Steakhouse at Millpond Gathering

Even though I had a small issue with the meal I'll still give this 5 stars, read on for explanation. After hearing this place had opened up again I went to dinner there last night. We had drinks, appetizers and a meal. First off, the ambience is excellent. The views are nice, the building looks and feels comfortable with its rustic decor, parking is easy and its overall well decorated. There are 2 places to eat. The upstairs steakhouse and the downstairs tavern. Also, an event space, cigar lounge and walk in humidor are all on site here. We chose the tavern with outside seating. Outside was comfortable with relaxing views of the water. Both the host and the wait staff were friendly and accommodating. The items from the raw bar were both fresh and tasty and the spicy tartar was excellent. Everything was served in a timely manor. My only issue being that my steak was overcooked. But the waite staff was quick, accommodating and remedied the issue easily and without any problems. Overall our experience was great and I would recommend stopping here for a bite or some appetizers. Expect steakhouse prices. But in the end I think it's worth it.

We dined at the Millpond Steakhouse, which has a very different menu from the tavern, and had a fabulous experience from the waitstaff that was amazing and welcoming, to the food that was delicious and cooked to perfection. The waiters/waitresses were all attentive and polite. Alicia C. was our server and was awesome! Thank you. It was truly a great experience!

My fiancé and I visited Millpond for our anniversary because we had heard such great things! We were seated in a cozy spot in the steakhouse next to the fireplace, and it was probably one of the most romantic settings we’ve had out of our anniversary dinners. I’m usually pretty picky about popovers, but these were by far the best I’ve had! Our steaks were cooked perfectly, and the creamed spinach was a delicious side. The appetizer of the hanging bacon was fantastic, but we unfortunately didn’t really enjoy the short rib dumplings - I think the bbq sauce made it an odd combo for us. Dessert of the Belgian waffle sliders was a great end to the meal! Service was very attentive, and the meal moved fairly quickly. I would love to come back in the summer and sit outside!

I had an amazing experience at Millpond Gathering, thanks to our server, Susan! She provided stellar customer service and truly made our visit special. Her recommendations were absolutely on point, and every dish she suggested turned out to be fantastic. Susan was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. If you’re dining here, I highly recommend asking for Susan—you won’t be disappointed!

Came here for the pre fix “date night” menu. The ambiance feels like you’re in a cozy cabin in Vermont. The place was beautiful. Our server was wonderful and everything we had was delicious. We will absolutely be back to try the tavern downstairs.

If you’re ever in the Branford/Northford area of CT, make it a point to stop at Millpond Gatherings, consisting of the Steakhouse, Tavern, The Venue, Market and coming soon, The Inn. The 21,000 square foot complex purchased in 2018 and opened in 2022 is simply amazing! Two centuries of history with this restored and expanded manufacturing plant and later one of the largest greeting card factory in the US. The ambience was extremely relaxing and inviting, and the food was simply amazing. Susan was our waitress, and she and all the staff, including the Executive Chef, Pedro Avila, were so friendly & helpful! We started with the chili and the artichoke dip. I had the barbecue (chicken, ribs, burgers, grilled corn on the cob) that was taking place on the outdoor patio, Christina and Toni had the salmon, and my mother had the penne à la vodka. We were all blown away! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on the Millpond Tavern and crew!

Fantastic dining experience at the Tavern at Millpond Gatherings. Our group ordered multiple delicious appetizers- the spinach and artichoke dip was my favorite! For my entree, the seared salmon was some of the best I have had. Cooked perfectly and with a delicious crust to it. The service was friendly and fast, and the atmosphere was cozy especially with the Autumn weather. Highly recommend going here for a group dinner!

Millpond is beautiful, absolutely stunning. I don’t always take the time to leave reviews, but this place blew me away. Austin was amazing, very sweet and attentive. He made us feel very welcome. My husband told Austin I had allergies to garlic and onions and Austin and the chef went above and beyond to accommodate me and my allergies which a lot of restaurants will not do. The food was absolutely incredible!! So many amazing options and delicious! I can go on all day about how nice the venue the food and the staff were , you just have to go and experience it yourself! We definitely will be coming back to try more things. Thank you Millpond !

We had a great dinner and the food is delicious! Our server Susan was fantastic. It was a wonderful experience and we will definitely be back!

