Went here for the first time -- Sunday morning. There was a 20 minute wait to be seated -- which wasn't a problem. The problem was that our meal took more than an hour to come to the table. The waitress said that the reason was because the kitchen was working on a large take out order -- so maybe this is a problem that will resolve itself as the restaurant transitions back to 100% in person dining (if they intend to transition back). When the food (eggs Florentine; bagel with lox) came it was high quality (except for a side order of bacon that was microwaved). Salt and pepper shakers were a little sticky. A waitress spilled water on my companion (it was crowded). Servers were very friendly. Owner was personable. So, overall the experience was mixed. But except for the slow service, it was fine. read more

Cinnamon roll pancake, Delicious Home fries, Delicious Get there early on the weekends always a long wait , but worth it read more

The food was tasty! 3 of us each tried a different Benedict and we all had empty plates when we were done. the cinnamon roll pancakes were light... and huge lol Portions were appropriate for their pricing. Service was quick. Seating was a little tight, but full tables means they're doing something right. FYI: cash only spot, & the atm doesn't always work. read more

This is the first review I've ever left, which goes to show how serious I am about this: The food was disgusting; truly gross. We ordered eggs, french toast, banana chocolate chip pancakes, and a cinnamon bun pancake. We were really excited after reading other reviews, but we were severely disappointed. We didn't even eat half of the food, and didn't take the rest to go. We felt sick the rest of the day. The french toast tasted like fried, oily bread. The waitress said that the vanilla and cinnamon are present in the batter but we definitely didn't taste it. We ate only 2 pieces out of around 10. The pancakes weren't inedible, but they were incredibly bland. The hashbrowns were extremely greasy and made me puke later on in the day, but tasted ok for the most part. The eggs and whole wheat toast were decent, but it's honestly pretty hard to mess those up. And to top it all off, the tables were all being cleaned with the same old, dirty sponge which absolutely disgusted us. Seriously, wouldn't you expect more considering we are literally in a pandemic? read more

Before I say anything, it must be noted that I was visiting New Haven for the weekend this past February and stood outside in the cold for 20 minutes to get into The Pantry. The restaurant is small but popular hence the long wait (outdoors since there's no space inside to wait). My friend who lives in the area said it was worth the wait, so we took her word for it. Thank goodness the food was good or else, I would've been upset lol. As you can tell from the photos attached, we went in. Between everyone in our group, we ordered the french toast (which was a massive serving), the chocolate chip waffles (good but a little undercooked, wished it was more crispy), pancakes (again, huge serving) and the spinach & feta omelette with a side of home fries (omelette was banging!). The one thing we could all agree on was that the home fries were the perfect balance of soft and crispy. Overall, I enjoyed our dining experience. The serving size was generous, tasty and very filling. I would definitely visit again if I'm ever in town... During a warmer season because waiting outside in the cold kind of sucked. read more

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This place is amazing! From their service to their food to the location--spot on! I'm a breakfast food junkie. I live for the eggs, spuds, and off the wall pancakes. That's why The Pantry is my jam! For starters they always have some sort of special pancake (this time was an Oreo pancake) and a special Benedict (this time was pesto and prosciutto). All of their Benedicts are perfection. There are key things you must master for a good Benedict... Soft, yet crunchy muffin is key! They nailed it. Runny poached egg that FITS the diameter of the muffin, nailed it. Then a creamy yet rich sauce, nailed it. Then there spuds on the side are very crispy but not burnt! Plus you get an obscene portion (obscene as in good). Moving on to the flapjacks. We ordered the cinnamon roll pancakes-- because, how dare you wait in line at a breakfast joint and not get what they are known for?! So we did! If you're going to come here, you're going to order cinnamon roll pancakes, even if you order just one and you all share! Don't be silly, THATS WHY YOURE HERE. that's why you froze your buns off waiting outside! Don't skimp on it, trust me! It's not overtly sweet, it's fluffy and airy and oh so cinnamony. Definitely the place to be! As with most breakfast joints, early is key! Oh and they have this way of NEVER letting your coffee cup even reach halfway, even with a full house. Wish I could give them 10 starts! read more

