The E List team shook off the February blues with a post-holiday party at the Foundry in Hartford. We’ve been meaning to get up to this spectacular fine-dining restaurant for an age and were thrilled to ride the elevator to the top of the Hartford Steam Boiler building and come upon a sleek, sophisticated dining room where breathtaking views stretched out in every direction.

True to form, we went all in and ordered a feast, lunchtime or not—celebrations call for extravagance. Begin with the Parker House rolls, a golden pull-apart loaf dusted with salt and rye. The housemade chips, impossibly airy, paired with creamy French onion dip, are irresistible. Delicata Squash Rings with ricotta salata and apple butter capture seasonal flavors perfectly. Laura loved her deeply flavorful Smoked Beets in a pool of stracciatella, topped with a scatter of salty anchovies. My Sourdough Casarecce pasta with porcini sugo and parmigiana delivered all the depth of a classic Bolognese, but here, meatless with mushrooms and a touch of cream. Wonderful! Robbin’s Maine Crab toast on housemade sourdough was bright with lemon and mustard, and finished with a crisp celery crunch. We ended the meal with warm chocolate chip cookies.

The menu strikes a perfect balance between comfort and surprise, blending unexpected ingredients into dishes that dazzle both the palate and the eye. Add in the polished, attentive staff, and the experience becomes truly memorable.  For a special occasion or an indulgent lunch or dinner surrounded by sweeping views, The Foundry is unmatched. 

One State Street Building, 400 Columbus Blvd, Floor 20, Hartford

thefoundryct.com

You may also like: