My fiancé and I came here after a day at the beach. We walked in, and I was instantly in love with the place. It had a very French, clean-feeling atmosphere about it, which was exactly what I wanted. I could imagine we were eating with a view of a southern coast, sea breeze misting our faces... Reading previous reviews, I think it's funny that my fiancé also ordered a Fernet to start out, and we had pretty much the exact same experience as the other reviewer! Not to be "that" person, but I am also a waitress, and also started out at a very high-end cocktail bar. Believe me, I would have had the same reaction, had someone asked me for Fernet Branca when I was new! I do think this restaurant would highly benefit from a little bit of spirits and food training; it is a little investment that pays off big-time. Plus its great for the servers to not feel silly when someone orders something they haven't encountered before . We are in the habit of ordering too much food, and tonight was the same deal. We got two appetizers, the deviled eggs and the calamari, both wonderful. Some might say the eggs were under seasoned, but I personally think that's a ridiculous claim; everyone has their own salt preference, and I would far and away prefer under-salted to over. The saddest part of my meal was when I realized I was too full to finish my salmon dish. Reasonably priced for scottish salmon, it was served over polenta that tasted so sweet I thought I must be eating straight butter (in the best way), in a brothy vinaigrette with some of the most perfectly cooked peas and asparagus I have ever had. Not too heavy, but with a focus on rich, quality ingredients, and dead-on preparation. Très française! Long story short, I see great things in the future for this place! My general impression was of ROIA's little sister: less elegant, but more accessible. All restaurants have hiccups in their beginning stages, and I would really love to see Florian's hit their stride. I will be back! read more

This is my favorite restaurant in New Haven and I have eaten many lovely meals here. However, their business practices during the phased reopening left a very bad taste in my mouth. Florian has very limited outdoor seating. Knowing this, I made a reservation and specified outdoor only as I wasn't willing to eat indoors. I was clearly told that we had a reservation for outside and that this was just fine. However, upon arrival I was told that all outdoor reservations had been "converted" to first come. We were then steered to an indoor table. This is clearly a ploy to drive business inside since they have limited outdoor dining. Don't take reservations that you won't honor! Very disappointing. read more

I really wanted to like Florian. I did. My friend and I booked a table here for Friday night last week and were seated promptly. She got the bouillabaisse and I got the moules frites marinière. Classic Belgian dishes, we thought. What could go wrong with our dinner. A lot it turns out. First of all, we weren't given bread. We had to bring this to the attention of our waiter, who then obliged. He then said there was no butter with the bread and we'd have to wait 10 minutes (it never came without prompting. Did someone pop out to buy butter?). Second of all, my friends bouillabaisse resembled a thick tomato paste laced with a few bits of seafood, some of which were clearly frozen and was completely bland in flavour. There was also incidentally no fish to be had. I honestly don't know what kind of "fish stew" this was supposed to be. Third of all, my moules frites came with about a tablespoon of stock and about 3 tons of flavourless cabbage and onion. If I wanted to dine like a peasant, I would have gladly stayed at home. The mussels were tough and just not nice at all. I did ask for more stock, but the waiter said it couldn't be done. However, 5 minutes later he comes back with some more stock and about 2 more tons of vegetables that he dumped into the bucket. I appreciated the gesture and the kind waiter, genuinely thinking the mussels would taste better, but it didn't. It's safe to say we won't be returning. read more

This place became an instant favorite for us when we discovered it. Omer's Rudy's is a rambunctious pub with tastes of Belgium in its cuisine and beer offerings. Atelier Florian offers a more laid back atmosphere with the sophisticated palate of a European bistro. The staff is welcoming- Max at the bar offers amazing libations and a friendly face with a touch of snark; Ariel is a fantastic mixologist in her own right, even if a bit shy. The waitstaff are knowledgable and always offer great service. General manager Alex offers her expertise and appreciation for wine pairings and is alway eager to hear suggestions for additions or changes to the menu. Creative, delicious and always a fantastic evening! read more

