Nachos: Picture this. You're sitting with your closest friends on a perfectly youthful Thursday…read morenight, because you just couldn't wait for the weekend to begin. You're playing some ridiculous game you made up in an instant, and your laughter echoes through the bar, along with the strangers voices and the blaring music. You walk up to the bar, where a mirror stretches across the wall behind the bartenders, and you catch yourself in it, along with a few lingering eyes. You laugh at the audacity of youth, the absurdity of it, and look at yourself a little longer. You're young. Your hair's long, your eyes are dark, your cheeks and nose are red from the cold outside that has settled into your bones. You zone out at any reflection you catch yourself in, because you can feel the time passing. The bartender finally makes their way to you, and you order a plate of nachos that makes its way to your table on its own. There are so many hands reaching in, and you don't even notice when the table started overflowing with new and old friends. You take the first bite, and suddenly you're gutted. They taste incredible, perfectly flavorful. You have no idea where the feeling comes from. It's mushrooms and salsa, perfectly salted. It's relief and familiarity all at once, like the spark of something new that feels good because it's familiar, like it was waiting for you too. You close your eyes and melt into its warmth immediately. You open your eyes and suddenly, everything around you starts to move. Winter coats pile up on the hooks by the door, then disappear into spring. The patio opens with local indie bands, then closes with the sun coming up. The stool beside you fills up with the Irish guy you had the most awkward first date with that you counted the minutes. Months later you run into him again, and you laugh about it together until your stomach hurts. At the table near the windows, a girl you barely knew raises her voice at you over something out of your control, and you realize you don't want this. You cut her off, and she disappears from her seat. You see yourself passing through time in every corner of the bar. Old friends fade into the back of the mirror, and new ones take their seats in the same booths, laughing at the same jokes. The eyes around you linger as they pass. A guy at the end of the bar looks up every time you laugh. Someone holds your gaze in the mirror a beat too long, then looks down at his drink. You notice every one of them and hold on to none, because you can't seem to stay in the moment. Everything is already passing by while you're still standing in it. "SO?! What are you going to rate them?!" says your new friend sitting beside you, who just found out you write these ridiculous reviews for fun. You realize you seek out nachos the way you seek out love. It's a deep, familiar desire. You keep chasing the first bite that made you feel like this. He's waiting for your answer with a big smile on his face. Your hair's still long. Your cheeks are still red. Nothing has changed, but somehow, everything has. "Five," you say. "Five out of five." All else: I've said enough. This bar is my safe space and happy place. The bartenders are heaven-sent. P.S. I was listening to Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol writing this, hence the drama.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Lemon pepper wings !!! lol. I was up here for my kids play date. I had to find some where to go…read moreynot here. Great wings. Host/bartender lovely welcoming. Next time I'll try the burger.

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

Really good dinner! The food was delicious and everything came out fresh. The service was good and…read morethe atmosphere was nice. A couple small things could've been better, but overall we really enjoyed our meal and would definitely come back!

The food is great, had the Elm Street burger w/ a potato bun!!!…read more Alina took really good car of us - she is awesome

Bambi was incredible, great service and so knowledgeable about the beer selection. She made our…read moreexperience really special!

Prime BGR in New Haven was a fantastic find! The location is super convenient to the Omni and being…read moreopen for lunch made it an easy choice for a midday stop. The restaurant was clean and quaint, and the western beef theme was done just right -- fun without feeling over the top. We started with the beef nachos and they were absolutely perfect! I ordered the pickled jalapeños and onions on the side for my dining companion and was secretly thrilled I didn't have to share them. The burger flight featuring their top three burgers was phenomenal. Every burger was flavorful, perfectly cooked, and memorable enough that I immediately regretted not ordering the onion rings too. The chef even came out to make sure everything met expectations, which was a really nice touch. Heather was a lovely server -- warm, friendly, and attentive throughout the meal. I also heard these burgers are going to be featured on a food road show soon, and after eating here, I completely understand why. They were excellent. If we're back in town, this will absolutely be a repeat stop. Highly recommend Prime BGR for both the outstanding food and the great value!

" Y se formó la gozadera... Miami me lo confirmó... "…read more Valentine's Day with my favorite guy (my son ) started at IKEA and somehow turned into a full-on gozadera at Prime BGR in New Haven -- completely on a whim. We walked in with no reservation on Valentine's Day (bold), and the manager couldn't have been more welcoming. Super friendly, got us seated quickly, and set the tone right away. That kind of hospitality matters. The vibe? Cool, modern, slightly moody -- perfect accidental Valentine's dinner energy. The service was on point all night. Attentive, smooth, and genuinely warm. Now let's talk about the moment that activated my Dominican DNA. I ordered the Sweet Plantains with Cilantro Aioli as an appetizer and when I saw plátanos on that menu? República Dominicana presente. . I felt seen. For my main, I had the Temple Salad and added a burger patty (because balance is important ). Fresh, flavorful, satisfying. My son ordered a burger with truffle fries and I am STILL thinking about those fries today. Crispy. Perfect salt. That truffle flavor hit just right. Those fries deserve their own review. And because it was Valentine's Day and I believe in celebrating myself too, I had the Pineapple Express. Divine. Tropical. Smooth. The kind of drink that keeps the gozadera going. From IKEA chaos to Prime BGR glow-up in under an hour. Great food. Great vibe. Great service. New Haven confirmed it. We'll absolutely be back. #PrimeBGR #NewHavenEats #LaGozadera #DominicanApproved #ValentinesWithMyFavorite #TruffleFries

