Spice Venue — Restaurant in Hartford

6/26- So we were pretty excited that an Indian restaurant with a great space in the heart of downtown Hartford. First day we walked in, we were given a tour. They did a soft launch. We were really happy. Next day we tried lunch box, it was very oily but okay So we were dead tired today and ordered dinner. Malai kebab was good. They messed up the order a bit but the management was very courteous and helpful and took care of things fast. Hope tehy get better and better and we can enjoy awesome indian food in Hartford downtown.

Tried out Spice Venue today for dinner. New Indian restaurant in downtown Hartford.

Plus points - Location: superb location. Right on asylum st and very near to Pearl Street anc Main Street. Good location form downtown office crowd as well as the downtown apartment folks. Inside- quite a large place with two floors. Bar on the top with a secluded room for large groups as well. Great for small parties or exclusive office groups. Nice TVs all around will give a sports bar vibe Very courteous staff. They gave us a tour of the venue as well which was appreciative. Food: we had chicken Korma. Quantity was good. There was rice complimentary with it which was good too. The korma was good. Had nice taste. Not much spicy. It’s open late nights. Bar will be open till 1 with a limited bar menu. This is superb. We love to be out late and one thing we always found an issue with was availability of food late at night. Even some appetisers will be quite a welcome change. Kudos for this idea.

Areas of improvement - Little towards expensive side. More food options needed. This might be fixed with their full launch in next few days. It’s just a soft launch but I hope the decor will become better with passing days.

All in all I will say must try. Nice location, superb staff and a great idea. Hope it works out, definitely...

While the food was decent, other aspects of the visit were less than stellar.

Food: The dishes were well-prepared and flavorful. This was the saving grace of my visit and may be the reason I might choose to return.

Ambience: The ambience of the restaurant felt quite dated. The decor seemed like it hadn't been updated in years, and the combination of dim or non-existent lighting gave the place a tired and uninviting feel.

Service: Service was mediocre at best. Upon arrival, there was no one to greet us at the door, leaving us uncertain about whether to seat ourselves or wait. After deciding to sit down at one of the many empty tables, we were promptly asked to move by the front desk person, which felt unnecessary and unwelcoming, especially considering the restaurant was almost empty even when we left.

When requested a substitution (bread instead of rice), they agreed to provide half a portion of bread as a favor but made it clear, with a smile, that this would be a one-time courtesy. This struck me as odd, as most restaurants either accommodate such requests without issue or simply charge a small fee. Additionally, for the Thali option available at lunch, the front desk person could not say for sure what entrée would be available.

Ordering Process: A particularly frustrating aspect of the visit was the lack of a printed menu. Instead, we were required to use the Toasttab app, which meant scrolling through the menu on our phones. This was cumbersome and impersonal, detracting from the dining experience when you got with your family or friends.

Pricing: The prices, for what we ordered, were reasonable, but given the mediocre service and dated ambience, the overall value for money felt lacking.

In summary, while the food was decent, the overall experience was hindered by the outdated ambience, mediocre and impersonal service, and a frustrating...

I visited this restaurant yesterday around 7 PM and ordered chicken fried rice and dosa. At first, when the food was served hot, it seemed eatable. However, as I continued eating, spoon by spoon, the taste quickly turned unpleasant. Once the food reached room temperature, I noticed a bad smell, which made it very clear that something was not fresh.

I politely brought this to the staff’s attention. They checked with me, but I was surprised when the issue was brushed aside without proper concern. Later, a staff member asked how the food was, and when I explained my complaint, she casually mentioned that she also noticed the smell—yet there was no real explanation or responsibility taken.I also say and one of the person over there may named Carlos has an initiative to react though they checked off the price but still I’m amused with all the activities there . ❌❌❌

A fried rice is an instant dish that should be served fresh, not stale. Unfortunately, this experience turned into a nightmare for me, as I later felt stomach discomfort and what seemed like food poisoning. I truly respect the effort it takes to run a restaurant, and I approached the staff kindly without making a scene. Still, it was disappointing that food in such condition was served at all. At the very least, items that are not fresh should be kept out of stock rather than served to customers.

The reason I am writing this review is because I noticed no management was around to directly address the issue. I sincerely hope this feedback reaches them, as such experiences should not be ignored. Food safety and customer health are very serious matters, and I believe this needs to be heard loud and clear—not just for me, but for anyone else who might face the same situation.

This experience has left me with no intention of returning, as health and food quality should...