A holiday present from longtime clients & friends Bethaney & Kevin & fam, the gift of a delicious meal at Millpond Gatherings Tavern. Well, because we are happy hour champs, two meals! Love a Saturday happy hour! Especially one at a cool new place just over the river and through the woods from our home in Meriden. I scoped out the menu and made a plan, with the gift card sitting right next to the door ready to go. One of our families favorite spots, Lyman Orchards has a hard cider on the menu. TJ loves a cider, I’m in, it had a bright bold yellow hue and tastes sharp, bubbly, refreshing, yum. We ordered Candied Bacon and three thick pieces arrived clothes pinned on a slightly singed line with a sprig of charred rosemary, covered in a black pepper maple glaze…. Yummmm Spicy Salmon Tartare a crispy sushi rice, avocado, sriracha aioli, nori. the warm and cold, spicy, sweet, soft and crunchy combination is incredible. 8 perfect naked oysters. Cold, delicious mermaid food. Hipster Fries - bacon, parmesan cheese, shishito peppers, herbs, chipotle aioli. All was absolutely yummm the ambiance is rustic, cool. I love eating interesting things at off times! It was a thoughtful gift of an afternoon, and Tj and I looked adorable. Marisa Balletti-Lavoie

We were recommended to come here by a friend of ours and the place did not dissapoint. We loved it and really enjoyed our food!

Marissa was the best! She was so attentive and made our experience incredible. The food was great and the fire in the tavern was very cozy, we will be back again soon.

Larissa was incredible. Party of 14 (4 kids) and handled us with grace! Food was delicious! We had every appetizer and tons of steak! 10/10 recommend!

We were the DJs for a wedding at Millpond Gatherings. We came a few days before our wedding and had a delicious meal. The staff was very friendly and gave us a tour of the venue and showed us where we would setup for the wedding and ceremony. When we arrived on wedding day, from the start of the ceremony to the end of the reception, everything was organized perfectly. Larissa did a fantastic job there along with her entire staff. We would love to work there again and would highly recommend anyone to consider it for their wedding venue.

I made reservations at the tavern because the steakhouse had nothing open before 8 PM. It was for my anniversary with my husband. They sat us at a lovely table until the two person band started setting up right over my shoulder. No way. Allison, the hostess, was unbelievably accommodating, understood our situation and got us a beautiful table. We enjoyed an incredible meal with a phenomenal server. And the two person band was great, from a distance.

The restaurant was excellent, with outstanding hospitality. We tried several dishes that we truly enjoyed. The menu was extensive and very accommodating for gluten-free and dairy-free options, including weekly specials that incorporated seasonal fruits and vegetables, allowing us to enjoy fresh and flavorful meals. The service was impressive, with a calm and welcoming atmosphere. Our server was very helpful in guiding us through the food and drink pairings, which made the experience even more enjoyable. A great place to visit — I highly recommend it to you as well!

Wonderful dinner experience for my wife and myself . We don't go out much for dinner and were looking for a good steakhouse to celebrate an anniversary. Thankfully our server, Roland, was exceptional. From the time we were seated until we left everything was great. Nice rustic atmosphere, best fried calamari we've ever had, and perfectly cooked steaks (best I've had in a long time). Highly recommend, we will be back.

This was one of the best experiences I have had at a steakhouse in years. The new owners went above and beyond. I will definitely return, current changes make this the place to be.

I brought my grand daughters to Millpond Gatherings and was definitely impressed by the food and service. Our server was a very nice gentleman who took care of all our needs. He totally blew me out of the water when he showed up with my great grand daughters pasta before our own meals, stating that a small child should not have to wait. Kudos;!!!

Larissa was our server and she was PHENOMENAL! Good was above and beyond. The cocktails, spectacular! 10/10 ! Will be back soon

