Fire by Forge Restaurant

Went here for brunch before the UConn game and it was so good. Found 3 spots at the bar and were waited on quickly. I got the arepas which were awesome, kind of like a fancy McGriddle and it came with their chips which were also great. The cinnamon roll was excellent as well. Highly recommend.

First time visit. We live far away but next time I am in Hartford I will look to see if FxF will be open. We made a reservation. Food tasted good. The staff were welcoming, friendly and professional. We ate in the front dining area which stayed warm despite being where the entry door is.

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.

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!

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!