Putnam House Restaurant & Tap Room

I've been going to Putnam house for many years ., we've always enjoyed our experiences there. They always have a good staff ., the food is very good . sometimes too pricey. But the service is good the atmosphere is nice. Very cozy

I liked the quality of food here. I had hot honey chicken sandwich which comes with french fries. Loved it. It wasn’t too sweet. It was perfect. It has outdoor seating which is pretty in summers.

This was my second visit and it was just as good as the first ! I order the chicago soup again it seasoned well and nice and hot . I like the atmosphere and the service is always pleasant the ceasar salad was also good. My grandmother had the broccoli cheddar soup, I tasted it also very delicious . If your a soup person this is your place .

Good stuff! Got the signature burger, chickenpot pie, calamari, and some wings. Burger was as expected! Chickenpot pie was pretty shockingly big. We don't get chickenpot pies often but this was definitely a different way of setting it. Flavor was right but a bit liquidy and not enough filling. Overall. Still happy! Wings were great, if you're eating outside in the wind, be sure to eat those quick. Becasue when they're hot and cirspy, it's delicious. Once they're exposed to the cold breeze it's more crunchy and dry. So eat those quick! Fried calamari was good, will definitely order spicy next time, might be more flavorful. We were still happy with our experience! Great place!

Thoroughly enjoyed everything about it! Beautiful old home/pub/restaurant and the food in the service were superb! I would definitely recommend it

Ordered hot honey chicken sandwich disappointed with the chicken . It was nothing like a fresh cooked crispy chicken breast. It just appeared to be the most unappealing sandwich I have seen . Thin soggy and drowning sauce. Food was at diner level

Excellent, well prepared food, excellent service & a beautiful patio which is comfortable even in the hottest weather

Great food. Great service from Hayden. Amy is the best bartender. Always nice to walk in and see friends

Great spot Always try to hit up the Putnam house when I'm in Bethel The food, the drinks, and the service are 10/10

We ate lunch here yesterday and the food and service were first rate. The staff knew my godmother on sight and her "usual" stuffed sole with mashed potatoes and a side of butter. I had the black bean quesadilla with added shrimp and it was a perfect portion. My brother had a classic burger, which he declared to be better than he could make at home, and my sil had nachos which were blanketed in cheese. The atmosphere was also very nice.

Stopped by last night for dinner and as usual very good. Wings, der beste! Honey hot chicken sandwich is worth the trip alone. Great place with an amazing patio and live music.

everything is great... wings and quesadillas to die for. great vibe.. my favorite place in bethel

All I will say is never again! Looks like an enchanting little place with setup and decor but between the food and the odd smell, I honestly never have plans of returning. There was an odd stale smell in our corner and the food was low grade pub food. The hamburger quesadilla was far from what we ever expected.

I was at the Putnam restaurant and had an extremely negative experience.  If feel that if you point out the bad it's only fair to write about the good. Our table waitress checked in on us regularly. She made sure we had everything we needed. She suggested we try their wings. OMG!!! We ordered more to be able to have leftovers the next day. My original post was true but perhaps that server was having a bad night. The night was saved. We had excellent food and service. That waitress was responsible. Because of her I would go there again even when the band we follow wasn't paying.

Love this comfortable local spot. Nice people, cold and well poured drinks, good comfort food. A favorite spot "on the hill" to stop into when in Bethel. But tonight when a Yelp special unexpectedly popped up as I was to start this review the bartender dismissed it with prejudice . So I don't know where the breakdown is but one star lost due to this treatment. Apparently no manager and owner not here Would be two star in this visit alone but laugh at reviews based on one off or irrelevant factors. But commitments matter to me in a commercial enterprise. Deducted from the tip the amount of the special discount and tried to wait to explain that. But he was involved in the bar raffle (another endearing activity), and so I left with the reduced tip on the bar. Did not really need to give an explanation.

We passed by this place, looked cute and had above average reviews. So we said, why not, let's go in. Lovely atmosphere. Great service. Friendly and met allergy needs. Food was very good. I had the bean burger on a pita. Husband had grilled chicken sandwich. We both agree to back if we're in the area or just feel like going for a ride.

Always good food, well made and reasonably, priced pub & comfortt food. Huge portions.

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. Fun atmosphere, fantastic staff and the best patio and wings in the area. Delicious and diverse menu options that will appeal to all. Don't miss this Bethel staple.

The burger was just okay and the wienerschnitzel was good. Service was basic but we had to ask for bread for the veal entree. Drink refills were not offered. Surprisingly, a diet Pepsi was $4.50 plus tax, huh?! A can of hard cider was $9 plus tax. One star was lost on the outrageous drink prices but one star was added for the maintenance of an historic building.

