Celebrate a Special Event at Monet's Table
DESCRIPTION: I recently attended a baby shower at Monet's Table. This was my first visting to this charming restaurant and it was an ideal setting for such an occasion. The atmosphere, food and service was outstanding! I will return again for dinner or a Saturday brunch. I highly recommend Monet's Table for any private event, or for a special, romantic dinner for two.
DATE: 2004-05-03
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Butternut Squash Lasagna

Not a Place to Miss
DESCRIPTION: Awesome food, gourmet style without the stuffiness. Priced right, great atmosphere and dining experience!
DATE: 2004-05-29
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : all

A Gourmet Meal at Home with Friends.
DESCRIPTION: This is a gourmet experience unparalleled. Even the cream and butter is fresh made! Everything is made there save the desserts which are made locally...does this still happen anywhere else? This restaurant is going to stay in my mind for its simple beauty, indoors and outside and the positive mood of the restaurant team. I will certainly remember this restaurant by the chef's willingness to take the fabulous selections and make them family friendly.
DATE: 2004-11-12
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Michelle's Spinach salad, dessert

Museum Art Reproductions
DESCRIPTION: European hand painted framed oil on canvas reproductions of the world's greatest artwork including Van Gogh, Renoir & Monet.
DATE: 2005-09-15
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10

My Favorite Restaurant by Far
DESCRIPTION: I have been to Monet's Table for both dinner and private parties. Everytime I am not disappointed. The food, atmosphere, service is all wonderful. I highly recommend this restaurant. I have loved every dish I have had so it is hard to pick one in particular.
DATE: 2006-05-03
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10

Lovely food, but don't schedule any activities for after dinner
DESCRIPTION: The food was creative and attractively served, with a selection of fine wines of varying prices available. But this was not the meal for someone in a hurry. The meal started off at a slow pace - taking several minutes to get beverages, and over 20 minutes to place our orders. The level of attentiveness of our server dropped off after that, culminating in a 25 minute wait for the bill, after deciding not to order dessert. The service was a disappointing contrast to the wonderful food and pretty, woodland setting.
DATE: 2000-06-16
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Scones with butter and honey

Excellent Food and Service
DESCRIPTION: Being a foodie I found the menu very interesting and creative. I also found some great selections of half bottles on the wine list. More places should do that....
DATE: 2005-01-25
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Try the Rack of Lamb

Terrible!
DESCRIPTION: We've eaten at many excellent retaurants, but this is definitely not one of them, The setting is nice and the staff is friendly. The food, however, was terrible. We had clams buried in salt, overcooked grey duck with no flavor, tasteless rice, boring vegetables and so-so chocolate cake. Even the red wine was too warm. Why do some restaurants think that 75 degrees is room temperature? To top it off, the waitress asked if we were finished "working" on our dinner(working?). There are many better restaurants in the area and this place needs to get its' act together so that the kitchen complements the inn.
DATE: 2005-05-29
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : salad

You Cannot Go Wrong at Elbow Room
DESCRIPTION: This restaurant is like a small slice of Greenwich Village transplanted to a sedate suburb. The atmosphere is hip without being kitschy and the food is first rate. This is one of the few establishments that will actually prepare a dish to order. (My medium rare was medium rare - not rare - not well done.) The price is about what one would expect for an upscale suburban restaurant, but a good value for the quality of food served. My only wish is for an expanded wine list, other than that, I would rate Elbow room 2 1/2 out of a possible three stars.
DATE: 2002-07-15
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Beef Tenderloin with horseradish mashed potato and balsamic sauce

Why So Popular?
DESCRIPTION: My first (and probably only) visit to The Elbow Room was a bit disappointing. To start, they did not have my desired beer (Sam Smith Nut Brown Ale), although shown on the not very large menu. The beet salad with greens was fresh and pleasant, with goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. The sweetness of the beets contrasted nicely with the tangy dressing. The shrimp cocktail was also fresh, but with only four large shrimp, unimaginitively prepared. The biggest disappointment was the main course - 5 Spice Salmon, which I requested rare. As the other 4 diners with me ordered well done portions, I suppose my dinner finished cooking first and was served at room temperature (hardly appetizing). While the wait staff was pleasant, they never returned to check on the meal. Finally for dessert, two of our table planned to have the Chocolate Creme Brulee, but again the restaurant was short and only had one left. While the prices weren't excessive, the atmosphere scarcely commands a premium. Finally, the name of the resturant is fitting, as there barely is any Elbow Room. If bumping chair backs with the table behind you is what you're looking for, this is THE PLACE.
DATE: 2002-08-11
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Not enough experience to suggest

