Fire by Forge Restaurant

This spot has been on my list for a while, and I finally had the chance to stop by — totally worth the wait! From start to finish, everything was phenomenal and exceeded my expectations. I came in for a quick lunch break that I honestly didn’t want to end. The dry rub (highly recommended by our wonderful server, Dayanara) was a perfect 10/10 — full of flavor and cooked to perfection. The truffle mayo deserves its own fan club, and the passionfruit mimosa? Absolutely the highlight of my day — refreshing, balanced, and just the right touch of sweetness. The atmosphere was welcoming, the service attentive, and the food outstanding. I’m already planning a Part 2 visit because there’s no way I’m stopping at just one experience here!

This is a really interesting place and has a beautiful propose for society check website if you want to know more. The food is made from scratch and it is pretty good, menu is not big but im pretty sure that you'll find something that you like. I ordered the burrito and the roll, both of them were pretty good. I do recommend visiting this place 100%

Through the grapevine (social media pages I follow), we heard that Chef Van Hurd from Season 6 of Hell's Kitchen was now the executive chef here at Fire By Forge! So naturally, we pulled up to check it out! (Disclaimer: Chef told me that he was so new there that his featured items hadn't hit the menu at that time. ALSO, he's been long gone from there at the time of this review.) So anyway, here's how things went! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right in Hartford, just a little on the outskirts is this gem. It's on Broad street a little out the way and there is a very small parking lot next to the restaurant, but street parking is also available. The outside looks very well put together and rustic. Once inside the restaurant is kinda split into 2 sections. You have the main section which is nice, open with high ceilings, bright red bricks, big windows, soft leather couches and all kinds of seating arrangements. If you walk past the bar you get into a smaller section, but it's kinda like a tunnel of tables. Lol. That tunnel of tables then opens up into what almost looks like a different restaurant, but feels like a space they expanded into. The atmosphere was lively and full of energy. Service: Here's my only gripe about this place. Right online it says "Happy Hour is from 4:30 PM to 6 PM daily and 8pm-9pm, except on holidays, events, or show nights." But like, when isn't there a show or some sort of event going at at The Bushnell or some nearby theater?! You have to literally call and check with the host to see if they're doing happy hour before you come because if you THINK you're in the clear, they can just say... oh there's a show tonight so there will be no happy hour. So that bothered me. Oh well. We still dined. Now for the good stuff! Let me tell you something about Suzie Johnson! She is the bartender here and she won BARTENDER OF THE YEAR in 2024 via the Connecticut Restaurant Association! She is a TREAT! She's full of personality, knows her stuff and is just a true pleasure. Food: First off was the Up In Smoke Old Fashioned. It had great, subtle sweetness up front, warm taste from the Up & Down branded bourbon, cold, smooth, not too harsh and of course, a bit smokey. As a courtesy to guests, they're served pickled carrots as palate cleansers instead of bread, crisps or anything like that. Clever. The first small plate I got to try were the Duck Mole Wings! These are described as "5 crispy duck wings with a tequila mole barbecue sauce, served with sesame seeds and pickled onions. These certainly looked the part! These were smooth, not necessarily crispy, extremely tender, hardy and just balanced. Mole is a very ingredient-heavy sauce and these were delicious. My 2nd drink was the Ghost Rider which is Up & Down bourbon, spiced Nightrider espresso, Licor 43 and an orange twist. This had a sharp cinnamon/hazelnut/nutmeg flavor/spice-y flavor. Very good and warming as well, even though it was a little sweet. Next up was the Knife Skills Soup! This is a soup compiled by the trainees and all the vegetables they've chopped in class! How cool is that?! It was a very thick vegetable soup, hearty, salty and warm. Next up were the Tostone Nachos! These were so fantastic. The pulled pork on top was so meaty, so tender and the queso fresco was lightly cheesy adding subtle notes to the hearty pork and carb-y tostone. This was my favorite thing of the night. My last drink of the night was the Sazerac. If absinthe is in the building, I must try that restaurant's version. This one was spectacular, but could've used more rye bourbon. The last thing we had to try was their Smash Burger. The burger consists of 2 1/3 lb angus beef patties, a "crystal bun", American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and special sauce. You can add bacon, egg or anything else if you'd like. This was delicious. The whole thing just melts in your mouth. The flavors were all there and so defined. Excellent.

Fire by Forge is a really solid spot with great food and a lively atmosphere. The menu has plenty of tasty options, and everything we tried was flavorful and well-prepared. The service was friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. One thing to keep in mind — I believe an 18% or 19% tip is always included in the bill, so just be aware of that when you’re checking out. Overall, a very enjoyable dining experience and worth visiting!

