Ryder’s On Main

This is the absolute worst bar I have ever been too. As soon as I walked in the bartender looked at me and rolled her eyes. I ordered a drink and handed her my credit card. She didn’t ask if I wanted to open a tab and had an extreme attitude. I don’t know of ANY bars that when I hand them a credit card they don’t offer to open a tab. I left a more than generous tip, giving the benefit of the doubt of maybe she’s having a bad night. NOT EVEN A THANK YOU. I was so disgusted with how rude and unwelcoming she was. I finished my drink and left. I would never recommend this awful place to anyone.

Hashtag local bar at its finest. Walked in to a dark bar only to meet a great staff. Wings were hot and amazing. Onion rings are one of a kind, thin, yet delicious. The BLT was good and the fajita was equally as tasty. The owner sat and talked for a while — just enough to show her kindness and appreciation for supporting her restaurant. Will definitely be going back.

Met up with my sister and her friends while visiting from Boston and had a great time! The food was dee-​lish and the atmosphere even better. Was introduced to the owner, Lynn, and was so impressed. She is so friendly, funny and «personality-​plus»!!! — and she looks and sounds like Rachel Ray, which is a hoot!
You can tell that she takes pride in her place and truly connects with her customers. They are all friends — because she enjoys their presence and makes it so easy.
I will be back. Craving the quesadillas, which were fresh and substantial — 4 of us shared them.

Let’s get it straight. This is your typical, around the corner, local hole in the wall. It’s a great hangout for dart and pool leagues.
There are two things that set Ryder’s above the rest. The service staff is attentive, welcoming, warm, and courteous. They are genuine and and hard working.
The other thing is the food. The food is fantastic. The burgers are stacked and juicy, the quasadillas are enormous and packed, and the fries are perfectly crispy. If that’s not enough, the chicken wings are magnificent. They are, without question, the greatest wings I have ever had.

A place like Ryder’s is what you make of it. It starts out with a ton of potential, since the space is pretty enormous (which you’d never know from driving past) and the food is outrageously good. The rest of the experience requires good company. I can’t speak for the drinks directly, since I stopped in while driving from NYC to Boston, but my parents go here all the time and they know their booze. When I was there, Lynn was concocting a custom cocktail for one member of our group, and the result was not only a great drink, but also one that was customized for the individual. That means she took the time and consideration to make the drink specifically for this person, and also that she takes care of her customers in a remarkable way. That kind of thing is usually reserved for big city schmancy cocktail bars like Drink in Boston or The Drawing Room in Chicago. I mean, you’re not going to find eyedroppers of lavender bitters here. You’re in Meriden. But you’re going to get a great drink and excellent food.
Seriously guys, the food. I had a lobster quesadilla, which I split with 2 other people. It was like $ 13. That means we paid $ 5 a piece (tip your waitstaff) for cheesy, lobstery goodness between two crispy tortillas. Not only was it an inventive and decadent dish that was executed perfectly, all 3 of us left with full bellies. Speaking of bellies, my dad had a plate of fresh, perfectly fried whole belly clams, with a side of sweet potato fries. I tried them, since he could not finish the very generous portion, and they were excellent. Ryder’s has «Seafood Sundays» which my parents attend instead of church, and I love them for that. Honestly, the food is fantastic and any misgivings you may have now, having only driven past or whatever, will be demolished when you have your first bite.
Sure, I got some sideways looks here. The place is full of townies and the bar was lined with dudes. I wasn’t making any new friends. So bring a crowd with you. And if you go with your burly dad, you’ll be fine. If you can’t go with your own dad, I’m sure mine would be glad to go with you.