The Pantry - Special: pesto Benedict with prosciutto, short stack cinnamon roll pancakes and two egg breakfast platter! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

My love for this place has no bounds and holds a very special place in my heart. I wish I could go here every day but alas I'm an hour away :( The Pantry is THE perfect place to breakfast/brunch at such a reasonable cost. CASH ONLY! If you don't have cash, there's an ATM across the street. This place gets insanely packed and wait times vary between 25-50 minutes especially on the weekends, so plan your trip accordingly. The wait is sooooo worth it. Their menu is simple but the portions are plentiful and absolutely delicious! I actually prefer the small menu because I feel like they've truly mastered their craft by limiting what they offer. I ordered eggs benedict, make your own triple omelette with UNLIMITED toppings to add inside (unheard of for a price of $8.99), and cinnamon pancakes. Everything is to die for! Pancakes were fluffy with drizzled of cream cheese icing (?), eggs were beautifully folded with the 10 toppings I chose, and the Benedict had the most perfect runny egg on it. I just can't believe this place exists and how fresh the quality is. Makes me cringe whenever I think of people paying $10 at IHOP for horrible food when you can get this instead. Service is fast and friendly. Can't wait to return here whenever I get the chance. read more

We had a party of four and waited for about 40 minutes outside in the cold. We almost died, but I am still giving this place 4 stars... So that little tidbit alone says something. Because I waited 40 minutes, I wanted to make my order worthwhile. I ordered both a banana pancake and the Eggs Benedict. The pancakes were amazing--so fluffy! The eggs and hollandaise sauce were awesome too. The hash browns were flavorful and had a crispy exterior. They were probably spectacular, but I was too stuffed to thoroughly enjoy them. I would probably go back to this place even with the wait in the cold... I would probably prepare myself and dress appropriately next time. read more

The Pantry - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Very cute and cozy environment! The staff is friendly & knowledgeable! Food comes out very quick & very fresh! The cinnamon roll pancakes are delicious, I love adding chocolate chips I would give 5 stars if they accepted credit cards! But there is an atm across the street! read more

The Pantry - California eggs Benedict with avocado - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Thank you Yelpers for leading me to the cinnamon roll pancakes! A tiny breakfast joint with lots of character, we were pleasantly surprised by how good this place was. A short stack on the famous cinnamon roll pancakes for me ($4) and sunnyside up eggs, toast, bacon and homefries for the hubby. Portions were very nice, food was excellent, service was friendly. "A damn good meal", as my hubby so elegantly described the experience. Oh, and bring cash. read more

Decided to take my Mom to brunch for her birthday. What a pleasant visit, from the moment we walked in, we were greeted with smiles and great service. For brunch, the restaurant features bottomless Bloody Mary or mimosas. Nice brunch menu (regular menu available as well) we ordered the lobster flatbread app. For entries, we ordered the classic eggs Benedict with homemade potatoes and grilled asparagus. Mom ordered mango-guava stuffed graham cracker crusted French toast with fresh berries. I had a smoked salmon BLT (not normally on the menu. Each item was spectacular in presentation and taste. Dessert was tops - Fresh donuts with coffee parfait. Our server Andrea, was EXCELLENT. She had a smile the whole time. Coffee, drinks and water were never left empty. She made recommendations and took great care. Her service stood out. We WILL be back. read more

Cash Only!!! It's not that serious - you're located in New Haven, CT. Fact in point! If I were to say it - Truth be told Atlas which is closed far surpasses you, and those people with the square doughnut whom took over the space which once housed Atlas. There is nothing special about the pantry other than the faux hype it receives. The jam for ones' toast comes in those cheap packages you find at your run of the mill chains by the highway. Parking is scare - however shall you have a pet emergency they are located somewhat adjacent to the overpriced animal hospital. Truly nothing to write home about - your standard run of the mill diner food where no one knows your name. I would not travel for the chance to dine but if I have no choice and am in need of a meal I'd dine there as choices are limited in that neck of the woods. P.s. No marmalade The hype is faux read more