UPDATE: SEE BOTTOM!! OK. Here's the deal. This is the second time in two weeks we've gone and the first time was SO wonderful we came back. Holy crap tonight was TERRIBLE. Let's start with the first time. A fabulous waiter. Adorable, young, eager to please, knowledgeable, all around great. We had two dozen oysters, all delectable. When asked for horseradish, within a minute he was back with it. My hubs had the seafood pasta and it was simply phenomenal. Fresh pasta, seafood perfection, sauce you wanted to lick. I have the mussels with coconut milk and curry and they were perfection. A cappucino and a complimentary chocolate mouse made it simply perfect. If I was only rating that visit it would be a 5. Especially because they have $1 oysters every day from 4-6:30. How can you not go?! Side note: There was a family at the second front round table that every staff member was hemming and hawwing over and I believe they are the owners. Now tonight. We had a reservation. We sat in the back, asked for the front round table but were told no. Turns out, that family that was there last time was there again. Again, I believe the owners. Especially since the gentleman was all over the staff and in and out of the kitchen all night. Anyways... our experience. Our first waiter was lovely. Took our drink order and oyster order. Came back with cocktails, we enjoyed them. Then the oysters came. In a tower. That the waitress who put them on our table SPILLED THEM ALL OVER US. The top tier of the tower literally slid right off and roughly a dozen oysters and a ton if ice went all over the table, the bench, and our laps. She apologized and said she'd get those replaced. Well, she never came back. She also never came to clean up the mess so we cleaned it up ourselves. Another waitress came over to take our order. Brunette, I'm guessing European, and RUDE as all hell. We told her what had happened and we asked for horseradish and another pot of sauce for the 3 dozen oysters our group had ordered. It never came. She came back to take our order, we told her what we wanted, and she then left. Dinner was meh. Salmon tartar was bland, fish tacos were so so, Florian Sushi was delish, mussels were average, scallop dish was highly disappointing. We got coffee and cappucino and again, the complimentary chocolate mouse. And then the bill came. We were charged for ALL of the oysters INCLUDING the ones that spilled onto the floor that were never replaced. And again, no one ever came over to apologize or clean up. When she came back to take our money, we explained that the pysters had spilled and we didn't get 3 dozen. She said that she wasn't there when it happened and 3 dozen were ordered. We explained to her AGAIN what happened and she stomped away to see what had happened. When she came back, we were charged for 30 instead of 36. She was rude, condescending, and was VERY lucky she got any tip at all. If this had been our first experience we would never go back. But because our first time there was so great we MIGHT try it again. But seriously, what kind of staff spilled a large tower of RAW OYSTERS all over you and DOES NOTHING about it?! #annoyed UPDATE: I MUST give a shout out to Alexandria, the manager, for going above and beyond to make this issue right and resolve it. She emailed me as well as called me to apologize and to let me know had she been there that night, NONE of this would have happened. And I wouldn't have had to write such a review. And I believe her. She refunded our credit card for our dinner and sent us a gracious gift card to come back again. I applaud her and how she handled the situation and honestly, cannot wait to make Atelier Florian a regular going out spot for us! read more

MEH...food was just ok but the service leaves much to be desired. Staff we had was uneducated in knowing about the food and drinks of this place ad not attentive at all considering slow Saturday night. Not on our list to go back. Too bad because I really like bistro food and this was a poor example. read more

I was really impressed by the bright, clean interior of Florian, a new sustainable seafood restaurant in New Haven. I love that they showcase a raw bar, a needed niche in New Haven. While it isn't a crazy deal at $2-$3.50 per oyster and some cracked shell in some of them, the overall the experience was a positive one. The fish tacos were excellent. My friends got the tagliatelli and the crab cakes which they absolutely loved. While not my favorite, I appreciate that they had a unique approach to calamari with coconut and harissa-very interesting! Wine was very reasonable, especially the wine on tap. The only dish that was lackluster was the razor clams, definitely better in the context of a NE clam chowder (notably absent from their menu). They served a complimentary dessert, and while the flavor was right on the texture was a bit sandy. The coffee that accompanied it was excellent and I think they may just need a little time to work out the kinks. Overall, I have to say that the service was outstanding, the venue was beautiful and impeccably clean, and the food was, with rare exception, excellent. I'm excited to go back and try some new dishes. read more

