On a recent visit to New Haven to see an exhibition at the Yale Center for British Art, we hoped to…read morehave dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (Barcelona Wine Bar), but they were fully booked with a Yale event. In a display of restaurant solidarity , they recommended that we try Vinas Wine & Tapas. As it turned out, we have a NEW favorite in New Haven! We arrived a bit early and were cheerfully greeted by Mike G, our server. The atmosphere was welcoming and relatively quiet, since their musical offering does not start as early as our 5:00-7:00 PM time slot on a Tuesday. We had asked for the waiter Christian because he had been mentioned in several of the Yelp reviews, but Mike proved that the service compliments should go to everyone. First, the tapas: We enjoyed all five of the tapas we chose. The "Calamares" were lightly battered and crispy. The Vinas salad was fresh, with tomatoes, cheese, corn, and croutons. The pork belly was delicious and more meaty than expected . The oyster mushrooms were presented with onion crisps. The baked birria empanada was stuffed with brisket style beef. Each of these "courses" was a unique delight to the palate, and for me and my partner, it was completely satisfying. In keeping with the spirit of a "wine bar," Vinas offered a flight of 4 wines in 3 ounce glasses, and after hearing about our food choices and wine preferences, Mike chose the wines for us, giving us a chance to taste some less familiar offerings. We had the Felino Malbec 2024 (Argentina), which became our favorite for its full-bodied and deep flavor. Our second wine was a unique Don Abel (private label) from Wallingford CT, made by one of the relatives of the owner, specially for Vinas. This one reminded us of the local wines one might receive in a B&B in the Loire Valley in France. The final two wines were both from Chile: Reserva Carmenere 2023 and Cabernet Sauvignon Marques de Casa Concha 2022. Both were excellent wines. It was great fun to have Mike choose the wines for us, and we really enjoyed the variety that the flight offerings gave to us. Of course, we had to try a dessert, and Mike recommended the Toffee Cake. We had heard that the owner claimed that some people cried with joy after eating it. Although we restrained ourselves, we had to agree that this was an extraordinary conclusion to a fabulous meal. Overall, this was a great experience for us, and we heartily recommend Vinas Wine Bar and Tapas for a relaxing and welcoming dinner. Some reviews I had read suggested that the portions were too small for the price. I have to disagree. My partner and I love food, and this was plenty. And the price was reasonable. Including tip and tax, we spent about $75 each.

We stopped in for apps on a Saturday afternoon. We ordered a glass of wine, ceviche, and skewers…read more We sat at the bar and the bartender was very friendly, full of energy, and efficient. The ceviche was excellent, everything was cooked throughout by the citrus. The portion size is small for $19 and it could have used a side of bread or tortillas to soak up the delicious citrus based broth. The skewers were also excellent. They were cooked perfectly, super tender, juicy and flavorful. They cooked them with a seasoning and had a delicious chimi on top.

Came here for the first time for my brother and sister-in-law's rehearsal dinner, and WOW. 10/10…read moreacross the board! Every dish was phenomenal, but the standouts were the mussels (that chorizo-sofrito broth is insane; dip the bread), ham croquetas, meatballs, flank steak, chicken thigh, potatoes with salsa and a garlic aioli( patatas bravas) corn ribs, and crispy broccoli (super spicy). Wash it all down with their sangria; legitimately one of the best in CT.

This restaurant is incredible…read more If you didn't know you were in New Haven, you could close your eyes for a couple seconds and easily imagine this place in actual Barcelona, where I've visited, Manhattan, where my Company is based, London, Paris or similar. The service here is impeccable, the food exceptional and the vibes are out of this world. Love everything about Barcelona New Haven!!

Food is so tasty! Service is great. The ambience is romantic yet simple. If you're looking for a…read morevery relaxed spot, don't have to go too crazy and spend too much money. This is a perfect place for a date or for a group hang out. Mostly for adults and mature people who want to chill.

First time here and food was yummy and received a great wine recommendation. Some inventive dishes…read moretoo. A real neighborhood joint in the best way!

A nice establishment located behind 80 proof. Similar menus but a more laid-back vibe. I went…read moreduring happy hour. I feel like 80 proof and Barracuda have the best happy hour value around. The server was very attentive.

