The place is absolutely adorable! Friendly, welcoming staff! Love the menu options! If you’re in the area, stop in! You won’t be disappointed!
Katherine Michelle
Dante and the crew hosted the Wolf Pack Booster Club and the Providence Bruins Fan Club for family dinner yesterday! It was awesome. The food was amazing, the service was awesome and the experience was great. I appreciated that they were able to accomodate a large group before a big game. Awesome Cheeseburger pizza as always!! The garlic knots and the meatballs were also amazing!
Audrey Dawn
We went to the pub for a very late lunch today and the experience was fantastic! Food were so good and they were priced very reasonably. Staff were very friendly and the quality of the service was wonderful! We will be back!
Samantha M.
This places has closed down 2 months ago....went out of business odd type of restaurant for the area
Jeff Roeser
Eclectic cuisine in a modern and clean setting. Seems to lack identity. Friendly staff and beer selection was above average, lots of cans too.
Robert H.
This place should be commended on their design for the business. The design is pleasant and modern without being overwhelmingly severe. The menu design and content is well thought-out. They seem to be prepared to do business in West Hartford -- a tough crowd, that one. Now, we love a dive bar as much as anyone else -- we've been "first to review" for many of the ones local to us. The problem is that this is a dive bar dressed in sheep's clothing. That is why I think they're so confused. The staff drinks. We like that; 'cause we've been known to imbibe frequently and with gusto. The problem is, true bar people can drink and still conduct business. These folks don't pass muster. If we were bar owners, we'd certainly allow the staff to drink with the customers (many people, especially Mr. Taffer of "Bar Rescue" fame, feel that a zero-tolerance policy is better, but we differ). The problem with this place is there was too much drinking going on. One employee, who left just before we did, gave rise to concern on our part because she teetered out of the restaurant with her car keys jingling and her shrill, drunken whiny voice following her. We've endured waits for cocktails while the bartender drunk-dials her friends on an I-phone. We waited for food while the manager drank beer in the kitchen with the staff. And the worst part is that for all our efforts to try to like this place, the place did not like us. The last straw was when we requested a water re-fill from a staffer who told us "I'll get your server to do that for you." There were three other tables filled in the restaurant, and a handful at the bar. Come on. We gave 'em some time to get the "new business" kinks out. We decided that we'd rather seek out a real dive bar than one dressed-up to compete with Plan B and the other see-and-be-seen places in West Hartford.
Wil H.
Disappointing appetizers ! They tasted frozen ! Over cooked. i wouldn't have served them ! We made them aware that the apps were awful. Bar service fair. Won't be back anytime soon
Anna L.
Very overpriced. Salad without anything $8-10, and when you add chicken, beef or fish it will add another $6 to $10 (Lunch menu). The beef was extremely salty and I had to return it. The server was great though, she tried all she could to help us. That is why I gave it two stars instead of one.
Linda R.
Definitely a cute restaurant! We love trying new restaurants so when I saw a groupon I thought perfect! Doesn't look like much from the outside but so cute inside. The staff was very friendly and the manager was very attentive. I think the only down side is they have people serving craft beers that are not really bartenders....we asked our waitress about different beers that we had never heard of and her response was hmmm not sure. Unfortunately she couldn't even tell us what they had on draft. The food was very good....we would definitely go back again.
Have already been back again. The tomato gazpacho and watermelon gazpacho were absolutely wonderful! Had the clams again {to die for} and a Caesar salad. Everything was great and the service was excellent - helpful, warm and friendly. Just right! We are recommending this place to all our friends!
Tony M.
Nice place inside. I got to check out the chicken sandwich and it seemed pretty good. This serves an American contemporary style menu with a South East Asian influence (the chef himself is from there). The menu sounds mouth watering. Their specials get updated every so often as well as their craft beer selection. The staff is super friendly, and they have intern chefs helping out. The bartender Andy is pretty well versed in food and drink. They have a strawberry soaked skirt steak, a crab and chorizo gumbo and some delicious desserts I need to try next.
Mickey Z.