Easily the best Happy Hour (4:00-6:30pm) in New Haven. $1 Blue Point Oysters and half-off all cocktails, house wine, and beer. Max is arguably the best part about Florian. Friendly face and excellent drinks. Come for the drink specials, stay for the Brussels sprouts with maple salt. 5 stars all around! read more

We went here on a Saturday night date night. The staff were friendly and prompt. We had a bottle of sparkling rose- a nice choice. We got the fish tacos - super yummy! Then we got the mouses frites - something that is obviously the strength of the restaurant. Lastly we got the bouillabaisse - we were to full but it was great. Chocolate mousse complimentary at the finished us off. Definitely a great place when craving seafood with Belgian flair. We will come back. read more

Horrible service! We came here to celebrate my birthday and our waiter left midshift & didn't even bother to tell us he was leaving. No one came to see if we wanted anything else. Don't come here if you have children unless you want to be seated in the back & forgotten about. The place wasn't even busy so I don't get how a waiter can leave and not even have someone else pick up his table. We ordered the lobster roll & herb chicken which were pretty good but not enough for us to come back to this establishment. I also ordered some mint vodka cocktail which I wanted more of but since our waiter left, I wasn't about to order anything else. read more

I came here multiple times now, so here goes: Service was always very great and friendly. For lunch I had their eggs, fries and steak and was very happy with my dish. Everything was just right, the steak portion was both generous and cooked just right (medium rare). My wife had a lobster sandwich which was also good. The fries were also great. We came for dinner multiple times and tried various appetizers and oysters. Their selection of oysters is pretty great and changes often, and you can pick between West Coast and East Coast oysters, usually 2-3 types from each coast. This never disappoints, the oysters are fresh and reasonably priced, and me and my wife got one of each to try them out. The appetizers were also pretty good. The sushi Florian was interesting: I think the rice was sticky rice, warm and mildly crispy which made a great contrast with the fish. The tuna tartare was also great, and the contrast with the ginger bits was enjoyable as well. The crab salad was a really good balance of crab meat, butter, and citrus. Pork belly (or fresh bacon if you want to call it that) and kimchi was also good, and so was the lobster roll (nice and buttery) and the mussels. The fish tacos were great as well, though we had the feeling they were a bit overcooked and the sauce came out when biting from one side which made them a bit dry. The free mousse at the end is also pretty nice. read more

Visually striking decor. The candles and white walls with the staff wearing plaid...yes different but somehow it works. It captures you as you walk into the room. The food is up there. So its not where you come to have a cheap meal. But it is New Haven. I will say it is worth the money. I sat at the bar during happy hour. I had oysters, mussels and delicious cocktails that where hand crafted. The broth and veggies in the mussels pot and the side of fries is something I will be going back for specifically. A must try. The oysters are fresh and come with cute little flags that tell you what kind they are and an adorable tiny bottle of hot sauce. I don't know anything about oysters and for the first time I had a meal that taught me something...kinda cool right? The bar tender was funny, helpful and patient as he tried to help me pick a good cocktail to pair. It wasn't very busy when I got there so he took time to make something up for me, which I thought was awesome..most bartenders force the house cocktails on you since they are easy. I enjoyed my experience during happy hour and it wasn't overly busy. It was great. If you come expect to spend at least $50 on your meal and find it was worth every penny. read more

I would return. Nice little spot in New Haven. Great location, nice ambiance, and pretty solid food. Had a delicious little salad with goat cheese and the salmon--which was perfectly cooked. This place has a lot of potential. read more

What a beautiful bar and restaurant. We came here a couple of times and love the vibe of the place. Beautiful, bright and elegant, with accessible French cuisine, modern cocktails and great service. $1 oysters at happy your drew me here at first, but I will definitely come here to treat myself and my coworkers. What a great place to bring your friends to for some mid week pampering. read more

