Breakfast and lunch eatery. Bright space set up mostly for take-out with a few stools at the window counter for seating. Sample dishes such as breakfast porridge and corncakes with veggie sausage or tempeh bacon, lunch entrees like jerk tofu, pomegranate-tahini tempeh, and butternut squashes stew. Has smoothies, pastries, and other desserts. Black-owned. Open Tue-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm.
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491 Capitol Ave, Hartford, Connecticut, USA, 06106
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Last update on 23 Mar 2024 by geometric-noise
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Added by veronicajones on 12 Jul 2016
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68 Reviews
First Review by MaribethAbrams
gfesta21
Points +67
Amazing lunch spot - Edit
this place is lovely! the staff are so friendly.
Read moreI got a 5-item plate for $16.59; callalou, mac and cheese, sausage and peppers, jerk tofu, and mushroom seitan curry. Everything was insanely flavorful and married together so nicely in the container (if you don’t like your food touching you’re out of luck, but I enjoyed it)
I also got the split pea patty which had a great texture with crispy edges and a soft inside, the crust flaky all over.
Definitely come here !!
Pros: Flavorful, Reasonably priced, all vegan!
Guest
EliGrey57
Points +858
Extensive Menu - Edit
This is one of those places where you can visit multiple occasions and never order the same thing twice. The food was delicious & the service was rather quick. The venue is kinda hidden so there's not a lot of foot traffic. I was satisfied with my meal. Will some day return.
Read moreGuest
GuillermoIrizarry
Points +30
Favorito - Edit
¡Favorito desde hace años! Negocio de familia comprometida con el bienestar social y ecológico de Hartford y el planeta Tierra. Tienen conexiones con jardines urbanos y otros negocios dedicados al estilo de vida vegano saludable y a la salud holística. Los platos son exquisitos y siempre reproducen buen raggae.
Read moreGuest
orienteeer
Points +37
varied, vegan and yummy - Edit
so many ital (rasta vegan) choices! a steam table with at least 9 compartments, plus a warming case full of different filled patties of caribbean godness, cooked and served by wonderful, friendly rasta people. great value, too many opportunities to mix/match/combine! tough to make a decision, but it's got to be yours!
Read morePros: friendly, delicious, served hot
Cons: a little hard to communicate w server
Guest
TiaStreeterHutchins
Points +3139
All vegan Jamaican restaurant in Hartford - Edit
Great local- family owned restaurant. So many delicious vegan meals, deserts, smoothies a nd ice cream.
Read moreGuest
Bam Pow
Points +132
Big Flavor - Edit
Super yummy little Jamaican vegan spot. I came in for breakfast they had the most bomb sausage I mabie have ever had, spicy potatoes, and a tofu scramble. Lots of pastry type offerings in the case, and smoothies. Everything was fire!
Read morePros: The sausage , Berry Brazil Smoothie , Big flavor
Cons: It was a little hard to order
Guest
tofudog!
Points +163
Frog Hollow Gem - Edit
Wonderfully varied and delicious menu proving that Jamaican food can be just as delicious without animal products. Bravo!
Read moreGuest
SaraNorlin
Points +3556
Wide variety - Edit
Very good! The folks here are so nice and they update their menu daily
Read moreGuest
mark m braunstein
Points +473
somewhat routine New England Americanized Rasta vegan café fare - Edit
Initially, this tiny café was a satellite of the restaurant on Sisson Av, which I loved. The mothership closed so this is now the main event. Same as the Sisson site, here the food is good, the price is low & the neighborhood is safe & racially balanced. Half Black, half White & half Hispanic. Here, too, the building’s shack-like infrastructure is crumbling. (Blame the landlord, not the café owners.) Do blame the owners for overstating this tiny café as a restaurant.
Read moreVisitors to downtown may not be find this worth the trip far afield. You do drive past the glitzy architectural monuments to Hartford’s glory as capitol to CT. I regularly visit the Wadsworth Atheneum, CT’s largest art museum, so ate here often until 2 years ago when G-Monkey opened in West Hartford. Yesterday, I revisited Fire N Spice. Little has changed.
A narrow counter & 3 barstools with bicycle seats allow for eating in its small lobby crowded with people in line for takeout. If you eat indoors, unlike at New England’s other vegan Rasta cafés, your meal is served on ceramic dishware with silverware. Seasonally, 1 or 2 tables with chairs lurk outdoors streetside, but your order still is takeout. When not conducive to eating outdoors, if you live afar you must eat in your car.
