Hot Rod Cafe — Restaurant in New London

We visited this place yesterday, for our friend's birthday. Our waitress was extremely sweet however this is the third time I've been there and they have messed up my simple wrap order. My friend's husband ordered a new drink and it was about 20 minutes and he had to ask for it which time they told him that they're out of that certain kind of liquor and they couldn't do it he ordered something else and they were out of that as well. The wrap I got was definitely not what I had ordered but I ate it anyhow. The food took forever to come out and our drinks took way longer to come out we were not giving any silverware upon seating and our plates to share appetizers where my friend got up and actually grabbed the stuff himself from the service station. Again I want to clarify a waitresse was very nice we understand that it wasn't her however the communication was quite terrible within the place. When my second beer came out it looked like it had been sitting for a while and was extremely flat which I only drank half of it they did offer to take the wrap off the menu but we decided to pay so the way she could get her proper tip and I can honestly say I don't know if I'll be going back in the near future unless it's for a beer wish I will order at the bar so I can see it being poured and handed to me. The food was quite bland and I still have half of my wrap in the fridge which I will probably be throwing out. The aesthetics of the bar are nice you can sit on a patio which was deserved entirely for a party. We couldn't sit outside however the restaurant does overlook the water and the seating outside is nice. We got stuck in a corner Booth with the sun directly on us there was no shades which I think the restaurant are consider putting up for around 5:00 p.m. when the Sun starts to set. It was directly on the birthday girls back of her head and her 13-year-old daughter and in my face, also in my friends husband's face. It wouldn't cost much to put in shades they have them at 7-Eleven just to pull down when it gets really sunny out to block out the Sun. If they could just work on getting the food orders corect and the speed of the drinks I think this place would be...

I checked the place out while traveling through town last night. When I first arrived, I wasn't so sure about the place. The first thing I saw was a tip jar on the host's podium and I found it a little weird how they appeared to be asking for tips before I was even seated. When the host began to lead me to my seat, I started to follow him but he turned me around and told me to go through the bar area and meet him on the other side, since he was apparently walking through a preparation area. I walked through a crowded space, feeling semi-lost, but I eventually caught up with him. I wasn't sure why he couldn't have just led through the bar area.

However, once I was seated, the service was quick and friendly. The burger I ordered was delicious and priced reasonably, at least by Connecticut standards. I asked for it to be cooked well-done and that's exactly what I got, not even a hint of pink! The place had a fun atmosphere with a Red Sox game on and a nice view of the harbor. They were definitely operating at what appeared to be at full capacity so someone who is high-risk and not fully vaccinated may want to stick with takeout, for now. However, I requested a socially distant table, and I was a good six feet away from the...

I love the wings here. This is an order of 25 and they let you choose five different flavors for this so you can have a variety. We only chose four for this order cuz we wanted 10 sriracha ranch wings. The jalapeño peanut butter is thick and slightly pasty but very flavorful. Their Thai chili is a little more dry than what I'm used to but sweet with a tangy kick. I'm a huge fan of their sriracha ranch- it's probably one of my favorites cuz it's creamy but it has a nice zest to it. Lastly, their honey mustard is sweet but the progression of flavor satisfies the palate. I've been to Hot Rods a couple times but they never disappoint. Also not in the picture is their fried pickles which were the best I've ever had, especially compared to Buffalo Wild Wings. They make them crunchier. Our waitress was attentive and really nice too. On a nice day you could also sit on the deck and have a view of New London's waterfront. I'd highly recommend going here if you want a casual environment and good food. Will definitely...