My wife & I came here for a date night and the experience was fantastic. The location is very bespoke, inside the old mill building. Staff is friendly, courteous, and we enjoyed hearing about the good that they do for the community. We loved the biscuits, mac & cheese, the steak, and the strawberry shortcake! Our drinks were also works of art themselves! Highly recommend coming here!

Fire by Forge catered our wedding reception for 80 people some weeks ago at the Farm at Carter Hill. From beginning to end, everyone we dealt with there was personable, efficient, accommodating, and very professional. They offered a large selection, including vegan and gluten free options to accommodate all of our friends. We chose the Pork Tenderloin, Salmon, and Vegetable Ravioli dishes and received many rave reviews from our friends for each. They even provided both chocolate chip cookies and gluten free brownies. We chose square disposable wooden plates for our even –an eco option that was well received by our guests. At the reception, they set up in the very limited space we had for them, with no drama. They also set up the tables with a variety of delicious fresh bread, butter crocks, glass salt and pepper shakers, water carafes, and glasses. At the last minute, right before serving, we needed to add another table –they worked with the Farm to make it happen immediately and quietly. Their take down and clean up was quick and flawless. Really, we can’t say enough good about these guys. See the photos.

Tried out this place on a wing. Before even sitting down, the waitress tells us the story behind the restaurant (very noble), to wit: How they give people down on their luck, either through a criminal past, drug addiction, homelessness, etc, a shot at redemption through learning a skill set and being given a second chance. Wonderful. We order our food, nothing out of the ordinary or special, and our food takes forever to arrive. We are not talking complex meals, and on Sundays, it turns out they have a limited brunch menu. Meaning, even less things that the staff can be asked to prepare. Had the plates come without pickels and getting extra napkins was tantamount to asking Moses to part the Red Sea. Waited for 20 minutes to get a refill on an Icea Tea that the waitress herself asked if we wanted a refill. Only after she came by the table and we asked for the check, did she remember about the refill. The best part was saves to last. I guess the gimmick is that they automatically add on a “19% Benefits & Equity charge to all orders, which allows us to pay our staff a living wage and provide access to benefits. Tipping is never expected, always appreciated.” So menu states. We then proceed to hear a sob story about how they only get 5% of that mandatory “tip” and how 14% of it goes to not for profit activities. How we don’t have to tip, but that 5% allows them to get health care and higher wages. If we could tip, it would be greatly appreciated, et al. The problem with adding a 19% percent automatic “tip,” however you call it, it removes the incentive for the staff to actually provide good service and earn the tip. Communism at its finest. How about the restaurant pay the staff better wages and provide these benefits directly from their bottom line and allow the consumer to tip based upon the quality of service. The way it is supposed to be. I left the change from $150 as an additional tip because you’re really shamed into paying more after they tell you they inky get 5% of that mandatory charge and they have to share it with everyone. Communism, sound familiar? As Margaret Thacher one said, the problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people’s money. This business model is fantastic in principle, but horrible in practice and it showed today. They weren’t even busy to warrant the delay in the food arriving or the nonexistent service. Raise your prices and compete against other restaurants where the consumer doesn’t get shamed into leaving what is tantamount to a 35% tip. This place left a sour taste instead of a satisfying experience. It’s distasteful and quite unethical.

OMG what a gastronomical experience and it was worth the 19% equity surcharge to support an organization doing good on the community and providing for their people! We’ve driven by the restaurant for three years and I’m so glad we finally stopped. My husband and I dropped our son off at college and wanted some fill your belly yumminess before heading north! My husband had pour over coffee and I had a decaf latte then we enjoyed a super decadent banana-chocolate French toast and the best breakfast tacos ever. My husband reported that the FT was delish and very sweet. My tacos were filled with softly scrambled eggs, a pico-type salsa with a little kick, pickled onions and the roasted tortillas tasted homemade. I added turkey sausage that was perfect in the tacos. I was drawn to the mission of the organization, framed photos of workers, and the waitress who confidentially shared more about the mission. Local and doing good for the community along with excellent food and a pleasant interior made our experience wonderful. Cannot wait to come back for dinner with our son! Since it was Sunday the grocery store wasn’t open. We asked if could purchase a bottle of Up and Down Rock Bourbon and they accommodated us. Very cool label! We don’t know yet from our son how it tastes!

Great mission, great service, yummy food. It's an awesome space as well. Will definitely go back!

Food- 4/5 Service- 5/5 Ambiance- 4/5 The food was great. Initially my Ruby sandwich came out with a runny egg which wasn't indicated on the menu. The service was excellent because a waitress addressed it right away and the second egg came out perfect!! The waffle was perfectly cooked and they obliged my request for the toppings on the side. I was traveling so I had the lavender lemonade in the restaurant and on the road and it was delicious! Very refreshing!! It was very quiet when my friend arrived, about 2 tables were sat so we were seated right away. I'd def return and try more things on their menu and I also like the idea that their monies appear to go to their employees for living wages.

