will made the experience even better with his friendly, attentive service. We tried the samosas and the lentil patty — both were packed with flavor, clearly made with care, and maybe even a few family secrets in the recipe! Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or exploring the hall, Lion's Den is a must-visit. We’ll definitely be back for more!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cassandra Perrett-Manly
I had the vegan chicken patty and the veggie patty. They were so good! I went to the stand in Parkville Market in Hartford. It's so nice to eat good vegetarian food!
Josh Levey
A short walk from the heart of downtown Hartford, Lions Den serves some great vegetarian and vegan options (menu is pescatarian). Ordered the ital stew, tofu side, samosas, and meal came with a salad. Food was tasty and healthy. Ambiance is interesting; I came here on a Thursday evening and sat at the bar. The only people there were those working there and some guy messing with a sound system and blasting 90s/early 2000s music (super high volume, louder than one could have a conversation). Owner was very friendly and frequently checked in to see how the food was (it was good!), though never offered water.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jacqueline Perez
Omg! Excellent food, service and prices! Best pasta and lobster in all my years!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Demarco Morgan
I tried the veggie patty and it was delicious! Whether you're a vegetarian or just looking for a lighter option, it is a must-try! I'll definitely be back for more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sophia Gray
I had the pleasure of hosting my 60th Birthday celebration here with guests flying in from Houston Tx, Arizona, Florida, driving in from Boston, New Jersey and New York in addition to friends from surrounding areas and I am Still getting phone calls and text messages about how good the food was and how nice the atmosphere was. I personally can attest to the service which was top notch. Mrs Bell was on top of everything… even things I didn’t think about. The professionalism was top notch and I have no doubt I will be a repeat customer. I dare anyone to prove me wrong. #biguplionsdenrestsurant love you guys 🥰
Delicious Jamaican food in a beautiful space. I had the vegan ital stew, and I highly recommend. The staff was very friendly and explained the different dishes to us. This was the perfect spot to have dinner before a show at The Bushnell, and the theatre is within walking distance of the restaurant. Check it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Susana Dossantos
I stopped by today. First time customer. I will definitely be back. I had an amazing vegan meal. Very tasty and filling.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rahul
Pretty good spot with ambient dining. The food was great especially the Jamaica beef patty which is completely vegan. Overall a really good spot especially if you are a vegetarian/Vegan. They have a few Indian dishes as well that you must try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brahmdeep Singh
Amazing vegetarian spot which is very rare to see in Hartford. The vibe is perfect and the staff is really nice! The food is so good, I forget it's even vegetarian! Didn't know Jamaican cuisine had so many flavorful vegetarian options!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jorgens Remy
My second time here , and I couldn't have been more surprised...again! 😮 I had the Lentil soup, with Spinach Patty. I'm not a vegetarian and I like my regular beef patty but I loved the spinach veggie version. The soup was fantastic- Overall, great vegetarian food and people! Great place for gatherings and celebrations.
I ordered shrimp and veggies. Originally I was told there wasn’t any available . Then the waiter came back told me there was. I took the order back home and it look like they just booked the shrimp and vegetables it wasn’t seasoned , it was bland and disgusting. I didn’t even eat and wasted my money. I will not be eating there again
Food: 1
I recently attended a family friend’s wedding at The Lions Den, and unfortunately the experience was very disappointing, especially considering they paid thousands of dollars for the event.
The décor and setup were beautiful, but the service and professionalism from the staff were extremely poor. Several staff members were rude, unprofessional, and had attitudes toward guests. Even though this was supposed to be a private wedding event, the restaurant stayed open to the public. Customers kept walking in to pick up food and place orders in the middle of the event, which completely disrupted the atmosphere.
The food was not worth the price at all. The oxtail was hard, the fried chicken was chewy, and some dishes were served cold without warmers. No appetizers were provided, even though they were part of the agreement. Guests sat for almost an hour and a half with nothing to drink. When guests asked about mimosas, the bartender claimed they had “already given two” and acted like giving one more was a problem, even though mimosas and fruit punch were included in the package. The fruit punch was a bitter mix of random juices, and even the water tasted off.
