Imagine this: It’s a Friday or Saturday night after a long week of tests and hard work, and you and your friends plan to go out to de-stress and debrief about life. You plan to spend time in West Hartford Center that night, so you plan the outfits and whose house you’re heading to after the food. You plan everything except one thing: the destination. One of the biggest yet simplest complications I have when going out to the center is where my friends and I will eat. And because it’s such an unnecessary step to suffer through, I’m here to give it to you straight up: top five restaurants in WeHa Center you should try with your friends when you’re out next time on one of those weekend nights.
#1 Max Burger, personally, is my favorite restaurant. Although it’s slightly farther from the main action going on in the center, it’s so worth it. It’s an American-style restaurant filled with options from grilled cheese and BBQ or lemon parm chicken wings to classic American burgers paired with the freshest truffle fries, sprinkled with parmesan to finish it off. However, if you are looking for cute pictures, this restaurant wouldn’t be at the top of your list. The ambiance is rustic but cozy since it’s also a pub; it’s laid-back in a way. But that doesn’t change the ranking that I give it.
#2 Sparrow Pizza is the destination for both pictures and food. As goes for food: they have several pizza options paired with unlimited and unique saucy toppings, like hot honey. The servings are perfect, but make sure if you order the fries, you have someone to share them with. One thing that stood out to me, right when I walked in, was the ambiance. From the outside, you can already see inside through the massive windows. On the walls, the abstract yet modern paintings are what catch my eye. As you walk in, the bar looks better than from the outside; it’s the centerpiece of the restaurant that ties everything together and really gives it that illuminating feeling.
#3 Cora Cora is slightly on the more elevated side of dining if you’re thinking about coming here with friends. I’d recommend this restaurant for a birthday or if you’re celebrating something special. It’s a new Peruvian restaurant, and from personal experience, I will say that their food is unique compared to other places in the center. If you are open to trying new foods from different cultures, I would recommend coming here.
#4 Barcelona is like Bar Taco’s older sister. Hence, this restaurant is also on the pricey side. If you are planning on going here, I’d recommend dressing up more than you usually would when going out. Barcelona’s specialty isn’t full American-style meals; they’re known for very small-portioned dishes, tapas. These are perfect if you want to try many different foods or if you want to eat smaller portions. And conveniently, if you are looking for a place to take pictures, it is right next to the white wall (if you know what I’m talking about).
#5 Sally & Bob’s is the perfect destination to stop by for a treat or reward after finals or midterms week. The ambiance is the coziest and most fun environment. This restaurant is slightly out of the center; however, it is in proximity to KO, which is part of the reason why it is perfect to stop by after exam week. This restaurant is probably the most affordable of my options, the most laid-back, and has the most options, but it’s only open until 2:00 p.m.
So hopefully, after reading this, you’ll feel relieved, and more of your completely unnecessary worries will be gone. Have a fun time eating!
