Reviews

By RONNA KEIL
The Hartford Courant
Published 12/11/2003

Hazard Avenue in Enfield is home to chain restaurants and strip malls, but if you look closely, you'll find a true homegrown diamond in this neon rough.

In less than a year, John Symasko and Rod Cameron have made Hazard Grille Restaurant and Lounge a community favorite with quality food, superb service and affordable prices.

Our meal started with a loaf of warm crusty onion pepper dill bread. Another, Edna's Bread, made with garlic butter and bleu cheese, is sold as an appetizer.

The diverse menu leans strongly toward seafood, pasta and Americana like New England fish and chips, grilled New York sirloin and Buffalo chicken.

The restaurant offers a salad with pecans, goat cheese, Vidalia onions, roasted peppers and apples. Or try the portabella mushroom stuffed with roasted peppers and mozzarella and served over mixed greens with citrus balsamic vinaigrette.

Sandwiches include barbecued pulled pork with caramelized onions and mozzarella, a grilled veggie burger and the ever-popular meatloaf sandwich with lettuce, tomato and mayo.

Entrees include filet mignon, pan-seared pork and Statler Chicken. This is filled with spinach, bacon and goat cheese stuffing and served with three-onion risotto and a roasted tomato garlic sauce.

The paella is a classic concoction of saffron rice, mussels, shrimp, scallops, chicken, andouille sausage, peas and tomatoes. Or consider coconut-crusted cod or tuna steak rolled in sesame seeds and cracked pepper served over basmati rice pilaf and topped with a mango salsa.

The grilled vegetable pasta has red onions, yellow and green squash, eggplant, portabellas, garlic butter and goat cheese tossed with bow-tie pasta.

Hours: Open Sun. noon-9 p.m., Mon.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. and Fri. & Sat. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Code Red Martini Ingredients: Absolut Vodka, Grand Marnier, Cranberry Juice

The 1963 James Bond classic, from "Russia With Love" featured one of the best hitmen in a 007 movie, Red Grant.

In the Ian Fleming novel, his full name was Donovan "Red" Grant, while in the film, he was given the name Donald "Red" Grant. He worked for the fictional terrorist organization SPECTRE and was assigned the task of assassinating Bond to avenge the death of Dr. Julius No. Robert Shaw played that yummy blond hitman and I sipped this rose-colored drink at the Hazard Grille in honor of him.

The martini hit the spot. It was light and refreshing.

- ALISON BAZIAK
CTNOW.COM'S Liquor Cabinet