Service: Javon was excellent. Friendly, attentive, and welcoming. Ambiance: spacious, hip, southern vibes. Great for groups. Food: disappointing. The breakfast burrito was a winner, but the steak and eggs that my husband got was so lame and not on par with what we were expecting. It was such a a small portion of steak, and my husband wasn't full afterwards, so I felt awful and gave him my burrito. For these prices, we should each leave stuffed. My son's avocado toast was kind of lame for the price as well. It should really come with the fried eggs for this price! A price of toast with mashed avocado on it for $11 is crazy. Drinks: my chai latte was great. However, my husband ordered a cortado and just got an espresso, and a cold one at that. It also took so long to get, and there was no one else in the entire restaurant so I don't know what took so long to bring it out.

My group of 4 stopped here for dinner be for a show at the Bushnell. It was a new experience for each of us and we all walked away very happy. The waitress was pleasant and helpful. She took the time to explain the restaurant's inspiring mission and we were so happy to be in support. I had the smash burger which was absolutely delicious and opted for the homemade chips that came with the sandwich. They had the perfect amount of kick. Friends in my party ordered the salads and the Mac n' cheese which they also enjoyed very much. The dirty martini was also excellent. I would have photos to post but we were too eager to dive in! No doubt we will be returning.

This was our first time dining here. The restaurant was very spacious and new. The service was excellent. Our server was very upbeat and attentive. The food was excellent as well. We ordered the cod and the short rib. Both were excellent. We also ordered the mushroom empanadas and those were fantastic as well. We would definitely come back again.

Food was amazing, their mission is phenomenal. Please go there. You will not be disappointed, and parking is the best in Hartford.

I finally visited Hartford's Fire by Forge for the first time, and I was excited to learn that one of my favorite area chefs Van Hurd had recently become Executive Chef and Culinary Instructor. Van knows food and has worked at CT restaurants many of us love. If you don't know, Fire by Forge is a beloved Pan American restaurant in an iconic building in Frog Hollow. In partnership with Forge City Works, they also provide job training and experience for people with barriers to employment. Great mission. Great food. I sat in the bar. The bar area has very high ceilings and lots of natural light. There was a great sense of community in the bar area. The FxF crew knew many of the customers and there was good chemistry. Service was very kind and inclusive. People ordered coffee and pastries to go while I sat at the bar. My Argentinian Choripan sausage sandwich with juicy chorizo and chimichurri on a perfectly griddled Asiago roll was delicious. It was literally bursting with flavor. The saltiness was well balanced with acidity. The inside of the roll had a great crisp, presumably from being grilled in oil. Nice touch. The Knife Skills soup is a hearty tomato-based vegetable soup that utilizes the veggies from culinary training. A little sweet. A little acidic. Full of veggies! I'm all the way in on Fire by Forge. I'll be returning for lunch, dinner, brunch, happy hour, coffee and pastries. Fantastic addition to Hartford. 5 Stars

Fire by Forge has an amazing mission which is one of the many highlights to coming. Visiting on a weekend, they offer a delicious brunch menu, cocktails and coffee. My highlight was specially their coffee bar and amazing coffee menu. They offer pour overs featured from microroasters (local) and also used in their espresso menu. They serve high quality espresso drinks and you'll catch some great latte art when Barista / café manager Benny is there! They have a staple fire syrup (cinnamon vanilla), vanilla bourbon and house made mocha. You can call ahead for pick up / delivery. The staff are friendly! The interior is a modern industrial but bright, such an enjoyable and photographable space. Certainly going back again to try some more menu items soon!

I came here for brunch on a Saturday afternoon with friends. We set outside; they have a beautiful outdoor space. Their drinks are amazing. The food was okay. I had the Sydney's omelette which was very fresh and good but lacked salt. The servers were kind and friendly but a little forgetful. This didn't take away from the experience though as they were very accommodating.

This is why I use Yelp. I'm in an unfamiliar city, looking for a great place to grab a weekday brunch, and I never would've found Fire by Forge on my own. Happy I did, because I love this place. It's bright and airy, with super high ceilings and the right vibe. We dealt with several different folks on staff (shoutout to Alba and Juan specifically), and everyone was laid back, cool, and knowledgeable about the place and the menu. Nothing but friendly, attentive service. My dining companion was already getting what by all accounts was an incredible vanilla bourbon latte when I arrived. I'm not a coffee guy, but I would've gotten one if it had actual bourbon in it. Just kidding around,* it was the morning of a workday. We then split the chicken and waffles, as well as the Ruby's Morning Wake Up (two eggs, brown sugar candied bacon, cheddar, chili honey cream cheese, all piled on cranberry walnut bread). This is one of those situations in which I'm SO GLAD I was with a sharer, because both were bangin', and I am happy I got to try them. Seriously, this food is lights out. And while I think we made the best decisions possible, I doubt there's anything bad at a place with this much quality. _______________ *Not kidding.

