The Half Door

I started going to the Half Door when they started with the bluegrass on Sundays. The food is great and the music is great. Some people may come here to eat only and don’t care abut the music. I can why people that came here just to eat don’t feel obligated to tip the band. That said, the tips are compensation for the musicians that come a fair distance (Boston, NYC, NJ, Long Island and often further) to provide entertainment. The main guy for these events, Nick Novia, works very hard to bring these groups here and he, as we all do, would like to see them tipped for their hard work. Again, tips are encouraged but optional, including those who don’t come for the music. By the way, the poor review focused on the music; hope he was satisfied with the restaurant and the food.

Nick Novia is a tireless promoter of great music and la bona vita. He performs with and promotes some of the most talented musicians on the East Coast, if not North America. He runs a fun showcase at The Half Door on Sundays. Go there and support the Half Door and great live music.

I go to the Half Door to hear the band. I think they are very good, and I am glad to give a generous tip. The food is good as well. That fellow collecting the tips is doing the best he can to support the musicians who come from a long way to play for very little compensation.
I understand how someone who did not come for the music and does not care for that type of music should not feel obligated to tip the band. I don’t understand why they should be so nasty about it.

We have been going to the Half Door on Sundays to eat and enjoy listening to bluegrass music. I love the food — especially the waffle fries and the burgers, and the salmon dinners. Great atmosphere and a wonderful opportunity to hear top quality bluegrass musicians. A big thanks to Nick Novia for keeping this venue going. We look forward to many more fun Sunday evenings.
Marilyn and Bill Reveley

Let me start by saying i have been coming here for many years. Even when it was the cool moose. This time was no different when I ordered my Irish pub style food and beer. Its been great for many years and better since the expansion of the kitchen. Im giving 3 stars because im really confused about the process from when i got my check to me paying for it. I received my check and it was $ 48. Great no problem I have a $ 50 gift card. I Tried to pay with the gift card and it got declined. I was then confused. So I ended up paying with my debit card and left. So I called Visa gift card and they found out that when half door processed it they added 20% tip to it. Which brought it over $ 50. Now this is real shady and i feel like it was a way to take money from me. So im very disappointed. If I go back Ill bring cash.

Beware, their entertainment (if you call them that. they stink) passes around a tip jar and, the band member pushes you and harasses you to tip them !
The band member ought to stick to playing his lousy music as opposed to harassing customers into tipping the band !
I would rather tip the wait staff as opposed to the lousy band !
THe band member said «what are you a lawyer» after we declined to tip the band.
I wanted to eat not listen to the band !

This is a great local pub. Beer selection is excellent and the food is amazing. Cobblestones are mini steak n cheese sandwiches which my family gets every time. I enjoy the soups and chili — and the service is efficient and with a smile. Place is underrated and I highly recommend it.

The Half Door is the perfect little neighborhood pub, and is one of my favorite things about life in Hartford’s West End. There’s just something about this place that feels cozy and welcoming.
Maybe it’s the patio, which is my favorite spot on lazy summer afternoons or autumn evenings before it turns brisk.
Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve trekked here through near a foot of snow and still found the doors open and been greeted by the friendly (and snowstorm-​be-​damned level of dedicated) staff.
Maybe it’s the interior accoutrements, which is the right amount of Old World charm with a New World twist.
Maybe it’s the Irish gastro-​pub cuisine, which always hits the spot. (That fish-​and-​chips, though!)
Or maybe it’s all that alcohol.
I mean, seriously. They offer so many beers from so many countries, they had to make a «passport» to contain them all. (And have a wall full of pictures to celebrate the dedicated few who’ve tried them all.)
Whatever it is, the Half Door is my favorite neighborhood place. And it should be yours, too.

I found this on Unilocal looking for lunch options by UCON law school. This was great. The Shepherds pie was likely the best I or my daughter have had in some time. My wife had a mushroom burger and she ate it all. The manager visited the table to make sure everything was good. Everybody was very friendly and a great ambiance. We will be back.

This is a fantastic Irish bar with an awesome brunch.

The Half Door is a great place if you want a good beer or brunch. I have been there multiple times and love it. Their brunch is a must, at least once. I tend to go with groups of friends to celebrate after exams or just to grab a beer at the end of the night on my way home West Hartford. Another plus, is the fact that they serve brunch on Saturdays. It is quite difficult to find a place to get brunch, no less a boozy brunch on a Saturday in Hartford.
The fact that Delirium Tremens is always on draft, makes The Half Door a top pick in my book. Their beer list is comprised of the standard Irish beers such as Guinness and Smithwicks in addition to the variety of rare, cool beers. If you are a bud-​lite type of person, this is not the place for you. If beer is not your poison, they also have a selection of delicious cocktails. I mean, a standard for me during brunch is a bloody mary.
The food outside of the brunch menu is classic pub fare. I highly recommend the steak cobblestones if you are looking for an appetizer to share. They are mini steak and cheese sandwiches that are served on freshly baked rolls from the bread heavens themselves. When ordering a sandwich, the quality of the bread is key. The Irish nachos is another app that is note worthy. Homemade potato chips topped with a cheese sauce and other toppings, screams drunk-​food.
An all around cool place with good brews and food.

I came here with my boyfriend after the Uconn game for a quick drink and something to eat. We shared a bread bowl of cauliflower soup. It was okay. I like half door food but this soup was way too thick. It felt like eating paste. The flavor and taste was good but the texture and thickness was a little unsettling. The bread was delicious and I love that they offer bread bowls. Overall I would come back and try something else. It is still a great place!

