Recs near Hartford Convention Center

[kozel]

This October, knitters will be descending on Hartford for the annual Stitches East. This will be the first time Hartford will be hosting the event. I'm looking for dining recommendations in the immediate area of the downtown Marriott and convention center. Would anyone care to offer any advice? Your help is appreciated.

[jkuhlen]

I'd go with Peppercorns as a good place within walking distance. Food is great, although I find the service lacks on a busy night. You might want to share a cab and get to some of the other recs, though. Its not really a scary walk, but you want to be careful. Maybe have everybody bring their needles!

[jimn01]

The walk is a few blocks from the Convention center, but there is a free shuttle that circulates every few minutes between the Convention Center and downtown. I eat in downtown Hartford everyday for lunch and I eat dinners at least twice a week. My favorites are Spris (Consitution Plaza about 4 blocks) Northern Italian. Servers are appropriate (read not huge) and they make some great personal pizza's. Price $5.00 apps to $30.00 entrees.

For high end you have Max Downtown, and Morton's Steak House, although Mortons will run you serious Money. With the exception of the Steaks. most Max entrees under 30.00. Trumbull Kitchen is another part of the Max empire. Noisy in the bar area around Happy Hour. Interesting use of common ingredients, some dishes incorporate a little Asian Flair. Vito's is a stand by traditional Italian fare, with some very good pizza, perhaps the best raw bar in Hartford, and a selection of really good antipasti... you choose the items. Dulce is a new restaurant with a Portugese theme (as well as good ol American Italian. I like this place a lot. Blacked Sally's serves up some good barbecue and cajun and southern inspired dishes. There are Blues and Jazz bands at night.

For generic, but decent eating I like Mayor Mikes. Solid food, easy place to go with a group as everyone should find something to their liking. Meatloaf, burgers, saiads, are all good.

Vaughns Public House servers up very good Pub fare.

Two new places I really like as well, Tamarind Grill on Pratt St serves very good Thai and southeast Asian , I had a crispy fish last February that was second to none., I have eaten lunch and dinner there several times working my way through the curries and noodles. Across the street from them is Tanuki, a Japanese Noodle restaurant. (Noodle bowls, rice bowls etc). Excellent food. Under 15.00.

I also vote for Feng, and Koji (Yakotri and other Japanese dishes, and decent Sake bar).

Have fun... there are lots of good eats and many of Hartford Restaurants are doing Prix Fixe specials.. whether these last till October, who knows.

[aldente1]

I like Trubull Kitchen and Feng better than all of the other recommendations that you recieved. Trumbull Kitchen is on Trumbull St. and Feng is on Asylum Ave. If you want Italian food, Vito's on the Park (along side of Bushnell Park) is good.

[FoodieJim]

It would help if you could let us know what you consider a comfortable walk to be. The Convention Center was built in a "no-man's-land" with the expectation that an entertainment district would soon follow. It hasn't. Hartford has many fine and diverse dining options, but none are next door, or even a few short blocks away from the Convention Center. But many can be reached in 5 or so blocks, and others in 7-10 blocks. (As for Vivo's in the hotel, I am not a fan.)

Leaving the out of the "Columbus Blvd" exit of the hotel, if you walk left down Columbus, in a few blocks you come to Arch Street. The Arch Street Tavern is immediately on your left. Not fine dining, but decent pub/tavern grub. Walk all the way up Arch Street until you hit Main, and near the intersection of Arch and Main you will find Peppercorn's and Tinker's. Peppercorn's is a fairly upscale (not "red sauce and pizza") Italian with a nice wine list. Very good food and service, and a great bar. Tinkers is a very casual (in appearance) seafood place that has food that is about a step above its causal ambience.

If you take a right out of the hotel's exit you will quickly come to Grove Street. Walk all the way up Grove and you will hit Prospect Street. Turn right on Prospect and you will be heading toward the grounds of the Old State House. In that vicinity is Morton's. You know what you are getting at any Morton's, and the one in Hartford is no exception. If you bend to the right as you come to the Old State House grounds you will see (across a street) a series of stairways that lead up to a plaza. On that plaza you will find Spris (another decent Italian, but given the choice, I would go to Peppercorn's every time). In addition, the Hartford Steam Boiler building is accessed from the plaza, and there you will find On20. That is high end dining at its finest, if you want to break away for a special lunch.