I've been hearing a lot of hype and had to check it out for myself. There were 2 of us in our group, We had a reservation but saw open seats at the bar and that's always my go to seat when alone or with a few so we bellied up there. Made it for the last stretch of happy hour so threw back an old fashioned or two. Bartenders were both attentive but not hovering, drinks came pretty quickly! Great craft cocktails! I had the Ruby's Mac with Pork, served in a piping hot skillet, this was thick, creamy, perfect ratio for the way I like my Mac and Cheese. Just the right portion size, not enough for leftovers but I wasn't hungry after. My friend had ordered the Salmon, honey black garlic glaze, it was plated so simple but eye catching! I can't personally tell you how it tasted but I can tell you there was none left and he's gonna make the drive from MA again to bring his wife! I grabbed a pistachio and mandarin salad to go for my other half, I did steal a bite, and would order for myself! Only regret was not trying more, I guess that means it's going to be a return visit soon!

I can't believe it's taken me so long to visit FxF! The staff is so friendly and personable from the moment you walk in. Juan was our waiter and was very attentive and put me on to the vanilla bourbon latte which was heavenly. I'm a sucker for chicken and waffles so naturally I gravitated there and was obsessed!! We shared the chicken and waffles and the Ruby's morning wake up sandwich which was also tasty. I tried the chocolate chip bacon cookie but it wasn't for me. The space is beautiful and great for working as a few people were during my visit. The environment was quiet and comfortable. I'm looking forward to the next visit! They've also just started brunch on Sundays.

Heard good things about this place so wanted to try them out. I came for brunch on a Sunday it was a bit rainy outside and a lot of events going on in the area so thankfully not too packed. We went able to be seated right away. For my main dish I got the huevos rancheros. For the dish they had the eggs on the tostones both were very bland. So of course I added all the sauces on it that you can see in the description and even after adding everything it still tasted very bland. So was not impressed with that dish and wouldn't order it again. I tried the banana bread French toast which was definitely more banana bread than French toast but it was moist and I did enjoy the flavor. I also got to that the chicken stew. I thought the flavor of that was pretty good however there were 2 pieces of chicken and mostly potatoes... would like a little more consistency with each pour of the stew. My friend thought the chicken and waffles were just ok. But she really enjoyed the vegan burrito, she thought that was the best dish. I like the inside atmosphere and vibe. I would like to come back and give them a chance on the dinners because I like the selections they give. I did enjoy the coffee. And staff was friendly. I also like that there was a Parking lot and street parking

I feel like I've been in a restaurant rut lately and I'm happy to report that Fire By Forge has pulled me out of that rut with their incredible food and cocktails. I dined at Fire By Forge for New Year's Day brunch with my husband and a few friends and I happy to say that it was one of the best meals we've all had in a very long time. We started with a round of cocktails, I went with the Jalisco Cantarito which was exactly the refreshing, tasty brunch beverage I was looking for. For my meal I chose the FxF Smashburger which was easily one of the best burgers I've ever had. It was juicy, flavorful and the perfect size to devour the entire thing in probably less than ten minutes. My friends all enjoyed their meals as well and the Huevos Rancheros and cinnamon buns were the biggest hits amongst the group. The service was phenomenal as someone was constantly checking on us throughout the meal. The restaurant itself is bright, open and very welcoming. I cannot wait to return for dinner and to try more delicious menu items.

My fellow board members and I had dinner at Fire by Fodge and this was my first time having dinner here. I've been to this location several times but that's when it was the Kitchen. I got there around 5:45pm and we got seated in the back as we were a party of 12. We had a pre fix menu which made it easy to order. I got the knife skills heart vegetable soup for my starter and bronzed salmon as an entree. Our food came out relatively quickly and everything was great. The service was good, and would have been better but our waitress was quite tepid but again, it was a large party and the restaurant was busy. Definitely look forward to coming back again.

My husband and I came here before a show at the bushnell after a friend recommended we try it out. We sat at the bar and were lucky enough to catch the tail end of happy hour. The tacos were fantastic! After a leisurely cocktail we ordered our main plates. I went with the plantain nachos and my husband got the scallops. Both dishes were delicious and unique. The highlight of the meal for me was my hot cinnamon cappuccino to end the meal! We are already looking forward to our next visit.

