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Pond House Cafe, West Hartford, CT

Pond House Cafe

4.6
4.6
2548 Reviews
$30 and under
Fusion / Eclectic
Nestled on the pond in historic Elizabeth Park the Pond House is surrounded by gardens & offers four seasons of charm with a menu to match. Changed seasonally we offer eclectic comfort food that reflects the down to earth but playful spirit of our staff. Announce Spring's arrival with a walk through the park followed by brunch on the patio. Stop and smell the world famous roses then linger over dinner as sun slowly sets over the trees. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch & Take out. The Pond House Cafe- stylish, fun & playful.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 6 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Cuisines
    Fusion / Eclectic, Comfort Food, Café
  • Hours of operation
    Fri, Sat 11:30 am–3:30 pm Sun 9:30 am–2:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (860) 231-8823
  • Payment options
    Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Josh Fiorillo
  • Catering
    Pond House is able to cater to any out of house location including other local venues and your very own kitchen! We will provide everything from staff to clean up! Please inquiry today to have the Pond House to your house!
  • Private party facilities
    Both private parties and semi-private accommodations available, contact restaurant for more information
  • Private party contact
    Diana Aretakis-Trovato: (860) 231-8823 ext. 2
  • Neighborhood
    Hartford
  • Cross street
    Prospect
  • Parking details
    We are located in Historic Elizabeth Park, with public parking lots and street parking within the park.
  • Public transit
    on Asylum Ave.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,548 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Connecticut

    Great for brunch

2,548 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Love it here. Great spot :). It’s warm and inviting.

    Is this helpful?

  2. GonzalezMata

    Chicago

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Very nice restaurant. Food was yummy, service was great and the location, Elizabeth Park, was unbeatable.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Facilitator

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Food was prepared with feeling and excellent presentation. Ambience was engaging.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Rose

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    The ambiance is lovely as always. The food was bland and not very imaginative. Its quite overpriced for what you get.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Jackie

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lovely setting, creative menu,delicious food and a friendly server!

    1 person found this helpful

  6. NEECIE555

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The Pond House never disappoints! Great food and service. A wonderful place for a special occasion!

    Is this helpful?

  7. RobertL

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    Eggplant lunch special was quite ordinary. I would give pond house one more try because it’s been very good in the past

    1 person found this helpful

  8. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The Pond House is a beautiful restaurant with outstanding food and atmosphere! It’s by far our favorite place to go to.

    Is this helpful?

  9. MichelleS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was amazing and the outdoor patio was so lovely. I always love dining in the cafe! They had so many wonderful specials to pick from as well.

    Is this helpful?

  10. RitaB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    You can't beat the setting if you can get seated on the patio, and eggs benedict we had were cooked perfectly, and presented in a lovely manner.

    Is this helpful?

  11. ElaineP

    Omaha

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Charming lunch place. Stephanie a great waitress.

    Is this helpful?

  12. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful place to take my mom while she was visiting.

    Is this helpful?

  13. jane

    Greater Boston

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on September 7, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    The room was noisy with a large group. Unfortunately it was much too hot to sit outside. The salads were great, but were told the shrimp was grilled. It was 3 small cocktail shrimp that were warm. Not a good choice and will know better next time. The cod cakes were outstanding.

    1 person found this helpful

  14. Downstater

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Brunch was delightful, both the food and view of floral garden. Really liked the soups.

    Is this helpful?

  15. DennisH

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and plenty of outdoor space to dine; we were able to sit in the screen house (no bugs!) with only 3 or 4 other tables and still a great view of the pond. Excellent service by Tiffany. Much better menu than in years past. Turkey and Waldorf salad a big hit! No issue parking near the restaurant, at least at opening time on a beautiful Friday afternoon. Will absolutely return!!

    Is this helpful?

  16. MarilynH

    New York Area

    30 reviews

    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    As always, a wonderful experience! It does get pretty noisy, though and at times was hard to hear our brunch guests

    Is this helpful?

  17. Peggy

    New York Area

    36 reviews

    5.0

    36 reviews

    Dined on August 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    LOVE this place for meeting friends! Food menu and choices were great!

    Is this helpful?

  18. MushroomMarlene

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I had reservations for Sunday Brunch. We were seated promptly, given menus and asked if we wanted anything to drink before we ordered. The menu is very inclusive of breakfast or lunch with numerous gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, etc options. The Brunch Special this week of Eggs Benedict with Norwegian Salmon was INCREDIBLE. The serving was extremely generous, and the special comes with coffee/tea, and a mimosa or their signature Bloody Mary. My mother had the California Grilled Cheese Sandwich, which is a combination of cheese, meat, avocado and sauce, on thick sliced bread. She also had the potato pancake, which is as good as any latke anywhere! Our server checked in on us and was very responsive to any requests we had in a timely manner, albeit how busy it was. I highly recommend The Pond House Cafe for their excellence in food, ambiance and service all around. The gardens are beautiful too. What a bonus!

    Is this helpful?

  19. MaryJoWH

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It is my favorite brunch place & it was my birthday celebration. It’s always perfect! I received a Pond House gift card from my friends, who know me very well. I love it! ♥️

    Is this helpful?

  20. EdnaL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 12, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Gorgeous outdoor dining by the pond. Food was delish. Will def be back soon.

    Is this helpful?

  21. MarkL

    New York Area

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on August 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food in a beautiful setting. We are looking forward to coming back.

    Is this helpful?

  22. Valerbee

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    overall2food2service1ambience1
    Terrible experience. The check in process for my reservation went smoothly. The waitress we had was not attentive. Some of the food we ordered was good and other dishes were terrible. The croissants were the worst, very overcooked and served toasted to the point they were black and cracked when you tried to bite it---they were served with nothing (not even Jam or Jelly). The apple and brie omelet was awful--four slices of apples, two plops of brie, and a few spinach leaves placed on part of the eggs and then the eggs were folded over. Those are just a few highlights from my experience.