It's nice little place for breakfast, the breakfast was good. But be aware that this is a popular breakfast place in New Haven so if you go here just be prepared you might have to wait because there can be a line. read more

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I have been hearing about The Pantry for years, but have avoided it due to the fear of the weekend brunch line. A friend and I decided to bite the bullet yesterday and we're so glad we did! The wait: It was actually much shorter than we expected. It's a smaller place, but the servers are super quick and super busy keeping the traffic in and out. The service: Our waitress was friendly, quick and efficient. I had seen other reviews about poor service and can only think those customers were doing all the wrong things. For starters, decide what you want so you don't have to make the already busy servers come back around. The food: Fantastic! I had the 2 eggs, home fries, and sausage meal, with orange juice, and also split a short stack of the cinnamon swirl pancakes. It was all perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious! Plus: They have two unisex bathrooms! How convenient is that for less waiting. I'll definitely be going back again. Highly recommended! read more

The Pantry - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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We were on our way to Bella's for brunch, and it was a 2 hour wait so we went to The Pantry which had great reviews. We arrived and the wait was maybe ten minutes and they got us right in. The place reminded me of a cafeteria, the servers were not very friendly and no music at all. I asked for a half a cup of coffee and she gave me a full cup. I ended up dumping half of it in my sons water cup because she didn't listen to my words. My son ordered plain pancakes, my husband ordered an egg sandwich, and I ordered the eggs Benedict. As soon as I got my food and it smelled off to me. I tasted the hollandaise sauce (which was cold) and it tasted very off and sour by my taste buds. I was going to send it back but my husband decided to eat it. I ate his egg sandwich, it was decent. My sons pancakes were dry and bland. The eggs Benedict was fine my husband said, not great. One egg was perfect the other one was overdone. The only thing we loved was the cinnamon roll pancake. That was yummy. Very disappointed and probably won't be going back. read more

The Pantry - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Yes I have to agree with everyone here when they say the food is great. It is. Best darn home fries I have ever had. Their food is very fresh and cooked to order. Pancakes are also excellent. All that being said. The service is horrible, no eye contact and they just straight up ignore you. The wait is just a joke, and the the actual place is a straight up dive. Dirty with mismatched tables and chairs. Amazing such good food can come out if such a filth box. 'nuff said. read more

Love the Pantry. My home away from home. Spend enough time there and you'll feel like family. Cinnamon pancakes of course, a big dish of plump ripe strawberries, and while I don't eat eggs, friends say the omelettes are delicious. Hot (coffee) tip: sit at the counter or outside at a picnic table and avoid the line! Or wait in line, feeling happy that you made the right breakfast choice and getting your mouth ready for tasty bacon. read more

Our party of three arrived around 10am on a Sunday morning and waited for 25ish minutes before being seated. (They don't take names; a line starts to curl down the block, and you're seated when they have a table for a party of your size.) The restaurant is bright, colorful, and cozy, with lots of art and upbeat music. Tables are close together and a little cramped. Service is cheerful and relatively prompt. Lots of coffee refills, which we appreciated. Prices are reasonable--$45ish for entrees & coffee for three of us. Home fries were excellent; my omelet was solid, though it had a small hair in it. We also split a single large cinnamon roll pancake, which was enormous and tasty but not as cinnamon-roll-y as we would have liked. Cash only. They have an ATM with a $3 withdrawal fee, in addition to your bank's fee. read more

Great brunch spot to start the day! Nice variety of breakfast items. Coffee is fine. CASH ONLY.

