Digger McDuff's Tavern — Restaurant in Cromwell

TL;DR: Dim lights for deep pockets (on the pool tables, not the patrons), and a decent Guinness in a dive that knows what it is.

Popped into Digger McDuff’s on a bright, sunny day and stepped into what felt like a blackout curtain. It’s dim inside. Almost disorienting given the weather and some corners lean more “basement rec room” than bar ambiance. The focus here is clearly on pool and karaoke. Neither are really my thing, but they’ve carved out a good chunk of space for what you’d call entertainment, and I can see the appeal for folks chasing that vibe.

The atmosphere is what I’d call “well broken-in.” It’s worn, weathered, and maybe a bit past the point where that’s charming at times. Still, nothing offensive — just a place that’s been around the block and doesn’t mind showing it.

I ordered a Guinness, and sure enough, it came in a standard pint glass. That’s always a known down in my book, but to her credit, the bartender gave it a proper rest before topping it off. She seemed to be running the whole place solo and didn’t miss a beat. Being attentive, friendly, and making the rounds without letting anything slip. My follow-up was a basic lager, which did exactly what it needed to: clean, cold, crisp, and cheap.

I grabbed the loaded tots with it. Nothing fancy. Just simple bar food done decently.

And honestly, that’s the point. Not everything needs to be wagyu on brioche with imported aioli and a $20 price tag for a meal that's more than my car note. Sometimes, you just want your drinks cold and fresh with your food hot, salty, fried, and familiar. Hit the basics, skip the fuss, and let the rest be extra.

At the end of the day, Digger McDuff’s is a dive that's not exactly MY style, but it knows what it is and sticks to it. Adding on some extra accent lighting may go far. But it keeps the regulars happy, gives folks space to shoot a game or sing their hearts out, and doesn’t put on airs. There’s...

let me start out by saying - i love this bar. 99% of the time the experience is great. my friends and i usually go out of our way to come for a few games of pool and a blt (the best around). unfortunately, this visit was quite the opposite. not only were we greeted with weird looks and a judgmental feel as soon as we walked in the door, but the service from the bartender was absolutely horrendous . she was so friendly and chatty with every other patron but us. when i was served my food, the bread of my blt was still cold, not toasted, literally falling apart as i picked it up. i brought it back up to the bar and told her and all she had to say was “uhm ok?” with an attitude. when i asked for it to be remade she snatched the plate from my hands, rolled her eyes and walked away. at that point i felt like i was a bother to her. then for the next 30 minutes all she did was talk loudly throughout the entire bar about how pissed off she was to be there and how bad of a mood she was in. after listening to her complain, we decided to stop mid bite and just leave. this was such a disappointing visit to a spot we genuinely love so much. will 100% be back again, but only on a different...

I enjoyed myself there. I went on 90's night and they were playing really good music. I had a friend make a request for me and they said they'd play it but never did, disappointing also wouldn't take any other requests that I disliked. He was a good DJ though, maybe I was asking for requests too late ??? The mixed drinks were good and reasonably priced compared to other bars/clubs. They have a nice outside patio to hangout on & smoke as well as play other activities. The place has pool tables & dart boards available for your use. I definitely will be returning for another visit, probably...