Modern American restaurant with delicious food but an even better mission This place employs people who have barriers that prevent them from obtaining other jobs (such as previous incarcerations), and they teach them culinary and front-of house skills. They also compensate their workers very fairly, and waiters/waitresses all make minimum wage in addition to whatever they earn in tips. Additionally, tip is already included in the bill but you also have an option to leave an additional tip that goes directly to your server Have an eclectic, but comprehensive, list of foods and drinks. I got a mule cocktail and it was incredibly delicious. I also split a variety of dishes (Brussel sprouts, nachos, mac-n-cheese) with both my mom and GF, and they were all fantastic as well.

Excellent bar staff and ambiance, food is amazing and the story of their creation and mission is even greater. We enjoyed amazing drinks and food which definitely filled the soul.

I came in here after running the Hartford marathon. There was plenty of seating available. The bartender and staff were very friendly and offered suggestions for food. I ended up ordering a Smash burger and fries - it really hit the spot. They also had a good draft beer selection.

Very solid food, good prices, well designed and plenty of seating. Couple missteps on food, but nothing too bad. Came here because we looked up the location and were very intrigued on their story and how they conduct business. We came to this location for a dinner because of a local soccer match, and wanted to give them a try. The place is decked out pretty nicely. there was plenty of high-tops and seats. We took the couch, because why not? The server was very courteous and was able to get us answers to all of our questions. Because they had a happy hour, there was a lot of small plates that were fairly cheap. So I said, "why not? let's do them all!" And thus, we ordered the entire happy hour menu. Plus drinks, because why not? I saw a monster cappuccino on the drink menu, how big could it be? Throw that on there, and a lavender ice tea with lemonade for the girlfriend. Let the record show that I am not the smartest man. Well, we did manage to try everything at least. So in comes a conga line of servers all delivering 8 plates of food to us, plus a nice lavender ice tea for my girlfriend and a decently sized soup bowl with a handle which was my cappuccino. Very impressive service, very impressive portions. I was thinking little bites given the price point, turns out they are actually pretty decently sized for the money. The best bites came from the shrimp taco, the biscuits, the philly empanada, and the elote fried yucca. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, seasoned well and had a nice slaw to bulk it out. the Biscuits were drizzled with honey and pared with a chive and chipolte butter. gave it a sweet heat with a grassy savoryness. It was a very tasty combo. The elote fried yucca was cooked long enough to make the tough yucca edible. the salt from the cojita cheese, the fresh corn, the light aoli, and pickled onions gave everything a very well balanced and tasty bite. The philly empanada had the right mix of onion, shaved steak, and cheese to get that traditional philly flavor profile, but in a portable shell The rest of the tacos were pretty well balanced, but the biggest detractor was the tortilla was pretty hard and not very malleable. made each bite pretty messy. The tempeh and chicken had good maranades and bbq sauces pared with them, but were dry. The pork belly was a tad too sweet, needed a salt or savory bump to counteract the sweet. The fried chicken biscuits were okay. the chicken was overbreaded and cooked pretty hard. the house pickle was a little light and the garlic mayo and hot honey got lost in the mix. Wasn't as strong of a bite as I would've liked. The monster cappuccino, although ridiculously impressive in size was actually very difficult to hold and manage. It was a gigantic coffee, filled to the brim with foamed milk and espresso. It was a very solid coffee though, just needed to be a little bit less filled so one can drink it. The price was actually fairly inexpensive. For everything, including the drinks, came out to 50 bucks. It's a lot of food, and more than enough for what you get. I also appreciate that they very blatantly specify that there is an 18% extra tacked on which covers ensuring that the staff get paid a living wage which itemizes what percentage of that extra goes to what. given that I would've tipped 20% anyways, it took the pressure off when it came to paying the bill. It was a very interesting and fun experience. I won't be ordering everything off the happy hour menu again, but I will consider hunting this place down to try some of their dinner fare. Worth a try, worth hunting down!

I've been dying to try this place out and we decided to do brunch last Saturday. We started with coffee. I ordered a coffee and my husband ordered the Dulce De Leche latte. I think the waitress goofed and gave me a latte (based on the price) but I was ok with that. The waitress told us they have their own brand of coffee...it was delicious. Then I ordered the Tacu Tacu Bowl and my husband ordered the FXF Smash Burger and added bacon. It came with French fries. My bowl was very flavorful. My husband loves his burger but the star of the show were the fries I have to say. They were cooked perfectly and the best fries I've ever had. Crispy on the outside and soft inside. I love McDonald's fries but these were better. The concept of the restaurant is to hire and train people that have had difficulties obtaining a job/career. I can't wait to try their Happy Hour one of my favorite things.

