Creative cocktails and cuisine are the buzz at the stunning Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlour, which opened at 54 Pratt Street in the Historic section of Hartford on July 11, 2024. We had a delectable and romantic dinner at the restaurant on Saturday, July 20, 2024, 9 days after the opening and the restaurant already had garnered appreciative patronage.
The bar and restaurant are gorgeous, yet warm and inviting, and the colors reflect nature’s herbal and floral colors, something close to owner Lelaneia Dubay’s heart as a botanist, herbalist, landscape designer, and Creatrix of the totally delectable and diverse Hartford Flavor Company line of vodkas, Wild Moon Liqueurs, and Wild Moon Botanics Liqueurs.
The ambience in the 1930s Art Deco Thistle Bar is pure romance, with its Diana the Goddess balanced on a crescent moon with a cocktail glass in her hand. Patrons are bathed in pink light, with a touch of 1930s meets 1970s glamour. The type of bar that we could imagine the characters “Nick and Nora Charles” of the 1930s and 1940s “Thin Man” films imbibing with cocktails in their hands.
The 150-seat restaurant has a variety of dining options, including their Thistle Bar. Other dining options include their formal dining room, with its wall of windows that overlook the historic brick-lined pedestrian Pratt Street, where orchids and lush green potted plants positioned along the windowsills add to the charm of the room. The color scheme is apple-green and rose-pink, sumptuous crystal chandeliers illuminate and add a romantic, formal, and vintage feel to the room. Tables are dressed in pristine ivory tablecloths and pink napkins, and votive candles add to the overall charm. Pink banquettes with apple-green accents complete the formal dining room’s gracious décor.
Other dining room options include the Laurel Dining Room for private dining with its gorgeous Mountain and Bay Laurel branches illuminated with fairy lights on the ceiling, and in the curtained semi-private Gold Booths. There is a Tasting Room Bar, and a Games Room perfect for enjoying after-dinner drinks.
The cocktail menu is inspired, and there is also a broad selection of wines, beers, mocktails, and soft beverages. As the name of the restaurant is the Cocktail Parlour, we began our evening with two of their inspired cocktails, the Banana, Birch & Bourbon cocktail from the Spirit Forward – Strong and Smooth section of their cocktail menu, and their Green Lantern from their Shaken – Blended and Refreshing section of the cocktail menu.
Banana Birch & Bourbon Cocktail
The Banana, Birch & Bourbon was made with bourbon, Wild Moon Birch Liqueur, Bruised Banana Oleo, and Walnut, and garnished with a banana leaf. This was a powerful, but well-crafted and balanced cocktail.
Green Lantern Cocktail
The Green Lantern cocktail was made with Silver Tequila, Agave, Wild Moon Cucumber Liqueur, Green Chili, Lime, and Toasted Sesame Oil, and garnished with a cucumber slice float. This was another well-presented cocktail that was smooth, balanced, and had a delightful and slightly spicy kick on the finish.
Sunflower Mushroom Pâte
The Parlour features a fully gluten-free, farm-to-table menu, which is divided into sections of Bread & Bites, Raw, Shared, and Entrées. We selected the Sunflower & Mushroom Pâte, from the Bread & Bites section, which was a vegan offering paired with gluten-free grilled flatbread and miso washed vegetables of rainbow carrots and a variety of radishes. The pâte was intriguing with its blend of sunflower and mushrooms.
Wild Caught Monk Fish
For our entrées, we selected the Wild Caught Monk Fish, and the Shoreline Stew. The monk fish was served with asparagus, fiddle head ferns (which are a New England seasonal delicacy), and pommes purée, in a rich and flavorful saffron caper cream. This was a gorgeous presentation that followed through in its delivery of flavors.
Shoreline Stew
The Shoreline Stew was another standout entrée made with a mélange of mussels, scallops, shrimp, in a Wild Moon Birch Liqueur and tomato fennel broth. Served with grilled toast, we soaked up this very tasty broth.
Deconstructed Key Lime Pie
Executive Pastry Chef Nyeemah Hightower created a gluten-free dessert menu, of which the majority are vegan. We ended our dining experience on a sweet note with the Deconstructed Key Lime Pie, a vegan dessert with Coconut Chantilly, Coconut Tuille, and Meringue that was stunning to look at, and delicious on the palate, which was garnished with an orchid blossom for an enchanting, exotic look.
Créme Brûlée Trio
We also had the Créme Brûlée Trio (a dairy dessert), which consisted of Raspberry, Lavender Earl Grey, and Banana Foster. We especially liked the combination of the Lavender Earl Grey, with its layered nuances of flavors. Both of our dessert selections were the perfect finale to an evening of fine dining and romance in a gorgeous new restaurant on the Hartford restaurant scene.
In addition to the Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlour, they also own Hartford Flavor Company Distillery located at 30 Arbor Street in Hartford, that is well worth a visit. We took a fascinating tour and indulged in creative cocktails for a perfect pre-dinner experience. Read about our visit to the Hartford Flavor Company Distillery in the Liquor Cabinet section.
Until next time, Bon Appetit!
Read more about our experiences in Hartford, Connecticut in the Arts, Destinations, and Liquor Cabinet sections.
Restaurant Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 3:00 pm until 10:00 pm.
Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlour
54 Pratt Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
Telephone: +1-860-216-9745
Website: https://hartfordflavor.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HartfordFlavorCompany
Instagram: @hartfordflavor
Instagram: @wildmoonliqueurs
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