Food
Vaughan's Public House
59 pratt street downtown, (http://www.irishpublichou...). steps from the hartford civic center / xl center on trendy pratt street. this place is an irish-owned and themed restaurant, with many traditional irish meals on the menu. excellent happy hour specials and is also the perfect place to go before or after a uconn game or to watch a soccer game.
Mo's Midtown
25 whitney street, west end. consistently ranked as best breakfast and brunch spot in the area, by the hartford advocate. very laid back atmosphere with big portions and dishes you can't find any place else.
First and Last Tavern
939 maple avenue, (http://www.firstandlastta...). great new york style pizza and italian food, visited by many famous people. it has a cozy bar, reasonable prices, and is a favorite local spot. located in the south end.
Great Taste
Main street in new britain. best chinese food in the area.
Luna Pizza
Chain located in avon, plainville, west hartford, cromwell, and glastonbury. best ny pizza hands down.
Black Eyed Sally's
350 asylum avenue, hartford downtown. (http://www.blackeyedsally...) has expanded since it opened in 1995 to become an award winning bbq and cajun restaurant southeastern food. the restaurant also plays live music from many well known and local blues' artists.
Gold Roc Diner
Cheap 24-hour diner on hartford-west hartford line exit 44 off i-84.
Roma's
A local italian treasure serving excellent pizza and pasta.
Coyote Flaco
635 new britain avenue frog hollow, (http://www.mycoyoteflaco....). tasty mexican restaurant located near trinity college that has served the community since 1998.
With its large Italian population, phenomenal Italian cuisine and pizza seems to be at every street corner, especially in the South End. The Park Street area has many Puerto Rican restaurants. Most expensive restaurants can be found in Downtown Hartford and in the west and south ends. Over the last few year many new restaurants have opened their doors downtown and many will continue to do so over the next few years so be ready. Hartford also has one of the largest concentrations of West Indians in the country, concentrated in the North End. For exceptional West Indian cuisine go to Albany Avenue, where you will see many Jamaican bakeries and other West Indian restaurants.
5 Guys Burgers and Fries
255 w. main st., avon rt 44, phone: 860409-9100, (http://www.fiveguys.com). voted one of the best hamburger places in connecticut. zagat rated "mind blowing fries" "at rock bottom prices". in big y plaza in avon.
MaxDowntown
185 asylum street downtown, (http://www.maxrestaurantg...). part of one of the city's finest restaurants and is consistently ranked as one of the city's best restaurants.
Dessert
Scotts' Jamaican Bakery
801 windsor street, phone: 1-860-246-6776, (http://www.scottsjamaican...).
First and Last Bakery Cafe
920 maple avenue, phone: 1-860-956-7000, (http://www.firstandlastba...).
Mozzicato De Pasquale Bakery & Pastry Shop
329 franklin avenue, phone: 1-860-296-0426, (http://www.mozzicatobaker...).
Golden Crust Caribbean Bakery
1170 albany avenue, and 657 blue hills avenue, phone: 1-860-724-7983, (http://www.goldenkrustcar...).
Roma Bakery & Pastry Shop
416 new britain avenue, phone: 1-860-527-3809.
Modern Pastry
422 franklin avenue, phone: 1-860-296-7628, (http://www.modernpastrysh...).
South End Bakery
227 franklin avenue, phone: 1-860-296-5225.