Pond House Café: Fine Dining in the Park
Located near beautiful Elizabeth Park, the Pond House is a great destination for lunch, dinner, or a special occasion. The menu changes with the seasons, so your dining experience is incorporated into the environment. The duck confit quesadilla is a popular dish for lunch, as is the chicken wrap with sweet potato fries. Both small eaters and big can be catered to at the Pond House. For dinner, you can get a small plate of crab cakes, steamed mussels, and other favorites. The large plates also deliver large flavors, with signature dishes like BBQ meatloaf, lobster gnocchi, and rack of lamb. The pastry chef will satisfy your sweet tooth with interesting items like a deconstructed carrot cake and chocolate mousse crunch cake. The Pond House Café is open for lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays, and for brunch on Sundays.
Pond House Café
1555 Asylum Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117
(860) 231-8823
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pond-house-cafe-west-hartford
O’Porto: Taste Portuguese Cuisine
Located in Parkville, O’Porto offers authentic Portuguese cuisine in a casual setting. Come for lunch or happy hour and try the amazing sangria, made with red, white, or sparkling wine. Try the different Paelhas, which can be made for one or two. Happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. is famous for its drink specials – buy one glass of wine or sangria, and get the second free! Also all appetizers are half-price. Portuguese dinner favorites include the seafood bouillabaisse and the clams with chourico sausage. And there’s nothing like an opportunity to get a paelha, with so much tasty seafood, you might think you landed in the ocean! Don’t miss the chef’s Pudim flan, a family recipe that always gets great reviews.
O’Porto
2074 Park Street
Hartford, CT 06117
(860) 233-3184
http://www.yelp.com/biz/o-porto-hartford
Angelina’s Pizzeria: Big Slices
Angelino’s is committed to bringing its customers great pizza and great value. An excellent place to eat in or take out, the grinders and hot sandwiches use only the finest meats, cheeses and breads. Eating healthy? Then choose from Angelino’s salad selections. But don’t forget about the pie! Try one of Angelino’s specialty pizzas, or go traditional with cheese and sauce. Sizes range from personal to party size, so everybody can get their own selection, or share. And go for a slice that’s so big, it looks like two! One huge slice is only $2.75 – now that is a value! Angelina’s Pizzeria is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m. and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Angelino’s Pizzeria
41 Prospect Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 232-4080
http://www.yelp.com/biz/angelinas-pizza-west-hartford-2
Two-For-One Entrees At Max Restaurant Group Locations on April 17
Max Restaurant Group takes the sting out of Tax Day April 17, with two-for-one entrees all day at its eight locations: Max a Mia, Max Amore, Max Burger, Max Downtown, Max Fish, Max's Oyster Bar, Max's Tavern and Trumbull Kitchen.
Some restrictions: Promotion applicable to entrees only on parties of 2 or more. Not available for take-out orders or private parties. Discount will be applied to the lower priced entree. An 18 percent gratuity will be added to the pre-discounted amount of check.
The Restaurant on 20: An Apex of Fine Dining
On the 20th floor of the old Hartford Steam Boiler Building is a place that serves great food and a wonderful view: the Restaurant on 20! Make reservations, and plan to enjoy a one of a kind dining experience. The folks at The Restaurant on 20 believe in using local produce, prepared with passion. And you'll love the results. Come for lunch and try a soup and petite sandwich, and continue with a main course or go right to the lunch dessert menu. Perhaps a cheese plate is more your style, with a great selection of local and imported items which go great with Restaurant on 20’s fantastic wine list. Friday dinner selections include classically prepared favorites, and dessert shouldn’t be missed. The Restaurant on 20 is open Mondays through Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m., and Friday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Restaurant on 20
400 Columbus Boulevard
20th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 722-5161
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-restaurant-on-20-hartford
Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt
Pinkberry opens Friday, March 30 in the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk, 501 Evergreen Way, South Windsor.
The frozen-yogurt chain also has stores in West Hartford, Fairfield and Greenwich. New England stores are currently serving a seasonal peach flavor, along with the tart "original," coconut, pomegranate, chocolate and salted caramel.
Pinkberry is open Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Information: 860-644-0288, pinkberry.com.
Arch Street Tavern: Classic Pub
Located downtown across the street from the Convention Center, the Arch Street Tavern is the ideal place to meet and greet with old and new friends. Grab a beer at the bar – there’s plenty to choose from! Tapped beers range from national labels to local microbrews. And there’s always a monthly special. The specialty drinks are pretty special, or get a glass of wine. The menu features classic pub food: great apps, big salads, tasty burgers, sandwiches, and wraps. Try the Irish nachos, made with thin sliced potatoes. Check out the wings, especially the ones made “Arch-style,” with a secret ingredient. Stay awhile and enjoy the great local bands that play at the Arch. For local flavor, the Arch Street Tavern is hard to beat!
Arch Street Tavern
85 Arch Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 246-7610
http://www.yelp.com/biz/arch-street-tavern-hartford
Salute: Friendly Italian Fare Downtown
If you’re looking for a spot with great atmosphere and cuisine, look no further than Salute. Located in downtown Hartford, Salute is the perfect place for a business lunch, happy hour with friends, or a great dinner in a casual setting. Come in for lunch start off with the garlic cheese bread; it's made fresh daily and always delicious. Go for an entrée, or maybe a signature homemade sandwich. Happy hour in Salute's bar and patio is a great place to meet friends and try a specialty drink and half-price starters. For dinner, the pasta entrées can all be substituted with gluten-free varieties. Order something from the grill, or go for the house specials that always get high marks from diners. Get a biscotti plate to take home! Salute is open Sundays through Fridays for lunch, happy hour and dinner, and Saturdays for dinner.
Salute
100 Trumbull Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 899-1350
http://www.yelp.com/biz/salute-hartford
Vito’s By the Park: Relax Downtown With Traditional Italian
Complete with a spectacular view of Bushnell Park, Vito’s offers traditional upscale Italian dining. This is your oasis on the downtown scene—during the day, huge windows bathe you in sunlight, while after dark you have a front-row seat for Hartford’s buzzing nightlife. (If you miss that park view during dinner, just turn your head; one wall of the restaurant is a scenic green mural.) Start relaxing with a succulent lettuce-and-berry salad with delicately balanced raspberry dressing, followed by juicy prosciutto-wrapped shrimp, cooked to perfection. Pizzas stand tall among the stiff local competition; the gigantic Chicago-style meat pizza (meatball, pepperoni, sausage, and bacon) might out-muscle the Windy City itself! Vito’s boasts an excellent raw bar, a detailed-yet-manageable wine list, and a generous happy hour from 4 – 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Vito’s By the Park
26 Trumbull Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 244-2200
www.vitosct.com/park
Ring In The Lunar New Year At P.F. Changs
Ring in the Lunar New Year – and the Year of the Dragon – at PF Chang's. Dine Jan. 23 through Feb. 6, and receive a "red envelope" good for a future visit. Each envelope contains a discount from 10 to 50 percent, or a free appetizer or dessert.
Envelopes are only valid when opened by a server or manager. Discounts and free items are redeemable through Mar. 4. See pfchangs.com for official rules.
PF Chang's also offers a specialty "Dragon Punch" cocktail for the holiday: a sweet/spicy blend of dragonfruit-flavored vodka, Tsingtao lager, strawberry puree, lemon juice, and a bit of sriracha sauce for heat.
PF Chang's is at the Westfarms Mall and Stamford Town Center. pfchangs.com.
Equal Housing Opportunity