Yes or No Morgan: Pop Up Immersion Mystery Dinner with Chef Tyler Anderson

Kristin L. Wolfe February 22, 2021

Just how many creative things have you accomplished or experienced this year? So you’ve become a wizard of Zoom, turned your living room into Studio 54, or maybe you’ve even become TikTok famous for your golden sourdough while being an accountant in your pajamas.

Good for you.

You have likely NOT, however, headed out your front door to the gorgeous doors of The Goodwin Hotel in Hartford to luxuriate in an evening of mystery over a dinner created by the talented, beloved Connecticut chef Tyler Anderson. Along with TheaterWorks and weHartford, you can now, in a VERY safe, nearly contactless manner, enjoy a 2-3 hour night out. Take a deep dive into clues and mystery in your own room, and marvel in a scrumptious three-course meal. All paying homage to Hartford, Wall Street financier J.P. Morgan, and the late 19th century as it comes back to life today.

Room Service at The Goodwin Presents: Yes-or-No Morgan, the first progressive dinner of its kind, and as buzz will have it, no doubt NOT the last. Kicked off in January, and now with seatings Fridays through Sundays through the end of March, you have the opportunity to add a new, fun, delicious, experience to your winter schedule. Twenty hotel rooms in the beautiful, historic hotel have been transformed just for the Yes or No Morgan experience and can Covid-safely fit up to four people. Constructed in the late 19th century, in 1881, the Goodwin Hotel has experienced various transformations, but now the glamor and sophistication of yesteryear and the savvy of today are standing tall on the corners of Haynes and Asylum in downtown Hartford.

Amidst these winter months, restaurants have had to be resourceful and creative in order to remain open and safe. Chef Anderson admits, “In every phase of the pandemic we have tried to quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses of our operations. We ignore the weaknesses and attack the strengths—this, along with an amazing team, has allowed us to pivot.” Many of you know Anderson knows a thing or two about pivoting, already running six restaurants in the state, including the highly acclaimed Simsbury gem, Millwright’s. Not only has Covid caused everyone to shift, but now the cold winter months amidst still strict pandemic protocols keeps business owners attuned to measures of ingenuity. More recently, Anderson created a new outdoor dining concept ‘Ta-que’ which has now found a home at New Park Brewery in West Hartford.

Everything got way too quiet last year. Hartford should be bustling, not quiet and vacant. So, the team got together in order to continue Hartford’s hum, a lively bustle that resurfaced amidst weHartford’s Picnic in the Park series that took place in Bushnell Park during September and October. Melissa Melonson, Founder and CEO of Lumi Hospitality, dove into an idea that made sense to keep the city active, albeit safely. Riding the spirit of that creativity and successful series, Yes-or-No Morgan was born.

Each party will enjoy a theatrical welcome as they are shepherded into the lobby then whisked away to their rooms. Now, even though there are a lot of secrets about your evening, we wouldn’t be CTbites if we couldn’t at least briefly mention the food. The meal is designed to pay homage to the time in which J.P. Morgan lived, so think prime proteins (however, there is a vegetarian option), executed with high level technique. As you start the evening, over cocktails or wine, should you choose one or both, munch on bar-like bites, look around the room, but keep an ear to the door. Knock, Knock, Knock.

First course is ready. Apparently, J.P. Morgan loved a wedge salad. There was the perfect amount of cold, crisp, sharp, and crunch. Knock, Knock, Knock. My date and I shared bites of each other’s entrees and we peered into the essential clues of the mystery, not each other’s eyes. I had the Short Rib Wellington cooked perfectly, with a deep mushroom duxelles and black truffle bordelaise, and he had the Crab Crusted Filet of Sole with Petis Pois and Sauce Charon. We couldn’t decide a favorite, each was exquisite in flavor and technique, without too much flair. What else do you expect from Chef Anderson?

Complete with music, clues, and an interactive dinner, diners will get swept away by the creatively curated, affair of the senses. Visit www.roomserviceatthegoodwin.com for all the details and to purchase tickets. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Hands On Hartford, a social service nonprofit organization that serves Hartford’s most economically challenged residents in the areas of food, housing, and health. Guests will also have the opportunity to make their experience a “staycation.” The Goodwin Hotel is offering a $120 discounted room rate to guests who book in conjunction with the event.