Solid food and attentive service. I went recently for the first time, though I've passed it many times. The parking in the back is very convenient and makes it accessible, as the house is located up a hill. It's a historic looking house on the inside with many antique elements, which makes it fairly unique and interesting. It was perfectly warm inside, which was a surprise being that it's an older house. There's a bar area and a more proper dining area. I ordered the chicken pot pie, which was decent. It's a little "deconstructed" in that you get the pastry shell filled with chicken and hot "pot pie" style sauce. It comes with vegetables and mashed potatoes on the side. Lost a star because the crust (which is the part I was looking forward to the most) was stale. Everything else was tasty but not overly seasoned. My son ordered a burger, which was fairly large and looked nice but the meat had no salt and was a little too charred for his taste despite ordering it medium rare. I tasted it and it did have some bitterness from the char so I get why he only ate half. The bacon was really good. We would return to try other items.

Best burgers in town! Hands down. Why? They use 3 types of meat to make for a juicy and savory burger. Choice of steak fries or pub fries. Always consistent taste and the servers are so welcoming. Sean the bartender always makes you feel at home.

Feels like you're stepping back in time when you enter this facility. An old house that still has antique phones, what seems to be "original" design throughout most of the establishment & even a throwback arcade system. There's bar seating, indoor & outdoor dining. The drink selections are nice but not very abundant. When I went there were under half a dozen wine selections and less than a dozen beer options. The food was good but not great. I ordered some of the cauliflower buffalo "wings" which weren't really anything to write home about. I got the bourbon salmon as my entree which was very good! Small serving of salmon with steamed veggies and rice. The rice & veggies summarize the entire experience of this establishment; good & simple.

Cobb salad with blackened chicken enough for 2 meals and plenty of dressing on the side. No skimping on toppings. Bacon wrapped meatloaf was good. 2 slices with gravy with a side of mashed potatoes and vegetables. Portion of sides could have been a bit more since I made 2 meals out of it. But overall very good. Also if you need catering they will reserve the dining room for you for buffett. Delicious

We stopped in on the way home from New Haven. It was a cute place and we were seated right away. On an unseasonably cold memorial day weekend the NE clam chowder hit the spot! It had lots of flavor and not salty. My friend had the french onion soup which she loved. We split the wings which were delicious. I had the fish tacos which were great. All the food was fresh and delicious. Would definitely come back. Service was attentive and food came out quickly. The patio looked like a nice place to relax and have a drink on a nice warm day.

Blackened Chicken Nachos are great. So are the soups. Drinks are very good and the bartender is awesome.

Great little restaurant! Good food, customer service and decent pricing. decent amount of parking too! Would 100% recommend!

Again, I rate places with deference to the type of place it is. Putnam House is not pretending to be anything but a great pub, with excellent food. It exceeds that goal, and its a great place to eat. I have had: steak, chicken, pasta, wings, any one of many beers and the fish tacos which are not always a special, but are fantastic when they have them. They also have this great artichoke dip appetizer. Service is excellent, the owner and workers take pride in this place and its a true icon in the town of Bethel. Crowd is mixed and all kinds are welcome - and they have outdoor dining in the good weather. The bar crowd is very friendly. There is a reason the Putnam House has been in business so long: people like coming here!

Great people great bar great food. Biggest outdoor dining area around. Owner makes everyone feel welcome.

We were at the Putnam House on Monday, June 19, 2023 with 11 people. We have been there several times before and most people who have lived in Bethel their entire lives, come here regularly. The food is just delicious and I wanted to write a review this time. There are new owners and he is a great guy. Came to the table several time to make sure everything was to our liking. Our waitress was Kathy and she was wonderful. I had grilled shrimp on a bed of rice with vegetables and it was so delicious. I have had it there several times. The salad is always very fresh. We all enjoyed our meal very much. Price was very fair and he even gave my husband a military discount. Bravo to the new owners, the cook and our waitress. We will be back very soon!!!! Anita L

They have the best risotto I have ever had! Actually all of their food is amazing! Highly recommend

Enjoyed a delicious pre Christmas dinner at Putnam House with a friend who absolutely loves their blackened shrimp. I opted for the steak topped with blue cheese which was cooked to perfection. The spinach & artichoke dip as starter was also incredibly delicious, although I personally would prefer it to be served with bread instead of nachos (will ask next time!). Staff was very attentive and friendly while adhering to all safety protocols, and there is ample of space between the tables in the dining area to safely distance from others.

The outdoor patio is great, the food is really good. My favorite is the Puthut salad with the Honey Hot Chicken. Their tomato basil dressing is really great with it.

The space is really quaint. The service was very pleasant. The food and drink left something to be desired.