Omg. So excited to know the new location…read more I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Keith, Mateo and Lovee. Sadly we were turned away from Olives and Oil, we had a reservation, because they couldn't sit us at a low table or booth. My husband is disabled and high tables are out. We walked across the street and treated like royalty. This amazing staff showed up and showed out. They were friendly and made great suggestions. Their energy was contagious. I felt like family Our food was ohhh so delicious. Biscuits and gravy went down easy. Can't wait to come again.

Another amazing meal. We have been coming to Olea since it's opening…read more It was and has remained our absolutely favorite restaurant in New Haven! We always celebrate our anniversary and birthdays here. We have always had amazing meals and wonderful service. We prefer the tasting menu which offers smaller portions of multiple dishes allowing us to enjoy the great variety of chef Manuel Romero's wonderful creations. Each time we come the experience is amazing. Over the years we have enjoyed each new dish as it is presented beautifully. Flavors meld creating real enjoyment. There is nowhere I would prefer to dine. Service is attentive without hovering. So glad we discovered this gem all those years ago and so happy to have been able to be there as the menu has continued to be varied and always delicious. Thanks to all of the staff for the wonderful experience over the years

I was on a road for a week and lucked into this place in New Haven. It was absolutely amazing. The…read morewine list...the food...the service. It was just incredible. Definitely go here.

Good spot for a happy hour drink if you're cool with going with one of the small handful of…read moreoptions. I've found the happy hour whites to be pretty good and a nice value. Avoid food. It looks like a great deal but the portions are so comically small that it's actually a bit of a rip off. The food quality isn't great either. I've tried the fries, flat bread, and artichoke dip and didn't find any of them to be particularly good. Mixed experiences on service, a little hit or miss. Ambiance is nice and includes indoor seating as well as a few tables out front on state street.

Possibly my favorite wine bar in New Haven!! I love the decor and vibe inside - they have tall bar…read moreseats but also plush couches where you can really relax and chat with your friends. The staff are also super friendly. Their wine selection is awesome! And if you get a flight, it comes in these cute glasses and a stand. Their chocolate fondue is a great pairing to the wine. I've been here again since my first visit and will definitely be back!!!

happy easter everyone! first time at South Bay for me, my partner's been before…read more let's start with the positives: the food? incredible. no notes. the food runner and busser absolutely carried the experience and were the highlight of our night. now... the service. from the moment we were seated, it went downhill. as the host brought us to our table and introduced us to our server, she muttered "me mata" (spanish for "kill me") under her breath upon seeing us in her section. not exactly a warm welcome. little did she know i am trilingual in Portuguese and Spanish! throughout the night, she'd walk by, throw out a question, and keep moving without waiting for an answer or actually checking in. then, when it was time to order our mains, my partner placed her order and the server literally laughed while her facetime call was on speaker in her pocket. she giggled and made the whole interaction uncomfortable and honestly just unprofessional, and before anyone says "maybe they were busy" they weren't. there were fewer than 20 covers the entire time we were there. meanwhile, she had no problem giving attentive service to her other tables. so yes, no tip. actions have consequences. all that said, we loved the food, the music, and we didn't let her attitude ruin our night. just unfortunate that such a great spot is let down by service like that.

We got the lobster bisque, grilled hanger steak, truffle Mac-n-cheese, prosciutto crisp, seared…read morescallops, crispy mushroom risotto tater tots, and Brussels sprout salad with rice cake, and fried Sicilian calamari. Lobster bisque was hot though pretty liquid-y. The Brussels sprout salad was by no means a salad. More of a rice cake with Brussels shavings on too but really good. Calamari was okay. Mac and cheese was eh, really liquidy as well. I did really like the crispy mushroom risotto tater tots. They tasted just like tater tots. As we were getting to our last bites and still eating, at least three different staff members within a matter of a minute asked if we're were done and could take our plates away. I would have given this place four stars had we not been bombarded at the end of our dinner. It felt like we were being rushed out even though there were tons of tables and seats still available. Left a bad taste in my mouth.

