Arugula

The Owner/Chef is extremely rude!! Was eager to turn away seating a party of six together....obviously customers don't affect her bottom line...did I say we had confirmed reservations. more

This restaurant has only been able to stay in business because the food is decent, but God help you if something isn't quite satisfactory because the owner will not only insist you leave, she will verbally assault you. If you read the other reviews, you will see a consistent pattern of behavior from someone who truly hates her customers. Reservations don't mean much and be prepared to be hung up on if you dare to question a really weird policy of seating on the weekends. And don't go there if you have 5 people in your party as you will be told they won't seat 5 people. With so many choices in West Hartford, don't waste your money on a business owner who doesn't know the meaning of the words ""customer service"". more

If you enjoy restaurants where the customer is never right, where any criticism of its food, service or policies will be met by the owner?s wrath and, possibly, threats (read on), then Arugula is your dream eatery. more

Arugula is simply the finest restaurant in West Hartford - that is why I chose to host a birthday luncheon for 18 there yesterday - it exceeded my expectations in all ways. I have lived in West Hartford for 23 years and have eaten in every retaurant that has come to town - many are now gone, many have been successful and remain - but Arugula is the only where the food is consistently outstanding, fresh, and creative. Yesterday, we enjoyed the signature fatoush salad, mussels, five different flatbreads and profiteroles - all of which were absolutely delicious. The meal exceeded my high expectations. The service was gracious - the various courses were served at the perfect pace. The staff was attentive and professional in all ways - from pouring the wine to serving the salads simultaneously to recalling which guest preferred which flatbread due to dietary requirements. more

I happened to have been in the restaurant when ?better options? was in there & have read other posts by her. In fact, she termed me the ?nice server.? She claims to have had to pour her own wine. They only bought one bottle of wine for five women, which the server did pour. Unless they thought they were at the wedding in Cana, that bottle wasn?t going to miraculously refill itself. The ONLY negative comment they made to me was about bread, which being baked at the time. They had to wait all of 10 mins. I was at the table several times clearing & they repeatedly told me they loved EVERYTHING! The owner was polite, but refused to get into a verbal battle about the tip. Their loud use of profanity made another party decide to leave. People should be truthful in their posts. It is okay to not like a meal; we all have different tastes. But be honest Don?t make up lies because you didn?t get your way after throwing a public fit, making a fool of yourself. The irony: they were celebrating a job & they were arguing about a tip!? more

The food was decent, but the service was awful and rude! When we then realized 20% gratuity was added for parties of 5, it made sense why the service was so inattentive (e.g., no bread, no refilling our drinks). So we asked for the manager. The owner came out and didn't even let us finish our ""we understand this is your policy, but just so you know the service was not good..."" sentence, before cutting us off saying ""she is an excellent server, do what you want!"" and literally storming off into the kitchen. I have never witnessed an owner of a business act like that and we will never go back to a place that treats customers so poorly. So many other great options in West Hartford without the rude behavior! Go somewhere else. more

I have always heard great things about Arugula, but living an hour away, never seemed to make it. Well, some friends and I finally made the trip up for dinner and it was amazing. It might be my new alltime favorite restaurant. There were 6 of us and we shared 3 appetizers...1 better than the next!! I have a healthy appetite, but somehow could've skipped the entree. But...I ordered dinner and that too was incredible! The chocolate cake for dessert just sent me over the edge. Gotta try it. The owner came out to chat and she was hilarious. I wouldn't have changed a thing. more

I had the pleasure of dining at Arugula last night. As a foodie and a culinary student, I have been dissapointed with what Ct has to offer but I think I just found my favorite place. Pros: Great food with classic foundations done new and original. more

I just ate the best meal i have had out at a restaurant tonight. I was amazed at the service too. My meal came to me right away. i will be returining to Arugula very shortly to enjoy another great meal. more

We waited a LONG time for our food. We waited one hour for three sandwiches. We were expecting bread and did not get any so we asked and were told that bread would cost extra. One waitress for the entire restaurant. Our waitress was not great, she did not come back, and was clearly overworked. The food was good, but we definitely would not return due to the long wait. Pros: good food Cons: inattentive staff more

Have been there twice?back to back nights in early September. Found the overall experience so good we went back the following night and the experience was repeated. The service was attentive, the kitchen flexible and accommodating, they were willing to adjust their signature salad ""fattoush"" to include some items I requested. The wine list was very surprising in that the price points were very friendly, almost too good to believe. But the wine was great and I am very picky about wines. There are some hidden gems on the list. Visiting Hartford again this weekend and made sure to grab a reservation. Its that good and I've eaten at some of the best across the country. A great place for comfortable and very enjoyable meal with family and friends. Pros: ambiance, service and the food more

