A couple weekends ago I was looking for an easy dining destination for my family, preferably al fresco so we could enjoy the gorgeous fall weather that had finally arrived in Connecticut. And that is how we ended up at a new-to-us outdoor eatery: the GastroPark in West Hartford.
Have you heard about the GastroPark? According to the Internet, this unique eatery opened about five years ago in a converted auto shop space in the Elmwood section of West Hartford. Sounded like a funky place, but what really sold me: food trucks! That’s right, the GastroPark offers both an outdoor, picnic table, park-like vibe for eating, plus a place where up to four food trucks can actually park and serve patrons. A place to “gather and graze,” as the tagline goes. Genius!
There is some parking on site, but it’s limited (their website indicates there are spaces for 40 vehicles). People seem to find their own spots in areas just down the street though.
Wherever you park, you’ll want to just walk around to the back of the building, which is where all the action is happening!
The food truck options rotate, so you’ll want to check out their social media (Instagram or Facebook) for the most current offerings. (Sadly, the weekend we were there was the last for the Grassroots ice cream truck for this season.)
All the vendors accept credit cards and no matter where you order from you’ll get a beeper to tell you when it’s ready. This makes it so easy and convenient for everyone in your family to order from any of the different trucks. Just stake out a table and wait.
My husband and I decided to check out the drink menu while we waited for the food to be ready. There is a bar inside the building, as well as some indoor seating.
While we waited for our food, the kids stalked and eventually took over this “swing table” once a few of the previous patrons left. (Don’t worry, there’s a very communal vibe about this place and people will be totally fine with your kids snagging an available swing even while they are still occupying the other “seats.”)
We didn’t have to wait too long before digging into delicious food.
We didn’t encounter any traditional “kids’ menu” items, but I was pleasantly surprised by my kids’ willingness to try some adventurous eating. Maybe being able to select from so many different styles and flavors inspired them to reach outside their comfort zone. There was a lot of “let me taste that” happening at our table, and I loved it! And the food was amazingly delicious, of course. Every. Single. Bite.
I wasn’t sure how my family would fare with this eclectic foodie experience, but with its great food and equally great atmosphere, this off beat eatery impressed us all. Turns out the GastroPark is super family-friendly.–we saw kids from newborns to toddlers to teens and all ages in between. It’s one of those rare places that effortlessly combines adult sophistication with kid-friendly sensibility.
GastroPark
637 New Park Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110 (See on a map here)
Info@thegastropark.com
Hours (2025):
Bar, Kitchen & Food Trucks*
Mon – Closed
Tues-Thurs 12pm-9pm
Fri 12pm-10pm
Sat 10am-10pm
Sun 10am-7pm
Alvarium Roasting Company
Tues-Sun 7am-2pm
Small State Provisions
Wed-Sat 8am-2pm
Sun 8am-1pm
* Check Instagram or Facebook for schedule updates & rotating trucks
Pricing (2025):
Pricing varies by vendor, but we felt like everything was very reasonably priced, especially given the high quality of the food.
Details (2025):
Stroller Friendly: YES, but the space is a bit tight so you might want to consider a wearable baby carrier for your infant if you want to be more mobile.
Coffee Mug Friendly: MAYBE? Outside food is discouraged mainly because it’s important to support the local vendors that make this place possible. But I didn’t see any coffee for sale there, so if you must have that cup of joe–as busy/exhausted parents ourselves, we see you!–I think it’d be okay to bring it with you– just be sure to purchase some delicious food to go with it 😉
Restroom: YES, family-style individual restrooms.
Baby Changing Station: YES (inside restroom)
Parking: YES, limited onsite but lots of options in the surrounding area.
Food for Sale: YES
Outside Food Allowed: NO. The whole point of this place is to help support local food vendors. Although, if you have littles in tow who may not eat the eclectic food truck fare, I’m sure it would be okay to pack them a snack. This place is super family-friendly. They’ll get it.
Cash Required: NO. Cards are accepted and, in fact, even preferred–you may not even be able to use cash for some vendors. My the times have changed since we started this blog over a decade ago and were always scrounging around the diaper bag for spare dollars 🙂
Age Recommendation: All ages! Seriously, we even saw some newborns there– what a great place to hang with friends if you’re a new parent! Delicious food, fresh air, places to walk around…and plenty of noise to cover those itty bitty baby cries so you don’t feel like everyone is staring 🙂
Dress Code: The largest seating area is outdoors, so dress accordingly. It’s open year ’round!
Evening/Weekend Hours: YES
Birthday Party Venue: There is a private outdoor space available to rent for events (I think there was actually a wedding reception happening the evening we were there!). But even at the regular tables, it’s a festive place to celebrate just about anything 🙂
Also check out the excellent list of FAQ’s on their homepage!
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