We tried this place twice and were disappointed both times. Once in the evening they were out of some apps we ordered the gnocchi came drowning in canned vodka sauce. The bartender was spraying windex all over the bar while we were still sitting there. Then we tried once more for brunch. The waiter was stoned we are pretty sure and messed up everything and kept forgetting to check on us. the feta in the omelet was not melted at all and the home fries were potato chunks not cooked all the way though. the steak for steak and eggs was thin and all fat. We won't be back.
Murlo R.
Here's the short story. Pros: Brownstone is attentive to its food and drink. The price point is reasonable. This place has great potential to be a modern neighborhood gem in the Park Rd. section of West Hatford that boasts the original Plan B around the corner. Cons: The timing of food from the kitchen is slow and untimely. The restaurant lighting is contradicted by obnoxious fluorescent lighting pouring out of an industrial wannabe-theater kitchen. It's also at an early crossroads and unsure of what it wants to be. At one moment the environment has a vibe with a thoughtful music choices. The next moment loud whistles from a hockey game on the bar TV. Recommendation: Be patient. Be forgiving. Give it a chance. Its potential is achievable. Food: The clams and sausage could become a signature dish worthy of Food TV. The other appetizers vary from light Vietnamese-style rolls to a stuffed Caprese style tomato. The salads are inventive and the chef loves bacon, which for some is a magic ingredient. The eclectic menu features lamb, fish tacos, and other unexpected choices. There is great potential. The menu cold benefit from some smaller plates and apps that are less than $9. Drink: Beer choices respond to micro-brew trends. Wines cater, uniquely, to Connecticut wineries that, in their defense source most of their grapes from elsewhere. The results are surprisingly good and responsibly local. A late-night happy hour and bar menu could gain a following. There are no "specialty" drinks and that's OK because to include them would appear to be an afterthought. Maybe in the future with a proper mixologist. Decor: There is a mix of exposed cement in the dining area and glass tile behind the bar. The lighting relies on modern pendants. There is a long 15 seat light wood bar. Together the features offer a cold atmosphere that could be balanced with warm influences. However, as noted above, there is an open kitchen that is as hideous as it is distracting. Adding insult to injury, there is a lit iridescent knee wall that probably looked great on paper. But the wooden studs and wiring are visible through its backlight. It's interesting, in theory, and fixable to result in the desired effect. But do the owners have the perspective to recognize these problems and the vision to fix them? Atmosphere: The narrow space is dominated by the exposed kitchen that takes up at least 30% of the space. Bulk-sized plastic seasoning containers (like the ones from Costco) are visible as well as the dish washing ante-room. Brownstone owners should visit places like Bricco, Republic, or Tarry Lodge to see how an open kitchen can serve as an asset to a place and not a liability. Also, Brownstone needs to decide what it wants to be: a local gastro-pub with a laid back music vibe or a make-shift sports bar with incompatible food choices. Staff: The staff is friendly and eager to accommodate customers. There is potential for this place to be the kind where staff and customers become familiar - a pleasant combination for a place that does not rely on wings and burgers. Service: Servers are talented and mean well. But, like any place, they are guided by the management. There continues to be unresolved communication issues between the dining room and the kitchen. Food arrives late, wrong, and out of sequence. Clearly problems in the kitchen flow persist. This must be frustrating for the server staff, yet they handle it professionally. I want this place to survive and believe that it can; it just needs to focus on resolving its inconsistencies and perhaps eliciting some feedback from customers beyond "how was your dinner".
Karen G.
Briana, our server, knows her stuff, suggesting beer choices to meet our palate and accurate food descriptions so no one is taken off guard. Of course, I had to have the warm caprese app, this alone would make one return to Brownstone! The giant scallops were succulent and perfectly paired with a truffle risotto and fried leek curls. The salmon was done just as I asked and the baby bok choy is a nice selection on its side. We tried the margarita flatbread (1/2) app as well. Substantial and cheesier than expected, drizzled with balsamic yet not a shining star. We had 6:30 res, got in a bit early and were seated immediately so a res would not have been needed although the place filled up as we dined, so why not, right? The Brownstone is a smaller place done with charm and is a foodie's treasure.
