How time flies! I remember the excitement when Peppercorn’s Grill first opened in Hartford—and now it has been delighting area diners for more than two decades. If you haven’t dined at Peppercorn’s before, Connecticut Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to do so. And if you have dined at Peppercorn’s before, it’s a perfect time to remind yourself why you like this fine restaurant so much.
A friendly greeting from Vanessa should get things off to a great start.
Peppercorn’s staff is friendly and helpful.
My wife, my daughter and I were seated at a nice table,
where we listened with interest to specials like the soup and ravioli di giorno.
After we placed our orders, we were brought nice bread
and good olive oil, to which my wife added a little crushed black pepper.
Peppercorn’s menu was a lesson in how to plan for a Restaurant Week, offering numerous appealing choices, including a vegetarian path through the meal (click to enlarge).
For our appetizers, we chose the polpette di vitello (tender veal meatballs with ricotta, fresh herbs and Parmigiano-Reggiano slow-cooked in a fresh tomato sauce),
prosciutto sushi-style (slices of imported prosciutto di Parma rolled with Gorgonzola, black mission figs and a drizzle of fig and balsamic essence),
and arancini (crisp risotto croquettes served with a lightly spiced tomato pepper sauce).
Delicate and slightly sweet, the arancini were of a different style from any I had previously tasted.
Because Peppercorn’s is justifiably famous for its housemade ravioli, we selected the lovely light pumpkin ravioli di giorno, balancing their sweetness with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan. Delicious!
We also elected roasted, porcini-crusted, free-range chicken breast in its own natural sauce served with an Idaho potato purée and sautéed greens.
Our final choice was ossobuco di Maiale, Kurobuta pork shank slow-cooked till fork tender with sofrito vegetables and gremolata in a balsamic-scented white wine reduction and served with polenta and sautéed garden vegetables.
Desserts put the exclamation mark on our incredible Restaurant Week meal. We selected a peach and apple crisp,
a square of tiramisù,
and a cup of delicious chocolate mousse.
All of this for $20.11 apiece!
Not surprisingly, this attractive restaurant grew very busy while we dined.
Even the back room, added a couple of years ago and sometimes reserved for private functions, was bustling.
Only the bar area was relatively quiet,
although I assure you that is not the case Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m., when Peppercorn’s has an irresistible Happy Hour promotion.
Visit Peppercorn’s Grill yourself to see what all of the fuss is about!
Peppercorn’s Grill, 357 Main Street, Hartford, 860-547-1714
www.peppercornsgrill.com