Fantastic meal and the perfect way to end our Connecticut getaway. We sat outside overlooking the…read moreharbor and our server was outstanding. The Harbor Sampler was excellent, the mussel pot had a unique curry broth that we really enjoyed, and the New England IPAs and Frozé hit the spot. The clam chowder had great flavor and a large amount of crab but it could've been a little warmer and a few oyster crackers would've been nice. If you're looking for fresh seafood, oysters, harbor views, and great service, Shell & Bones is absolutely worth the stop.

Fabulous second time here as a visitor to New Haven. My first time for brunch great, other than the…read moretemperature of my food, so I came get back for date night. They said they could not guarantee the patio. But we were lucky to be able to sit outside anyway. The water is magical at night. More importantly, they have a very interesting bar program and delicious food. I got the new Message in a Bottle cocktail, which was clarified, so there is mango, lime, rum, orgeat, curaçao and milk... but it was as clear as an old-fashioned. Lots of flavors going on and they balanced extreme well. Very delicious, vacation-like, and sophisticated. The bread here was also delicious as well the butter and the black salt it was served with. They have a whole vegan menu, but there were also some vegetarian things on the main menu so I stick with that. The beet salad was incredible. Huge portion, and some very delicious blue cheese which was in the dressing. It was very filling and I still had some to take back to my hotel. The wild mushroom "bolognese" (meatless) was tasty too, but it had a little too much of an herb (thyme?). Otherwise the meal was so very delicious and the setting was beautiful. And this is coming from a San Diegan who is used to waterfront views and good food!

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.

This is a very delayed review as I visited over the summer. Our party of 4 visited on an early…read moreSaturday evening and was able to be seated right away. The vibe is very much dark and moody. They were setting up for what looked like a guest DJ of sorts? Once the DJ started their music, it was VERY loud which was a little disappointing. We didn't try any of the food. We did try some of the cocktails though and they were all great. Also tried the paper bag beer because we couldn't resist the mystery. The beers were 16oz cans of craft beers. not bad! Overall, really liked the place!

Very moody, vibey lounge, restaurant, and bar in downtown New Haven. Stopped in before a late…read moredinner nearby on a Wednesday night around 6. There are couches in corners, tables, and bar seating. Only the bar tender seemed to be serving so service was very slow. I liked the aesthetic and Dj Kamakaze provided tunes or else I'd give a lower rating. Would return for an evening outing, good place to get lost.

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!!!

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!!

After a garbage week of snow, freezing cold and work stress we wanted to try somewhere new for…read morehappy hour. I've been wanting to try Manjares for drinks and a bite since I already know how good their baked goods are for breakfast. Tonight was our chance despite traffic jams on the Parkway and snow drifts that makes parking everywhere in New Haven a treasure hunt. Decor is beautiful, ambiance is chill and relaxing. Very reminiscent of Olea without the downtown hustle and bustle. Menu is small yet carefully curated with something for everyone. We came specifically for potatoes bravas, one of our favorites. Saw it on the menu online but was told it was no longer available. Our server, Tabitha, suggested some Yucca fries which was not on the menu but she made a request to the kitchen for us. They were delicious and honestly if they were in the menu we would've ordered that as well. Fried calamari was seasoned and fried to absolutely tender perfection. The coating was light and crispy. My wife loved the aioli and picked onion combo on it. I preferred the lemon. Both of us decided to get a pasta course, bolognese and carbonara. For a non-Italian place to cook both of these dishes with such perfection blew us away. Flavorful bolognese that wasn't drenched in tomato sauce coated the al dente rigatoni perfectly. The carbonara was rich and savory with a little pepper accented by the guanciale. My wife had issues finishing ir and I suggested taking it home. She then finished it out of spite I believe. For $25 each, the pasta dishes were both satisfying without making you feel so full and bloated that you needed a wheelbarrow to get you back to the car. Plenty of food for even the biggest eater. Well worth the money. The attention to depth of flavors was evident. These were not some thrown together pasta dishes. Our compliments to the chef. Tabitha was great. Her cocktails were fantastic. She was attentive without being intrusive and has a great sense of humor. We are definitely coming back.

