The Brownstone House Family Restaurant — Restaurant in Guilford

A Few Honest Thoughts and Suggestions

I usually try to avoid writing negative reviews, and I prefer to give a restaurant more than one visit before forming an opinion. After visiting this place a few times, I wanted to share some observations in the spirit of constructive feedback rather than criticism.

There are a few elements that give this spot more of a diner feel than a traditional restaurant. The menu offers free coffee refills served in mugs with advertising on them, and the tables are set with printed paper placemats, which are more typical of diners. The overall layout of the space also contributes to this atmosphere.

During our first visit, we arrived toward the end of dinner service, and it felt like we weren’t entirely welcome. Understandably, staff may have been ready to wind down for the night, but a warmer reception could go a long way in making late diners feel valued.

Regarding the food, it hasn’t quite met our expectations so far. There’s definitely room for improvement. For instance, the French fries seemed to be frozen, based on their texture and taste. With the restaurant’s long history—over 60 years starting in Hamden—it seems like they could elevate the quality a bit more by opting for fresher ingredients.

The space itself is quite narrow, which makes it easy for sound to travel, especially with the open kitchen concept. While the open kitchen is a plus for transparency and can help build customer trust in cleanliness, the acoustics and ambiance could benefit from some attention. The lighting also felt a bit dim, and I think the space would feel much more inviting with brighter lighting and more natural sunlight.

One concern that was hard to ignore: my dining companion noticed a staff member touching their face in an unhygienic way. I initially brushed it off, but later saw that other reviews have mentioned similar cleanliness concerns. I believe that with a few adjustments and some renewed attention to detail, this restaurant can offer a much more pleasant experience overall.

I genuinely hope these comments are taken in a constructive spirit. There’s potential here, and I’d love to see this place thrive with just a few...

When we first moved to Guilford a few weeks ago, we stumbled down the street to the nearest restaurant that we could find. Thank goodness it was the Brownstone House, a converted Friendly's restaurant that is a surprising and rewarding blend of everyday comfort and class. The interior is revamped from its original finish to more tasteful surroundings, but it's still family-style seating and invites you to just relax and have a good meal.

What you get is a great meal, though. The quality of the food is exceptional, with generous portions and high quality ingredients throughout. I had a chicken scarpiello that was great, with wide vegetables done just perfectly. Most recently I had one of their signature specials, chicken jambalaya. My mother's family has some of its roots in New Orleans, where my great-grandmother's restaurant would have been proud to have served this dish - a perfect balance of ingredients and spices. Bread for the table is French baguettes, and desserts are sumptuous but not over-fussy or over-huge. The service, while not exceptional, is certainly fine and friendly.

If you're expecting luxury along with your food you'll probably be disappointed, but to get a real meal prepared properly out of real food at diner prices in an atmosphere that your whole family can relax in is a luxury of its own kind. For that, I'll give the Brownstone House a strong rating for its...

I recently stopped by this restaurant with my family on our way home from Mohegan Sun, CT, and I have to say, it was an absolute delight! This was Monday at noonish.

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles and friendly service. Our waitress, a young lady with long dark hair (unfortunately, I didn't catch her name), went above and beyond to ensure that our dining experience was nothing short of excellent. She was incredibly attentive, catering to both my family and my sister's family with equal care and enthusiasm.

Not only was the service outstanding, but the food was really good.

To the owner and management team: if you're reading this, please pass along my heartfelt gratitude to the waitress and the entire food staff. I will definitely be returning on my next trip through the area.

If you're looking for a great dining experience with exceptional service and food, look no further than this restaurant. You won't be disappointed!

Thank you once again to the...