OrangeSquirrel's Profile
Papa Ginos
Glad you liked it, joe777cool! I grew up in the same town as the Papa Gino headquarters. I thoroughly enjoy their pizza (and cheese breadsticks)! Domino's and Papa John’s are inedible. Pizza Hut is eh. I now live in West Hartford, CT, and there isn’t a PG anywhere in the vicinity… except for Windsor Locks. I dropped my boyfriend off at the airport yesterday, and was thrilled to pick-up a cheese pizza and breadsticks on my way back home! Typically, I get pizza from Harry’s, Luna, Barb’s, etc. in CT (or Regina’s, Upper Crust, etc. in MA).
Damon's Tavern-Prospect Ave, Hartford, Ct
My boyfriend and I went to Damon’s last night and had a really great time.
- VENUE: The build out is fabulous – huge bar, good-size dining area, small stage with “dance floor” in the back (our server said they plan to have live music on Saturday nights). TVs everywhere (including outside along the front of the building!).
- FOOD: Ordered sweet ginger soy boneless wings to split, BLT for me (avocado was green and fresh – a tasty addition), lobster/shrimp/scallops mac & cheese for him. All delicious. So much on the menu that I look forward to trying! Oh, and our server did mention they had a meeting on the Monte Cristo – response to it is 50/50 – and they’re deciding how to handle it.
- SERVICE: It was very busy but we were seated right away. Service was excellent. Seated next to us appeared to be one of the owners/partners. Very kind and wanted to make sure we enjoyed our meal. The Exec Chef even came out to ask how everything was, and during our conversation he let us know everything is fresh and prepared on site (boneless wings cut there, sauces prepared by the chefs, etc.). He then sent out warm cookies and ice cream for dessert! Very nice.
- ATMOSPHERE: Crowd was varied – families, college kids, young professionals, older couples. It was lively and entertaining, but we were totally relaxed and comfortable.
Anyway, we found everything about this new spot to be fabulous and plan to visit many, many times. A must try for anyone looking for a new place to eat around West Hartford, or a great place to catch a game. Can’t wait for the patio seating this summer!
Spicy Green Bean deli, Glastonbury CT
I have to agree with the original poster - I think the Spicy Green Bean Deli is fabulous! I work in Glastonbury, and visited for lunch with a co-worker about one month ago. The venue is small and the atmosphere is relaxed, almost… "rustic" in a way (only term I can think of to describe it). The menu is incredible. Lots of inspired and creative sandwiches and specials. I simply had a turkey sandwich with some toppings, and it was very good... the meat was thinly shredded, the bread was great, the spicy green bean that came on the side (instead of a pickle) was unique. I think my co-worker had tuna fish, which she enjoyed. Our waitress was friendly and the service was good. I have been back twice for sandwiches to-go: a deviled egg salad on a hard roll (one of the best I have ever had) and a chicken salad on a hard roll (which I’ve probably only had a couple times in my life, but since the egg salad was so good I thought I would try their “famous” chicken salad…. it was EXCELLENT). Their prices are reasonable, which is more than I can say for some other delis in the area (the short-lived Pickles was highway robbery). I am so happy there is a great lunch option in the area and look forward to trying some more deli staples (pastrami, etc.) and getting adventurous with some offerings on their “Kooky Konkoctions” menu. Oh, and they have BYOB dinners Thursday-Saturday with no corkage fee, and will soon offer Saturday brunch (can’t wait!).
Cuvee - West Hartford, CT
I have been to Cuvee twice and I really like it! I live about five minutes away in West Hartford and noticed the new restaurant when I was across the street at Whole Foods one evening. My boyfriend and I put it on our list to try, and visited at the end of July, and again mid-August. We had a great time on both nights! Even though they offer only “small plates,” we made a dinner out of the food options on each visit.
The décor and atmosphere are unlike anything in the area – a real loungey, chic and comfortable space. Almost like something you would find in Manhattan or Miami (and to note: I didn’t think I would ever like this type of atmosphere as it doesn’t seem my “style”… that is until I went to Miami last year and had a blast). There are low, plush sofas and chairs, areas separated by tall, flowing curtains, and high top tables and chairs around the bar.
The first time we visited on a Sunday night, and it was pretty empty (only two other parties). We sat at the bar and conversed with the bartender, who was terrific – nice, funny, made some great recommendations. The owner was also there, and he was friendly and welcoming. We both drank various glasses of red wine on this visit (Malbec, Tempranillo, Zinfandel and Shiraz – all pretty good). We ordered the potato crisps with gorgonzola to start and the recipe had changed since the opening – the potatoes were actually almost like steak fries or roasted spears (probably addressing the “soggy” problem with the previous crisps/chips set-up noted in the negative review joan_mar mentions). For my meal, I had a chopped salad that I enjoyed – good dressing, love crumbled blue cheese and garbanzo beans – but maybe could have used some more veggies and perhaps smaller pieces of lettuce. My boyfriend had the lobster mac and cheese, which he loved (I sampled it, and it was tasty).
On our second visit, we stopped in on a Saturday night and it was rather busy. We sat at a low table with large club chairs in the bar area. Our waitress was really friendly and the service was good. Again, I had red wine but my boyfriend stuck to beer. We split the mozzarella stuffed meatballs, which were perfectly seasoned and the sauce was great. I had a ham and cheese crepe for my meal, which was a bit disappointing as it was bland and a bit rubbery. My boyfriend was going to order a burger (which are small, served on English muffins), but he liked the lobster mac and cheese so much that he had to order again. We finished the meal with the sexy donuts, which was simply an angel food cake dish and was actually a bit stale (perhaps since, according to our server, we apparently got the last order available that night). I capped the night with a glass of Veuve champagne. Although my “meal” and dessert could have been better, I still had a great time.
My boyfriend and I both feel that the atmosphere is great, the portions fill us enough without feeling bloated, and the prices are decent. I look forward to returning! (Sorry for the lengthy review!)
Pickles Deli, Glastonbury, CT
I’ve read these boards for a while, and after purchasing a sandwich from Pickles, I felt compelled to create an account so I could share my experience. I could not agree more with kjazz06. I had been meaning to try Pickles for quite a while and headed there for lunch last week. I order a pastrami and cheese on a hard roll and was stunned when the tally came to over $10. I was told the sandwiches were very big and I could order a half-sandwich instead. The hard roll was not available in a half-sandwich option, so I switched to toasted rye bread. It cost over $7 (for a HALF sandwich) and when I got back to my office, I was shocked to see how miniscule the sandwich was… I ate it in practically two bites and was still starving. It tasted ok, but I was completely unsatisfied and felt totally ripped off. I won’t be heading back.