Ambiance was great we came at a time where they were transitioning from lunch to dinner about to close down but they didn't kick us out. We didn't feel rushed or anything when they first sat us down we were in a more crowded area and we asked could we be moved to another room and they did we were the only people in that room we had quiet and we were able to talk and have fun. We ordered different meals than we would typically order. We tried three different dishes. They were all very good. I loved the duck poutine but I didn't actually like the duck lol but I'm always up to try something new. Nevertheless, it was still a great experience. The waitress was so nice and the restaurant was clean!

What a great little modern chic eatery. The service was delightful and knowledgeable, pleasant and happy that you were there. We came on a Saturday evening and ordered the happy hour menu. A la carte tacos, empanadas, and biscuit sliders. Overall the best of the best was the shrimp tacos, the elote fries, and the biscuits.... Oh my lord the biscuits!!! We will definitely be back for a dinner and a brunch. I am interested to see the quality of the entrees - but from a happy hour perspective this is a great go-to location. Also love the messaging and branding. Read the small print :)

Honestly this isn't the type of food I usually go for but I was pleasantly surprised! It was raining so I ordered the Sancocho and it was delish! When I first saw it coming out I felt a little regretful that I hadn't ordered the onion soup, which was smaller, but that went out the window as soon as I had a bite! Service was average- no complaints. I wasn't paying attention when she asked if we would like dessert and my friends turned her down. My only regret! Because I'm sure their desserts are also fire!

Very cute inside, service was decently quick and we never had empty waters. I love the function behind this restaurant and that it is helping the community with different employment, teaching, and outreach (grocery) programs. Not to mention there wasn't a bad bite of our meal, the food choices were eclectic and all tasted great.

I was lured in because they had partnered with a Chaos Kitten Club to have a meet and greet with kittens in need of home. After cooing over the kittens we headed inside for lunch. The decor inside is beautiful and high end with a great wood burned map of Connecticut on one wall. Our waitress was the best! The service was timely, efficient, and friendly. The restaurant is part of Forge City Works. This means the restaurant is part of a job training program for adults who face barriers to employment. It is a great cause. The free pickled veggie started was perfect for the hot summer day. My girlfriend got the lobster roll special and loved it. I kept stealing her in-house chips because they were so good! I got the poke bowl which was fine if bland. It needed more fish, more sauce, and more kick. That was on me, I should have gone with my initial instinct and ordered the burger because it looked amazing. Cheers, Edward

After I visited for dinner with fellow Yelper Karen C a couple of weeks ago - I thought I was good to write a review BUT as fate would have it life got in the way. Well - I had the pleasure to dine at Fire by Forge AGAIN yesterday for lunch and not that I will forget either meal I feel that it is now appropriate for a review. WOW - the former location of Firebox has transformed itself and I am totally here for it. First off let me say that but times I went here I had the nicest servers who both loved not only the restaurant but its mission. When I visited the first time - the liquor license had not been approved but they had a solid mocktail menu and BOYB. After my visit - the server messaged me on IG to let me know once that license went through. Yesterday's server was equally nice and during both visits their excitement for the menu was palpable. For dinner, I tried the pickled fried green tomatoes and the special of the night which was a charred octopus. I love anything pickled so this was a winner for me and the portion was substantial enough that I probably could have ordered it for my main. I love octopus and my friend who had never had octopus threw caution to the wind and ordered it as well. She is now a fan - which is a testament to the kitchen because octopus can be hit or miss depending on how long it's cooked for. For lunch, I was greeted with a bowl of lightly pickled veggies while I perused the menu. I ordered the Smoked Salmon bowl and asked for a side of seaweed salad (which is part of the poke bowl on the menu.) Service was fast (I came during lunch) and it seemed that the word was getting out as the dining room was well attended. Again - the bowl was top-notch. Not overly dressed - it was a perfect combo of flavor for a hot day. They had a gazpacho as a special, which I was considering but hopefully it will be on the menu when I most definitely return now that patio seating and Happy Hour will be returning soon. Of note, - gratuity is added to the bill before you receive it. It is mentioned on the menu but it threw me for a loop when I got it. Kudos to Fire x Forge for taking the guess work out of graditude and making sure all their employees keep putting out delicous and motherwatering food.

Great food! Great service! A great concept...a not for profit restaurant to help folks overcome economic barriers. Refreshing drinks and perfectly done beef rib, Mac n cheese with deliciously juicy and crispy fried chicken. Tostones nachos for appetisers and even the homely smash burger with perfectly seasoned fries...made our day!! Dessert was pumpkin flan...amazing too!

