West Side Tavern

First of all I’d like to say that Peter the co-​owner of this place was very thoughtful and was very attentive to his patrons which made the experience even better. I had the grilled octopus with calamari with squid ink risotto and caviar. This was the special of the day with a great description of it I was fully up for trying something so rich. For never having this before this was fucking delicious and has convinced me to take any further suggestions in this place. It was so flavorful the risotto was on point! the calamari was fresh and so tender and the caviar made the other flavor pull through. My GF had the Brazilian steak with grilled tomato and peppers with rice and beans and that too was so amazing spicy, herby,& robust. Over all it was an amazing meal and will continue to patronize this well ran establishment.

I ate at this restaurant several times and I was in love with everything that was made I never had any dish so good @the drinks are great too !!

Had prime rib tonight ! Awesome ! Served with mashed potatoes and asparagus ! The best.

We are always looking for a new tavern and read great things about this place on Unilocal,so last Saturday night we decided this would be perfect!
When we pulled up we were surprised the outside looked more like a house than a tavern. Especially when parking in back. But we were game.
Upon entering we realized that the place is very small and the décor was not what we would consider a tavern. Very meek décor that needs updating in some places, and slightly wobbly tables and chairs. And for a Saturday night it seemed strange that only 2 other tables of people. The look didn’t appeal greatly to us but with such incredible food reviews, we crossed our fingers that we’d be in for a treat.
Well, we definitely were! First of all, the waitress/​bartender was so friendly and helpful. I wish I could remember her name! She made me a Fresh Expedition martini (I’m noticing my reviews tend to start with the drinks…) of vodka, lemon and prosecco. It was divine!
My husband got the boneless hen and the chicken was cooked to perfection– very juicy with a crispy skin with a nice salty flavor.
My son and I split one of the specials… I can’t rememeber the name but it was clams, scallops, shrimp, salmon and mussels in a delicious broth served with a side of rice. I hope they add it to the permanent menu because this place was so good we want to bring all of our friends back and I want to try that dish again!
I would give this 5 stars if the décor were updated inside somewhat. Regardless, we will be back!

This gem has gone upscale, and I mean that in a good way. It’s a lot spiffier than it was when it first opened, when it had inherited a rather grungy look from the previous tenants. It’s now clean and well lit (but not overly bright). There are only two burgers on the menu, and it’s Brazilian appetizers and entrees now. The menu fits on a single page, and each item is fully described in case the diner isn’t familiar with Brazilian cuisine.
I’ve been there twice, recently. The first time, I was by myself. I wanted to try a variety of things, so I ordered several appetizers and no entrée. The second time, I brought my wife. We split a bowl of their soup of the day, a delicious salmon bisque. Our entrée was also a special, and unfortunately I’ve forgotten its name; but it was a Portuguese cousin of suppa di mare. Everything was wonderful. There are a lot of flavors going on, but nothing so spicy or exotic that it would frighten grandma.
Desserts are generally not made on the premises, but are brought in from different places. The tres leches cake comes from someplace in Hartford, and most of the others come from a high end supplier; but my favorite comes from a local farm-​bakery. It’s a corn-​based cake (it looks a little like carrot cake, as opposed to cornbread) served with a blueberry compote. The compote is not sweetened, but instead flavored with a touch of herbs that gave it a nice accent without being overpowering.
I sat at the bar on both my visits, although there were plenty of tables available. It just seemed inviting, and we had some great conversation with other patrons and the staff.
Speaking of the bar, they have a large assortment of high end spirits. There’s even a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label. The bartender (who, I gather, also handles the business end of the restaurant) is extremely knowledgeable and knows what he’s doing with unusual cocktails. He has more kinds of bitters than I knew existed.
There are several beers on tap. Some are the usual, if you consider the likes of Allagash to be usual. The others are made up of a rotating selection of delicious brews that I’ve never heard of, and I browse the aisles of a nearby big box liquor store. If you’re puzzled, they’ll happily give you a taste.
There is a separate drink menu on their website.
I think the prices are very reasonable for what you get: appetizers are somewhere around $ 10, entries run from $ 10 (for a bacon cheeseburger and fries) to $ 22 for the more elaborate ones.
There’s a parking lot behind the building.

I’ve been pushing my husband to go for dinner there for a while now. When we arrived, the building was not swanky clean and new. It was old and run down. As we entered my husband said… This better be damn good. The inside is small, tight by the bar which was filled at 4:00 pm. We were approached and told to sit anywhere. There were a smattering of tables clean and fresh. The feeling was cozy and warm. Very attentive waiter. I think he was the owner. He did it all. Bartender, waiter, greeter. When he spoke of the food it was with such enthusiasm. I loved his descriptive words. We both had Caesar salads that were delightful but maybe a pinch more anchovy taste needed to punch it up. My hubby’s burger and fries were delicious. Just right. Best crispy fries and good grade hamburger. Done perfect. The scallops with salsa were tasty and marvelous. Only four of them but it was an appetizer. I sopped up the salsa with 2 slices of bread. I had the Expressotini which was so good but expensive. Actually it was pricey for the whole meal. 56 with tip. It would have been 5 stars but the price of food and booze at that happy hour time was really no bargain. I Definately will be back. Want to try the mussels and Paella.