Elbow room is very over rated
DESCRIPTION: The service and food at the Elbow Room absolutely sucks. I'm not saying this as a joke. I eat out a lot, and I've been to the Elbow Room a few times and all the things I've had were completely terrible. The crab cakes tasted like they were sitting around for weeks (very fishy), my roomate got some pot roast special that looked and tasted like a TV dinner, and my girlfriend's tuna burger was dryer than a hockey puck! This was just one of my experiences at this over rated dive. The service people there act as if they are working in some trendy SOHO restaurant. They feel as if they are doing you a favor by getting you some water and napkins. I think the location and aesthetics keep people comming back to this restaurant. Do yourselves a favor and don't come here. Anyone who gives this place a good rating really doesn't know food to well. And I'm not a cynical or snotty person.
DATE: 2002-12-04
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Nothing

Little concern for Customer Needs
DESCRIPTION: In making reservations for my Mother's 80th birthday, I requested a table in a corner to minimize the difficulty she might have in hearing. While the Elbow Room took my reservation for 8, they would not commit to a specific table or area, saying it that was their policy regardless of occasion or reason. I was amazed at such a disregard for their customers and such an apparent lack of concern for business. I cancelled the reservation and took my business down the street where they did care.
DATE: 2002-12-22
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4

Am I alone responsible for paying their bills?
DESCRIPTION: Tuesday, February 11, 2003: two glasses of merlot and a coke = $18.05 Does that seem reasonable to you?
DATE: 2003-02-11
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4

Lost Reservations Twice
DESCRIPTION: I have been to the Elbow Room 3 times. The first 2 were nothing special, but decent enough to go back. However, on the last occasion my reservations were "lost." The response I got was a giggling hostess saying that "sometimes it happens!"
DATE: 2003-04-18
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4

You all are nuts -- this place is great
DESCRIPTION: The Elbow Room is one of the more reliable and interesting places to eat in the metro Hartford area. The kitchen is fantastic and the menu has several specials per night, with notable fish dishes of great varieties. My wife and I have been eating there for years. I love the upstairs deck with a bar and heaters for chilly winter nights. The decoration throughout is fantastic. I'm really not sure what you all are complaining about, to be honest.
DATE: 2003-04-20
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Fried Oyster Salad and any fish dish on the menu or among the specials

Terrible Service and Food
DESCRIPTION: August 10, 2003. Had lunch at the Elbow Room. I ordered a Spinich Omlet. There was little spinich and much potatoes. It should be called a potatoe omlet. My wife ordered the chicken breast sandwich. The chicken sandwich was over cooked to a point of being burnt. The chicken, as a result, was extreamly tough. The waiter never returned to ask us if the meal was satisfactory. Also we had to wait 30 minutes for the meal. When asked why so long, the waiter replied, "If you want fast food you should have gone to McDonalds".
DATE: 2003-08-10
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2

Mediocre food and atrocious service
DESCRIPTION: I ate at The Elbow Room last night, for the first time in six months. On previous occasions the food has been acceptable even though the service has been a bit slow. Last evening our cocktails took 45 minutes to arrive, the food took more than an hour. The "saffron rice" that accompanied my entree was Goya, $1.39 a packet at your local supermarket. It tasted like chlorine. The wine we ordered with our meals had still not been brought to the table when we'd finished eating, despite multiple complaints to the waiter, who was surly and snide (when I said "I'll have the grilled mahi-mahi," the response was "No you won't. We're out of it, I guess you'll have to choose something else"... no apology and no attempt to recommend another dish.) The Elbow Room needs a major overhaul. Owners and management, please take note.
DATE: 2003-09-13
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2

Rushed and unpleasant
DESCRIPTION: My fish was raw inside. I'm not talking about a fish that might be served rare like salmon - this was RAW and COLD inside. Small portions and high prices made me pledge never to return.
DATE: 2003-10-07
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 4

One of my favorites!
DESCRIPTION: Elbow Room is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere. Food is resonably priced and creative and the atmosphere is fun but not stuffy. And kids are treated well too - always a plus in my book!
DATE: 2003-10-24
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : pot roast, chicken, crab cakes, salads

