Lion's Den Vegetarian — Restaurant in Hartford

I want to post an update for my year ago review because I feel like I was too generous. Especially after reading some of the more recent reviews I have to agree. #1This place was recommended to me by a friend for the heavty vegetarian plates and cheap prices. #2 When my boyfriend went to pay for both our meals the man did see how much money my boyfriend had, and upcharged immediately. I was shocked however, I thought maybe the prices changed since my friend came here. Then after my boyfriend paid the man literally did not give him his dollar change. The man pretended like he didn't understand my boyfriend. Even tho there were other employees in there who had taken our order and understood us perfectly. Then watched as he asked for his dollar, watched the guy pretend not to understand and said nothing. My boyfriend figured w.e and just gave it as a "tip?" (Stolen money) When we opened up our containers we were excited thought maybe ok he took that dollar cause the food is amazing. NOPE flavorless . Tasted like one of those soups you make when you have no food and throw whatever you have leftover in your fridge into the pot, but without the liquid. I felt so cheated. I believe this place only serves the good food to the local people and out of towners get a completely different service and food. Very disappointing not a way to run a business or be with customers. There is a very obvious reason to why the mistreatment and thats disappointing. Shame. I have not and will not be going back. Also I have to point out the very real dangerous area its in. When I went there was a bullet hole in the window right where someone would be sitting to eat...

Went here a few times, and had some pretty good food. Got a small and a medium box of assorted steamed dishes like steamed veggies, chickpeas in a sauce, rice and lentils, vegetables and veggie meat chunks, bbq tofu (this was my fav). Also tried a couple of the bbq veggie chicken drumsticks which were delicious. Tried samosas, lentil patty, pumpkin patty, all delicious.

Areas to improve: The steamed dishes overall needed a bit more salt to me, and at home I sprinkled some nutritional yeast on mine for a bit more umami. The menu they have online didn't really reflect the actual offerings both times I went (one time was early in the day). Menu was a little unclear, and it would have been nice to have vegan labels. I think you have to ask if what you are ordering is vegan, as I believe they serve fish some days. Would have been cool to have a explanation of what each steamed dish was, or maybe labels. Was very hard to hear the worker talking behind the glass and mask. Interior could use a little sprucing up, but nothing was...

I hate writing a negative review when the gentlemen that served me was very kind. However, I must share my experience with this restaurant. Today (01/17/2018) I had initially gone to Flora for a vegan burger but they were closed because of the snow so I decided to give Lion's Den a try since I love Jamaican food and I saw that they have vegan options. When I got there the gentlemen that served me asked if I wanted to try a vegan sampler and I said sure. The food was really disappointing because it lacked flavour. As much as I want to like the place I won't be coming back. Flavour is everything to me and since I've made vegan Jamaican food before (mock oxtails and vegan brown stew "chicken" for example), I was expecting like a brown stew vegan chicken or something that tantalized my taste buds with real Jamaican flavour. Oh well, it was...