Trapiche

Went there tonight thinking we were going to Trapiche but after calling for directions we found ourselves at Rustico a beautiful Italian bistro set in the back quarter of lovely Chester CT. Tiffany seated us and we enjoyed a fresh bottle of Barolo paired with crisp salads and fresh pastas. Nino was the annointed GM and the experience was great. Definately a place to return. Cheers!

I absolutely *love* this place! The ambiance is subtle and relaxed, the food is delicious, the music is great and the people are friendly.
I had never been a real fan of Tapas until a friend brought me here. Now I’m really looking forward to our next visit! Don’t miss out on this place!

Met up with a group of friends here on a weekday night. Loved the atmosphere and enjoyed exploring their menu from cocktails through the tapas. Excellent fish tacos. Very gracious and friendly service. We’ll be back!

We have wanted to try this place for a while having heard about it through the grapevine. Located on 154 not in the village of Chester but on the outside of town, Trapiche is a welcome addition to the restaurants in the area.
The entrance leads into a cozy bar where there are small high tables if you can get one and a long bar that was completely full on a Friday night. Too bad because we love sitting at the bar and would have been much happier with the atmosphere there than the overly bright chilly dining room. Right next door, it feels like a whole other restaurant. Unfortunate artwork, overhead lights and not very attractive colors make this room a drag.
Anyway, that aside– the food was delicious. We ordered tapas and skipped the entrée selection and enjoyed almost every item.
Service was a bit slow and amateur (waited on by young women in their twenties) but the food was well prepared, seasoned nicely and ample portions. We had 6 tapas which was more than enough for dinner and a lovely pitcher of house made sangria.
The only item to avoid was the scallops that were not cooked well and then wrapped in a very thick piece of overly salty Serrano ham. The scallops tasted metallic and and needed to be paired with something more subtle and the ham was way too thick to wrap around anything.
We will be back definitely and will sit at the bar and try more of their inspired and eclectic menu!

Recently gave Trapiche a try a few days after things settled down from the hurricane. We had been occasional patrons of its predecessor, Lupo and were sorry to see it go. In this new incarnation there are only minor changes to the décor and service is good.
The concept is Spanish/​Tapas which you can either order in the traditional small portions and ‘program’ your courses, or dine ‘conventionally’ with entrees. There are a broad selection of characteristic cocktails, including variations on the mojito and the classic caipirinha. I sampled the latter and found it respectable, though having made this drink many times myself, I detected the use of simple syrup rather than caster sugar and expected more finely crushed ice.
We decided to give their tapas a chance and were not disappointed but for the absence of the lamb, but given the circumstances (a few days after a major hurricane) this was perfectly understandable. The croquettes were excellent and the serrano ham with asparagus memorable. The chicken empanandas were also very, very good; a nice flaky crust and perfectly seasoned with just the right level of heat. We tried both of their scallop presentations and I was impressed with the care with which they were prepared; perfectly browned but not overdone.
Bravo, Trapiche. We’ll be back.

My husband and I stumbled upon Trapiche after taking a day trip to Gillette Castle. It was around 2:30pm and we were very hungry.
There wasn’t anyone in the restaurant other than us, but I am sure they had a lunch crowd and were expecting dinner customers. The waitress who greeted us was nice and attentive (though she did disappear at one point to go smoke). We ordered the chicken empanadas for a starter. I got the eggplant caprese panini and my husband had the short-​ribs panini.
It took a little while to get our appetizer, but when it arrived it looked and tasted fresh with a good spice to it. The dip that accompanied it was a lovely avocado chipotle mixture that tasted fresh-​made. The price for 2 empanadas was a little high ($ 8), but at least it was delicious. After that, I didn’t mind the wait. After finishing the appetizer, the paninis came out in a few more minutes. I was surprised to find that the eggplant wasn’t breaded, and I was actually happy that it wasn’t. The panini was wonderfully seasoned and it had layers of cheese and tomato all generously cut. The panini came with house chips too which were amazing and not greasy at all. My husband short-​rib panini was incredible. I am not a meat person, but I would go back for this. It had some sort of beet/​radish topping on it which gave it a good crunch. The short-​ribs were tender and flavorful and they gave you plenty of meat. The house chips were also served with this meal. Both meals were $ 10, well worth it.
We left this tapas bar happy and full. Although it took some time, the taste and quality of the food was amazing. Some of the prices are a little high, but I am willing to pay for fresh, good food. My husband would give it 5 stars, but I hate waiting for my food in an empty restaurant. We will def. be back here, most likely for dinner! Can’t wait!

Oh, dear.
I previously gave this place four stars, but after my dinner there last week, I have to take it back. The menu is extremely overpriced, something I don’t recall from my first visit there, and I’m wondering if they’ve increased the prices. Some of the martinis clock in at $ 14. And I’m not talking anything fancy. I got a basil martini there last week– two alcohols and a mint leaf floating in it– $ 14.
I was not impressed with the food. The wait staff, while very friendly, seemed like they were on another planet. Peter Marshall is no longer behind the bar. We ordered tapas, appetizers, and one of our party had an entrée. All were extremely overpriced. Everything was mediocre, and the fish tacos that had been so delicious last year now come drowned in vinegar.
What a disappointment. It was my birthday, which made the visit even more of a let down. I don’t get what happened, but I will not be going back.

Great tapas, apps, and entre’s. Highly recommend. Chef/​owner is very personable, and the food is top notch. Worth a visit – ambiance is very nice, too.