jupiterimages.comIf someone can review gas station chicken, then it’s not too self-indulgent to blog about trying to find the best sangria in Hartford.

I’m not a wine aficionado, and I really am not much of a drinker either. But when I find something that I like, I get fixated on wanting to know where the best one (that I can afford of whatever it is) can be found. I’m like this with mocha, falafel, pizza, burritos, etc. I’m not so fixated on this one thing, though, that I necessarily can overlook everything else about an establishment. Here’s my work-in-progress list:

Firebox
$8/ glass and bitter!
The fruit was placed on the rim of the glass, rather than dropped in it. I do not like red wine by itself, and I thought that this was the predominant flavor. It had plenty of kick, but I’m not a drink-to-get-drunk person, so this did not make up for the pungent taste. The Firebox has a swanky atmosphere and decent live music, both nice, but the lack of vegetarian options on the menu is another strike against it. The location is convenient to The Studio @ Billings Forge, La Paloma Sabanera, and Red Rock, all of which have live music. Like the other two restaurants, there is off-street parking available for those of us who can not parallel park without taking down a light post.


Barça

$7/ glass. It’s fruity and tastes more like punch than red wine. It’s not weak, though. The added cherries sweeten the drink. Barça, like Firebox, is expensive as all get out; there are a few vegetarian options, which are delicious. This is the kind of place that you go to after eating a meal at home. That way, you can just get one of the tapas, a drink, and dessert. Even though I complain about the price, I have a weakness for the Setas del Monte Asadas con Mantequilla al Ajo and will weep if they remove that from the menu. They have djs, live music, and a salsa night. Barça is convenient to The Warehouse.

O’Porto
$10/half pitcher $20/pitcher
This is similar in flavor to that which is served at Barça. O’Porto is a more relaxed environment than Barça or Firebox. Of the three, it has the largest number of vegetarian options and is the most affordable. Their menu has the most variety by far, and there are probably even things on it that kids might eat. The food that I have had there was filling, but not rich in flavor. It is toward the end of Park Street near Sully’s.

This list seems a little incomplete. Where have you have sangria in Hartford? How does it rate?