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The Very Best of New Haven
These are the things that make Gun Wavin' New Haven the best city in CT (imo).
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14 Places
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Josh’s 5-star review: The Yale University Art Gallery is one of the crown jewels of the City of New Haven and one of Yale's better contributions to the city as a whole. For the low low price of nothing, you can enjoy a wide variety of art ranging from early American impressionist to the bizarrely modern. They have a surprising variety of stuff here, and it is all extremely well-maintained. I'm not a huge art buff, but when you're standing in front of a Van Gogh or a Picasso or a Pollock, I think the immediacy of it really hits you. There's nothing quite like seeing the oil or ink or whathaveyou on the canvas itself. And the collection is absolutely impressive given the size and location of the gallery. They also offer free audio tours and all of the employees I've spoken to have been gracious and helpful. I would highly recommend anybody in the New Haven area take the time to stop by and check this place out. If you can find a better way to spend your time without emptying your wallet, I'd love to hear about it. -
Josh’s 5-star review: If New Haven is Connecticut's food mecca, then Caseus may well be the capital. Whether it's the to-die-for grilled cheese, the brilliant, complex specials, or the tender steak strips, you will not be disappointed. The bistro, while perennially packed due to being incredibly awesome, manages to keep a small-time vibe and the servers go out of their way to describe the complex dishes in an accessible way, allowing even public school-educated chumps like myself to understand their recipes. The savory skirt steak works equally well with the sage gravy or the aioli sauce. It just falls apart in your mouth. And the mac and cheese, with raclette, gouda, mournay, comte is utterly ridiculous cheese heaven. In fact, I've come to the obvious conclusion: the secret is that they force an angel to cry into the cheese because it's the only explanation which makes sense. And you absolutely cannot go wrong with the cheese board. They aren't messing around with the cheese around here. Did I mention the cheese? Because cheese. Fuck yeah. Furthermore, you can count on some ridiculously creative specials. Whether it's a cowboy steak or a crazy breakfast sausage brunch concoction, the chefs at Caseus are not fucking around with this standard bullshit you're used to. The only downside, of course, is that it's so good that you really are probably going to have to make a reservation or show up early for a spot outside or at the bar, cause otherwise you are in for a serious wait. I'm always amused when someone shows up in the middle of lunch rush and acts indignant that there's a wait. "By golly, how could anyone else have discovered this wildly popular and well-reviewed bistro! I thought I was the only one!" Sorry, man. The secret's out: Caseus is amazing. -
Josh’s 5-star review: The Devil's Gear Bike Shop is one of those places which makes up the personality of New Haven. Sitting in Pitkin Plaza, the shop remains one of the best places to get a new bike, repair an old one, go to free workshops, or just hang out and talk about cycling. I recently came in with a flat tire. They charged me 5 bucks for the labor, and 5 bucks for the tube. They threatened to charge me to watch, but since I told them I wasn't going to enjoy it sexually, they gave me a pass. This time. However, the guys at the desk really took the time to show me how to change the tire myself. He showed me how he used the tool to pull the bead off of the rim and then pull the entire wheel off, and then he showed me how to find holes in the tube. He even suggested submerging the full tube in water to find the leak. For such a simple transaction, he could've easily just fixed the problem in 2 minutes and wished me a nice day. But instead he took the time to try to create an informed bicyclist. You can't teach that kind of customer service. You have to hire the right people and the Devil's Gear has them in spades. Admittedly, the actual bikes here tend to run pretty expensive because a) it's not a big box store, and b) it's geared towards bicycling enthusiasts, but honestly, you get what you pay for and with the Devil's Gear, what you get is second to none. I have a hard time imagining New Haven and the Ninth Square without this shop, and with any luck, I'll never have to. -
Josh’s 5-star review: Am I giving them extra points because they helped me choose out a cute ring for my girlfriend? Maybe. Am I giving them extra points because they have neckties with nudies on the back? Perhaps. Am I giving them extra points because one of ladies who works there said to the other, "Oh look, it's wine-thirty!" Hell yes I am. I'm not terribly good at vintage shopping because it's a fine line between retro chic and just plain vile, and I would probably sail right past that line, but they have an inordinate amount of really interesting stuff here. Whether it's tweed sports coats or ornate, thigh-high boots or frilly dresses or costume jewelry, I think they really have a fascinating range of products. Furthermore, the people who work there are super helpful and sweet. They helped me pick something out knowing full well that I had no idea what I was doing based simply on my vague descriptions. Kudos to them. The next time I need something cute and off-beat, Fashionista will definitely be on the short list of places to check out. -