Learning that New Haven only has two breakfast places (unconfirmed claim made by our New Haven friends), we quickly rushed out to the Pantry at 8AM sharp and snagged a nice table for four. 10 minutes later, the line snaked down the street - so the crowds do tell! We were quickly served four hot coffees in small mugs that were refilled several times throughout the meal. For the meal, I settled on the cinnamon swirl pancakes (1 large) with a side of bacon and a short stack of buttermilk pancakes. I appreciated the several sizes of pancakes (large stack, short stack, single large) available as I was having difficulty deciding. In the end, I brought half of the short stack home, but was satisfied by my choice. The cinnamon swirl pancakes were excellent - not too sweet, though they didn't require syrup given a sugar glaze. The bacon on the size was served nice and crispy as I like it. As for the short stack of buttermilk, they were solid, but nothing special. I'm glad I ordered cinnamon swirl to offset the average-ness of the regular pancakes. Menu was cheap and had everything you'd expect in the local diner. Grease factor was low, which I appreciated. My partner's omelets looked well-prepared and served alongside home fries and buttered toast. While we were floating out the door with coffee from the Pantry, we wandered across the street to the Coffee Pedaler for a cup of joe for the road. read more

The Pantry - Tasty - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Had Sunday breakfast here after hearing endless good things about it. Arrived at 1 pm and had to wait for 20/30 minutes outside. Once seated, we quickly ordered and then had to wait a decent amount of time for the food to arrive. However, once it came, DELICIOUS. We ordered 2 omelettes (with perfectly crispy cooked home fries), eggs Benedict, and cinnamon swirl pancakes - all amazing. We departed with not a crumb left on our plates. Would recommend!!! *note they only take cash but they do have an ATM inside. read more

The Pantry - 2 omlettes, eggs Benedict, and cinnamon swirl pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Best pancakes I've had anywhere. They always have a daily special flavor for pancakes and that makes coming here often a lot of fun. My favorites have been s'mores and oreo. They also have a really good hazelnut coffee that seems really popular. The space is small, not convenient for groups larger than 4, the payment is cash only, and there's often a line down the block, but it's well worth the wait, if you're up for it. We usually wait to come on holidays when there is not a line. Worth noting is that the lot behind the pantry is not free. There's a pay stand on the far side of the lot by State Street. Make sure to pay as they will get you with a ticket. read more

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The food is amazing. The service is exceptional. Food that taste so fresh. It is definitely a great corner breakfast/lunch spot if you are looking for great tasting foods with great service in New Haven. read more

Came back in 2 weeks and tried the California Benedict and HOLY COW DELICIOUS. Normally I'm not a big fan of runny eggs but they were just so rich and flavorful I couldn't get enough. The homefries were very crispy too. I'm noticing that this place isn't ideal for large groups. Your large group will be waiting a lot longer than a smaller group too. My boyfriend and I waited outside for about 10 minutes but were able to get seated before 3 large groups who were waiting ahead of us (and one was still waiting when we left!). read more

The Pantry - California Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

On a Sunday morning, the wait is crazy long and depending on how many people are in your group, they'll move certain groups (small or big) ahead of you to seat because they don't push tables together. When we finally asked if we could sit at the bar, they agreed, as all the chairs were open. Our server explained that they usually don't allow guests to sit at the bar on certain days? I found this a tad silly. We could have sat down 30 minutes ago. The waitress and waiters were more than friendly and filled our coffees routinely. Good hash browns, the cinnamon pancakes were rich and flavorful! It was great to try a place since everyone in New Haven raves about it, although the wait was distasteful. read more

The Pantry - French toast with a side of bacon. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Wanted breakfast, used Goggle and ended up here. The prices on line are $2.00 cheaper than the price on the actual menu at the location. I immediately brought it to the attention of the female server. Her explanation was "SOMEONE put those prices there, the person has control of the account. They can't change it". They can't get into the account. The look on my face was PRICELESS. Then she decided to tell me I can take one of the menus. I asked the male server "so the portion size is decent right"? He nodded yes and said the Canadian bacon order is 3 pieces. I ordered a side order of home fries and a side order of Canadian bacon. Each side was $5.00 each plus tax (but online it said $3.00 each). Okay no problem. At this point I am just hoping that the home-fries is not disappointing. I open the bag in the car before driving off and I was pissed off to say the least. They didn't even put the food in a container. My order was TO GO. They put it in a PLATE COVERED WITH CHEAP FOIL . This is what I paid $11.25 for. Smh. NEVERRRRRRRRR AGAIN. I purchase CHICK FILA in NYC the day prior and paid $9.00 for has browns and chick minis!!! Oh and they ONLY take cash. The receipt looks like something anyone could make up. Imagine submitting that as part of my TRAVEL & EXPENSE report for the company!! read more