Chef Cory is the
Food: 5
Service: 5
The place is absolutely adorable! Friendly, welcoming staff! Love the menu options! If you’re in the area, stop in! You won’t be disappointed!
Dante and the crew hosted the Wolf Pack Booster Club and the Providence Bruins Fan Club for family dinner yesterday! It was awesome. The food was amazing, the service was awesome and the experience was great. I appreciated that they were able to accomodate a large group before a big game. Awesome Cheeseburger pizza as always!! The garlic knots and the meatballs were also amazing!
We went to the pub for a very late lunch today and the experience was fantastic! Food were so good and they were priced very reasonably. Staff were very friendly and the quality of the service was wonderful! We will be back!
This places has closed down 2 months ago....went out of business odd type of restaurant for the area
Eclectic cuisine in a modern and clean setting. Seems to lack identity. Friendly staff and beer selection was above average, lots of cans too.
This place should be commended on their design for the business. The design is pleasant and modern without being overwhelmingly severe. The menu design and content is well thought-out. They seem to be prepared to do business in West Hartford -- a tough crowd, that one. Now, we love a dive bar as much as anyone else -- we've been "first to review" for many of the ones local to us. The problem is that this is a dive bar dressed in sheep's clothing. That is why I think they're so confused. The staff drinks. We like that; 'cause we've been known to imbibe frequently and with gusto. The problem is, true bar people can drink and still conduct business. These folks don't pass muster. If we were bar owners, we'd certainly allow the staff to drink with the customers (many people, especially Mr. Taffer of "Bar Rescue" fame, feel that a zero-tolerance policy is better, but we differ). The problem with this place is there was too much drinking going on. One employee, who left just before we did, gave rise to concern on our part because she teetered out of the restaurant with her car keys jingling and her shrill, drunken whiny voice following her. We've endured waits for cocktails while the bartender drunk-dials her friends on an I-phone. We waited for food while the manager drank beer in the kitchen with the staff. And the worst part is that for all our efforts to try to like this place, the place did not like us. The last straw was when we requested a water re-fill from a staffer who told us "I'll get your server to do that for you." There were three other tables filled in the restaurant, and a handful at the bar. Come on. We gave 'em some time to get the "new business" kinks out. We decided that we'd rather seek out a real dive bar than one dressed-up to compete with Plan B and the other see-and-be-seen places in West Hartford.
Disappointing appetizers ! They tasted frozen ! Over cooked. i wouldn't have served them ! We made them aware that the apps were awful. Bar service fair. Won't be back anytime soon
Very overpriced. Salad without anything $8-10, and when you add chicken, beef or fish it will add another $6 to $10 (Lunch menu). The beef was extremely salty and I had to return it. The server was great though, she tried all she could to help us. That is why I gave it two stars instead of one.
Definitely a cute restaurant! We love trying new restaurants so when I saw a groupon I thought perfect! Doesn't look like much from the outside but so cute inside. The staff was very friendly and the manager was very attentive. I think the only down side is they have people serving craft beers that are not really bartenders....we asked our waitress about different beers that we had never heard of and her response was hmmm not sure. Unfortunately she couldn't even tell us what they had on draft. The food was very good....we would definitely go back again.
Restaurantji Recommends
Have already been back again. The tomato gazpacho and watermelon gazpacho were absolutely wonderful! Had the clams again {to die for} and a Caesar salad. Everything was great and the service was excellent - helpful, warm and friendly. Just right! We are recommending this place to all our friends!
Nice place inside. I got to check out the chicken sandwich and it seemed pretty good. This serves an American contemporary style menu with a South East Asian influence (the chef himself is from there). The menu sounds mouth watering. Their specials get updated every so often as well as their craft beer selection. The staff is super friendly, and they have intern chefs helping out. The bartender Andy is pretty well versed in food and drink. They have a strawberry soaked skirt steak, a crab and chorizo gumbo and some delicious desserts I need to try next.