Josh’s 5-star review: Oh, Prime. Your combination of delicious beer, savory, mouth-watering burgers, and friendly bartenders and waitstaff is difficult to criticize. In fact, the only knock on Prime 16 is that it's so popular, it can be difficult to get a spot at the bar. But am I really going to knock off points for being too good? Let's start with the beer. Prime has a constantly evolving list of beers, each more delicious than the last. There's a little bit of everything, and the big board in the bar area even shows the style and alcohol content of the beer. Which is a good thing, cause some of those barleywines will knock you on your butt. The beers can be a little expensive, but quality costs -- and if cost is a huge concern, their Happy Hour is perhaps the best in the city. Half-price craft beers?! Have I died and gone to Hops Heaven?? A few beers are excepted from this special, but you will have no problem finding something which suits your needs. It runs 4-7 on weekdays and 2-4 on Saturdays. Just be forewarned: this kind of cheap, delicious beer can lead to some poor decision-making. Given that it's such a beer-centric place, you'd excuse them if their food was mediocre or only pretty good, but they have, in my humble opinion, the very best burgers in New Haven. I haven't had anything on the list which didn't hit the spot, and the Lamb Burger and the Badlands Burger both hit spots I didn't even know need hitting. I generally get the sweet potato fries, which are very good, but the truffle fries are also excellent. I can't speak to the rest of the menu due to the overwhelming excellence of the burgers, however. The vibe itself is pretty chill. I admit the crowd is pretty male, so it might not be the best place to pick up girls, but you're not here for the women, are you? You're here for the beer! And beef! And friendly bartenders! Speaking of the bartenders and waitstaff, if you aren't a beer expert, they're more than happy to help you make a choice. Just give them an idea of the kind of beer you're into, and they'll make a recommendation. They're all pretty chill and friendly, and I've never had a problem with service. Prime 16 remains one of my favorite places to hang out in New Haven, and I look forward to visiting again and again in the future. I hope to see you there.
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Josh’s 5-star review: I've been on several occasions and this place remains one of my absolute favorite places in the city of New Haven. Every dish I've tried here provides another mouthwatering reminder that I am not currently in Malaysia, eating awesome food and living some other, much more exotic (and apparently delicious) life. The service has generally been pretty good. Once or twice my waiter didn't check in routinely and took a little too long taking orders, bringing drinks, etc., but the food is just too good and the service isn't consistently poor, so I won't ding them on it. I especially enjoyed the Nasi Lemak, the Chicken Rendang, and the Goreng Kicap with whatever meat you prefer. Bentara is also especially hospitable to vegetarians because they generally offer a tofu alternative for virtually all of their dishes. If you enjoy spice, they also offer a variety of spice levels on every dish I've tried so far. Although I must say I find it highly amusing that their spiciness scale rates "Mild, Medium, Regular, and Hot." Not sure why Medium and Regular are apparently different, but even the Hot isn't crazy spicy. The atmosphere is excellent as well. It's generally pretty cozy, though the decorations are appropriate and set the mood well. I highly recommend it as a good place to bring a date. Overall I have always enjoyed my dinners here, and though it can be a little on the pricier side, the dishes are generously portioned and I have yet to taste something I didn't thoroughly enjoy. -
Josh’s 4-star review: I have only recently begun to really explore and enjoy Lighthouse Point Park, and as a resident of New Haven for the last 18 or so months, I must say: I have been missing out. Whether it's the wide-open area for barbecues, or the kid-friendly water area, or the absolutely stunning carousel, there really is something for everybody here. The beach itself is mostly unremarkable, though it's pretty popular with people of all types. You'll see families from all kinds of backgrounds, younger folks hanging out, and everything in between. The water is great and refreshing, though there can be some intensely rocky surfaces under the water, so you might want to bring some water shoes. There's also a rock pier which is pretty fun to walk out on (I'm not sure if there's another word for it, I just looked it up and can't find anything, which I'm mostly telling you now so you know that I am educated enough to want to impress you, but too stupid to do so). The park itself is rather huge and I believe they have pavilion rentals, though you could easily bring your own grill and canopy and have a great time here. The carousel is also absolutely gorgeous. I don't know what the rates are, but if I had children, I would force them to ride it and take pictures until they were crying and DCF had to get involved. But the pictures would be adorable! Please note, if you do not live in New Haven, they charge a pretty unreasonable fee for cars ($20.00 per day, I believe) which would significantly alter my perception of the park. That being said, I live in Gun Wavin' New Haven and am reviewing this as a beach I don't have to pay to go to, so suck it, Out-Of-Towners! -
