Just redownloaded my Yelp to come here and say how much I liked the place. Nice ambiance, super friendly staff, and the food was delicious. I personally tried the octopus and the beef carpaccio, but everyone else was happy with their meals too. They do change the menu every month tho read more

I love Tavern. Everything from the cocktails to the entrees is interesting, delicious and beautifully presented. The chef/proprietor is a gift to New Haven. Her three establishments are awesome and have brought a new level of culinary expertise to New Haven. At times, the food is a tad salty for my taste, but the menu is exceptional. read more

I can see why this place got voted best newcomer of the year at the Connecticut restaurant association awards and why it has gotten glowing reviews from Connecticut magazine. To sum the place up in one word: "impeccable". Everything was wonderful in this cozy spot on state street. The lighting is dim so it allows for a great romantic date night as well. There were 4 of us that dined last night. We ordered the sunchoke dish, octopus and bone marrow as an appetizer. Every one was on point. However, my favorite was the octopus, charred to perfection and accompanied with fingerling potatoes. My guests could not stop raving about the bone marrow and sunchoke. For those of you that have never had bone marrow, by best description to give you would be meat butter. Sunchokes came with a leek cream and have a potato like taste and texture to them. Since we heard such great reviews about the cocktails we all got them. We had the sons of monarchy which was a bourbon forward cocktail with jalapeño, ginger, lemon and a black strap float. It said there was cappelletti in it as well, which is an Italian aperitif, but I did not get much bitter or dry undertones. The rest of my guests had a victory lap, 25th sour, concrete tiger, infinite wisdom and even ended the night with homemade orangcello. When it came time for the entrees we could not decide between the many choices. So we decided to divide and conquer, we got the lamb shank, which one of my guests said had "a medley of flavors", steak which was cooked to perfection according to the table, fatoush, chicken pate which were on point and a jalapeño smash burger which was cooked to a perfect medium and is made with house ground beef. Although we were stuffed, we had to get dessert. We got the olive oil cake and the chocolate caramel pie with sea salt. Both were divine and were the perfect compliment to an incredible night. The service was spectacular and the tables are spaced appropriately for the unique times we are in. I am looking forward to going there again soon and trying more of the cocktails and dishes I was unable to this time around. Although I believe there many frequently changes based on season and availability of produce. However, I could be wrong about that. In the end of this long novel like review. Go to Tavern on State!!! You will not be disappointed. read more

Went in for in person dining, well spaces our - did not feel crowded. Cocktails were well done, $14, a tad bit pricey for the area. Had the scallops and fried chicken sandwich as mains - everything was on point. And of the course the fries, just the right amount of crisp, on the shoestring side. No real seasoning but a good one in my book. read more

Tavern On State - Nice decor, very homey feel - felt extra warm with this projected fireplace lol - American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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You know that feeling when you're hanging out with a group of friends, and someone brings a new person along, and they're warm, funny, and interesting, and by the end of the night you're like, "wow, this person is great," and afterwards you mention to your mutual friend, "hey, so & so was really cool, I really hope they come around again, what a fun night"? Tavern on State is the restaurant equivalent of that feeling. Every time I come here, I have a moment while I'm eating where I have to put my fork down, sit back, and take a few seconds to appreciate that I'm alive and happy and that there's still joy to be had in this world. Tonight that moment was during the coppa - a rolled coppa steak with pumpernickel stuffing, and braised cabbage. Perfectly seasoned and savory and like sinking into a bowl of the coziest Sunday by a fire wearing your favorite comfy clothes. Every single thing we ate and drank this night was excellent. Every time I'm at this restaurant, I feel like I'm part of a world where people enjoy life and the simple pleasures it has to offer, a brief escape from whatever the hell is even going on these days. Delicious and interesting cocktails, superb food that makes you feel weirdly emotional, friendly staff that work hard and clearly feel confident about what they are offering you. I don't know. This place is like waking up. It's like the day before Christmas break in the 90s at your elementary school when everyone is just doing fun art projects and eating cupcakes. There's no better dining experience in New Haven, in my opinion. read more

I did not call for reservation prior so I knew it would be hit or miss for seating, they were able to seat at the bar which was wonderful. The restaurant is small but has a a cozy feel. Drinks were great, food was also good, portions are quite small so definitely prepare for that aspect. - little too small for the price in my opinion but nonetheless the food was good. Overall great experience. read more