Arugula's food is delicious, whatever you order. The mussels are the best we've ever had, served in a tea kettle with hints of curry and cream of coconut. The ambiance is intimate, warm and energized -- really the perfect place for a luscious meal with friends. Pros: Best food in West Hartford more

My husband and I are moving to West Hartford soon, so we spent last week house hunting. We quickly found what is now our favorite restaurant, Arugula. We loved it so much we at there 3 times during the week. The food is original, high quality and delicious. It is obvious the staff is proud to work there, and they are very knowledgeable about the menu. Christiane is a fun, outgoing and very talented owner and chef. She smiles from ear to ear when talking about her restaurant and staff. I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates great food and a great dining experience. more

Arugula is a small place with a nice, cozy vibe, great service, amazing food, and an excellent wine list. Their fattoush salad is hands-down the best salad I've ever had in my entire life. It's rare that you find yourself craving a salad, but the only time it's happened to me is with Arugula. They have delicious desserts, too. You can't go wrong with this place. Pros: Fattoush salad Cons: None that I'm aware of more

I Adore Arugula. Arugula is a rare gem in the convoluted restaurant scene of West Hartford Center. On many occasions I have gone to Arugula by myself because the food is so good I would rather not talk to anyone while I let the flavors dance across my palate. My favorite dish is the appetizer of mussels in a coconut curry broth served with crisp sweet potato fries and an herbed mayonnaise. The dish is served in a giant teapot that keeps the mussels exquisitely warm while allowing you to pour out the aromatic broth into your bowl. The chef offers an exceptionally generous portion of about three-dozen oysters, so I often order this reasonably priced $13 appetizer as a meal. I also love the appetizer of escargot swimming in an herb de provence butter served with slices of brie croustini. In addition to astonishing appetizers, Arugula also boasts an impressive array of gourmet flat breads, exceptionally conceived entrees, and a well thought out wine list to boot. And don?t forget dessert. Their lemon cake with blue berry sauce is perfection. If you want innovative, yet unpretentious, cuisine, served in generous portions at a reasonable price, then Arugula is the restaurant for you! more

Staff and the enthusiastic owner very welcoming. Very recommended for your dining pleasure. Prices very reasonable. ,Great atmosphere, very homey and comfortable. Pros: Mussle dish is exceptional more

We held a bridal shower luncheon there and it was a wonderful success! We met with Chris, the owner, beforehand to pick a menu and she handled the rest from there. We were able to enjoy the event without thinking about anything else. The food was great. The service was great. Everyone had a wonderful time! It has always been a favorite restaurant of mine, which is why I picked it for the shower. I was not disappointed! more

Arugula is a wonderful resturant with fresh and delightful food. My husband and I love the fatoush salad and very flavorful gourmet flatbreads. The entrees for dinner a wonderful too. It is a small resturant with a layed back atmosphere. The food is great, as is the service! It is our favorite place to dine in. Pros: Best Salad and Flatbreads more

A friend took me to this location on one of my recent trips to the East Coast. I split my time living in Chicago and Boston and traveling to other cities through out the year ,and I spend a great deal of time dining out. The atmosphere of this small Bistro in Hartford's West end is fantastic. Great decor, comfortable seating, wonderful music, and pleasant service. We shared about 6 different plates during our meal and the food, though good, reminds me of home-cooked food more than the refined and skilled cooking you see in many of the Bistro's across the country, especially those found in the larger cities. The wine list was a pleasant surprise. Our Dessert cake was good and reminded me of the pudding frosted desserts made at family holiday meals. I'd certainly recommend a visit and it was a great place to share some time with friends. Pros: Great Dining Room and Overall Experience more

We made it a project to try all the restaurants in West Hartford Center over a few month period recently. Arugula won by quite a bit. The decor is comfortable and not pretentious, and the layout sufficiently spacious. The staff was friendly and service was attentive and obviously experienced. What distinguished Arugula most was the food, being light and flavorful and clearly reflecting a refined sense of subtleties in combining flavor and texture. Restaurants in the center cater to different preferences, but if you're looking for the best food and an easy atmosphere, this is the place. The price is not at all expensive for a restaurant of this quality. more