We tried this place twice and were disappointed both times. Once in the evening they were out of some apps we ordered the gnocchi came drowning in canned vodka sauce. The bartender was spraying windex all over the bar while we were still sitting there. Then we tried once more for brunch. The waiter was stoned we are pretty sure and messed up everything and kept forgetting to check on us. the feta in the omelet was not melted at all and the home fries were potato chunks not cooked all the way though. the steak for steak and eggs was thin and all fat. We won't be back.
Here's the short story. Pros: Brownstone is attentive to its food and drink. The price point is reasonable. This place has great potential to be a modern neighborhood gem in the Park Rd. section of West Hatford that boasts the original Plan B around the corner. Cons: The timing of food from the kitchen is slow and untimely. The restaurant lighting is contradicted by obnoxious fluorescent lighting pouring out of an industrial wannabe-theater kitchen. It's also at an early crossroads and unsure of what it wants to be. At one moment the environment has a vibe with a thoughtful music choices. The next moment loud whistles from a hockey game on the bar TV. Recommendation: Be patient. Be forgiving. Give it a chance. Its potential is achievable. Food: The clams and sausage could become a signature dish worthy of Food TV. The other appetizers vary from light Vietnamese-style rolls to a stuffed Caprese style tomato. The salads are inventive and the chef loves bacon, which for some is a magic ingredient. The eclectic menu features lamb, fish tacos, and other unexpected choices. There is great potential. The menu cold benefit from some smaller plates and apps that are less than $9. Drink: Beer choices respond to micro-brew trends. Wines cater, uniquely, to Connecticut wineries that, in their defense source most of their grapes from elsewhere. The results are surprisingly good and responsibly local. A late-night happy hour and bar menu could gain a following. There are no "specialty" drinks and that's OK because to include them would appear to be an afterthought. Maybe in the future with a proper mixologist. Decor: There is a mix of exposed cement in the dining area and glass tile behind the bar. The lighting relies on modern pendants. There is a long 15 seat light wood bar. Together the features offer a cold atmosphere that could be balanced with warm influences. However, as noted above, there is an open kitchen that is as hideous as it is distracting. Adding insult to injury, there is a lit iridescent knee wall that probably looked great on paper. But the wooden studs and wiring are visible through its backlight. It's interesting, in theory, and fixable to result in the desired effect. But do the owners have the perspective to recognize these problems and the vision to fix them? Atmosphere: The narrow space is dominated by the exposed kitchen that takes up at least 30% of the space. Bulk-sized plastic seasoning containers (like the ones from Costco) are visible as well as the dish washing ante-room. Brownstone owners should visit places like Bricco, Republic, or Tarry Lodge to see how an open kitchen can serve as an asset to a place and not a liability. Also, Brownstone needs to decide what it wants to be: a local gastro-pub with a laid back music vibe or a make-shift sports bar with incompatible food choices. Staff: The staff is friendly and eager to accommodate customers. There is potential for this place to be the kind where staff and customers become familiar - a pleasant combination for a place that does not rely on wings and burgers. Service: Servers are talented and mean well. But, like any place, they are guided by the management. There continues to be unresolved communication issues between the dining room and the kitchen. Food arrives late, wrong, and out of sequence. Clearly problems in the kitchen flow persist. This must be frustrating for the server staff, yet they handle it professionally. I want this place to survive and believe that it can; it just needs to focus on resolving its inconsistencies and perhaps eliciting some feedback from customers beyond "how was your dinner".
Briana, our server, knows her stuff, suggesting beer choices to meet our palate and accurate food descriptions so no one is taken off guard. Of course, I had to have the warm caprese app, this alone would make one return to Brownstone! The giant scallops were succulent and perfectly paired with a truffle risotto and fried leek curls. The salmon was done just as I asked and the baby bok choy is a nice selection on its side. We tried the margarita flatbread (1/2) app as well. Substantial and cheesier than expected, drizzled with balsamic yet not a shining star. We had 6:30 res, got in a bit early and were seated immediately so a res would not have been needed although the place filled up as we dined, so why not, right? The Brownstone is a smaller place done with charm and is a foodie's treasure.