Atelier Florian - $1 bluepoint oysters! - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I was a little intimidated by this restaurant as places like this are generally out of my price range. But as I've been watching it get built and as it's in my neighborhood I decided to give it a chance. The ambience is great. Beautifully done in what I guess is a Belgian restaurant style. Pristine white walls, tile and marble with some quite unusual lighting fixtures come together to create a very inviting feel. The lights are turned down low but not so low that you can't read the menu, ( a pet peeve of mine!). The moment you walk in the overwhelmingly rich seafood smell will make you irrationally hungry. I had some really tasty fish sticks. They came with an extra tangy sauce (not tartar) that was really delicious. Fish sticks? In a fancy restaurant? I had to try and was not disappointed! For the entree I had the seafood pot pie. When it came out I couldn't believe the size. The philo dough covering the stew inside was a foot across. Fortunately once I delved into its steamy innards, I realized that it was an ample yet manageable portion. And so rich! I washed all of this down with a glass of excellent Riesling. The bill came to just a hair under $40, (not including tip), which I feel is quite reasonable given the caliber of food and service. I highly recommend them and am happy that they have joined the eclectic culinary landscape of New Haven! read more

Atelier Florian - Looking from my table to the bar - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

This was our first time eating at Florian, and It definitely will not be our last!!! My wife and I got there in time to take advantage of their last hour of Happy Hour (which is a nice 2 1/2hr one). We sat at the bar and enjoyed a couple incredible cocktails and apps. The bartenders (or should I say mixologists), Nikki and Niko were exceptional, from their cocktail mixing skillset, to the personable way they carried themselves engaging with us and all the other patrons. Now on to the food... The Blistered Shishito Peppers were tasty lil' finger popping treats!!! The calamari was dusted with a lil' cayenne pepper with a delicious sweet chili aioli. My wife had the Seafood Pasta which pretty much had every crustation that lives in the ocean, which she said had great depth and flavor. On to possibly the best chicken dish I've ever eaten. I had the Roasted Free Range Chicken with a squash puree, that was literally the most moist flavorful piece of chicken I think I've ever had!!! We didn't save enough room for dessert, but the menu did look very delectable. See ya soon! read more

As a frontline healthcare worker it was pretty disappointing to sit at the bar and be ignored for over 10 min while the place was less than 1/2 full - all while sitting under a big sign saying "we appreciate our health care heroes." Luckily it's easy to walk out and go elsewhere: there are plenty of other restaurants on that block where customers are attended to with alacrity. read more

Went with gift card from daughter. Hostess took us in right away and seated us. Table was set and we were asked right away regarding water and drinks. Waitress Karen answered all questions and made great suggestions for my wife with the beet salad.Seafood soup excellent mixture and seasoning.Duck breast was perfectly done and the wine suggested by Alex was light and paired with the duck. Dessert of complimentary chocolate mousse was just right and the cappuccino was great. Only suggestion was the serving dishes should be warmed for service. Parking available down the street for free at their other building. Definitely worth the cost. Will be there again read more

We came here for my friend's birthday brunch and it was a really disappointing experience. It was somewhat busy because of Yale graduation, but there were a bunch of open tables. They sat us at a fold up table with lawn chairs on the second floor... even though there were other open tables. They then gave us paper napkins that said "21st birthday" rather than cloth napkins and flipped them over so you couldn't see the "21st birthday" print. For a fancier place with high prices, we were shocked. So we asked if we could sit somewhere else. They didn't let us move because we already ordered our food. The food was also disappointing. My friend ordered the avocado eggs Benedict and her poached egg was cooked through... My avocado bruschetta toast was something I could have made better at home and there was avocado skin still attached to the avocado. When we complained about the seating they said we could have free champagne and dessert for my friend's birthday. They never gave us the champagne and we had to ask about the dessert. Probably not coming here again. read more

