This page will host my reviews of New Haven restaurants. I'll share my thoughts about places I've eaten at with the hopes that it'll make your decision a little easier. I'm still experimenting on style so bear with me, as the content may update or change after initial posting.
966 State St.
April 2023
cost: $$ - $$$
cuisine: japanese
group size: 2 (only bar seating)
day of the week: weekend
occasion: date night or an intimate 1:1 catch-up
Overall: exceptionally fresh, amazing hand rolls in a minimalistic setting
167 Orange St.
April 2023
cost: $$
cuisine: mexican
group size: 2 - 3
day of the week: weekday (ideally taco tuesday)
occasion: a quick weekday dinner
Overall: amazing tacos freshly-made tortillas and delcious house chips; slightly pricier than your average taqueria but worth the premium
15 Orange St.
March 2023
cost: $$ - $$$
cuisine: japanese
group size: 2-6
day of the week: weekend
occasion: ideal for a medium-sized group dinner
Overall: craving the nobu menu, but it's too far away and more expensive
155 Temple St.
March 2023
cost: $$
cuisine: spanish
group size: 2-8
day of the week: weekday or weekend
occasion: celebrating something with friends
Overall: fun, relatively large tapas-style restaurant and wine bar with lively energy and great food
261 Orange St.
March 2023
cost: $$ - $$$
cuisine: japanese
group size: 2-6
day of the week: weekend
occasion: you want japanese food beyond sushi and ramen
Overall: best japanese food in new haven (after the otaru omakase), with an extensive sake list
1157 Chapel St.
February 2023
cost: $$$
cuisine: new american
group size: 2-6
day of the week: weekend
occasion: a more traditional, nice dinner; good for parents visiting town
Overall: good but nothing too exciting; get the scallops if they're available
896 Whalley Ave.
February 2023
cost: $$
cuisine: american breakfast and brunch
group size: 2-4
day of the week: weekend
occasion: saturday or sunday brunch
Overall: peak american breakfast food with impressively affordable prices; be prepared to wait over an hour
36 Fountain St.
June 2022
cost: $$
cuisine: mexican
group size: 3+
day of the week: happy hour if you can make it, weekday, or weekend
occasion: a casual night out with friends
Overall: great; try to take advantage of the indoor/outdoor hybrid seating on nice weather days
271 Crown St.
May 2022
cost: $$
cuisine: mexican
group size: 2-6
day of the week: weekday or weekend
occasion: you're craving some tacos, but it's too late for the long wharf food trucks and you want to sit down
Overall: good, don't skimp on the molcajete guacamole
794 Orange St.
April 2022
cost: $$
cuisine: italian
group size: 2-4
day of the week: weekday or weekend
occasion: a night out in east rock
Overall: great, especially the bucatini
65 Broadway St.
April 2022
cost: $$
cuisine: indian
group size: 4+
day of the week: weekend
occasion: friends in town
Overall: great, for a nice casual group dinner
756 Chapel St.
April 2022
cost: $$
cuisine: chinese
group size: >2
day of the week: mid-week
occasion: you don't want take-out, but it's not a weekend
Overall: good, but evokes suburban strip-mall energy that feels out of place for downtown new haven
39 High St.
March 2022
cost: $$$
cuisine: spanish
group size: 2-4
day of the week: weekend
occasion: feeling fancy
Overall: great, for special occasions