A Jamaican restaurant and wine lounge on 250 Main Street, Secrets Bar and Bistro focuses on quality food for in-house dining and catering alike.

This Pratt Street staple used Hart Lift grant funds to renovate its restaurant into a welcoming spot perfect for lunch, dinner, and late-night drinks.

From the minds of Hartford-based brunch spot Place 2 Be comes RAW*, an upscale spot at 280 Trumbull Street focused on seafood, specialty cocktails, and a unique environment you won’t find anywhere else. Equal parts fancy and edgy, RAW* is the next place to be for seafood.

After a successful first location in Granby, Four Dads Pub received a Hart Lift grant and opened a second brick and mortar at 114 Asylum Street. Aiming to create an old-school neighborhood joint for community to gather, Four Dads Pub offers tavern-inspired fare, specialty bourbons, select whiskeys, and an array of craft beers, alongside live music multiple times a week.

From food-focused nonprofit Forge City Works (FCW), Fire by Forge is a Pan-American inspired, chef-driven concept that includes a café, full-service restaurant, bar, and catering operation. After landmark restaurant Firebox (another social enterprise by Forge City Works) closed during the pandemic, the organization secured Hart Lift funding and reopened as Fire by Forge. Located at 539 Broad Street, the restaurant is fully integrated with FCW's culinary and customer service job training program.

Creative entrepreneur and passionate baker Monica Beaudoin started Bloom Bake Shop in 2020. Her sister, Alexandra Pilon, joined the company in 2021. Today, Bloom Bake Shop has set up shop on 80 Pratt Street, offering coffee, pastries, plants, floral arrangements, and other goods.

Aroma Café is a family-run coffee shop that serves a variety of drinks and snacks. Located at 100 Constitution Plaza, it provides a convenient stop for office workers and students at the nearby UConn campus.