Pattaconk 1850 Bar and Grille

Imagine being in a small New England town on a Saturday night, pretty close to the Connecticut River, and being in a bar full of people signing along with Billy Joel's "The Downeaster Alexa"? Sounds like heaven, don'it? There aren't enough stars for this experience!

Now, what's the Conk like when the above songfest is not going on? A restaurant fulla rustic picnicky charm. Pretty exciting menu, but it was a tad late for me to do a big meal, so I went with the pulled pork sandwich. Chips instead of the jalapeno cornbread cuz they told me I wouldn't be able to pick the peppers out. Why can't anyone make cornbread w/bacon, like my mom usta?

This is one of the top three pulled pork sandwiches I've ever ever had. I kid you not. Fluffy but substantial eggy roll. Crisp pickle slices. Snap! I don't remember what the rest of us had, except the sweetpotato fries, which I ate a bunch of. Appealingly skinny and crunchy. Fine vittles, especially for a place that looks like it could coast on its rep and put all its attention into the bar. (And that bar was packed as hell. I think I stepped on every toe in the house trying to leave.) The leftovers made a terrific breakfast, tasting superfresh despite a night in the fridge.

PS, when my crew burst into "If I Loved You" in squeaky cartoon voices, nobody batted an eye! They musta thought we were auditioning for the theatre next door. Gotta lovit...

I hadn't been to the Pattaconk for dinner in a while... Been there for apps and drinks but not real food.   I forgot how many options they had on the menu.   Lots of good burger choices, some good salads, pizza, and several other things.   They also have 20 something different beers on tap.  

I went the day before St Patty's day and they had a corn beef & cabbage special which was decent.   It wasn't the best I've ever had but not the worst either.  The corn beef was very lean with almost no fat at all, the potatoes and carrots were good, but the cabbage lacked flavor.  However, I love CB&C so it was still a good choice for me.  

One of my dinner mates had a burger that looked fantastic and the other had the pulled pork dinner which also looked good.  

The highlight of all three meals was the jalapeño corn bread muffin that came with the pulled pork... It was very good, moist with just enough of the pepper flavor to give it a little bite.   I'll be back soon.... Next time, probably a burger.

You're in connecticut's most beautiful town so you truly have no reason to complain. I lived in Chester for several years when I was a child and quickly came to appreciate the town's simple and rustic elegance. A summer weekend wasn't complete without a fun and relaxed meal at the Pattaconk Grill. What you'll find here is timeless American classics that will satisfy everyone in your party. As I kid I probably got chicken tenders, a burger, pizza, or a quesadilla... Or maybe a salad...anyway, its all good. Never a bad experience here. And now they have a creamery!? Now that is perfection!