I have been wanting to try Ibiza for quite some time. We arrived on a Friday night and it was…read morepretty quiet. They have a small lot in the rear and side street parking. Upon walking in we were greeted and advised that we could sit anywhere as there were many open tables. They have a mixture of high top seating, bar seating, tables and an enclosed patio overlooking Dixwell Ave. The server was nice and accommodating. I knew I wanted the shrimp ceviche. It was fresh, limy and balanced. For my main course I ordered a ribeye with mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and a creamy peppercorn sauce. Everything was good and fresh. There was quite a wait for the entrees. My friend initially wanted a paella but was advised that it would take 45 minutes. Had she know the alternative option she chose would take almost the same amount of time, she would have waited on the paella. But she enjoyed her entree. They drinks were amazing. I had the Princess Cocktail. It was really good. If you're looking for good drinks, tapas or a full dining experience, I highly recommend.

One of the best restaurants I've been to. The feta stuffed figs on a bed of sweet potato purée with…read morebalsamic glaze was amazing. So were the salads - pear salad and mango salad. Then we had chicken kabobs on a bed of roasted peppers and shrimp with chick pea puree, mint, red pepper relish and tortilla chips.

We waited approximately 25 minutes just to receive our drinks and over 35 minutes for our food. To…read moremake matters worse, several items we ordered were never brought to the table at all. When the food finally arrived, the quality was unacceptable. The jerk chicken was raw, which is a serious food safety concern, and the rice and beans were undercooked. After such a long wait, we expected much better. To be fair, the restaurant did remove the jerk chicken dinners from our bill after we brought the issue to their attention, and that was appreciated. However, it did not make up for the excessive wait times, missing items, and poorly prepared food. Overall, the experience was frustrating and disappointing. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant based on our visit.

Good stuff behind the bar, the bartenders were pretty outstanding…read more HOWEVER that menu is sort of a drag, nothing was available on it. Also maybe consider having just a drink menu. The storys are a bit contrived for a neighborhood that unfortunately cares little for it, as i've seen. Again alot of things on menu were out of stock. I came to New Haven for a show down the block and strangely I was lured into something that was proposed as an extension of NYC however that it was not. Lastly, I get the concept but at certain hours the same Islander vibe gets pretty Banal after the 5/6 song that sounds like that last 5/6 songs.

This is my second review and I would give it more stars if i could. Whenever we're in New Haven,…read morethis place is a must for us. Wonderful Japanese food and great selection of sake! Service is always fantastic and attentive. The dining section is small so I highly recommend reservations! The downstairs is the main bar area with a few high tops. The upstairs dining room is cozy and intimate. The restaurant is very minimalist Japanese core.

A meal and dinner to remember. My husband and I realized we hadn't had a proper date night in a…read morelong time (even with 2 weeks together on vacation). After much debating and research, we decided it was finally time to try Hachiroku in New Haven. We already love going to The Loop, let's sit down and eat. Heard lots of positive buzz from fellow Yelpers and foodies, including a previous 2024 New Haven Best Restaurant of the Year at the CRAZIES. All of the accolades and positive reviews are well earned. Cozy and delicious. That's what I'd describe about Hachiroku. The ambiance is cozy regardless if you're sitting at the bar or in the upstairs seating. The food we ordered also had the same vibe. The menu rotates with the seasons and the freshest ingredients which we greatly appreciated and it shows in the tastes. Our seasonal selections that we ordered included Hokkaido scallop and octopus carpaccio with ikura and seaweed and monkfish karaage. The carpaccio had the perfect components to complement each other. The monkfish karaage fully came together between the lemon and the side of pickled radish as well. We also ordered house made fresh tofu and added uni. The staff mentioned "oh it's perfect, it's uni season" which made my day. It was so delicious and my husband who normally doesn't like uni even noticed how fresh it was. We really went wild ordering everything, including the mini Harasu don (teishoku which comes with rice, pickles, and we picked the salad), Black Cod grilled with Yuzu sauce, Yaki Kinoko Mushrooms, and the Kakuni Short Rib (which pairs very well with a side of rice). The most cozy and perfect dish for winter was the seasonal vegetable agedashi. Warm and had a nice variety of vegetables with a vegetable dashi broth that healed the soul. We enjoyed every dish and we noticed already when looking at the menu again there's already so many new items to try. Excellent service and suggestions from the staff (because if we didn't have them, we could've ordered the whole menu in one night). Can't wait to come back and rave about Hachiroku (and its sister stores/restaurants) to everyone!