Wow. Where do I even begin. Came here with a friend for an early dinner. We were the first ones in the restaurant which is super cozy and welcoming. The waitress provided great recommendations, most of which we took. We shared the popovers, little gem ceaser, grilled octopus, and roasted chicken with polenta. The popovers were OK, probably wouldn't get them again. Salad and octopus were both very good. I loved the potatoes in the octopus dish and the chili butter wasn't too spicy (I'm a wimp when it comes to spice). The real star of the show though was the chicken. You may be thinking to yourself "but it's just chicken." I had the same thought. But trust me. This chicken is different. Crispy on the outside, super juicy on the inside. Paired with the creamiest polenta I've ever had and fresh truffles. The menu changes regularly, but this is a must try if the option is available. Delicious cocktails, amazing food, AND great service?! This place is a win all around. read more

Tavern On State - Roasted half chicken - American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Amazing drinks and delicious plates , the attention to detail at this establishment is incredibly hard to come by these days, my fiancé and I were very impressed , the roast chicken was probably the best I've had anywhere ..Trendy laid back atmosphere makes this an overall great dining out experience ..I highly recommend read more

Oh my god. Where do I begin. The TAVERN is a must have!!! absolutely amazing cocktails, whiskey sours and even more so delish appetizers and entree's. The grilled octopus was amazing, the soft shell crab and lamb burger to die for. Will definitely be visiting sooner than later. read more

Overall one of the best dining experiences in the New Haven area! Between the food being BEYOND amazing, the wait staff being friendly and attentive, and the overall environment...I would DEFINITELY recommend this option. The inside has a rustic yet classy feel all while feeling like you're going to a family members to hang out. We truly enjoyed every aspect of our dining experience at Tavern On State and we're looking forward to returning to this fantastic restaurant soon! read more

This little restaurant is amazing. I actually never thought to come here, because it's such a small, nondescript place and isn't as popular as other places. But so glad we stumbled upon it. Tavern has delicious food. And the locals know it. It was packed on a Friday night, with a fun menu that changes daily. Seating is a little cramped, but it's cosy and totally worth it. The food is amazing and interesting. We didn't have the cocktails, but I'm sure they're on par with the food. Will definitely come back. read more

Two of us dined at 8PM and shared several plates. Started with the popovers served with chive butter. Light and excellent. Next was the grilled octopus. Sauce was excellent but octo a bit chewy. I've had worse and better. On to the roasted bone marrow. Very good and served with toasted bread, Could have eaten two. Last was the duck and foie sausage served over buckwheat pancake. Not my favorite but you might like it. Service was excellent. Suggest reservations. No wine and $73 before tip read more

Delicious burger and we loved the trout appetizer. Excellent service as well. We will be back!

Went here with a party of 6 last night and everything was great. The drinks were delicious and refreshing. The octopus appetizer was one of the best I've ever had. I had the half chicken with the garlic grits. It was absolutely delicious. The chicken was cooked perfectly. The dish as a whole was creamy, garlicky, buttery and a perfect balance of hearty and springy flavors. Definitely will be back. read more

Delicious food! I've been twice since covid began and they are being cautious and following the guidelines. They have nice outdoor seating on the side of the building as well as out front. Definitely try to make a reservation if you can. It's pretty busy on Friday/Saturday evenings. The wait staff is super friendly with recommendations for cocktails and what to order. They have quite a few cocktail options for each type of liquor. We got lamb chops, a mushroom dish, and burrata which were all amazing! They have really good olive oil cake too. read more

A top three restaurant in New Haven. A waiter at Barcelona restaurant told me and a colleague it was his favorite, and since we are in town for work we thought why not. We were pleasantly surprised! The waiter was extremely knowledgeable and attentive, and helped me pick an awesome cocktail that recently came off the menu that was outstanding (Penicillin with candied ginger garnishment). The duck and brussel sprouts appetizer amazing, but the whole fish and the pork shank entrees knocked me off my feet with their robust flavor and texture. The shank had a crispy skin that paired very well with the cabbage and beans it sat in. The entire place was small and rustic with a hipster vibe. read more

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Great menu and cocktails. It's good to see a restaurant like this open on state street. read more

Tavern On State - Bone marrow - American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Our first time at this amazing gem! We couldn't wait to give it a try after all the rave reviews. Although yesterday showed tables available, we decided to go without reservations.Upon arrival only outside seating was available. Tessa, the hostess, explained she would be happy to seat us inside but our table was reserved in an hour and half. We took her offer! Amazing customer service! Our server, Meghan, suggested we start with the house favorite octopus. THE BEST WE HAVE EVER HAD! My husband ordered the lamb burger and I had the tavern burger. Both were done to perfection! We finished our meal sharing a slice of the chocolate caramel sea salt pie. My husband said it was the best dessert he had ever had! With Lauren and her attention to detail combined with the amazing food, location and eclectic menu..,we have found a new favorite spot in New Haven! Can't wait to come back! read more

