Pond House Cafe - West Hartford

The food was truly outstanding. We ordered four different brunch dishes, and each one was delicious. The service was excellent as well. We were seated in the enclosed porch area, which was much quieter than the main dining room, and had a lovely view of the park and the pond.

We ordered a variety of brunch and lunch items, including a scramble (rated 4), a salmon burger and salad (rated 1.5), a chicken wrap (rated 3), and a tuna club sandwich (rated 3.5). The salmon burger was the standout disappointment; it resembled more of a salmon-less croquette made of flour and seasonings, served on a brioche bun that was much larger than the croquette itself. One of our friends jokingly suggested it was more like a crab cake! The dish was somewhat redeemed by a small, fresh side salad with a light dressing. On the other hand, the tuna club was quite large and featured nicely seasoned tuna fillets (not tuna salad), infused with capers and butter, but it was unfortunately overcooked and dry, which made me suspect it was made from frozen fish. As for the service, our server was excellent—friendly and unobtrusive, consistently refilling our water, serving our dishes simultaneously, and checking in at just the right moments. The only service hiccup was with the hostess, who frowned when we requested a table near the wall instead of in the center of the room. While she ultimately honored our request, her lack of a smile gave the impression that we had inconvenienced her. Overall, the Pond House team is capable of much better, and I’ll be giving it another shot in a month or so with the hope of an improved experience.

This is a beautiful venue for a wedding. The holiday decorations are stunning. The food and service are both excellent.

I attended a nursing seminar at this venue, which was beautifully decorated with a Christmas theme. The luncheon was catered, providing an organized buffet-style experience. I previously rated the food a 3, as the seating arrangements affected the availability of certain dishes. The service was decent, though not particularly warm. Nevertheless, the event was memorable, and the ambiance of the location contributed positively to the overall experience.

So far, this is one of the best restaurants in Hartford. In addition to the lovely atmosphere in a park setting, the chef excels at preparing specialty dishes. The prices are quite reasonable as well.