Josh’s 4-star review: If I had to pick a word to describe Firehouse 12, I'd use the word "hip." The vibe is hip. The bartenders are hip. The music is hip. It's all very... well, hip. First of all, big props for playing old-school Nas (the Illmatic era). You aren't gonna hear that too many places, and it's always great to hear some great jams on the radio. Every time I'm here they have something good playing, which is good, cause there aren't any TV's or any of that other stuff. The ambiance is pretty serious. I don't even know how to begin to describe it. Between the stone walls and the enormous booths and the subtle but attractive lighting, it definitely has a pretty chill vibe. They also have some of the best bartenders in the city. You'll notice they continue to win Best of New Haven awards for their bartenders, and there's a reason for it. They have a few decent beers on tap, like Hoegaarden and Palm. It's a little on the pricier side but not crazy. The only caveat is that it's not the best place to fly solo, because there's no TV's, so if you're at the bar by yourself, be prepared for a lot of awkward glances around to see if you know anybody. Great place to hang out with friends. It does get a little crowded for the limited seating and bar space, and if it IS too crowded, you can prepare yourself for a fairly awkward walk back up the stairs and out, but hey... worse things have happened to people. Overall I generally enjoy myself there, between the chill atmosphere, the friendly people, and the awesome music, it's a great place to enjoy a few drinks with friends. -
Josh’s 4-star review: Miya's is like the Twin Peaks of restaurants. You either find it unique and sensational or an overrated, pretentious mess. I find myself in the former category (though I still think Twin Peaks sucks). For one, you can't really talk about Miya's without talking about the owner, Bun Lai, and his unwavering dedication to sustainability. While it certainly means you'll find less standard sushi fare on the menu, it also means you can eat and feel a little more socially conscious about the fact that you're probably not annihilating the Earth quite as quickly as you would've otherwise. Miya's approach to sushi fusion is all over the place and it begins with the staggeringly long menu full of some of the most bizarre (and amusing) descriptions. You could take weeks just reading the menu. You can also blow a lot of money here if you're not careful -- but that's what separates this place from some other places -- you don't HAVE to. There are affordable options on the menu if you choose them, and less than affordable options as well. The service is pretty tremendous. The last time I came here, I received a free spicy misou soup as well as a free appetizer (of which I have forgotten the name, but they seemed to be some kind of deep fried onion straw-like concoction with an unknown but delicious sauce on top). I am a pretty big fan of the Italian Scallion and the Yo Yo Mitzvah rolls, but you could spend months just exploring the menu. The only thing holding Miya's back from a 5-star rating is some truly outrageous prices on some rolls (I'm not sure what's in a 30 dollar sushi order, but it better not get me pregnant), and the sake prices are a little much for what you get. Yes, it's delicious, but 45 dollars delicious? Hard to say. Overall I have always enjoyed my time at Miya's and I find they provide an interesting, sustainable, and delicious take on sushi that goes a little heavy on the wallet, but hey... conscience costs. -
Josh’s 4-star review: Look! It's a nightclub! No, it's a pizza place! No, it's a microbrewery! Oddly enough, not only is it all three, but it turns out that it's actually pretty good at all of them. First of all, don't expect to just walk in there and get a table, ever. Maybe during the summer, when Yale is out of session, on a holiday weekend, but otherwise, you can expect to wait. Sometimes for an hour. Sometimes longer. But while you wait, you're free to hang out in the bar area and enjoy any of their brewed beers or visiting selections. You might think a nightclub/pizza bar would have terrible microbrews, but you'd be wrong. They are all pretty solid, though I particularly enjoy their stout. Then, of course, we have the infamous mashed potato pizza. It sounds weird and unnecessary and a little like an affront to the Pizza Gods, and yet... something about it just works. Try it with bacon and garlic. Of if you're a vegetarian, spinach. Finally, we have the full-blown nightclub in the back. What, you expected some kind of half-hearted dance floor with a disco ball? Nope. We're talking full-on towers of speakers, lighting systems, the whole deal. As far as I can tell, it's the most happening nightclub in New Haven that doesn't cater to underage girls looking to make a bad decision (not that there's anything wrong with that). If you're looking to bust it out to the newest hot beats, this is the place to be. They do charge a cover after 10:00 pm, I believe, on Fridays and Saturdays. They also have a lot of free indie music on Wednesdays if you follow them on Facebook or check their web page. Overall, BAR is a New Haven institution, and it's not hard to see why, from the delicious takes on classic beers, to the impressive pizza, to the night club.