I attended Millpond Gatherings for a company celebration. This took place in the upstairs room, and involved a buffet style dinner in the evening. It is located on a small river with a lovely view of the water. Finding the location was easy. The building appears as an impressive lodge clearly visible from the road. The river runs alongside the road, and there is a small bridge to cross to arrive at the destination. Traveling southbound its easy to spot but northbound there are trees that probably block the view so be ready to make the turn as you approach so you don't go past. The parking lot has an upper and lower section. There's ample space. Our group was about 120 people, and there seems to be a restaurant below as well. The place is quite large. Thete was still plenty of parking even on a busy Saturday with our event in progress. It was well lit despite being on a rather dark road. We were in the event room in the upper part. It is a rustic lodge atmosphere, with many interesting decorations. Beingb in December, it had Winter/Christmas decor such as lighted trees with artificial snow, a few cute signs with winter puns and snowmen, a few Santa's in rustic style, twigs etc. In the loft above some historical farm equipment was on display. Similarly there was an artistic display of historic tractor toys on the porch in the smoking area with a few tables. In warmer weather I can imagine sitting there is more popular as it commands a nice view. The setup was in a large open floor room, with the two gables showing the decor mentioned above, and balconies at either end open to the room below. Tables were spread throughout the floor. At the front was the live band and a space for dancing. Beneath the west gable were two areas for getting the food, and the bar was in the southwest corner. Our company got drink tickets to redeem at the bar. I'm sure you could buy more if you wish. The evening began with a speech from the leadership while the appetizers were prepared. After, there was some pre recorded music mostly taken from top 40s American pop artists sprinkled with a few seasonal Christmas tunes. After appetizers the band came out and performed some music innthe same genre. Appetizers included a Tuscan inspired spread of choices. I had a Flatbread, hummus, roasted vegetables, artichoke,salad and mushrooms. There were also some meats available but as mostly a vegetarian I didn't eat them, and i had plenty to eat. After the appetizers some people went out to the dance floor for a few slow and upbeat songs. "Brown Eyed Girl" was popular that evening. The main course followed. It was served in large silver pans warmed from below. The selection included salad, pasta, vegan pasta, salmon, chicken and beef cut to order. I had plenty to eat, but a vegetarian could have felt there were minimal options. I also have issues with oils and fats. I found all the food agreeable, which suggests that the food was very good quality and used high grade oils if any at all. With a snow storm rolling in and a drive ahead, we did not stay the rest of the evening at the party. I expect dessert was served and I can only expect it was as excellent as the rest of the meal. I did make use of the women's restrooms. They are located in the foyer. At that point I realized there is a coat room there as well, although I didn't use it. The restrooms had 2 stalls, one regular and one for handicapped people. The latch on the door was not lining up, but it basically closed in place. It was clean and nicely decorated with antiques. It did puzzle me that a wooden table is near the hand blower right where you'd drip on it and looked Luke that had probably happen. Nice soap was provided as well as towel Overall I had a great experience. The staff were efficient and served up great food. There was not an excessive amount of table service but I felt that's appropriate for the style, and I preferred it so. The plates were cleared in a timely manner and the events were generally orchestrated to make a relaxed yet lightly structured evening.

Millpond is an absolutely amazing restaurant! The food is soft, melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and every dish is full of flavor. The staff are friendly, attentive, and make every visit special. Millpond is also huge and beautifully designed. The lower floor has a cozy tavern, perfect for relaxing and enjoying drinks, while the second floor is a Steak House, offering a stylish and comfortable dining experience. With excellent food, wonderful service, and a beautiful atmosphere, Millpond is a place I will definitely come back to. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience!

This place has quickly become one of the best steakhouses in Connecticut. We’ve been here a couple of times already and each time it has exceeded our expectations. The location is legendary and rustic. Cocktails are very satisfying and new selections are rotated in regularly. The raw bar offers great local oysters at a moderate price. Steaks are cooked to perfection with a tasty exterior char. I value when a restaurant really understands what medium rare is without having to be told. Its fantastic that most of the steak dishes include a potato starch and veggies unlike many others where all sides are a la carte. However, their sauced mushrooms with onions and creamy spinach are awesome compliments to any steak dish. If you have room for dessert, the churros and carrot cake are yummy. Service is excellent with a very friendly and professional staff. They really make you feel welcomed and appreciated. Will definitely be coming back often!

Held my baby shower here and it was amazing. Andi went above and beyond catering and as so attentive. His staff was just as great and assisted with all my needs. Continuously asking what I needed. The food was absolutely amazing and such a hit. Can’t wait to return just for that! All of my guests really enjoyed the beautiful and cozy vibed venue

Everything was perfect for husband’s birthday dinner, but what really elevates this place to a full 5 stars is the outstanding service. The staff struck the ideal balance of attentive and relaxed: warm greetings, thoughtful check-ins, and a truly friendly energy throughout the night. You can tell the servers enjoy working there and take pride in their work. It shows in every interaction. The food was exactly what we hoped for: well-seasoned, generous without being heavy, and beautifully prepared. Our table ordered a combination of tavern classics and steakhouse selections from the lounge level (the lower part of the restaurant), and every dish landed. It felt like the best of both menus in one cozy setting. A memorable meal, wonderful hospitality, and a place we’ll gladly return to.