As at other vegan Rasta cafés, you choose cafeteria-style from an array of maybe 15 dishes. The Small platter comprises 3 selections, the Medium 5, the Large 8. The menu on the signboard is static. Mock meats & tofu are featured. Tempeh is listed on the signboard but is seldom in stock. As a whole-foods vegan, I shun mock meats, favor tempeh, but will settle for tofu. Of the vegetables, 2 are white potatoes, 1 is sweet potato & 1 is cabbage. Skip the okra, a bust here. Check online for ingredients.
Stated bluntly, the food is uninspired, almost routine Americanized Rasta vegan café fare. Little tastes outstanding or looks appetizing, but at least most dishes are wholesome, nourishing & truly vegan. In Jamaica, Ital food is natural food, vegan except for fish. Years ago, I toured Kingston & inland Jamaica for an article I wrote for Vegetarian Times about Rastafari and veganism, so about the fish mine is the voice of experience.
Still, Fire-N-Spice is way better and probably closer than Lion’s Den, Hartford’s other Rasta almost-vegetarian (beware the fish) café, so do give Fire-N-Spice a try. Its credit card app does not allow tipping, so be sure to bring cash to tip your always very friendly and helpful server.
Pros: delightful Rasta vibes inside, always very friendly & accommodating servers, prices are low tho never listed
Cons: dilapidated shack-like building, some dishes too spicy (Fire!) for my tender palate
Guest
MaryEdgerton
Points +128
Delicious! - Edit
We were in town for an event at the Bushnell and walked over to Fire & Spice from our hotel (short walk from the capital) to grab dinner. It was amazing! Tons of choices! This place is run by a great couple - the husband is from Jamaica and does the cooking. His wife runs the front of the restaurant and is very nice and helpful. It was so delicious that we came back for breakfast the next day! Can’t wait till we are back in Hartford so we can go again!
Read morePros: Lots of choices , Everything is fresh and delicious , Great customer service
Guest
Kate9791
Points +1437
Yumm! - Edit
Such a cute place with friendly people and a fun food experience. I don’t get many opportunities for Jamaican food, especially vegan/gluten free. Being a 1st timer, we were told how to order - it’s basically a line of available options which you choose from, which is nice as you can see what things looks like (and even taste a sample.)
Read moreI got a three-item to-go box with wilted greens (kale), pomegranate tempeh, and dahl. Box was the small cardboard size you see at Whole Foods. Each were delicious - especially the tempeh. Lots of GF options, so I’ll get to enjoy more next visit.
Appreciate their commitment to waste reduction by charging for wooden utensils. (I always carry my own set.)
Easy street parking if the small lot is full. I didn’t see a bathroom (this is a tiny place), so keep that in mind. Also no listed prices. Our two boxes, one drink and one ice cream was $38.
Pros: Lots of gluten free, Kind staff, Great flavors
Cons: No prices listed, Take out only
Guest
Amyladedada1
Points +658
Go here. - Edit
I’ve been a long time supporter of Fire & Spice. They have been providing consistent delicious vegan food for years. The kale and jerk tofu are my favs.
Read moreCons: Small space , Limited hours
Guest
stoprockandroll
Points +76
My all time favorite restaurant - Edit
Stopped here once as I was traveling as it's right off the highway, and was immediately in love. This food is just the best food I've ever had hands down. I would move to Hartford just to be able to eat this regularly. Whenever I travel to New York, stopping here on the way is by far a highlight of the trip.
Read moreIf you're in the area this is the place to go.
Pros: Healthy, delicious and explosively flavorful , So many choices, Awesome people
Guest
DeannaTroyTravels
Points +117
On-The-Go Perfection! - Edit
Fire N' Spice is amazing! The foods are delicious! They have all types of meals available from breakfast, lunch, dinner, catering, smoothies and sweets! Their dishes are so unique and flavorful you will want to visit all the time! Plus the staff is so nice and the owner is a sweetheart! She really makes you feel welcome! There are only a couple seats inside so you can either enjoy your food in a crowded space or take it to go! We take our meal to the nearby parks in the area. Overall this place is a MUST try!
Read morePros: Best vegan food ever!, Friendly Staff, Diverse menu
Cons: Limited indoor seating
Guest
vegan_homegirl
Points +591
Flavor explosion - Edit
Stopped here on a drive. There is a learning curve to ordering here. However, the friendly staff will walk you through it. So many options, hard to pick. Got a 3 item combo and a vegan chicken Jamaican patty. The patty was so flaky and flavorful like a delicate puff pastry stuffed with savory goodness. I would love to try more varieties! The BBQ tofu was awesome and the lentils were super filling and satisfying. The jerk tofu was a little too flavor blasted for my palate but if you are into jerk seasoning you would love it I think. Glad I got the chance to try this place and would be a super fun place to return to and try different specials.
