36 Lewis Street
36 Lewis Street is well on its way to becoming a solid fixture on the downtown Hartford dining map thanks to the quality and care clearly put into every dish.
Atmosphere(10)
Salmon-colored formal dining room. Lively jazz bar. Even a great outdoor patio. This is Phantom's kind of place.
Menu(8)
Menu boasts a nice variety of beef, pasta, and seafood. And you may want to consider taking a second mortgage out on your house for the wonderful, but pricey, veal chop.
Portions(8)
Appetizer and entree sizes are ample. But Phantom feels the side dishes are at least three forks shy.
Appetizers(7)
Very average Caesar salad marred by soggy croutons. Much better was the delectable prosciutto and goat cheese strata and sauteed calamari. Both soups were eighty-sixed for the night.
Food and Drink(8)
Although only a handful of entrees come from the sea, they stand out. You can't go wrong with the pan seared salmon teamed nicely with rock shrimp or the generous cut of herb crusted swordfish. Kitchen also turns the ordinary into extraordinary with a grilled breast of chicken smothered in gorgonzola cream sauce.
Desserts(8)
It's a familiar cast, mostly cheesecake and torts, but none will disappoint.
Service(7)
Friendly staff knows the menu and wine list well. But, Phantom's server forgot to explain the nightly specials, and water glasses remained constantly empty.
Cleanliness(9)
Clean dining room. Even fresh-cut flowers in the bathroom.
Parking(9)
Downtown Hartford with some parking available on the street. But they offer valet Thursday through Saturday if not.
Value(7)
Appetizers range from $4 to $9. Entrees average $20. Just as Phantom could shed a few pounds, the menu could stand to shed a few dollars.
