Eli Cannon's Tap Room

 

 

Best beer bar in CT, great food as well

Not sure about a previous review on the new owners. In my opinion they’ve made a number of improvements since taking over. Maybe they have a grudge, who knows? 30+ taps, all craft, they’ll have a number of CT breweries on tap, which I favor. Prices for beer are a little higher than a year ago, but the demand is driving a lot of that. The only rudeness I’ve ever seen is when some idiot walks in and gets offended when they can’t have a Bud Light, lol. If you have a delicate psyche, perhaps you should stick to Buffalo Wild Wings.

Used to be a great place until new owners took over. They immediately raised the beer price. Food is mediocre at best and bartenders are rude (well, one in particular). Owner better get his s—- together, many I talk to are saying the same thing.

 

 

 

 

I stopped in here on the way back home from a Tree House trip. Nice atmosphere, with just enough dank and grit, but still a lot of flashy breweriana on the walls to keep your senses occupied. Kind of divey, I guess is what I'm trying to say, but it seems intentional. Service was fine. Taplist was actually pretty top-notch, with the likes of Sip of Sunshine, Fuzzy Baby Ducks, and Maine Lunch all on at the same time...in all fairness I think there was an event earlier in the day, but still, they delivered the goods as far as I'm concerned. The food didn't blow me away. I just got a bleu cheese burger or something, and it wasn't great, but not really bad either.

This is definitely a place I'd like to check out again.

 

 

 

Reminds me of that scene from Super Troopers: "Hey Farva, what's that name of the restaurant you like with all the goofy shit on the walls and the mozzarella sticks?" Farva: "You mean Shenanigins?!"

Eccentrically clad, Eli Cannon's offered a solid line-up of about 30 taps of beer and encompassed just about everything you could get in CT. The night I went the tap list seemed very lengthy, but the selections were average. Nothing that drew my attention initially but finally found some decent ones to enjoy (Hop Nosh IPA and Sour Tiddy's from the local Stubborn Beauty brewery). Nothing like the oddities that pop on tap list at Prime 16 or Cask Republic. Tried a Mad Hatter IPA but had to send it back because it tasted ancient (no hops at all).

Food was plentiful and inexpensive, nothing overly ingenious about the menu items. Typical American pub grub. Crowd was very boisterous for Saturday night and the bar area was packed to the gills. The place seemed understaffed and the servers were rushed. Didn't seem super clean overall and I've seen better bathrooms inside of dive bars.

Go for the tap list (when it's a good night) but don't expect to overwhelmed with anything else.

 

Beer beer beer, the three reasons to go. Food is quite bad. Crowd is usually cool and not overrun by obnoxious snobs. Very crowded and you should be prepared to stand. So many tap lines they will always have something for everyone.

 

The place is very cool, a bit cramped, (it has the feel of a club house cobbled together from reclaimed construction materials) and the bathroom is a disaster. But tap list is stellar and the food is very tasty.

 

 

 

 

Been to Eli's many times over many years. Can't believe I have not written a review until now.
If there was equation that factored "best craft beer bar" and "closest to my house" they would win, even though I am 20 miles away.
Outside vibe is super cool in good weather with their expanded "beach" area, sand, cheap chairs, kids playing while the parents drink. Its really good people watching.
Inside, the bar is basically as if a dive bar had sex with a hip bar. Not the greatest or worst traits of either parent but a good result anyways. HOWEVER, I have always wondered if a sudden thunderstorm struck, where would the outside people go? There is not enough inside for the crowd I have sometimes seen outside.
Service can be good or poor depending on the crowd.
Food- I avoid it unless I am drunk or with people I dragged there under the white lie of "I know a fun place to ""eat""" - basic bar food, nothing bad but nothing a foodie would like.
Fun fact (for me) I always tell other locals who haven't been--- It's one of the very few bars I have been to that write on their draft list (chalk boards) the date the keg was tapped. That openness just makes me love them despite their few flaws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solid tap list that changes daily. Good food, neat environment. Only thing lacking was stickers. I wanted to buy and they didn't have any left.