Great restaurant and bar you need to check out! Service and food is consistently excellent. Friendly and warm atmosphere. They always have creative specials to choose from along with their regular menu. I especially love their bacon wrapped meatloaf special as a sandwich or meal so tasty! A definite must to top it all off with tiramisu to go. Love this place and frequent it often.

We ate there tonight and I am so disappointed. The food was sub-par but the service was excellent. I had a tasteless burger and my companion had the fish tacos that were less than stellar. She said they were tasreless. I have to say that a restaurant that has been around for as long as the Putnam House has been, I expect much bettrer food. I would say this is an OK place to stop and have a drink but I would say for elsewhere if you want a decent meal. There are other places close by where you will get a better meal and get more for your money.

Excellent wings I live 25 minutes away. But I think worth the drive. Beer selection was very good

Putnam house is somewhere you can find many dishes, from appetizers to desserts. The huge quantities allow you to share the food and in that way, you can taste many dishes. That being said I can say I have never had a bad meal at the Putnam house. The staff goes above and beyond to make your experience a great one. Coming here for many years they always always aim to please. From a relaxing afternoon or the patio to a great nightlife with bands and games. I would highly recommend this Resturant/tap room to anyone.

Always a good dining experience. Everything on the menu is well done. The waitstaff is helpful and knowledgeable. This is a restaurant that respects that I am on very low sodium diet and goes out of their way to accommodate me.

Had a lovely evening there. Party of 6 in dining area. We were so very late for the initial reservation. Friday evening, need I say more. They treated us splendidly. Fortunately (for us) they were not so busy and we were seated immediately. They have a great selection of interesting beers and our waitress was totally up on everything. I highly recommend their quesadillas whether they're on the menu or specials for that week. We had a St. Patricks day version one time there, made with swiss cheese, corned beef and sour kraut, it was out of this world! I didn't yelp for that as I like to make a second visit before I recommend unless I decide to never go back, has to be real bad, which is not the case here! They have a stuffed lemon sole which I am told was delicious, two of our party ordered it. The vegetable risotto was exceptional and served hot which in itself can be challenging. The buffalo wings were rumored to be really good, and they were. It was a birthday celebration so of course we all ordered dessert and everyone loved what they ordered. A piece of Cheesecake, mint gelato with shaved chocolate thruout (my favorite) and an oreo cake. All dessert dishes were cleaned ! Cannot say enough on this lovely evening from the well prepared food we were served and our great waitress. I recommend the Putnam House for a wholesome tasty dinner.

Was looking for a quick bite while I visited my brother in Bethel. And holy smokes, did I pick the right spot. The service was pretty good, but the main attraction was the food. My son ordered the chicken tenders with fries, and he wouldn't shut up about how great it was! I got the chicken parm, and it was amazing. I even talked with the owner for a bit, super nice guy. Overall, my experience was amazing. Really can't say enough about the place.

Very fair priced menu items and the food was delicious! We were at first not very impressed by the lack of menu options. But everything we had was incredible, down to the dinner rolls and salad dressing. The drinks were also very tasty! Will definitely be returning to this gem! I highly recommend the pineapple/jalapeño margarita and the seafood stuffed sole. Both were amazing. Also enjoyed the spicy calamari - my only complaint being they were a little smaller than I'm used to for calamari. But flavor was on point and the addition of peppers was great.

Been frequenting the Putnam House since the Covid shut down and I have yet to be disappointed. Even with a communication error tonight, they made it right. You can't go wrong with a family to-go meal. It's more than enough for my family of five. I was also in this past Thursday night (October) and sat out at the patio at one of the fire tables with some friends and everything was perfect. The food on the Oktoberfest menu was excellent. The music is great for the relaxed atmosphere at the Putnam House. Sean and Danny are always helpful, polite on the phone and call you back if they say they will. Highly Recommend The Putnam House in downtown Bethel.

Solid food from an extensive menu. Adorable prices in a cozy space I had a special with grilled salmon and was impressed by taste and size of fish. Nachos weren't anything to right about. Would definitely go back

