Diana, the Roman goddess of nature, the moon, the countryside, can be felt everywhere in a new Connecticut restaurant.
In designing the space right in the center of Hartford’s famed Pratt Street, “Creatrix” and CEO Lelaneia Dubay asked herself: “What if Diana had a place where she can let her hair down?”
The result is a soothing, elegant setting that feels as old soul and multi-layered as its patron goddess inspiration.
Hartford Flavor Cocktail Parlour — a bar, farm-to-table restaurant and a game spot — is located at 54 Pratt St., right in the middle of the entertainment mecca.
The space has four rooms: A bar that serves alcohol made in their sister company’s distillery across town, two dining rooms that serve farm to table fare and something Goddess Diana likely hasn’t experienced, a room of board games with a bar.
Dubay’s husband of 23 years, Tom Dubay, is CFO, mainly working behind the scenes.
The couple also own the well-established Hartford Flavor Company, a distillery at 30 Arbor St. in the city’s Parkville section. The distillery, which offers tours, has a tasting room selling small bites. They specialize in making organic plain and flavor-infused vodka; all-natural botanically infused liqueurs under their Wild Moon label, as well as botanics.
Lelaneia Dubay calls the new bar/restaurant an “urban oasis,” and a “gift to Hartford,” where they also reside.
“We want to inspire people to get out of their sweat pants and enjoy life,” she said. “We want to immerse you.”
There is definitely immersion.
The place is filled with vintage chandeliers, sconces and other hand-selected items Lelaneia Dubay gathered over time.
She started the decor with a Roman classical design, columns and all, layered it with a 1930s cocktail bar feel, along with some 1970s “glam” such as crushed velvet seating. She also added “a little disco feel,” a nod to Studio 54 since they are located at 54 Pratt St.
There are soft pinks, greens, purple, burnt orange in the color mix.
“It’s very subtle,” she said. “It all goes together nicely.”
Lelaneia Dubay calls the vibe “very swanky.”
“It makes you want to dress up and go out,” she said.
There are no televisions and there are reminders to put the cell phones down.
Tom Dubay calls the decor, “amazing” and said it’s fun to see guests react.
“Every item in there was carefully chosen,” he said, referring to it all as “eye candy.”
“They can’t believe they’re in Hartford,” he said, noting people say the interior reminds them of France or New Orleans.
Online reviewers are happy about the food, atmosphere, service and “classy” vibe.
One reviewer wrote: “Had a wonderful dining experience tonight on Pratt Street. I felt like I was transported to Manhattan for a brief moment. The cocktails were wonderful, the plates were wonderful for sharing. The service was spot on and the atmosphere was beautiful. You can tell that every detail was very well thought out.”
The careful fresh produce from area farms, organic, free-range chicken and locally sourced fish, curated farm-to-table food menu includes fresh produce from area farms, organic, free-range chicken and locally sourced fish. There is no beef on the menu.
All of it is gluten free and there are many vegetarian options.
Entrees include pan roasted chicken with peach gravy, confit garlic mashed potatoes, heirloom carrots; wild caught monkfish, asparagus, fiddlehead ferns, pommes pureé, saffron caper cream; Shoreline stew of mussels, scallops, shrimp, and Wild Moon birch tomato fennel broth.
They also have shared foods, bread and bites, raw foods, and dessert.
At the bar they serve about 25 specialty cocktails, serving their Hartford Flavor Company products along with numerous craft beers and have “the best organic wine list in the state, she said.
“It’s clean eating, clean drinking,” Lelaneia said.
They have a bar manager, general manager, executive chef, and pastry chef.
Lelaneia Dubay said she takes pride in being the hostess and working front of house.
“I make sure the experience you have is high quality,” she said. “I love making people feel welcome. I love the beauty of being a hostess. The beauty of creating food and drink and making memorable experiences for guests.”
In addition to the bar and dining areas is a game room with a bar where guests can have a drink and chill with classic and new board games such as Uno, Chess, Wingspan , Othello, Sorry, and Photosynthesis.
They opened July 11 and, “We’re doing quite well,” she said
Lelaneia Dubay said Hartford means “deer crossing” in old English so they put a deer in the logo because Diana’s constant companion was a deer.
She said Diana is a fitting Goddess for her to connect with because Lelaneia Dubay herself has been a sustainable landscape designer for 27 years.
Beginning Tuesday they will open for lunch as well as dinner. The hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Eventually they will be open Sundays and offer brunch.