What a lovely evening! It felt like being in someone's warm home, surrounded by beautiful artwork…read morecreated by Miguel Trelles, one of the owners. He and his lovely wife Ana have created a little haven in the neighborhood. The food was excellent-- my friends and I enjoyed the fried artichoke salad, grilled octopus, crispy calamari, the branzino and the carbonara. Everything came out either with a bright sauce, perfect vegetables or out of the ordinary accompaniments (like pickled onions with the calamari!). Delicious! And our server Tabitha took such good care of us to top it all off! A great start to the weekend.

Can't stop thinking about this place, the food!! Best pasta I've ever had. Very authentic and warm…read morefamily running the place. Live in NJ but want to make trip to go back

A delicious spot in downtown New Haven for yummy Italian food! We stopped in for dinner and got the…read morevegetable coquettes, Gorgonzola figs, lemon pasta, shrimp pasta, and a pasta with tomato and egg plant sauce. The figs are a must! The pasta is cooked to perfection! My favorite was the lemon pasta--decadent and refreshing. We ended the night with biscotti & a ricotta gelato. The service is warm and fast.Can't wait to be back!

Great spot for date night! We had the rigatoni al vodka (sans sausage) and the chicken pesto pizza…read moreand both were DELISH. Emily was our server and she was very nice and attentive with allergies! Even got a little pig in my n/a drink

Hayly was fabulous, she was very responsive & attentive. also, she was so conversat and sweet. I…read morefeel like she gave us the full olives & oil experience.

This place is great. Stumbled across it via the InKind app, and have been back multiple times,…read moreincluding making a special detour via New Haven on our last night before leaving Connecticut. The Ordinary is one of the oldest purpose build bars, with lovely dark gothic wood. A wacky gothic humor and excellent staff, who really care about the clients and the drinks. Good selection of gins. Outstanding cocktails on the list, at fair prices (especially happy hour). Or better yet, ask the expert staff to recommend and invent one for you. The bacon is a thick, crunchy, sugary must. Add it to your burger. And an egg. Get the shishito peppers. And the chocolate chip cookies. And if you're lucky and hungry, the coffin-full of sliders is a delicious bargain (with plenty for the next day).

I've been to Ordinary perhaps 3-4 times. Being a New Haven native, I've been to about every bar,…read morerestaurant, or eatery in the city, and Ordinary has been no exception. First few times I went was during covid, and they were one of the few that allowed folks to just be. They resembled a real speakeasy during lockdown because you had to ring a bell and be let in. My most recent visit was with two of my long time friends on a rainy Wednesday night. We got seated by the "fireplace" and browsed the menu. I landed on a mocktail old fashion, my friend got the bee's knees and we got the big pretzel and the candied bacon. Pretzel was great, old fashion could have been better but the ambience was just what we needed. You really get a feel of old school New Haven being at Ordinary. The staff was great so I'll be back.

I was on Holiday and my son and daughter in law have been meaning to take me here. We did a walk in…read more(we got lucky) I suggest reservations. We had a time limit to eat (due to a reservation at the table) inside or on the heated patio. It was cold so we ate inside. Our waiter Brendan was cool, knowledgeable and attentive. I ordered a burger, fries (came with it) I don't like fries I opted for a salad. My daughter in law got octopus and a pasta dish. My son a steak in chili butter sauce .Everything was delicious and the presentation was lovely. My son's only vice was the steak pre cut (it was new on menu) He preferred to cut himself. The ambience was low level lighting and relaxed. I had a delicious meal and a pleasant experience. I'd patronize this place again. Oh we had dessert too. They had tiramisu, we shared a lemon tart it was delish

Interesting menu, but underperforming. Skip the gem salad (Caesar salad): consists of finely…read moreshredded Parmesan with meager bits of anchovy and hardly any dressing. It was mediocre. The presentation of the main dish was nice, though the ricotta was hardly noticeable and the serving was meager for the price. The host was nice, but the waitress (Holly) was unpleasant. Not helpful at all and also bland, as if she doesn't care. We still tipped to be fair to other staff, but don't think we want to return to be waited on by her. As for cleanliness, watch out! They don't clean their upholstered seats, as it became plainly obvious on my clothes after having sat on the upholstered benches in the dining area. Now my clothes are permanently stained. All in all, I'd give it a 7.5/10 and take my money elsewhere.