Read morePros: Patties to die for, Hot and hearty food, Patient and kind staff
Guest
Mattatter
Points +38
Consistent - Edit
Consistent quality, fair price, and delicious.
Read morePros: Several options, Flavorful, Nice staff
Cons: Limited hours, Limited parking that can be challenging
Guest
Maddieestelle
Points +77
Amazing - Edit
Got the breakfast box. So flavorful, I’m in heaven
Read moreGuest
AMC1972
Points +18
Spicy Jamaican Food - Edit
Jamaican Food it's great, good portions, friendly staff and location right off the highway
Read morePros: All vegan , Vegan sweets, ice cream , Good people
Cons: Little expensive , Close early
Guest
GanzAnd3rs
Points +1013
Riesige Auswahl - Edit
Super freundlicher Service! Eine tolle und große Auswahl an Hauptgerichten und Take-Aways. Auch gibt es eine beachtliche Smoothie-Auswahl. Leider stehen nirgendwo im Laden Preise für die einzelnen Gerichte.
Read morePros: Alles ist vegan
Guest
vegonugs
Points +1714
excellent food and service!! - Edit
This place is amazing!! You must try the food!! It’s not really a sit down restaurant, it’s more for take out and a quick bite which is perfect!! The staff is so friendly… with so many options, you will not be disappointed!!😄
Read moreGuest
vegan_catmom
Points +121
Just What We Needed - Edit
On our way home from Maine we traveled through Hartford CT, so I looked up places to eat. Other reviews and photos led us to this place and I am so glad they did! Not only was the food flavorful, abundant and nourishing, but the family/owners were so sweet! I got a lentil patty and a “small box” which consists of three choices. I chose kale, mac n cheese, and curry chik’n. We got butter pecan ice cream and they sent us off with a complimentary chickpea stew. My heart!
Read morePros: Wide variety , Wholesome and flavorful, Amazing employees
Guest
jennnnn
Points +372
Family Run Hidden Gem - Edit
Delicious food at this little family run vegan spot. Already prepared hot food and bakery items. You can’t go wrong with any choice. Very nice staff and you’re in and out in a few minutes. There are a few tables in front in the restaurant for outdoor dining and a couple of spots inside to eat, otherwise, takeout. A “must try” if you’re in Hartford.
Read morePros: All vegan, Friendly staff, Mostly gluten free
Cons: Not much room if you want to dine in
Guest
ShakeemaRomero
Points +79
Many Options - Edit
Was visiting Hartford found this restaurant. It was clean. Most of the food I tasted was delicious.
Read morePros: Lots of choices , Inexpensive
Guest
TrashPanda
Points +100
Delicious - Edit
The patties are insane! Hot, crispy, and buttery crust, and my favorite fillings were the ackee and burger patties.
Read moreGuest
TalyaNatlo
Points +52
Amazing Experience - Edit
My husband and I read the reviews about this restaurant and decided to try it before a hockey game, since we live an hour away .
Read moreIt was better than the reviews. Everything was so fresh and you could tell that it was prepared with care. The gentleman owner explained the different dishes to us and did not make us feel less than because we were unfamiliar. I had bbq tofu kale and chickpeas.
the prices are amazing and the portions are very generous .
Guest
SharpJules
Points +13
Must stop if you're near Hartford!!! - Edit
Up lobbying in Hartford for Clean Slate Legislation (pre-COVID) and wanting to pick up something to eat on my way home. Happy Cow found Fire & Spice just a minute from where I was parked! How lucky for me! Everything was so delicious that I've made it a point to stop there each and every time I've been in the area or passing through. I've tried most of the dishes (generous combination platters) they had each time and, without exception, each one was tasty, well seasoned, and left me wanting more! And, everyone there is so friendly and happy to tell you what's in each of their mouth-watering creations!
Read moreIf you're passing through Hartford, get off the highway and have a taste! You'll be very, very glad you did!
Pros: Delicious Food, Great Variety, Great for Meal or Snack or Take home for Dinner
Guest
long_egg
Points +367
Yesssssssss - Edit
I find every excuse I can to come here. Staff is so sweet, options are great. The food is so good that I basically lick the to-go container clean every time I eat here.
Read morePros: So tasty!, Good vibe/atmosphere, Nice staff
Guest
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