WOW! A hidden gem in New Britian!!! My wife and I stopped here for drinks and tapas. They have done some renovations and really made this place way nicer than it was. The calamari was excellent! The drinks were poured nicely. If you are in New Britian and looking for a nice place to stop off this is where to stop.

I had dinner here tonight and it was such an awesome experience and environment. Our waiter was so nice and personable the entire time. The food was on point. I am not sure why I waited so long to come here???

Had my birthday dinner at Westside… first visit too…
Everything was superb… this a small restaurant and bar but a huge find.
Great food… had the seafood special special, Irish nachos, mussels. each one prepared with culinary imagination and respect for the ingredients.
Even the bread served and the coffee were top notch… not an olive fan, but the variety served with the bread basket were amazingly tasty.
Felt like a real guest, not just the customers at the back table.
Whole experience was beyond excellent.

My husband and I moved to New Britain this year and have been talking about how the good eats seem to be limited in this area. If this spot were in West Hartford, it would be packed every night. I ordered two martinis and they were both excellent. I am also very picky with martinis. My husband ordered the Brazilian steak and I got the salad Nazari. Both were excellently prepared and an overall good value for the price. The service was also top notch. They are doing some renovations in the next week but we are definitely coming back. So glad there is an authentic and cute Brazilian tavern in the nieghborhood!

Excellent selection of beers — I had a chocolate coffee stout. Had a very good steak with black beans and rice. .. really enjoyed it. Basic décor, good food, reasonable prices (maybe a little less). Loved it. Pleasant waiter turned out to be one of the partners. We’ll be back

Came here for my birthday dinner. Had honey lemon martini for a drink and mussels for an appetizer and grilled hen for an entrée. The drink was great, and mussels were the best mussels I have ever had… so flavorful, I didn’t want the dish to end!!! The entrée, the grilled hen, was also really delicious. So moist and the lemon butter was very savory. It took a long time for us to get the entrees, but I assume it was because of the hen that both my friend and I got. My boyfriend had a Rodeo burger, I tried some and it was amazing. So juicy! Their fries — so crispy and yummy. Flan and tres de leche for dessert… I could not ask for more! All in all we had a great experience here. Will definitely be returning to explore more here.

5 stars for this little tavern! A little small in space, but defiinitely not small in flavor! We enjoyed the 3 course Taste of New Britain last evening, and the entire experience was wonderful, and the food delish and fresh. House made with a Brazilian flair. They had a very nice cocktail, wine and beer selection too. Definitely check this little gem out when in New Britain!

Clean, comfortable and unexpected! The food is amazing; Brazilian cuisine with a tavern twist. My favorite is the Rodeo Burger!

This place is not what you expect.
They have a great, well-​chosen beer selection, and very good food. Pull a stool up to the bar, and have some great Brazilian food.
I had the steak, which was solid, but the onions weren’t caramelized quite how I’d hoped.
But all in all, the food, ambience, and beer selection far exceeded my expectations!

This place is probably a 4.5 star joint, but for what it is, where it is, and what that are trying to do with their food and bar, it’s worthy of a 5 star rating.
Had appetizers and a couple beers there. They have a very good selection of craft brews, some off the beaten path stuff. They update their tap list at Beer Menus. The food was really, really good. They have a mix of classic pub fare and a section with a Brazilian theme. Although we didn’t try any of the Brazilian food, we will for sure next time. The food was very fresh and the bar tender was very outgoing and congenial. Definitely worth checking out. FWIW, it is a 1.2 mile walk from the New Britain Busway terminal.

This place is pretty damn good, not gonna lie. Got the shark tacos, they were delicious, and reasonably priced. Great burgers too. Staff is very friendly, and they’re in New Britain. We don’t have enough good restaurants in town.

I was so surprised by my experience here! I used to live in New Britain and felt there were no places to go out and have a nice time. Well here is that place.
My friends and I sat out at the patio and were treated with excellent service. The two owners made us feel right at home and were friendly and chatty. Although it was late (past midnight) and they were closing the kitchen, they still made our food (the quesadilla was full of chicken, corn, beans, cheese, with a generous side of sour cream). The portions were generous and the price was pretty good.
The ingredients are great, drinks were good, and the atmosphere was very welcoming. I wish them luck since the new owners have been here for 5 months!

Went to West Side today and had the best espresso martini of my life. The place was just as lovely and friendly as the last time I left it. Food was quality. Drinks were even better. Love the inventive, creative vibe going on. Heard they will making additional improvements to the décor and ambiance this summer. Can’t wait to watch the transformation. It’s already a little gem, can’t wait to see is sparkle even more.

These owners worked hard to reopen this local mainstay. It’s better than ever. Food is incredibly prepared… fresh ingredients, full bar.