Finally made it to Tavern on State last night. Wife loved decor (I'm not into walls, only plate). Best Front of House staff that I have ever seen. Teamwork, attention to detail. attentiveness all amazing. Despite restaurant being packed, they made it seem like we were the only people there. The food was prepared and presented exquisitely, and tasted fantastic Chef Emily Mingrone is an artiste! One of the Top 5 meals I've ever eaten! (and I've eaten many. many meals.) read more

We ordered take-out on a Friday evening. Food/Drinks: We tried the octopus, squash, and chicken sandwich; Octopus and chicken were fantastic! Drink (forget the name) was fabulous! Ambiance: Maintained an elegant yet inviting air despite COVID-19 restrictions; so, cheers to that! Several open tables; good lighting; love the decor; perfect. BOTTOM LINE: Great experience! Food service was fast! Small minor aspects were rough on the edges, so, can't give the full 5 stars (wish I could give 4.5); will come back, though, and leave an updated review! Definitely in the top 10 of New Haven restaurants. read more

A good time, every time. Prices have gotten a bit high but what hasn't? I particularly like what the do with fish.

One of the best restaurants in New Haven.Pleasant outdoor seating.The only thing I give 4 stars because it is expensive tho.

Normally I wouldn't eat at a restaurant during its opening week, but I had it on good authority that it would be worth it. Tavern on State did not disappoint. They have hit the ground running. The atmosphere is super cool. A great deal of thought was put into every detail of the decor and it shows. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I personally don't drink, but I watched the bartender skillfully create some really beautiful cocktails. They have a dozen or so, perfectly curated specialties. For dinner I had the Pan Seared Scallops with grilled asparagus, Benton's and scallop butter. The flavors were amazing. I wanted to lick the scallop butter off the plate when I was done. For desert I had the lemon meringue tart with fresh raspberries and basil. So fresh and perfectly light and sweet. I saw so many of the different dishes heading out of the kitchen and I have several ideas of what I want when I go back, which will be really soon. Make sure you check out this awesome new hot spot in New Haven. read more

I stopped in to Tavern on State the other day with a friend because we were looking to get some drinks before heading to get pizza. We never got pizza. Upon walking in, Tavern on State has a welcoming atmosphere and quite a bit of seating for the size of the restaurant. We sat that the bar and quickly realized we were in for a show as the bartender prepared fresh and vibrant drinks before our eyes with ease. After looking over the menu, we decided to try some appetizers because they has some interesting options. We decided on the the ricotta toast and the potato crisps and they were incredible. The ricotta toast was so flavorful with grilled peaches, almonds and fresh orange zest, I would order it again for dessert even! The potato crisps were so thin and tasty that they were gone almost as quickly as they arrived. After our appetizers, we 86'd our pizza plans and ordered the poutine and it was shocking. The pork shoulder was so tender and flavorful we found that we could not stop eating long enough to speak more words than "this is amazing". Even though we were extremely full, we decided that we had to try a dessert and chose the strawberry shortcake. With fresh cream and even fresher berries, dessert finished off one of the best meals I have ever had. Welcome to New Haven Tavern on State, I wish you the best. read more

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A few friends stopped by last night after hearing all the buzz on social before it opened and we were not disappointed! Everything from the food to cocktails to the overall vibe was phenomenal!! It's exactly what New Haven needed!!! Servers were super friendly and excited about the menu and everything we had was delicious! We all split the muscles, tater tots and caviar, English peas and the trout. Nothing was short of spectacular. We will definitely be back!!!! Also shout out to whoever decorated the place, small touches from the wall paper to a neon flamingo and old glass bottles. A great vibe! read more

Tots and caviar! Who knew! Fun and different size plates- new owners and great ambiance! Take the chance and grab some dinner! Drinks good too. read more

The reviews here were so good we booked this place, but it was a real disappointment, in fact one of the worst restaurant meals I've had in some time. We had 2 salads to start, which were fine. Not amazing, but fine. For entrees I had the glazed honeypatch squash vegan dish, which was abysmal. The squash was underbaked and I could not begin to scrape it off the skin let alone eat it. The whole dish was drowned in a thick sweet gloop that tasted like the worst Chinese takeout sweet and sour sauce, completely overwhelmed the dish, and was actually inedible after the first few bites. My friend ordered the French onion gnudi, which was "okay" and was served in a dish the size of a small cat food bowl, with no accompaniments. We had tap water to drink, no other courses, and with a 20% tip the bill came to just over $100. Atmosphere is cozy/cosmopolitan, but the acoustics are quite loud. Based on food alone, even if it was free, we wouldn't go back. read more

Tiny restaurant in kind of a weird part of town but our meals and drinks were fantastic! Make a reservation for sure.