Hubby and I have been here before, but we never sat inside. It was chilly on the deck so we chose to sit in the tavern. We were seated next to the fireplace which was very cozy. Not an actual fireplace, I believe gas supplied...but still cozy. I had the short rib tacos which were delicious! 3 on the plate piled high with meat and a side of fries. Hubby had the London broil over mashed potatoes. He loved it. Our waiter was super nice and very attentive. I'm sorry I didn't get his name. We asked him about a drink he had brought over to another table, he explained what it was...and was nice enough to bring us both a sample of the drink! It was so good!! Never had a bad meal or bad experience here, that's what keeps us coming back.

The service was fabulous, from the hostess to the waitress and even the bus staff were great. A well run operation. Food was top notch and drinks were delicious. My GF and I had a great date night. Even the live music was 10 out of 10.

Millpond truly impressed us in every way! The food is outstanding — fresh, well-balanced, and full of flavor. You can tell the chef and the team put passion and care into every dish. The atmosphere is warm, cozy, and very inviting. The new owners have done an incredible job — Millpond feels completely renewed: more comfortable, more welcoming, and with a special charm. It’s wonderful to see how the place has been brought back to life.The service is excellent: attentive, fast, and genuinely friendly. You’re treated like a valued guest from the moment you walk in. Millpond is definitely a place you want to return to. A perfect combination of great ambiance, delicious food, and people who truly care. Highly recommend! 🍷✨🫶

We were at Milpond many years ago and lost track of this restaurant. What a great meal and experience! The food is excellent quality and very reasonably priced. Our server, Larissa, was attentive, genuine and informative. Looking forward to our return soon!

We love coming to Millpond Gatherings. The service is always amazing and so is the food! Larissa is such a sweet knowledgeable server and we really enjoyed our date night! Very excited to try the toffee cake!

The food was soo good. The chili app was spot on, chicken brick was amazing and the smash burger had so much flavor. Great atmosphere and awesome Thursday night prime special. Only complaint was the service was slower and not sure if it’s because we sat at the bar. Few drink orders got missed n cleaning up the food to get the bill took a bit. But regardless still feel like it’s a must try if you’re in the area. 10/10 environment

We tried the tavern. It was a nice, cozy spot. The food was great and the kids food was good as well. The carrot cake was excellent. Staff was friendly. Will definitely go back to try more of the menu. Also want to try the outdoor area.

We had a great dinner at Millpond Gathering Steakhouse. The service was excellent. The entire staff was super friendly. Our waiter, Domenic was fantastic. The atmosphere was also great as we had a table overlooking the water, and it was such a beautiful night. The food was just a little overpriced for what we got, so I knocked one star off for that. All in all, I’d be back but would most likely dine at the Tavern instead.

This place is absolutely beautiful! It has rooms for events, casual at The Tavern or can do dinner or brunch at the steakhouse with more formal meals. Lots to choose from. Our server was very good, however things were missing from our order when the backup staff brought it, S&P, steak knives, our extras ordered with dinner (bernaise sauce, sides of bacon). Our server quickly corrected. The salt was milled for me versus a Shaker or a mill I could do myself. When wrapping leftovers I stated my apprehension to having it packed in the kitchen vs at the table. Our server still boxed it in the kitchen, while another server boxed the table in front at the table and gave a takeaway bag. All in all I didn't give it 5 stars because of these few small things but definitely 4 star and would return and recommend. The food was cooked per orders and the drinks were very tasty and not light on spirits.

Too expensive for the quality of the food. They have taken a step down since their opening. As an example, the bread served was stale. The dry aged Delmonico steak was seared too long giving it a slightly burnt flavor. The Beef Wellington was fair. The service was great and the location and decor are charming. Unfortunately, there are better restaurants for the money. The restaurant had all time slots open on a Saturday night, so I do not expect them to stay in business long without notable changes to their execution and/or pricing.