I've eaten at Florian several times in the past six months whilst doing book research in the Haas Art Library. I've always found the food and the service and the cocktails excellent. However, I went there for lunch last week--on October 18th--and was positively gobsmacked when my seafood pasta arrived with parmesan cheese on it. This is a cardinal, culinary no-no. The only fish-cheese combination permitted in European/American cuisine is a tuna melt. The Belgians put mayonnaise on their fries and fruit in their beers--I applaud that--but cheese and fish/seafood? Non, non, et non. Especially at Florian's price points. Our server was new, so I didn't want to fluster her with a return to the chef; moreover, I was interviewing a client for my book project and didn't want to look like a food snob...but I was truly astounded. If by some chance you like parmesan cheese on your shrimp, you should (have to) ask for the grater, as you would when wanting to pour Heinz 57 on your Kobe beef. read more

Great food and service in a very attractive space. Some of the best oysters in town, and great bar service. Standouts sampled are of the sea-derived variety: bouillabaisse, salmon tartare, mussels. read more

I came here for commencement weekend and luckily got a reservation (probably because it was a new restaurant at the time). Overall, nice ambiance and the food was decent, but did not reach expectations for the price. The interior was very modern and the second floor had a cozy feel. It was quiet and clean, a great area for conversation. We were seated quickly and service throughout the evening was good. One slip-up in which the waiters served us three fish tacos instead of just the one we ordered, but was quickly resolved by bringing the other ones back to the kitchens. Some of the food we ordered: Fish tacos-- decent, nice flavor, nothing extraordinary Pot pie-- great flavors! It came with a huge crust and not much broth and seafood, but the ratio actually worked out pretty well. Highly praised by the others in our table. Crab cakes-- enjoyed the flavors, especially the sauce. Farmer's salad-- decent, nothing extraordinary. Overall, the food was filling and did its job. Unfortunately, I was hoping to be dazzled, but was not. read more

Undecided. Went the first time and had their Bouillabaisse which was delicious. Other individuals in our party ordered the Crispy Sushi, Brussel Sprouts, Salmon and Duck which were equally good. Last night, we decided to go again and ordered the Brussel Sprouts and Crab Cakes (among other things)- both were overdone and oily. In fact, the Crab Cakes were burnt on one side. The waiter was nice and asked if I wanted it re-done but I I don't mind a dish like that, a bit blackened. What CHANGED 'the game' however, was the oiliness. If food is cooked fresh but is a bit overdone, it is still crispy and flavorful. This, tasted as though it might have been cooked earlier then left to sit for a bit too long. We also had the Curry Mussels and part of the curry paste had not been completely dissolved in the coconut milk. After we mashed it ourselves in the broth, it tasted fine. As one person in our party noted, "This restaurant would be a great second choice, but only if your first choice reservation did not come through." read more

They booked a band several weeks out, then cancelled them 3 hours before the gig with no compensation. The band had announced their performance all over social media, and turned down other paying jobs that night in order to perform here, only to lose out on the job at the whim of these cheapskate restaurant owners. read more

Wonderfully reinvented restaurant. Love the decor and attention to detail. Stopped in for happy hour oysters and yummy calamari. I will definitely return!!! read more

This used to be one of my top choices before Covid. Popped in a few weeks back for happy hour and it was terrible. Nothing was fresh. Terribly disappointing. Sub par. I guess the empty dining room should've gave it away. read more

Sat at the bar with a friend and shared Calamari Appetizer (Delicious) and each had a wonderful Beet Salad with a fried cheese ball on top. The warm rolls that accompanied the salad were incredible. The bartender brought us complimentary house made chocolate mouse with fresh whip creme. Wow! Two friends joined us and had the same experience. Then Alexandra, the manager, stopped by to check on us. Will head back with my hubby to try the oysters during Happy Hour for the specials. read more

Atelier Florian - Housemate chocolate mousse with fresh whipped creme for dessert. Special thanks to Alexandra for a magical experience. - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

A few friends and I decided to check out Atelier Florian a few days after it had opened. The interior is quite well decorated and hardly recognizable as the former inhabitant of the space, Sullivan's (R.I.P.), and we were quickly seated in the nearly empty upstairs area. We were quickly informed of all the menu options that were "sold out," which must have been wishful thinking because there were hardly any patrons. We ordered and sampled quite a few choices, including the shrimp tacos, fish tacos, crabcakes, monkfish, and raw oysters. Unfortunately, none of us were enthralled with the food. The seafood was all fresh but very few of the dishes were particularly well-seasoned or demonstrated any real creativity. Afterwards, the waitress surprised us with a complimentary dessert, which seemed great, until we tasted the gritty, utterly bland chocolate mousse. Not a memorable end to the meal, and made worse by the ~$50/person bill. I would probably give this restaurant another chance given that I went so early in their existence, but for now I can't really recommend it. read more

