Hartford - Goodwin Hotel/Pierpoints
Have a conference coming up in Hartford. Planning to stay at the Goodwin Hotel downtown. Their in-house restaurant is the Peirpoint. Two questions - 1.) Anyone have info on the Pierpoint restaurant and 2.) what is good in the immediate (walking) area. Will be there a week, so open to a variety (no mexican, pizza or vegetarian). Seafood, one fine dining, any local special places, Italian, Irish, Greek, etc. and casual (dives are nice). Thanks.
Nick
Feb 23, 2006 09:52AM
Pierpont's is the correct name as in J P Morgan. right around the corner is max's downtown which may be the best restaurant in hartford
pierpont's used to have a grat sunday brunch, but i haven't been there for about 6-8 years.
Permalink | Reply
Pierpont's (if it IS still open) was way too expensive for what you received. I agree w some of the other recs, especially Max (the best in Hartford), Pastis (great fun), Bin 228 and Peppercorn's. Black Eyed Sally's is nice too. In my opinion Hot Tomato's is really about hype. They were fine 10 years ago, but nothing special now. City Steam is very average. Fortunately, you can eat out 21 different times during a week's visit and not be disappointed.
Permalink | Reply
when hot tomato's started out as a litle srore front on ann street (circa 1979) it was charming and funky with its eight tables. as it grew into an empire (three or four restaurants i believe) and started marketing its food it sort of strived to be self-fulfilling. now that its owner/founder has passed away i anticipate a disappearance from the hartford scene
Permalink | Reply
My husband and I go to Hartford every year for a concert in the summer. We stayed at the Goodwin twice. It is an unusal hotel. Quirky, room layouts. It looks like it would be elegant but it's not that great. I've only eaten breakfast at the hotel but both times that I did it was awful! Really bad service and not good food. The last time I asked for eggs benedict which was on the menu. I was told (after I ordered them) that they were not serving them. I then ordered blueberry pancakes which were not good at all (it always amazes me when restaurants make bad pancakes-to me they're so easy to make). Directly across the street is Max Downtown which is really good and a couple of blocks over isTrumbull Kitchen (also owned by the Max Restaurant group). We like both of those restaurants. Last year we stayed at the newly remodeled Hilton downtown and we were happier there (it has a nice gym also). Good luck on your stay in Hartford.
Kelly
Permalink | Reply
I may be wrong, but I thought that Pierpont's was closed, and the hotel was offering room service and a limited menu in the bar. While it is not officially part of the hotel, Bin 228 is located in the back of the hotel. It is a wine and panini bar, and I cannot recommend it enough.
You are in the perfect location for walking around the city, and there is also a free Star Shuttle (ask the concierge.) There are a lot of restaurants in the area.
There is a seafood restaurant on Pratt Street called No Fish Today. I have never been there, but it has been around forever, which has to say something. Also on Pratt Street is Vaughan's Publick House, a traditional Irish pub. Jojo's is a nearby coffeehouse, and not a chain, which makes it all the more appealing.
For fine dining check out Max Downtown, Pastis, Hot Tomato's, or Peppercorns.
Permalink | Reply
all posted are good suggestions...also try
Greek/Mediteranean...Tapas on Ann...Ann St, 1 block west of hotel
Southern/BBQ....Black Eyed Sally's....on Asylum...2 blocks west of hotel
Steakhouse....Mortons...State House Square...1 block east of hotel
as mentioned
Italian...Peppercorns....Main St...maybe a 10 minute walk south on Main...the best fried Calamari I've ever had and an orange sage ricotta ravioli that is wonderful
French bistro....Pastis....Ann St... 1 block west of hotel...nice copper bar if you're dining alone
Italian...Hot Tomates....in the train station...3 -4 blocks west of hotel....the best garlic bread anywhere...all the pastas are great
Beer/brewhouse...City Steam....Main St...2 blocks NE of hotel
a few to get you started
Permalink | Reply