Staff also started taking food to the back before guests could even make plates to bring home. The cake was cut into tiny pieces and guests were not offered any to take. Throughout the event, staff kept walking back and forth through the space, causing constant distraction.
The DJ that was part of the package was never provided. Instead, someone played music from a phone on YouTube—including ads—until a guest stepped in and connected their own phone. The photographer also had no transportation, so the bride and groom had to provide a ride for them, which is completely unprofessional.
To get to the back parking lot, guests had to walk through the kitchen, which was not ideal or sanitary. The venue itself was small, and although we were told there would be servers, food was brought out by three different people at different times with no gloves or protective gear. Eventually guests had to serve themselves because there was no organized serving area.
Overall, this experience was not worth the money paid. The event felt disorganized, unprofessional, and stressful. You can definitely get a better value and better service elsewhere. Be careful and thoughtful about spending your money here — the beautiful decorations do not make up for the poor service and lack of professionalism.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
The Lions Den is a hidden gem. The staff made us feel like family, and every dish was perfectly seasoned. Can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Fantastic vegetarian food. Even if you're not vegetarian, you've got to try it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lion's Den is a standout vendor in the hall! The vibe at their counter is warm and welcoming, and Will made the experience even better with his friendly, attentive service. We tried the samosas and the lentil patty — both were packed with flavor, clearly made with care, and maybe even a few family secrets in the recipe! Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or exploring the hall, Lion's Den is a must-visit. We’ll definitely be back for more!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the vegan chicken patty and the veggie patty. They were so good! I went to the stand in Parkville Market in Hartford. It's so nice to eat good vegetarian food!
A short walk from the heart of downtown Hartford, Lions Den serves some great vegetarian and vegan options (menu is pescatarian). Ordered the ital stew, tofu side, samosas, and meal came with a salad. Food was tasty and healthy. Ambiance is interesting; I came here on a Thursday evening and sat at the bar. The only people there were those working there and some guy messing with a sound system and blasting 90s/early 2000s music (super high volume, louder than one could have a conversation). Owner was very friendly and frequently checked in to see how the food was (it was good!), though never offered water.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Omg! Excellent food, service and prices! Best pasta and lobster in all my years!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I tried the veggie patty and it was delicious! Whether you're a vegetarian or just looking for a lighter option, it is a must-try! I'll definitely be back for more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the pleasure of hosting my 60th Birthday celebration here with guests flying in from Houston Tx, Arizona, Florida, driving in from Boston, New Jersey and New York in addition to friends from surrounding areas and I am Still getting phone calls and text messages about how good the food was and how nice the atmosphere was. I personally can attest to the service which was top notch. Mrs Bell was on top of everything… even things I didn’t think about. The professionalism was top notch and I have no doubt I will be a repeat customer. I dare anyone to prove me wrong. #biguplionsdenrestsurant love you guys 🥰
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Delicious Jamaican food in a beautiful space. I had the vegan ital stew, and I highly recommend. The staff was very friendly and explained the different dishes to us. This was the perfect spot to have dinner before a show at The Bushnell, and the theatre is within walking distance of the restaurant. Check it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I stopped by today. First time customer. I will definitely be back. I had an amazing vegan meal. Very tasty and filling.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pretty good spot with ambient dining. The food was great especially the Jamaica beef patty which is completely vegan. Overall a really good spot especially if you are a vegetarian/Vegan. They have a few Indian dishes as well that you must try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing vegetarian spot which is very rare to see in Hartford. The vibe is perfect and the staff is really nice! The food is so good, I forget it's even vegetarian! Didn't know Jamaican cuisine had so many flavorful vegetarian options!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My second time here , and I couldn't have been more surprised...again! 😮 I had the Lentil soup, with Spinach Patty. I'm not a vegetarian and I like my regular beef patty but I loved the spinach veggie version. The soup was fantastic- Overall, great vegetarian food and people! Great place for gatherings and celebrations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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