We had gone to Rudy's and were saddened by the fact that they no longer served the steak frites. Although we loved the beer selection at Rudy's -- my Belgian boyfriend and I were longing for something more authentic. After a Delirium Tremens, the bartender informed us of Atelier Florian -- another restaurant by the same owner -- just up one block. We ordered a Saison Dupont, a rosé, the bouillabaise and the crabcakes. All of the above were served with attention and a smile, and the food was delicious. We enjoyed a Cointreau and a chocolate mousse for dessert while we chatted with the friendly manager, Tommy and another Belgian patron. Overall a great experience. Just wish they had more beer options on tap... like Rudy's! Looking forward to going back! read more

Went for the first time last night for Valentines Day. Our reservations were for 8:00. The place is beautiful and spotlessly clean with an open view of the kitchen. We were seated on the first floor, there is a second level and I think that is not as crowded or noisy. I literally could have picked food off the table next to me without even stretching my arm, that's how close it is. We ordered mussels, a beet salad, and a seafood pasta dish to share ( we hate to overeat and leave a restaurant feeling bloated). The mussels took over half an hour to arrive at the table. We actually flagged down our waitress and told her we were starting to wonder if our order was ever put in, and she said she was wondering the same! Really? You know how long we've been waiting but you don't proactively check and let us know what's going on? Anyway when the mussels finally did arrive they were delicious and came with fries, an unusual pairing but very very good. The beet salad was also delicious as was the seafood pasta. So our waitress wasn't the greatest but the manager sure was! She obviously took note of how long our order took so when she saw our wine glasses were empty she came over and poured us both a complimentary glass - nice! Disappointed that when we asked for dessert they had none. On Valentine's Day! But they did have little complimentary cups of chocolate mousse which were really good and saved us the unnecessary calories of a larger dessert anyway. So I give it 4 out of 5 stars due to the mediocre service from the waitress and the fact that they pack you in like sardines on the first floor, but the food and service from the rest of the staff was excellent. We will go back and ask for a table upstairs next time. Mussels were $21, beet salad was $13, seafood pasta was $19. With our alcohol the tab was $105, which we found very reasonable. read more

Atelier Florian - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

We had a very disappointing lunch here on a Saturday afternoon. The seating area was not clean, not a good start. The salads we ordered were very bland and plain. Tasteless. The coffee was horrible and the price for this uninspired meal was higher than the excellent lunches we have enjoyed at Heirloom, across the street from Atelier Florian. Lunch is FAR better at Union League, a few blocks north. read more

Unfortunately the new management took Atelier Florian and turned it from a somewhat overpriced restaurant with excellent food, to a very overpriced bar with a restaurant attached with mediocre food. Everything good on the menu is gone. What remains on the menu is of substantially lower quality in both ingredients and preparation. The once excellent staff is gone. There is little to recommend this place anymore other than the decor which remains very nice. I used to love this place and seriously hope that they make an effort to revive the previous quality of their food. As it stands now, Atelier Florian more closely resembles the nearby highly mediocre Barracuda than its previous self. read more

Went here for brunch, so they didn't really have their specialty seafood menu. Everything we had was okay, not terrible but not exceptional. I can see that it being a good place for date nights, since it has a bar and the decor is nice, but don't recommend it for brunch. read more

Atelier Florian - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Short walk from the hospital and open for lunch but disappointed for lack of gluten free options (none). No regular wines just expensive ones. Good place to explore but not for a second visit. read more

Amazing food! Great wait staff, went for brunch on Saturday, it was quiet. Restaurant looks lovely, we enjoyed the ambiance of the place. Jamie was an awesome waiter, he was very attentive, kind and easy to talk to! He even made the most delicious cocktail on the spot for my friend when he wasn't sure what to order. Had the stuffed banana French toast and it was so good it nearly brought tears to my eyes! Definitely recommend, best food I've had in a long time, hands down. read more