We've been to PH quite a few times in the past 2 years we have lived in the area. I love the history of this place, the decor, the option of bar atmosphere or slighter nicer and quieter dining room. A few things are consistent: good beers (although we always seem to order the one that was *just* kicked), waitstaff are young and inexperienced, food is always good. We had some shrimp scampi dip the other night...it was ridiculous. SO good. I'm very sad it is not on the menu again b/c it was a special. A few odd things that are service related: The bar area was packed last night, so we chose to eat in the dining room. The wings were half price, but we found out that was in the bar area only. So, we had to move to get the half price wings, which was pretty ridiculous b/c there was only one other couple sitting in the dining area at 8pm on a Monday but we had to move into the loud, packed bar area to get the deal. I get that rules are rules, but this seemed a bit extreme since we were only 2 people grabbing some wings and quick dinner. Second, the first time we went, we ordered the spin/artichoke dip. The waiter put the food on the table and spilled 1/3 to 1/2 of the chips on the table. He said "oh, so sorry!" and then left. He did not pick up the chips, replace the chips or further acknowledge that he dumped part of our order on the table. He was young, as most of the waitstaff are, but still, no excuse. We didn't know what to do, so we scooped them up and put them to the side of the table. He never came back to get them until we were done with our meal. Very weird. On a positive note, we had a server a few weeks ago who was excellent. She knew absolutely nothing about the beers but she did try - she had a great attitude and we enjoyed having her as our server.

The good: Food - one of, if not the best burgers we've had all summer. Great flavor, size and cooked as requested. Asked for the fries to be a little well done and they were perfect. Beer - Fine selection that covered the few basics and a couple of crafts. I get tired of going to pubs and taverns with 25 handles...it's beer. Staff - Top notch, pleasant (gave us a brief history of the house), and efficient (always around but never hovering). The bad: cratered drive way (it's shared so don't know if it's all on them). With a good car or motorcycle extreme care required. Only reason I can't give it a fifth star. Bethel still has a lot of that small town New England feel and the Putnam House is the kind of place that keeps that alive.

Unassuming little place on a hill. The food and drinks are great! The wings are so amazing! Great atmosphere...different! The bar is cool and the main dining area is great. The calamari is delicious... but the wings are finger licking good! Summer time Sangria is fun and delicious. The wings are something to talk about...the sauce is delicious!

Food price/quality ratio 8.5. Continental cuisine. Atmosphere is newly remodeled, tastefully executed, Victorian. Cozy bar, large outdoor patio. The menu is a little limited for entees and draught beer choices, but everything is typically prepared correctly and served in a timely fashion. The French fries are frozen and out of a plastic bag, so if you enjoy indigestion, order those. I've been to this place more than 25 times, and I don't remember any real issues.

Great service. Awesome comfort food. Great bartenders! Always get what I'm looking for here!! Never disappointed!!! And fun patio games in the summer to boot!!

This is the kind of place you look for in small town Connecticut. Pretty much every other drinking establishment in downtown Bethel is easily found everywhere else on the continent. Putnam House is one-of-a-kind. It really is a house in the literal sense. Built in 1852 as the Putnam House Hotel, it has since evolved into a modern restaurant. Several dining rooms plus the bar area make the bottom floor. The top floor features several private dining rooms for small-party entertainment. Waitresses are nice, but I'd say not exceptional. They hire high school and college girls basically, and one would think a restaurant like this would be deserving of a more professional waitstaff. Still, the food is good. They have basic bar food, plus classic American fare, all done very well. Last time I was here, I admittedly did go for basic bar food, namely nachos and wings. But they were awesome... 12 wings are easily enough for two, they're huge! Good beer on tap too. A great choice for either a more couture bar scene, or a classic American dining experience.

During this period of social distancing The Putnam House has provided a way to let us have great restaurant meals at home. Can't wait till we can dine in.

Food-beer-waiters are always perfect but today just needed a snack. Don't order the nachos! Greasy and boring. My stomach is doing flip-flops after eating it. Just a plate of cheese,salsa,jalapeños on top of chips for 9.75.

The owner is the sweetest man I always get the stuffed sole and it never disappoints!

Went to the Putnam house for a book/dinner about the history of CT beers. Very well done, the butter for the bread, salad dressing, ribs with horseradish mashed and even the Tiramisu were all made with different beers from local breweries. The ribs were very good and hope to see them on the menu again. The speaker and the book were informative and very interesting. I say do more of these beer tasting events with food paring. Tap takeovers!

Great Spot post pumpkin picking on october.. Accommodated our party on short notice.

Charming atmosphere, with truly caring people who obviously enjoy their job! Food was wonderful, especially the penne a la vodka! The server went the extra mile for my daughter who desperately wanted some mashed potato! Truly touching how such a small gesture meant so much to our family! Keep up the great work!

My favorite restaurant in town. The atmosphere is comfortable and casual, and the food and drinks are delicious and reasonably priced. I visit at least once a week, and always look forward to seeing Danny and his staff. Love sitting on the patio in the summer months!

Mediocrity, thy name is Putnam. We dined here this evening and everything was okay. The waiter was very nice but also a bit hurried...I guess. The decor is nice...the place seemed clean...the menu is fairly extensive. There was a nice patio with a nice bad. Unfortunately, okay and nice do not cut it here. With just a bit more effort and attention to detail this is a restaurant with potential. Hopefully, I will get to see them realize that potential.