I believe this was the first place I had a drink when I turned 21. Does anyone else remember the days when Whiteys Towing would make your life a living hell over there? I digress, I haven’t been here in years and after this visit will make sure to not let so much time go by again. I came with family and some of the plates on the table were the paddy melt, kielbasa and mash, cheesesteak and clam chowder. Everything on the menu is delicious. Our server was Nicole. She is very pleasant and remembered my mom and grandmother from their previous visit. She even remembered what my grandmother had last time. The food came out quickly and she checked on us frequently. If you are not engrossed in good conversation there are plenty of amusing blessings and sayings to read on the walls. It’s a good time!

Came here for Tuesday night trivia, what a great crowd and vibe this place has! That was also the hottest hamburger I’ve ever been served– and it was delicious. I’ve never been one to leave fries on the plate but that burger was so filling it was a close call. Parking is, well it’s Hartford so good luck. Will be back!

Great place. Super vibe. Love the corned beef eggrolls. Yum!
Wonderful atmosphere. Just like Cheers!

I’ve been to The Half Door thrice. Twice for breakfast/​brunch and once for dinner. I like it! It’s tiny, homey and there’s a patio (which is always great). Of course they have great beer but one really nice thing they have is brunch on Saturdays and the bloody Mary was rather tasty. The breakfast potatoes are very bland and appear to just be chunks of deep fried potatoes with nary a hint of spice or other flavor. I had the Bird’s Nest and it was filling and yummers.

I’ve gone here on a few occasions — often for Tuesday night trivia and for brunch. The trivia start at 9 PM, which is relatively later than other trivia nights. The trivia is also more difficult than what I’ve experience in other places, however it’s still a good time. I also enjoy the atmosphere of the place — it’s very low key and has a very cool vibe.
Now on to the food. It’s great! I’ve been impressed with their food every time – for both dinner and brunch. I do enjoy their burger and their Irish nacho. For brunch, their Bird Nest is phenomenal! Their portion sizes are also more than sufficient. I’m also always impressed with their tap list – there’s bound to be something you like on tap! They also have Blood Mary’s and Mimosas for brunch.
Service is typically very good, with very friendly waitstaff. The service at the bar for a beer is also typically prompt. This place is overall very good. The only downside is parking, especially during the winter time when half the roads are blocked snow. In that scenario, you will likely have to park fairly far away. It’s not necessarily in the greatest part of town, so it’s never fun to have to schlep through the cold because of the parking scenario.

I truly love the Half Door and have been passing though their doors since they first opened. This will always be a special place for me considering I had my Iraq Deployment party here.
I love the entire vibe of the Half Door. so chill and unpretentious… they know what they are and do it very well. B the way… they still pour the best pint in the city. A great selection of the standard (great of course) drafts and they are always rotating new drafts depending on the season. Their beer by the bottle and whiskey selection is top notch.
The food is very good and consistent just like the service. They also have great specials throughout the month. The parking can be a bit of a challenge… boo hoo… suck it up and drop into this place for a pint or two…

Really cute place! The décor is utterly charming. Many «Irish pubs» come off as tacky but this felt authentic (I’ve never been to Ireland though so who knows!). My husband and I stopped in for a Sunday evening date night. I was a surprised to find it mostly empty, but I suspect most of the Sunday crowd here comes for their brunch.
We seated ourselves at a cozy booth and the waitress promptly brought over several menus — the regular fare, the «farm to table» specials, the daily specials, and their tap and cocktail selections. So many choices! I ordered the Fool’s Gold (similar to an old fashioned) and my husband happily discovered the extensive list of whiskey’s on the back of the regular menu and ordered from there. They were out of his first choice, but he seemed happy with what he ended up getting. My cocktail was good, but not the highlight of the meal for me I have to say.
We ordered Irish Nachos to start. I am a big fan of house-​made chips so this was a hit. They do get a bit soggy under the weight of all the cheesy goodness, but if you can let those stragglers go the rest is totally yummy. For entrees I ordered the chicken ranch sandwich and my date got the meatloaf sandwich. Both came on excellent fresh bread and were generously portioned. The ranch dressing on mine was homemade with a delicate taste and thinner texture, unlike standard mass-​produced ranch dressings. The tomatoes were noticibly fresh as well. The report on the meatloaf sandwich was that it was tasty, but that the roasted peppers, onions, and cheese were a little overwhelming. We both agreed that the waffle fries were phenomenal, and I was also happy with the simple greens salad I had with my dish.
Overall, pleased with the food, charmed by the décor, and would definitely come back!

I have not met a soul that hates the Half Door.
I normally go every Tuesday for Trivia Night (which I’ve found to be the MOST DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING trivia in the Hartford area [or the country], which is both great fun but also incredibly annoying), which means I only really have the perspective of a weekday diner.
It also means I’ve sales most of the menu since I don’t have self control at 9pm.
The beers are always great. Not a great deal or anything, but you get a good rotating selection which is nice if you’re a regular.
The food is phenomenal. This is some of my favorite food in all of the Hartford area. The burgers are delicious (the owners also own Tisane and Plan B, and the food at all 3 are on the same level). The sandwiches are always a good choice, my favorite being the Irish Rover which has meatloaf. Wings are also amazing — not the cheapest wings but you can’t go wrong with the Honey Sriracha sauce.
Service is usually great. I go to one of the busier food weeknights I imagine, and I never have a problem finding a waitress if I need everything. They are usually pretty prompt with getting your order when you first show up.
I would definitely suggest trying this place if you haven’t. The only bad part is parking, which you have to circle around Sisson Ave for. Don’t let the bad neighborhood deter you, this is worth it.