Was really excited to try this place. Disappointed that the steak I ordered medium came out essentially raw. And it honestly hurt my jaw to try to chew it. Like really tough considering how undercooked it was. When we said something to the waiter (who was very nice and attentive) he apologized and said that he had gotten other similar complaints, but the chef just does what he wants.. he did not offer to take it back or anything else. No bread on the table. Water was served room temperature with no ice or lemon and the glass kind of smelled like it wasn't dried properly. Appetizers were great. Wish the raw bar portions were a little more generous. Drinks were good. Pasta was okay. Sauce was a little too spicy for me. Desserts were amazing. Would come back just for those. But considering the price I was really upset about the steak...

We were really disappointed after all the hype. We were seated in the tavern. We had a reservation for 6:30 and waited 20 minutes to be acknowledged. At first everything seemed ok. We ordered a couple appetizers which were fine.After we finished our appetizers, we waited another 45 minutes for our meal. I think there was an issue because others who sat after us received their meals before us.I work in the industry so I'm more forgiving than most. It was clear that either the order was not put in or something happened in the kitchen. My problem was that the server never acknowledged nor apologized for the long wait. We were seated at 6:30 and received our food after 8. We nearly left. Once we got our food , it was just mediocre. My husband and I both had the London broil. My son had the smash burger. It was just ok . The food was not any thing to brag about. . We all had desert which was the only good part of the meal. Considering what we spent I would expect better quality of food and better service. I don’t mind spending for quality food and a worthy experience but this had neither. I won’t be returning.

Save your Money. My wife and I just went here for Valentines Day. first impressions when you drive up are great. it looks like a beautiful place. Our Reservation was fairly early 5:00pm. We arrive and are greeted by the hostess. We look around it's a beautiful place and alot of open tabels. They choose to sit us at a 2 Top in the tiny spot between an outside door to their deck and a super high traffic walk way. Basically, if thats the only tabel available you'll make due, but the last place you'd actually choose to sit. We were annoyed to be seated here with all othe other open tables available. We decided to try to make the best of it. As we look at the menu we realize that this is not the same menu that they have posted online, its an altered menu for Valentines day. My wife an i dont get to eat out all that often, but when we do My wife really looks forward to having a nice fliet Migon. Their standard menu online has several options for Filet. This special Valentines Day menu didn't have a single Filet Migon option under $168. For a.steakhouse to only have this one option for filet on Valentines Day is ridiculous. We order and my wife and I chat for a bit while waiting for our food. She finishes her wine, and we chat some more waiting for someone to come by to refill our drinks. Its been awhile now, and there has been no food and no one has come around to check on us ( keep in mind we are in the most high traffic seat in the entire place, pretty hard to miss and at this point its not that busy). 15 or more minutes go by and we have to finally flag someone down to get us another drink. finally the food arrives.. My wife ended up ordering chicken... which she describe as having the consistency of shakenbake. I order the 20oz Ribeye. the steak was cooked nicely but very simplistic seasoning. very meh. not bad not not worth the $72 price tag And the last annoyance of the night was they automatically included gratuity. Given the seating choice, and inattentive wait staff they were very generous with the 20% gratuity they gave themselves. Save your money, get better food and service elsewhere.

Nothing much to see here. Building charming. That’s it. Service is nothing over the top. I was assured we’d have a good spot for a special occasion. Stuffed in a 4 top that’s on top of the server station. Floor constantly shakes as people pass by, server was hardly there, not tentative. For the price you pay, it’s not worth it and I’m being generous with that review. Wouldn’t go back.

Went to the Millpond tavern last night. I drive by all the time and always thought it looks like a nice place. I'd like to take my wife there. Unfortunately, very disappointed. Bartenders were waiting on tables and ours was very rude. We went to order our app and were told they were too busy. We had to put in our whole order then. We did and asked if we could get the app first. The waiter reluctantly agreed and my wife asked if she could get shrimp instead of chicken in her pasta. There was an $8 up charge so she asked why and he rudely stated that they make more on chicken than they do on shrimp. She decided to just get to pasta with vodka sauce. Our entrys came out first. We told the runner and he apologized and took them back and got our app the entrys came back out and looked like they were the originals and kept under a heat lamp. Sauce was very dry. We ordered drinks and desert and when we got the bill we're still charged for the chicken.