    Is this helpful?

  23. JustinB

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Requested outside seating for our brunch and we were happy to see they accommodated us. Service was very good, timely and not pushy. Eclectic crowd with a great overall feel being part of the surroundings. Food was very good, brunch menu reasonably priced for very good food. Not excellent but very good. We will be back soon and we will be back often!

    Is this helpful?

  24. Sheila

    New York Area

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on August 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The Pond House is so consistently strong. I feel so lucky that it's my neighborhood restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  25. Jordan

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    overall5food4service3ambience5
    A friend and I enjoyed a meal with great colors, textures, and flavors. The menu had so many tempting options, all for very reasonable prices, especially considering the gorgeous surroundings.

    Is this helpful?

  26. NancyC

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was outstanding. The gardens are beautiful. The service was excellent and very pleasant.

    Is this helpful?

  27. Dinah

    Indiana

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 21, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    We ate on the covered porch and it was perfect. The server was attentive, the iced teas were refreshing, and the food was delicious. Getting to walk through the gardens afterwards made the whole experience even better.

    Is this helpful?

  28. CarolA

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 19, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Food was good, server was excellent, too pricey! Probably will come to the park but skip the cafe.

    Is this helpful?

  29. BekahH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious food and beautiful space! Our server brought everything out quickly and was very attentive.

    Is this helpful?

  30. ElaineH

    New York Area

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on July 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were early so we took a walk around the gardens around the Pond House; very beautiful and we spoke with one of the gardeners who gave us much info on the effort it takes to keep everything looking green and healthy. We sat outside on the patio with fans keeping us cool in the open covered area overlooking the pond. We had a peach/mango sangria that was delicious. Lunch, a chicken wrap and an Indian salad did not disappoint. Thank you for a grand afternoon.

    Is this helpful?

  31. Mary

    New York Area

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on July 9, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Creative cuisine…so enjoyable a dining experience. Staff is attentive and friendly. Worth a drive…and able to take in this most exceptional setting…in Elizabeth Park!

    Is this helpful?

  32. DonnaZ

    Greater Boston

    8 reviews

    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on July 9, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    This restaurant has enormous potential… beautiful setting, lovely atmosphere, outdoor great! Just missing that truly professional service and finishing touch. Would definitely return ⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Is this helpful?

  33. Hleo14

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a party of four, they were very accommodating to our requests. Each guest in our party loved their meal. We had the gnocchi, swordfish special, pond house burger and chicken wrap. All we're very delicious. Service was great, the meals arrived promptly and all of the staff was all very kind and friendly. Highly recommend.

    Is this helpful?

  34. Georgetowner

    Richmond

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We totally loved this sweet little cafe. The menu was creative and varied. The food was skillfully prepared and nicely presented. We had an amazing pasta with braised rabbit and the cod fritters and loved both! Dessert was fine , but not exceptional at all. The service was wonderful! The setting of the cafe is fabulous! We strolled through the spectacular rose garden afterwards. Highly recommend!

    Is this helpful?

  35. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2023

    overall2food1service2ambience4
    Fussily presented, poorly seasoned food. Front of house smells like the bathrooms - which are at the front. Needs more air extractors there!! Or more frequent cleaning. Food took a long time coming…even though restaurant was nearly empty. Outside gardens trés jolie.

    Is this helpful?

  36. brookeb

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Good, service and ambience outstanding. Best vegan wrap I’ve ever had.

    Is this helpful?

  37. Dale

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My friend and I had a lovely lunch at the Pond House. The menu included a variety of choices that were very appealing. We sat in the gazebo, which was very pleasant. The service was friendly and responsive. We both enjoyed our lunch immensely. We will definitely return in the near future.

    Is this helpful?

  38. Roses

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 24, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience2
    The flatbread was worse than anything I have seen store bought and should have been cooked longer. My Dad only ate it because he has Alz, so it wasn't worth the time to find the server to send it back.

    Is this helpful?

  39. FoodiEFan

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Consistently great food and fun menu, attentive staff, get a reservation as this place always seems to be busy. Make time for a stroll thru the beautiful Elizabeth Park that is steps away from the restaurant (roses are May - early July usually; lots of photographic moments, often wedding parties taking pics).

    Is this helpful?

  40. TimothyJ

    Greater Boston

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The day of our meal was hazy and humid so it felt good to sit inside with air conditioning. We were promptly seated and served. Apparently a new chef was appointed recently and his creations were excellent. Everything was delicious and although the noise level increased as more people arrived, the ambiance was still maintained. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and will be back!

    Is this helpful?

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables
  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Pond House Cafe offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (860) 231-8823.

Pond House Cafe is rated 4.6 stars by 2548 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 6 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Pond House Cafe

1555 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Prospect
  • Neighborhood
    Hartford
  • Hours of operation
    Fri, Sat 11:30 am–3:30 pm Sun 9:30 am–2:30 pm
  • Cuisines
    Fusion / Eclectic, Comfort Food, Café
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    We are located in Historic Elizabeth Park, with public parking lots and street parking within the park.
  • Public transit
    on Asylum Ave.
  • Payment options
    Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Josh Fiorillo
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (860) 231-8823
  • Catering
    Pond House is able to cater to any out of house location including other local venues and your very own kitchen! We will provide everything from staff to clean up! Please inquiry today to have the Pond House to your house!
  • Private party facilities
    Both private parties and semi-private accommodations available, contact restaurant for more information
  • Private party contact
    Diana Aretakis-Trovato: (860) 231-8823 ext. 2
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