Fine dinning in a relaxed space

A Restaurant Review

Republic

39 Jerome Ave., Bloomfield CT

Bloomfield has a new restaurant shaking up the culinary selections in this community.  Right around the corner from Wintonbury Mall you will find Republic, a Gastropub that is part of the Mill Restaurant Group, "Great Beer, Better Food" is their motto.  After renovations they opened up in the past few months and my hair dresser next door has been raving during my last few visits, so I had to bring my office-mate for her birthday this week!

Seating options are plentiful here in this industrial feeling building.  You can choose from patio, bar, kitchen-side, upstairs or front windows.  The open kitchen allows you to watch the chefs as they create their tasty menu items.  High exposed piping and a tin ceiling add to the brick wall decor.  We chose a high top table in the bar right next to the 10 seat farm-house table.

But really, its all about the food, so let me tell you about the menu. The lunch and dinner menus are similar, though portions and price vary.  From small bites, including a Buffalo Mozzarella platter (country bread, fresh mozzarella, pesto and an olive tapinade - it was very good - $8), as well as onion soup, chicken wings, meat plate, and even stake tartar. 

There are wonderful looking salads and flat breads (cooked in an open hearth brick oven), a large selection of gourmet burgers, bigger bites such as salmon, Coq au Van, lasagna, chicken and pork.  Lunch features an "Express Lunch Box Menu": Choose from either Cesar Salad or Truffle Onion Soup then....Chicken Salad Sandwich or Truffle Mac 'N Cheese or Fish & Chips then....Banana Bread Pudding or Fruit and Sorbet.  ($14 for the 3 courses) 



The Truffle Mac n Cheese, delivered on a cutting board.
The Ceaser Salad w. anchovie (yuck), but the
fruit was SO fresh and the limb sorbet was tart and sweet.

 She and I opted for the lunch box, which once ordered came out all at once served on a cutting board.  We both had the Cesar salad that came topped with an anchovie (skin on) Hhhmmm???, she enjoyed the fish and chips platter, beer battered with ale from the local Hooker brewery.  I LOVED the Truffle Mac n Cheese.  Just a hint of an earthy taste to it, with a great crumbly topping, served in a skillet dish.  The fruit and sorbet were great and she loved the bread pudding.  The portion was huge, even brought home some mac n cheese.

On their menu is a burger called "The Heart Attack".  I point this out special and I will give it to you as it is worded... "21 day aged domestic kobe beef, foie gras, black truffles, brioche bread & a demi-glace dipping sauce" I would guess it comes with fries and slaw as their other burgers do.  Why do I point this out?  Well, it is priced at $42.  Want to see more of then menu?  Check out Republic's web page.

They feature many local and seasonal beers, they had a good size wine list and featured an aray of whiskeys, written on the wall.  The service was fine, though it felt like things took a while.  It is mentioned on the menu that you can ask for "quicker meal" recommendations.

For the neighborhood this place is great, a little pricey, but cute as heck.  I hope it does better than the past business that have tried that spot. I will definalty be going back, I want to try the wings, a burger, maybe the lasagna... a bunch of good choices I would like to try out.

Hope you get a chance to check this place out - I am guessing they get a good post work crowd and I hear they are batting around the idea of live music.



Her fish n chips were served in this cute
basket with tartar sauce, a side of slaw
and a personal size catsup bottle.