I went for my birthday. We got water and sat for 20 minutes. When my husband raised his hand and called to the waitress she literally walked right by us. I have been a waitress that was really rude. We walked out. read more

I hadn't been to a restaurant of French or Franco Belgian orientation in a long time .I needed it.I had mussels and my wife had a lobster roll(ok not very Belgian).Went for lunch on a Thursday.No one was there at first but it did pick up.They did have some Belgian beers on tap .I had Palm.Good desserts- huge!We had the lemon tart and chocolate mousse.I wish there were more places like this.I love Italian food but it's too ubiquitous. read more

It's a place that definitely makes you feel like you aren't in New Haven. Very beautiful appearance. The appetizers and drinks were great. The oysters from the raw bar were great, great to have both a west coast and east coast selection. The waitress was very attentive, sweet and knowledgeable on what is served at the restaurant. We ordered the duck and the salmon, both cooked amazingly and well prepared. read more

Atelier Florian - Ceviche with grapefruit. Different approach on ceviche adding the citrus fruits of mandarin oranges and grapefruit. - Seafood Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I must say, before I went here, I was a bit skeptical about how my experience would turn out seeing as there have been mostly mixed reviews on Yelp. But I figured it was a relatively new place so why not give it a shot. We started off with 6 oysters (mix of East and West Coast) and 6 littlenecks. The shellfish were fresh and tasty. The only complaints would be that the littlenecks were a tad sandy and one of the west coast oysters did seem suspiciously dry. But as a seafood place, one would expect the raw selection to at least be done right. For the hot apps, we went with the fried calamari and pork belly. The calamari was quite delicious, the tangy sauce providing a nice contrast to the crisp squid (though the breading was pretty much falling off) - regardless, we just could not have enough. The pork belly did not perform quite as well, though the fatty skin was delicious and crisp, the actual meaty part was pretty much dried. The kimchi salad was a nice touch. Now you can say all you want about this place, but the duck entree truly makes up for any shortcomings. The breast was perfectly cooked, seared crispy on the skin and tender on the inside. The moistness of the breast meat is something not easily achieved. Paired with a cherry peppercorn glaze and a creamy risotto (bit too heavy), this was truly an unexpected surprise. My friend got the moules frites which was pretty standard, nothing too amazing. After the main course, they also provide a complimentary chocolate mousse which was a nice touch. All in all, I would recommend Atelier Florian. Given its young establishment, obviously there are a few things to sort out, but its superb service (very attentive waiters) and enjoyable food make this someplace you should check out when in New Haven. read more

My husband and I decided to stop by for the second time since they opened a few days ago. It has a modern look to it and everything always looks clean which is always a plus to me. When we arrived we waited by the door and were quickly greeted and sat at a table. We noticed they were pretty busy at least since the last time we came in. Also they have changed their menu quite a bit, there's a lot of different options, it's no longer 90% seafood, because even though it is a seafood place some variety is always appreciated ! Our server came by and took our drink orders, she recommended the Orange mojito which was fabulous and made perfectly, my husband got a glass of white tap wine, I believe it was a Chardonnay but was also good. She listed off some specials but we opted for a couple of apps off the menu, the calamari, and pork belly along with a dozen oysters. Apps were wonderful, we then ordered the monkfish and duck for dinner, they were delicious! Everything was well seasoned and hot. The server was attentive and friendly and made sure our drinks were always filled, the manager was also very helpful, we saw him helping with tables and bringing out food. We did notice a gentlemen walking around with a stern look on his face who looked like he was just towering over the dining room, we later found out it was one of the owners. We became a little uncomfortable when we overheard him yelling at the manager about desserts using profanities and then again at the server we think at one point he insulted her. Overall it was a great dinner with good service, tip to the owner never air out dirty laundry in front of patrons, on his part very unprofessional. We will be back for the food and service just hope the owner isn't in a bad mood next time! read more