Carpenter & Main — Restaurant in Norwich

I cannot say enough about our experience at Carpenter and Main. The food was fantastic, the service was fantastic, the atmosphere is great - relaxing, attentive service but not overly so. The 4 of us enjoyed each others company without feeling rushed or interrupted. It was the feeling of being in someone’s home.

FOOD We all ordered apps, mains and dessert. We don’t typically order dessert but when we saw it was homemade ice cream we had to try it. It did not disappoint. We all ordered different everything from each other - Bruschetta, Split pea soup (amazing), Artichokes for Apps. Scallops, risotto, duck, glass noodles with edamame and other veg for mains. The food was amazing. And I mean amazing.

Nate our server is a class act and made our overall experience one we want to repeat.

WINE ETC The wine list was really good but I have to give props to Johnny the bartender. A talented bartender for sure and one of the reasons we’ll be back.

ATMOSPHERE There are multiple rooms plus a bar area. The rooms are quieter but we wanted something less quiet so we asked to be moved to the bar area. We also wanted to be able to hear each other talk which was not an issue. We could enjoy the music which wasn’t too loud and hear each other comfortably.

I wish we had this restaurant in our...

It's supposed to be more on the "high-end" side of restaurants. Definitely a solid place to go if you're not too picky, but if you're looking for an amazing meal, this place is a bit of a let down. The meatballs were decent, but definitely not cooked properly–in the sense that they were a bit dry and rubbery. The chowder lacked flavor, but was alright with some salt, which means the chef isn't quite an expert at making chowder, but he came close. The bruschetta, which all the waiters mispronounced, was very disappointing–the prime rib was a bit dry, and there was nothing else on it, so it was like dry shredded meat on a slice of bread, rather than actual bruschetta. The seafood casserole was lacking in flavor and not even close to being worth the $29 price. I'd be willing to pay about half the amount for the quality. If you're looking for a great meal, this is not the place. The atmosphere is nice, the servers are friendly and fast, but the chef is very disappointing. I do not really want to return to this place, as there are far superior restaurants in the area, as far as the food quality goes. All and all, it was a good time, but definitely not what I was expecting given...

I was celebrating a special milestone in my life and decided to visit this fine dining place before leaving the area and I’m so glad I did! The ambiance has a charming, quaint vibe that immediately feels welcoming.

Morgan was wonderful, and we ended up chatting quite a bit, which made the experience even more special. When it came to cocktails, I was craving bourbon and chose The Long Goodbye - ironically fitting, as I was leaving the area after half a decade. It was beautifully balanced and hit just the right notes for the spring season.

The food was equally fantastic. The duck confit was cooked to perfection, the potatoes were absolutely delicious, and the side of greens complemented the dish so well. A truly satisfying and hearty meal.

If I had one small suggestion, it would be to enhance the cozy atmosphere even further with some candles on the tables. But overall, a wonderful experience - perfect for a special evening!

Would...