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Went at 9am on a Monday morning. Service is a tad slow for not being a full house. The cinnamon roll pancakes are very much worth though! Shared the big three stack with three friends, as well as a plate of fresh strawberries. Prices are decent. Neat little place! read more

The Pantry - Cinnamon Roll Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

This place was phenomenal. There was a little bit of a wait but it was totally worth it. The staff was very nice and friendly. The ambience felt very homely not to uptight not to sloppy, just the perfect amount of chill factor for a great brunch experience. The food was great we ordered the Egg Benedict and Florentine which were awesome. Even the coffee something I don't think we pay much attention to in Brunch places was great, it was delicious and just what I needed. The Cinnabon pancakes are a MUST TRY delicious, soft and will make you forget about any other pancakes ever. We sat by the window and the waitress was. Ice. Ugh to lower the shades, that kind of attention to detail is hard to find. The only thing I did not like was the CASH ONLY policy because like many other I notoriously don't carry cash anymore. Thank god for the GF having some cash on her ( could have been embarrassing) Overall I would say this may just be out new brunch spot. read more

The Pantry - From Top right downward. Egg Benedict, Cinnabon Pancakes (my fav) and Egg Florentine. Coffee and OJ - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

CASH Only! We like to walk to this restaurant on Sunday mornings, the atmosphere is casual, the staff members are always kind. It's a small restaurant with limited seating and tight quarters and there's usually a line formed out the door. Check the weather forecast before you take an adventure there...you may just get caught in the rain.We hear that the cinnamon swirl pancakes are superb but we've been sticking with more savory meals like eggs florentine and the three egg omelette. Overall, this is a nice little brunch spot with great food and service. read more

The Pantry - Three egg omelette with spinach and sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Friendly and casual! The staff was so warm and accommodating to us. During these times they have seating outside in parking lot and they moved tables to help a few us to the shade on a warm day. The food was EXCELLENT! The cinnamon roll pancake, the omelette with home fries and the California Benedict were all delicious! We all really enjoyed our meals! Nice size portions for the sweeet and savory. read more

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I've been here several times over the past few years as a student. It's walking distance from where I live in New Haven, and a popular spot to have brunch. Best to go early as the line can be really long during the busy hours. They only take cash so make sure you have enough before going. They have your typical brunch items like the eggs florentine, Lox scramble, California benedict etc. You can substitute fruit for homefries/toast but it will cost extra. I love the seasonal pumpkin cinnamon roll pancakes, and they give a huge serving of it! Best to go with a bunch of people because they give a lot of food, and I am never able to finish a plate on my own. Service is good too, and the restaurant itself is small and crowded. Would have to make another trip back here before I graduate. read more

Myself and 10 other individuals went on a trip from Boston to NYC. Traveling through CT we decided to grab a bite to eat at a breakfast spot. We came across this breakfast diner and said.. "let's give it a shot". When you walk in, nothing says "wow". Very small diner with a few tables and chairs. There were a good amount of ppl in there - a bit tight, but with the amount of ppl I figured this place must be good. This place does not accept debit or credit. Cash only. After we ordered I had to walk to the nearest gas station to take money out and walk back. Our waitress is Kim. And this is where our experience began. The menu is simple and easy to read. Nothing crazy about it. The food is good! No complaint there. I personally had an omelet with bacon, cheese, dry sun tomatoes, and spinach. Also pancakes. I grubbed! Not bad. However the service of Kim was out right awful. You should not be a waitress. Rude, loud, disrespectful - and condescending. Whether she knows it or now, she is. Every time someone asked to change something during their order, she was unable to. For instance, if you would have wanted to substitute something for something else, no. Everything was no. I personally asked for provolone cheese (not knowing that the menu specifically gives you the cheeses they have - that's on me) but when I did she said to me "does it look like we have provolone cheese". Essentially, she was a smart ass, snappy, always had something to say. We wanted to let her know of her poor performance by leaving a less than like-able tip, but we understand tips are everything in that industry. So what better way to let someone know they suck than by leaving a review. If you get Kim, be firm. The same attitude she gives, give back. read more