Every time I eat here it's the best thing I've ever had! I'm so spoiled by this place that a recent dinner at a renowned restaurant in the city left me wishing we'd gone home to Tacern toWe're so fortunate to have this local gem! The cocktails are expertly made and Patty is always recommending something new behind the bar. The food is consistently delicious. Personal favorites are the steak tartare, grilled octopus, scallops, halibut... could go on. Very excited to try their brunch that's coming soon! read more

Tavern On State - American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

This place is an absolute gem! The food, drinks and service are all top notch! The forever-changing menu is such a nice treat and no matter what I have ever ordered; the food is fantastic! The restaurant might be a bit of a drive from home, but WELL worth the drive! Highly recommended! You will not be disappointed! read more

That was so good. Worth to try! I didn't like the lamb burger but the regular one was great

I really enjoyed our dinner at Tavern on State! The steak was locally farmed and the octopus was the best I've had since visiting Santorini! I don't usually do dessert, but the chocolate and salted caramel pie was delicious, as was the mango tart. I would recommend sitting in the main dining room for the best ambiance! read more

Heavenly bites and creative small plates! Enjoyed the oysters, octopus, tots and caviar, and burger on an English muffin. Excellent service and great vibe. Excited to come back soon! read more

Tavern On State - American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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What can I say ...it's basically my favorite restaurant ...the food is off the charts! The drinks too! Tell the bartenders what you like and they'll make a great selection for you if you have trouble choosing. I'm celiac and have been able to have some amazing choices (although I can't have it all, I'd bet money that any choice is the right choice here. Discovered this place on a surprise weekend away brewery bounce I did for my boyfriend last year 2021. This year we were back and it was an absolute must of course. He was extremely happy about surprising him to be back at our new favorite place to have dinner in New Haven. The menu changes often but if the beet appetizer is in there: DO IT. And the vegetarian entree with the mushrooms (that I insisted we split as an app before we ate our entrees lol)....is my new favorite thing. I'm obsessed with mushrooms and it was insanely good. I'm dreaming of it while I write this Haha. I cannot wait to be back!! read more

I'm visiting Connecticut with my coworker from Florida and loved this place! It's really cute, homey and eclectic. I love the vibes and thought all of the employees were very welcoming and informative. I ended up ordering the chicken dumplings and the Mezcal cocktail--which I ended up loving and devouring very quickly! I wish I lived closer to be able to explore more of their options. read more

Tavern On State - Chicken Dumplings - American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Had dinner for the 3rd time last night, a Friday night as well as my birthday dinner, we had a 7pm reservation, upon our arrival we were greeted and immediately sat. Our server was quick to welcome us and bring us water. Our order was taking shortly thereafter(we walked in knowing what we wanted), they were attentive and prompt without making us feel rushed at all and our server was able to answer our questions off the top of her head. Within 90 seconds of ordering food, our silverware was being reset for our entrees and our server was overall very on top of things. I had an excellent virgin mojito, probably the best of my life and for entrees we got the chicken sandwich and octopus, both were very good. The sandwich was easily the best of my life, chicken was crispy, juicy and flavorful and the bun was soft and fresh and the pickles added a really nice crunch and acidity to cut through the heaviness(I usually take pickles off but they were too good). The octopus was extremely tender and well flavored. For the dessert I got the lavender ice cream with shortbread and honey and it was also very good. Ice cream was very creamy and went very well with the cookies. It took our server a little while to check on us after dessert so we could ask for the check and have them run our bill but they were obviously understaffed and all working hard and we have restaurant experience thus had no issue waiting and talking as they'd been great all meal. Overall awesome experience, will definitely be going again soon. read more

Tavern On State - Chicken sandwich - American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Sometimes in life we're blessed enough to put something in our mouths that hits every need, every desire and every feeling we seek. Tonight, I was honored to have that. From the food, to the staff, to the atmosphere, everything exceeded my expectations. I have a personal list of restaurants in CT that I want to try, and Tavern was lucky number 3 that I've been to. We started off with the bone marrow, which was paired with crostini and dressed arugula - it exceeded my expectations. The pine nuts added an extra texture that pleased my palette. The winner of this whole experience was the lamb shank over polenta. It made me feel like I was back in the womb being smothered by my mothers love. It was by far the best dish I have had in my adult life. With every bite I felt flavor and creaminess. The lamb fell right off the bone. The chickpeas were a pleasant surprise that not only added to the dish, but enhanced it. We also tried the strip steak which had the most beautiful sauce that melted in your mouth. If there's anything you should do in your life, it's dine here. 10/10 would recommend. read more

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Food was mouth watering. So delicious! Small cool vibe place awesome drinks. We will deff be going back

Amazing food. Sat at the bar top for the first time on my birthday 5/14 and the bartenders are fantastic! Love coming here. Please don't ever get rid if the lavendar ice cream!! read more

Fantastic and great ambiance. Service was friendly and non pretentious, food was perfect. I can't wait to go back.