REDCAN — Restaurant in Hartford

TLDR: IT'S THE BEST PLACE IN TOWN, GET THE SPICY BEEF AND DISCOVER HIDDEN ELIXERS

As I stepped into Redcan, a foreboding sense of anticipation gripped me like a vice around my esophagus. The atmosphere inside reeked of cloaked malevolence, an aura thick enough to taste. Yet, beyond the suffocating pall, lay siren songs of succulence - the Spicy Beef promising an orgiastic experience that would reduce mere mortals to quivering shadows.

The first bite was akin to being electrocuted by pure, unadulterated pleasure. Each morsel detonated a thermonuclear blast of flavor on my taste buds, leaving me gasping for oxygen and panting like a rabid beast. The heat seared through the folds of my tongue, singeing every receptor until I felt as though I'd been reduced to raw flesh, exposed and writhing in agony/ecstasy. And yet, there was no respite - no respite from the infernal fire that consumed me, nor solace from the sensation that would haunt my dreams for an eternity.

The unfortunate side effect was a crimson smear artfully etched across my pristine white shirtfront. The garment already constricted around my chest, feeling tighter than a straitjacket cinched too snugly. My turgid nips throbbed beneath the suffocating fabric as beads of perspiration began to form a cold sheen on my forehead - a consequence born not from the scorching heat of the dish, but rather the sheer, primal arousal it kindled within me.

Edit: Do try any custards you see on the menu, be them temporary, seasonal, imaginary or permanent [-h. thatch]

Despite this harrowing turn of events, the true significance lay beyond the stain-studded ruin of my once-immaculate ensemble. It lay in Redcan's culinary alchemy and its unflappable staff - their unwavering commitment to excellence a beacon shining like a guiding star through the treacherous expanse of an otherwise desolate dining landscape.

As I staggered out, feeling as though I'd been violated by an untamed beast while still writhing in the throes of orgasmic rapture, I couldn't help but wonder about the enigmatic "secret room" Redcan whispered about. Perhaps it was a hidden Valhalla for connoisseurs who'd earned the sacred right to sample its most diabolical creations. Or maybe it simply served as an internment cell for the damned - souls like myself forever condemned to die alone, writhing in a purgatory of untold...

As a local foodie, I have looked forward to coming to this resto for my first time. I have had drinks here on many occasions, but never eaten here....sadly, I won't eat here again.

The drinks and service by Ed at the Speakeasy was top notch. Loved the drinks and Ed was totally chill and friendly. Love the Speakeasy.

The dining room was not lit enough for most diners to see the menu. Cell phones were used by most tables. I really hate that. There were three of us and one asked the waitress what is the Burrata. The waitress replied, "Well what does the menu say?" That is a bad start. Entrees were in the $35 to $50 range, but side dishes are $14 to $18. $14 for Brussel sprouts? Are these magic sprouts? Are they planning on feeding the whole table? The waitress explained that these sides are large enough for at least two or three people. So the three of us must agree on the same sides, while we can order our own entrees. There is a disconnect there. The food took a bit longer to arrive. While the restaurant is full, it was not wall to wall people, why does to food take so long? I ordered the pork tenderloin. It was slightly dry and tough but still quite delicious. The linguini bolognese and the roast chicken were good too. The food was good but nothing to write home about. The star of the meal was the $14 brussel spouts.

Our waitress disappeared. Never checked back to ask how the food was. Maybe she was busy studying up what a Burrata was. At one point, my wife asked for salt. A saltshaker and pepper mill pair was quickly delivered. BUT, there is no salt in the shaker. I quickly grabbed the first staff that was walking by and ask if I can trade her with one that had salt. Strangely, she started to check the pepper mill and ground some pepper onto my small plate. Then she took the saltshaker, turned it over and tried to turn the top like a peppermill. She announced that there are a few grains that came out. Then she added that she can get us a new shaker. I said no thank you, if you are going to argue with me over this. It's a freaking saltshaker! Just apologize and go get one that is full. To add insult to injury, the one she came back with is equally bad, just a few grains that came out.

I'll come back for the drinks at the Speakeasy. ...

I have heard good things about this restaurant, so was looking forward to spending a night there. So we finally went there last weekend. We began our evening in the Speakeasy for pre-dinner drinks. The ambience was charming, but my first disappointment came when my Aperol Spritz tasted like it was made with lemon juice rather than orange juice. I cannot comment on the taste of the food because I never had the opportunity to eat there. We had a dinner reservation for 8 pm, but we were told several times that our table was not yet ready. An attempt was made to get information from the owner, but we were told that she had had left to take care of her dog. Really, on a busy Saturday night! We weren't sure at that point who was in charge! Now I can speak about service. At no time was an effort made to provide our party of seven with alternative seating. Finally, at 8:40 pm, after being told by the bartender that our table still had people sitting there, three of us decided to leave. As we exited the restaurant, we witnessed several empty, cleared tables. I have never been treated this shabbily by a supposedly high-end restaurant. Needless to say, we will not be returning to this establishment. I would like to suggest to the owners that they remove the following statement from there website, since they had no intention of carrying through on it: "Your dining reservation has a SET TIME DURATION. Please be respectful and courteous of your dining experience as there are OTHER RESERVATIONS following yours. It is not ideal when we must remind Patrons of this situation. We know you'd hate to be the one waiting for a table, while others aren't respectful of theirs. Thank you." Don't say you haven't...