Over-rated
DESCRIPTION: I'm 27 years old, and consider myself to be fairly particular when it comes to eating out. I eat out every weekend, and 3 nights a week for business. I have dined at the Elbow Room numerous times, and every time I leave - I feel like I was ripped off and did not get a fair dining experience for my money. The menu looks great, however the portion sizes are ridiculously small. (I am not a big eater so usually when I go out to eat, I only eat 1/2 of what I ordered). This Saturday night I went with my boyfriend. We ordered a shrimp cocktail to start. It came with 4 shrimp. By 7pm they were already out of the Chilean Sea Bass special I wanted to order - so I ordered the Mahi Mahi. The entire portion consisted of a dolop of vegetables, 1 cup of mashed potatoes, and a 3" x 5" size of fish that was so fatty and gross. I ate the veggies and potatoes, and when I complained about the fish - the waitress offered to buy me dessert. ("no thanks I thought, you already turned me off to this place") My boyfriend ordered the strip steak - which again was small, but it was good he said. The vegetable serving consisted of 3 baby asparagus. Thats it! For drinks I had a draught Stells Artois, and he had a glass of wine. Our total bill came to $68.00 - and I felt it was the biggest waste of his money. I should have learned my lesson the 3 times before that I had been there and never had gone back!!! My advise is to take your money and spend it at Max's or Bricco's right down the street. It will be worth it.
DATE: 2004-03-07
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Crusted Chicken(decent portion, and tasty)

Never Had Problems
DESCRIPTION: I have been to the Elbow many times. It's a great happy hour place to catch up with friends. It's a loud restaurant that is designed to make you feel like you are in the city. They have a unique menu that has never let me down.
DATE: 2004-04-20
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : The macaroni and cheese!

Good Food, a Bit Pricey
DESCRIPTION: The ribeye steak with mashed potatos was good, as were the Cosmopolitans. The outdoor roof dining area was quite lively and enjoyable. We didn't feel rushed at all and the service was adequate.
DATE: 2004-05-02
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4

Always the Best
DESCRIPTION: I cannot fathom most of the reviews on this site. The Elbow Room is one of the best restaurants in the Hartford area. You eat great food, drink wonderful cocktails, and enjoy the "elbow room". And if you really want overpriced, I can think of three other restaurants in the center that are far worse.
DATE: 2005-01-05
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Eggs Benedict, Classic Macoroni with Cheese

Over priced
DESCRIPTION: If you don't want to pay an arm and a leg for the same quality of food you can get in other restaurants at half the price, DON'T GO THERE!! NOT WORTH THE TIME OR THE POCKETBOOK!!!
DATE: 2005-01-26
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : None--all just average in my view.

Best in West Hartford Center
DESCRIPTION: I live and work in West Hartford center and eat out here 9 or 10 times a week counting both lunch and dinner. All things considered The Elbow Room is by far the best place for lunch, drinks and dinner. It's also the least expensive. Those who complain about portion size and expense should wander across the street to Grants where the prices are 150% of the Elbow Room's or perhaps stick to combo meals at their place of employment.
DATE: 2005-08-17
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Pot Roast, Kobe Burger, Mac and Many Cheeses

Least Favorite in West Hartford
DESCRIPTION: After several lunches here I am convinced that food choices are limited and drink are strong enough to make going back to the office standing up an issue. Service has always been okay and the atmosphere is pleasant. For West Hartford Center the prices are okay. What keeps me coming back are the blue tag chips and the view from the top if you enjoy eating luch outside.
DATE: 2006-02-28
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : chips

Least Favorite in West Hartford
DESCRIPTION: After several lunches here I am convinced that food choices are limited and drink are strong enough to make going back to the office standing up an issue. Service has always been okay and the atmosphere is pleasant. For West Hartford Center the prices are okay. What keeps me coming back are the blue tag chips and the view from the top if you enjoy eating luch outside.
DATE: 2006-02-28
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : chips

Least Favorite in West Hartford
DESCRIPTION: After several lunches here I am convinced that food choices are limited and drink are strong enough to make going back to the office standing up an issue. Service has always been okay and the atmosphere is pleasant. For West Hartford Center the prices are okay. What keeps me coming back are the blue tag chips and the view from the top if you enjoy eating lunch outside.
DATE: 2006-02-28
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : chips

DESCRIPTION: The great food matched the amazing views. I've been back at least 15 times since my first visit and it's never disappointed. The waiters are all friendly and not intrusive-- they get me a drink as soon as I sit down and seem to know when I want them around and when to leave me alone. Besides having to shout at the one partially deaf bartender, I'm always attended to quickly. Very relaxed atmosphere with a few celeb sightings.
DATE: 2006-01-07
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Steak salad, Tuna salad, spicy pork chop, stuffed sole

Great food!
DESCRIPTION: Just experienced a fine lunch. It reminded me of the Gramacy Tavern in Manhattan only not as expensive. The menu was extensive. Food was great! and the staff were very accomodating with our special requests. It was a bit of Manhattan in Branford. I would highly recommend it. Can't wait for our next trip back for dinner.
DATE: 2003-11-14
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Tuna BLT