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Josh’s 4-star review: If you were to judge Mezcal by the neighborhood, you might consider another, less "stabby" place. If you were to judge Mezcal by the service, you might decide to take your money elsewhere. If, however, you were to judge Mezcal strictly by the qualify of their authentic Mexican dishes and drinks, you're going to be hard-pressed to find something better in New Haven. Sure, the place kind of looks like a front for harvesting organs, but once you get inside, you'll find a rather adorable little place with lots of cute Mexican decorations. The food itself is a little on the pricier side, but the quality is top notch and the dishes are some of the most authentic I've seen this side of the border. They have some really interesting recipes and I urge you to go outside your comfort zone and order one of the more interesting dishes. They also provide free homemade tortilla chips and some pretty kickin' salsa, but their inability to provide water in a consistent manner can make the salsa a bit of a risky gambit. The service is fairly terrible. You can fully expect to have to remind them to bring you more water or drinks. Sometimes it's not even clear that they know they're supposed to be keeping track of the customers. However, once you get past the drawbacks, it's hard to be angry when your mouth is full of delicious authentic Mexican food or a well-blended daiquiri.
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Josh’s 4-star review: After hearing many people rave about Ibiza, I finally took the time to check it out during Restaurant Week and I must say, I was not disappointed. The place was absolutely packed, so I'll forgive the waitress for being rather terse and providing efficient, if forgettable service. I'm sure it's not easy keeping up with that kind of pace all day for a week. Several foodie friends of mine have really gone on and on about this place, and I can finally see why. Their dishes are creative, well-presented, and most of all, mouthwateringly delicious. I had the arroz-stuffed peppers covered in saffron oli-oli, which were an impressively tasty way to start the meal, and more substantial than I would've thought. Then they brought out the boneless braised lamb with Granja beans, tomatoes, and red wine sauce. The lamb practically fell apart in my fork it was so tender. Then ice cream to top it all off, especially the rosemary-infused honey ice cream, and the lemon peel, were pretty otherworldly. (Okay, I admit I was looking at the menu when I wrote that. So I'm not a Doctor in Foodology who remembers this stuff. Sue me.) The place is a little on the pricey side, certainly. And as I said, I found the service pretty meh, although I'll forgive them this time due to the extremely heavy demand during Restaurant Week. Overall, though, I found Ibiza to be a truly exceptional culinary experience, and a creative and interesting take on Spanish cuisine. I can completely understand people spending the extra few bucks for it. It's not something I'd go to regularly, if only to avoid destroying my 401K, but as an occasional treat to yourself (and your mouth), I'd definitely recommend it. -
Josh’s 4-star review: I've lived in New Haven for about a year now and I still think the best view of the city comes from the summit of East Rock park on a clear, sunny day. You can see almost all the way down Orange St. (the spine of New Haven!) to downtown. There are better places to hike (Sleeping Giant in Hamden, for instance), but I think for being an urban park, East Rock gives you everything you could want and a little more. For one, I really enjoy the diversity and variety of people you see in the park on a nice afternoon. Huge families, grad students, younger kids playing football. You get a really good mix of people. In the summer I frequently see a Good Humor truck and even the Caseus truck on the summit from time to time. The hiking isn't great, but they actually do have a few mountain bike trails which are pretty well-maintained and present a decent challenge. There's actually a few really steep declines, so you'll definitely want to keep your eyes out (and your helmet on) if you aren't experienced. While there are nicer parks in the world, and certainly quieter, more peaceful parks with better hiking, I really enjoy East Rock Park and it's one of my favorite places to hang out on a warm day in the Elm City. -
Josh’s 4-star review: I'm not sure I'd say I'm an expert in Indian cuisine, but I know what I like, and Thali knows how to give it to me. (Wow, that sounded a lot more profane than it probably should've). I've been here a couple of times and I've generally enjoyed their generous portions and excellent take on Indian cuisine. Again, I'm not an expert, but I have really enjoyed the few dishes I've tried. My only caveat is that their waiters really, really try to sell you on in the wine. I mean, really. They're all, "Hey man, you could really use some wine, don't you think?" And I'm all, "Nah I'm good," and they're like, "Are you sure the little lady wouldn't like some wine?" I'm paraphrasing here, but honestly, it is a little odd. I find myself surprised how quiet this place is. Maybe it's the location, a little far from the rest of the downtown scene, but I really enjoy the food and the atmosphere is definitely pretty elegant without feeling overbearing. I will definitely be back the next time I'm craving some delicious Indian cuisine.
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