Have been here twice in the last month and am so happy to have found a solid spot to eat near work. Their mission is amazing and something I absolutely want to continue to support. The interior design and decor are beautiful. Really classy yet cozy at the same time. There is seating at the front of the house near the bar/coffee bar area and then a lot of seating further back. I was surprised by how large the space is! They also have an outdoor area. Services is great- everyone is helpful and friendly and I really like the general vibe. Between my two visits I tried several different things and I will say my favorites were the tostones "nachos," the Cubano and the tacu tacu bowl. I didn't love the yucca fries mostly because of the sauce on top. The cocktails were delicious! I had the passion fruit pisco sour which was very tasty and perfectly refreshing for a hot summer day ! We picked up some of the cookies and pastries on the way out. The snickerdoodle cookies were the BEST! So soft and perfect in flavor. The alfajores were okay and the quesadilla salvadorena was also just okay. I think the quesadilla salvadorena would be very good warm served with ice cream though, maybe I'll try that at the table next time rather than from the coffee bar as a takeaway option. Will definitely come back and would like to try their breakfast and dinner options!

Good ambiance. Didn't LOVE my meal but didn't dislike it either. One of the waiters wore his pants below his ass cheeks and you could see his underwear and entire butt underneath. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. I don't know how or why the managers were letting him get away with it without saying something. My waiter was fine but not exceptional service. He wasn't paying attention when my friend was trying to ask for something and he did not provide us the option to take our remaining French fries home, which I would have liked had he not taken my plate away before I could ask for one. My friends got the chicken soup (I can't remember the name of it) and the rice in their bowl was not fully cooked and the soup itself was mediocre at best.

I had a work event and team dinner was here. Ambiance was asthetically pleasing, and music set the mood that we were in for a good experience. Reading about the owner who wanted to make this all about your community's ownership is an exceptional idea!! I will support and recommend to all those I know to try you.

I have ate here on two different occasions-- one for lunch and the other for brunch. Both times the service was amazing. Our waiter was attentive, kind and very informative. Nowwwwwww the food, it was better than I expected. Everything I had was so good! I highly recommend Fire x Forge not only for the quality and service but what they stand for. A Hartford gem.

Gorgeous spot. Great food and service. The tostones nacho had a complex and amazing flavor profile. If you like mussels their's and a must. The broth has tremendous flavor, the mussels were plump and the sourdough was a great complement to the dish. Oh, yeah. The Pisco Sour was a delight.

Good restaurant with a good mission. All of our food was seasoned well and the ambiance of the restaurant great. Service was great as well. The rack of lamb could've had more than 2 pork chops but it was cooked and seasoned well.

I've been here 3 times (lunch, brunch and dinner) since they've opened. And each time I've had a great experience. The service has always been up to par and the food and drinks top tier. Some of my favorite menu items include the yucca fries, street corn salad, waffles, and the blood moon cowboy is a must if you're a fan of mezcal.This place should definitely be on your list!

The best meal I have had in over a year. I got the duck and the wife got the chicken and waffle off the brunch menu. Amy was our server and she was awesome as well. We had our 2 year old daughter and they were amazingly accommodating to her. Nice relaxing environment with a great mission.

Came here today for a dinner with some friends & we absolutely loved it! We are Muslim so we only eat halal meat and they are so accommodating to our needs. We got the chicken because it was halal ( as said by the staff and their menu online) this is so nice to see in an American restaurant and we appreciate it. Also they were able to make us Mocktails no alcohol drinks! The food was really good Mac and cheese was amazing made to perfection as well as the chicken so soft and flavor was there! We also loved the smokey fries so yummy. The restaurant was also very nice , very large and beautiful outdoor seating.

New HALAL spot found. We stumbled upon this place due to a IG post by someone else. Contacted and confirmed that they do have halal chicken, which is also disclosed on their menu. We made reservations and headed there right away. Parking was easy upfront, staff was super friendly, ambience and food was great. The flavor was spot on and the hostess, the person we made reservations with all stopped by to make us feel welcomed and greet us. The one young lady who made our reservations, I won't try to spell out her name and mess it up, came over and had a nice conversation with us. Knew about halal certifications and even said if there's more community interest, they get halal beef and steaks too. Love this new spot and can't wait to go back.

We were in town for the Capitol Groove Festival and found this spot on Yelp. The breakfast here was so fresh and delicious. My husband and I each got a breakfast sandwich on amazing cranberry bread, mine with tempeh bacon (yay!!). The service was attentive, kind and professional. Oooh and the coffee drink was divine. Super great spot!