Coming from Prospect Street and standing so as to face the Old State House, take a left and walk a block to the intersection of Pearl and Main. If you take a right on Main you will be heading directly for Dish (a contemporary American restaurant with a hip feel), as well as City Steam Brewery, Hartford's only Brew-pub. Good beer and food that ranges from standard pub grup to slightly more adventurous dining.

These are the best recommendations that I can give you for a 4 or so block walk from the Convention Center. If you and your friends are comfortable with a longer walk, let us know and we can give you the virtual tour of the Trumbull Street area which adds several more choices. Also, there is a free shuttle that zips around Hartford called the Star Shuttle. It makes stops at the Convention Center, but I am not sure the hours. Try to Google it and see what you can find out. That is an easy (but slow, as it makes just one, circular route around the city) way to get around. Keep in mind that it will get dark early in October, so all of your dinner walking will be in the dark, if that concerns you. The routes that I have given you to all of the places above are ones that I would have no problem recommending to seasoned urban visitors. But for people who feel a bit more vulnerable, common sense should prevail. These areas of Hartford are generally safe, especially between 6:00 and 9:00. But now a day, one can never be too careful.

[kubasd]

Granted, I haven't been in Hartford for years (I moved away for years and only recently moved back), but I remember Franklin's Giant Subs serving excellent eggplant parmesan subs, and all my friends back their sliced on the spot italian meat subs...

[FoodieJim]

A) Not within walking distance;
B) Not on the shuttle route; and
C) More of a lunch spot. People going to conferences during the day don't really have time to break away for extended periods of time for lunch. I assume the OP is seeking dinner options.

[kozel]

You're right in that a long lunch is not the object. Actually, I won't be there but the better half will be. I'm making the query for her behalf. From experience, she'll try to bag lunch and she will have a car. We're talking knitters here but I know she will want her glass of wine; so 'pubish' food is not off base. Thanks to all for your assistance.

[JayCT]

Arch Street Tavern is right across the street from the Convention Center. It is very good. They will have the wine your firend desires and is about as close to the convention center as you will get. Jay

[Scargod]

Check out my map on Google: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&...
I don't go into Hartford that often (so I've only eaten at a handful of the places), but the map has been generated mostly from Chowhound's recommendations and it will give you a good idea of proximity.

[chowmensch]

I agree with Katty's list. I disagree with Thos on Vivo though. I thought it was quite good the couple of times I was there but admittedly I haven't been in a while so things may have changed. I would add Max Downtown, Vito's By the Park and Trumbull Kitchen.

[JayCT]

I would also add Arch Street Tavern to the list. It is located on Arch Street just across from the Convention Center. It is more pub and casual food but it is pretty good. Another good one is Peppercorns on Main Street. Great food. Jay

[chowmensch]

Gee, for some reason, I forgot one of Hartford's best restaurants, On 20. It's very foodie, very gourmet with a wonderful view. As its name indicates, the restaurant is on the 20th floor of the Polytechnic Building at 1 State Street. Open for lunch M-F, dinner Thursday and Friday only. Well worth a trip.

[kattyeyes]

I used to work on Constitution Plaza, so I can tell you where I've eaten that's an easy walk (and you'll find more descriptions of the places elsewhere on this board and/or on the Web):

Spris
Feng Asian Bistro
Agave
Hartford Steam Boiler's cafeteria (a giant step above most cafeteria's you've ever seen)
City Steam Brewery:
http://www.citysteambrewerycafe.com/Menu509.pdf

I read here there's a new gyro place downtown, if that's your thing.

If you want to reserve one night for a night you want desserts/coffee and don't mind getting in the car, head to Franklin Ave. for Mozzicato's Cafe.
http://www.mozzicatobakery.com/cafe.asp

thos is correct--you'll find a wealth of info about places to eat in Hartford by searching here. Enjoy your planning!

[thos]

Check to see if the shuttle bus still runs. Then you have less of a worry about walking. I think the hotel restaurant, Vivo, is average. Then just do a search of this board for hundreds of opinions re: Hartford's best and worst.

[Earle]

There are a few nice spots in the greater downtown area but not with in comfortable walking distances.. There are a few nice Italian Restaurants on Franklin Ave. Which is often called the Italian section of Hartford. There is a Morton's Steak House over near the old Civic Center,now called the XL Center. Which is nice but very pricey. I'm sure as your post is read by more people you will get some more ideas of nice places to eat.. Good luck Earle Ct.

[kozel]

Thanks for the help, Earle and Thos. I know we have a few months but your help is appreciated. We'll keep an eye out.