When I say AMAZING. !!!!!!! Such a cute spot didn't have any wait time. Our sever was very attentive and nice ! Food came very quickly which was a plus and the food was to die for ! The Cinnamon swirl pancakes were so good ! Home fires are a must try honestly everything for more than I imagined read more

The Pantry - Home fries, scrabbled and bacon with the cinnamon swirl pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

This is a local gem. Staff is always friendly and attentive. Great breakfast spot. Expect to wait a bit to be seated!

I don't often take the time to write a review here on Yelp unless it is really good, or really bad. The Pantry unfortunately falls into the latter category. I should have listened to my daughter, who are there once and didn't like it. But I often see a line up, and the place is often packed. I have no idea why- my salmon Benedict was atrocious, and the place is not very clean. The only redeeming feature is the friendly service. Next time I go out for brunch I will definitely go the extra mile and head to Cody's. read more

The Pantry is a place I stumbled upon on my first weekend in New Haven. The food is unparalleled - whether you get the pancakes, or a simple breakfast plate, or a bagel and lox you will not be disappointed. Everything on the menu is priced so reasonably. Don't forget they are cash only! The place is small, so be prepared to wait outside if you go during prime breakfast time on a weekend, but if you go early (around 8-8:30) you won't even have to wait for a seat. One of the best breakfast spots in New Haven! read more

The Pantry - Large cinnamon roll and blueberry pancake. Also lox plate. I LOVE this place. So delicious and inexpensive! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

This was a really great spot! They're a smaller space but we were lucky and able to grab a table. They serve big portions at really great prices and the food was so good. The service is quick and friendly as well and it's in a charming part of town. I highly recommend it! read more

Do not come here unless you have an hour to spend waiting for mediocre food. Lots of waitstaff working but all they do is refill glasses. It would have been nice to know that our food was going to take an hour to come out. The food was very average but honestly the service sucked. Do not come here on a busy day:( read more

This place is the epitome of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Super-cool little dive breakfast spot that just does food right. My wife and I spent a few days up in New Haven about two months ago and asked our friend, who's a Yale grad student, where the best breakfast was and she sent us here. Well we appreciated her suggestion greatly because this place did not disappoint! Yes there was a pretty long wait but guess what that tells you, there's something good inside! We were offered counter seats and took them up on it. Nothing feels more like a diner breakfast than sitting up at the counter. I'm just going to repeat what everyone has said and say the food was incredible. I got a special from the board that came with eggs, home fries, and chorizo. Also threw a side of bacon in with all that. I was in heaven. Eggs were great, but those home fries along with the killer flavors of the sausage just blew me away. Finish everything off with some fresh cantoloupe and you have a perfect way to start off the day. Would absolutely go back if I had the chance. read more

Cinnamon roll pancakes. Carrot cake pancakes. A bacon/egg/cheese sandwich on a hard roll. A mushroom, sun-dried tomato, sausage, and cheddar omelette. Hash browns. There was an incredible abundance of food. The variety (mostly of Benedict variations) was impressive. The food was quite good, and reasonable. It came highly recommended by several friends, so I was happy my brunch counterparts were into the idea of trying it. It's a really small place, not the *best* part of the area but still ok to walk to. I got bumped (not hard) a few times by the person behind me, and there was a bit of a wait, so we were standing outside in the cold for a bit, but it was worth it once we sat. It's casual, it's moderately timely, but be prepared to eat and go - it's not great for leisurely conversing, as the line started and stretched around the block from the time we sat to the time we left, and they wanted to get those people in. Given the fancier and more leisurely brunch options that I've been exposed to, both in CT and NY, I wouldn't say it would be my absolute first choice, but I'd be very willing to pop in and try other things. read more