Service was good, food and food creations were very delicious! Ambiance was open, cool, friendly, comfortable. The drinks were delicious! Again, the customer service was helpful and came with a sincere smile. We will return and highly recommend this establishment! We're looking forward to returning! Keep up the great service and great grub!

Went on a night there was a show near by so they had a prefix menus as an option. It included an appetizer, main course and option to add on dessert. We opted to just order off the regular menu. We ordered the tostones nacho. The flavor of the pernil was good, but the tostones were a little soft and not crispy. I ordered the Mac and cheese with the pernil. It was great flavor but the pernil was a little over cooked in a mushy way. They have a fun drink menu. I ordered a dragonfruit cowboy which tasted great and had the right balance of alcohol and flavor. Inside there's a television screen that shows happy hour everyday from 4-6 and we were there at 5. I asked our waitress about the happy hour specials but she said they don't offer it when there's a show nearby. The place seemed chill and had great ambiance. Our waitress was busy but was attentive. Overall, we enjoyed our meals but nothing spectacular stood out.

Easy 5 stars! Atmosphere is low light and moody, staff is friendly and accommodating and food is made with top notch ingredients for amazing flavor in every dish! We went to celebrate a birthday. From drinks and appetizers, to dinner and dessert (more drinks of course), I would highly recommend this place for any event or even just an intimate dinner. Affogato is a must try! You won't be disappointed, especially since it's made with their homemade ice cream and their own "Beens Beans" locally roasted beans aka espresso . I'm going back to try their espresso martinis.

Came for Easter Brinch. Excellent food, excellent staff as well as delicious coffee. I will surely be returning. There is a parking lot for this restaurant so one doesn't have to look for street parking. The ambience is nice, but it was too loud in the dining room for my guest, so we were moved to the middle room. It was fine. There was also some weird smell in the back room. Don't know if it was metal polish or varnish or what but it was off putting. Perhaps that was a one-time smell. As I said, I will definitely be returning. The food was delicious.

Fire by Forge is going to be a Hartford staple. Went there for Saturday Brunch and was delighted by the breadth of the menu. It has great options for morning libations, boozy or caffy. Great choices for the savory or sweet inclined and the service was informative and attentive. The charm of the old Billings forge lent a modern rustic touch. Duck confit poutine, Karrigan's cheddar onion biscuits with confit garlic, and ancient grains bowl w/added grilled chicken were absolutely superb. Cinnamon buns were also to die for. Can't wait to return.

Went here tonight to celebrate my son's 31st birthday. The food was excellent! The service was beyond excellent! The atmosphere was great! The staff was all very engaged and worked as a team. Even the bar staff was wonderful as we waited for our table and the drinks were very well made.

Service was top notch, it's for a great cause, and the drinks are unbelievably good! We had a great time!

SECOND TRY! I just noticed on FaceBook that the restaurant is closed tonight. After my last fiasco there with a closed kitchen, I decided to try again and made a reservation two weeks ago for tonight. There is no answer to my phone call and under the reservation site it stated that there are no reservations as it is closed. They are offering a 20% discount on a further reservation. Sorry, I am through playing games...the FaceBook info went online yesterday but no call yet. Won't be trying again!

Wow. Haven't been here since it was Firebox and I'm so glad we went back. Food was amazing, tried the mussels app, entree steak chimicurri and the scallops. All perfect ! Bartender was on fire. Tried the basil verde, ghost rider and the pink Negroni. All amazing. We will definitely be back!

My husband and I stopped here in a whim before a concert. Boy am I floored. The food is absolutely out of this world. For an appetizer we had spinach and cheese pupusas. PHENOMENAL. Smash burgers were great and the drink selection exotic. All of the staff were beyond polite and sweet. I can not recommend this place enough!

I was a big fan of Firebox and have been a consistent supporter of the Kitchen, so I am thrilled that Fire by Forge is back in this space. I've been there for dinner twice since their opening for dinner service, once with one of my sons and the second time with my whole family. My kids were huge fans of the Firebox Brussels sprouts (as am I!) so having that on the new menu is awesome. On the two different nights, we tried the salmon dish (perfectly cooked and the veggies with it were great just on their own), the Brussels (twice), the "side" of fries that is a whole damn meal, two kid meals (Mac and cheese and a burger), the skillet Mac and cheese (with Nashville chicken on top), the tuna poke tartar and a special dish with octopus. No complaints at all. The tuna, salmon, skillet Mac and the octopus special were the standouts. We also shared desserts -- absolutely try the quesadilla Salvadorena. It's a cake that's not quite savory but not too sweet, made with cheese and eggs and milk, and served with affogatto (a scoop of ice cream and an espresso). My new favorite thing. The place looks fantastic, the staff is great and very attentive, and the mission of the place is a bonus. We will definitely return soon!