Bite of the Best

Cave A’ Vin, New Haven - January 16, 2012

After seeing My Week with Marilyn — which is not to be missed, as Michelle Williams embodied the sultry star in an Oscar-worthy performance — we headed to Cave A’ Vin on State Street for a nibble and to listen …

Zafra: Cuban Restaurant & Rum Bar, New Haven - January 9, 2012

My first taste of the authentic Cuban food of Zafra was at a lecture at the Cheshire Library this fall when Yale professor Carlos Eire spoke about his writings — “Waiting for Snow in Havana” and “Learning …

Michael’s Downtown in Blue Pearl Space, New Haven - December 28, 2011

Okay folks – they just opened so give them some time to get in the groove of things, but Michael’s downtown is in the spot on Court Street formerly occupied by The Blue Pearl. Featuring steaks, fish and pasta, the …

Kellys Restaurant & Bar - December 28, 2011

Met some friends downtown for a midday nibble at Kelly’s Restaurant & Bar in the former Amalfi Grill (and short-lived) Marius on the corner of Crown and Temple just up the street from the Criterion (BowTie) Cinemas.

While looking over …

Barcelona: Be Sure to Check Your Bill - November 27, 2011

I always look over my bill, as sometimes restaurants make honest mistakes.

Let me back up first. I stopped by Barcelona in New Haven recently on a Sunday evening after a movie at the Criterion. Our waitress informed us that …

New Haven’s Scoozzi Closed After 24 Years in Business - October 28, 2011

Scoozzi Trattoria and Wine Bar on Chapel Street with the unusual outdoor seating, located right next to Yale Rep in New Haven has closed suddenly after 24 years in business.

BOTB had written about dining there both as part of …

Tacuba Taco Bar in Branford - August 30, 2011

Arturo and Suzette Franco-Camache have done it again. That incredibly creative restaurateur team who changed the New Haven dining scene in the late 90s when they opened Roomba the Nueuvo-Latino downstairs restaurant in Shubert Alley, hit their mark with their …

Box 63, New Haven - August 17, 2011

Last month the New Haven Chamber of Commerce held their Business After Hours at the newly opened Box 63 — in the former home of Fitzwilly’s, more recently Cosi, at the corner of Elm and Park Streets. That’s where I …

Taste Restaurant & Lounge - July 28, 2011

Since Taste is a local neighborhood restaurant, I’ve eaten there numerous time. It’s a small 50-seat place in a comfy setting, with the food a few steps above family-style chain restaurants.

On one visit I tried the special, a delicious …

Zagat Connecticut Restaurants Survey 2011 Just Released - June 22, 2011

Zagat just released the 2011/12 Connecticut Restaurants Survey ($14.95) with 902 restaurants surveyed by 4,146 local diners.

Some highlights of the survey include:

Top food: Le Petit Cafe in Branford had the top Food score, with a near perfect …

Oaxaca, New Haven - June 17, 2011

My first visit to Oaxaca — New Haven’s newest edition to its lineup of authentic ethnic restaurants — was the week it opened during the city’s restaurant week. I’d say that was a mighty brave time for international chef-owner Prasad …

New Haven’s Downtown Culinary Tour - May 30, 2011

Explore downtown New Haven’s food culture with the Downtown Culinary Tour on June 4, 2011 at 10:45 a.m. Departing from John Davenport’s Restaurant at the Top of the Park (Omni New Haven Hotel ) the tour stops at nine restaurants …

Red, New Haven - May 24, 2011

I’m always up for trying the new restaurants, especially after being  pitched at tease about the new place by a public relations firm. (Actually the firm works for Info New Haven, promoting all area restaurants.)

Red opened recently on Orange …

Scoozzi on the Patio - May 14, 2011

On one of the first warm days of spring, I wanted to dine al fresco so I met a friend and dined on the outdoor patio of Scoozzi. The prix fixe lunch menu for lunch ($18) was such a bargain, …

Bespoke: New Owners – No Longer Worth The Visit - April 13, 2011

Normally, I wouldn’t share my thoughts about a restaurant not worth the visit. But I’ve written on, and raved about,  Bespoke when the restaurant was owned and run by that highly creative and incredibly talented team of Arturo and Suzette …

101 Best Restaurants in America - March 5, 2011

From sea to shining sea, there’s no shortage of U.S. restaurants to delight even the pickiest of eaters.  And with more then 20,000 eateries in New York City alone, it seems nearly impossible to choose only 101 to deem the …

Caseus Fromagerie Bistro - February 22, 2011

Bon Appétit occaisionally rounds up a variety of not-to-be-missed specials from restaurants across the country. And what kind of New Haven born son would I be if I didn’t point out a hometown star, Caseus Fromagerie Bistro.

The restaurant was …

Bertucci’s New Brick Oven Offerings - February 8, 2011

When Bertucci’s introduced their new line of brick oven specialties, the company sent some coupons so that I’d venture out to sample their offerings. To do so,  I invited a couple friends so that we could try many of their …

Kitchen Zinc - January 28, 2011

Met some friends recently during happy hour at Kitchen Zinc, where all wines — some that sell for $10 a glass —  are a mere $5! Our hunger had us ordering a pizza to snack on while we enjoyed our …

The Suburban, in Branford, CT - January 20, 2011

Arturo Franco-Camacho and his wife Suzette have another hit restaurant, this time a gastro pub in the suburban town of Branford, aptly called The Suburban.

If you dine in Connecticut, you know this team from their first hit, the neuvo-Latino …

Ristorante Luce - January 14, 2011

I don’t know why, people rave about Ristorante Luce in Hamden, CT, as I find it acceptable but nothing to special.

I did have a decent dish last time I met some friends there. I requested the Salmone Risote ($14) …

Top 10 Best Pizza Places - January 4, 2011

OK, OK, so these are the Top Ten Pizza Parlors for 2010, but it’s only the first month of 2011, so what criterion would we base that list on? C’mon, 2010 plaudits are still valid.

WorstPizza.com seriously examined over 500 …

Restaurateurs of the Year in CT: The Barcelona Group - December 28, 2010

The Barcelona Restaurant Group’s Andy Pforzheimer and Sasa Mahr-Batuz received the Restaurateurs of the Year Award from the Connecticut Restaurant Association

These restaurateurs currently have six locations of Barcelona Wine and Tapas Bars throughout Connecticut (Greenwich, Stamford, South Norwalk, Fairfield, …

New Menu Website - December 6, 2010

Still collecting and organizing piles of menus? Trying to keep your own rolodex of your favorite places to eat?  Forget about it, thanks to MenuPix.com, the world’s largest menu website.  MenuPix is already the most popular website for restaurant …

Mory’s in New Haven Reopened - September 27, 2010

After being closed for over 20 months, the storied Mory’s Association, a fixture in the New Haven community for over 150 years, re-opened its premises at 306 York Street in August. Mory’s has a long and distinguished history since its …