I usually take the time to drone on about meals that I've had…read more I simply wanna say the service was impeccable. Our server was polite, informative very helpful. Our drinks were exactly as described on the cocktail menu and obviously mixed by a professional The ambience is welcoming, classic comfortable. The restaurant stays quiet, even with many people in it. It's a very cozy family orientation, intimate environment. The food was impeccable. I did not have much experience with dishes serve family style, but we were a table of 10. We completely enjoyed her meals having the ability to taste a little bit of each one of the many dishes that were brought out was a culinary treat. These dishes were not only well prepared and well seasoned and well presented, but they easy to enjoy their easy on the pallet. No one dish was over seasoned or overcooked. The ingredients were obviously fresh. Nothing was overcooked. Nothing was tough. Nothing was harsh and the pallet this was excellent food. Cannot wait to go back this is a must go restaurant

BRING BACK CHEFS with ATTITUDE. I had the pleasure of dining at The Luke Brasserie today. Totally…read moreunplanned. I was searching for something that could match up to Maison Bar Vins back home. First off can we talk about the bones of the place. The Taft building which once was a hotel now sits and houses a very charming French restaurant with a chef who could care less who you are or if your camera is permanently to your hand. I sat at the bar and the chef seated me. I opted out for their three course pre fix bar menu. Chef and owner Vincent who had trained under ICONS in the culinary world met me with this good old fashion old school attitude that today's foodie influencers could never understand. Serious poised stern energy that I love so much about old world cooking boh lore. The food was great. The playlist was upbeat, the kitchen had energy. This place should be the hardest reservation to get in New Haven.

Burgerway is where you go to satisfy your guilty pleasures and enjoy a delicious novelty smash…read moreburger. Whether it's stuffed with mac and cheese, or mozzarella sticks and bacon, you're sure to find something to indulge in. Might as well add a side of perfectly crisped fries and an Oreo cookie milkshake to go along with it, just for good measure. The space is small and counter-service only, with just a couple of tables and seats by the window. Ultimately, if you're looking for a comforting cheat meal that hits the mark, Burgerway delivers exactly that. After all, "life's too short for boring food."

This small burger joint is a must. The menu has a few burger selections and a display of cupcakes…read morethat are absolutely worth every penny ($4.50 each). I had the double patty burger and it did not disappoint. From the patty to the bread to the pickles, it all tasted super fresh. The French fries were excellent, with a nice crispy breading that wasn't too greasy. BurgerWay also has a house sauce that's a cross between spicy chipotle mayo chipotle with a hint of Old Bay. Delicious!! There's only 2-3 tables inside, so consider ordering carry out. Service was friendly and quick. Highly recommend!

Great place to watch soccer. Or really any sport. Got a patio of the weather's conducive. Food is…read morevery good traditional pub food. Best steak sandwich in town. And a real Irish breakfast.

Love this place so much. Food, atmosphere, drinks. It's got everything. Counting down the days to…read morenext season. #YNWA

Based on a recommendation, four friends and I visited for an earlier dinner on Cinco de Mayo (yes,…read morewrong type of cuisine, but we were in town and this restaurant was on our list.) BAR is an interesting restaurant: open air, picnic tables, open space, paper plates, no utensils unless you ask for them, etc. We were greeted right away by a less than friendly waiter who seemed peeved we didn't have a drink to order right away. Strike one. After a few minutes, everyone put their drink order in and I asked if the bartender could make me a mojito since it wasn't on the menu. The waiter said yes, so I waited. Then came the mojito. It was the worst "mojito" I've tasted in my life. I'm not one to send a drink back because of an "I don't taste any alcohol" excuse, but this was BAD. It tasted like margarita mix with lime and mint sprigs thrown in. It was absolutely terrible. When I double checked with the waiter if the drink was an original mojito he simply said yes, not "is something wrong with the drink?" or "would you like to send it back?" The drink was so bad I told him I couldn't drink it. He was peeved again. Strike two. I asked for a soft drink instead and the soda was flat (strike 3), but at this point I just needed something to drink... because who wants to have water with their pizza? Then came the time to make a dinner choice. My mission was to try the mashed potato pizza. It was hands down AMAZING!! Mashed potatoes and bacon on a pizza. Yes, please!! This was the only saving grace from my experience. I would return to BAR again if only for that pizza! Two of my friends had the clam pizza and the pepperoni/mushroom. Both enjoyed their own! Warming: New Haven pizza is thin crust. I got two meals out of a small, so if you visit with a group, consider ordering a few small pizzas so you can taste a few. I would've given BAR 4 or 5 stars, but the unpleasant waiter, the "mojito," and the flat sofa made for a trifecta, so I'm giving my visit 3 stars. If I find myself in New Haven again, I'll be back! Hopefully my next update will be 5 stars!

Between Frank Pepe's and BAR, my friend, a Yale student, prefers the latter, and as a mere tourist,…read moreI deferred the decision to her. Man, so glad I did. We arrived on a Monday around peak dinner time, but there was essentially no wait (apparently uncommon according to my friend -- just a delightful consequence of dining at a college town during the summer). We split a medium pizza (1/2 elote mexican street corn and 1/2 bbq brisket), proving to be more than enough for two plus a more than ample amount of leftovers. Recently, I've gravitated toward thinner pizzas, a far cry from the typical Detroit (foccacia-esque) style pizzas I used to prefer, and BAR's pizza is akin to a flatbread yet very thin, another fallen angel to the GLP's. The undercarriage boasts a brilliant crust, almost cracker-like. However, it should be noted that the pizza is indulgent all the same. The elote pizza is quite possibly the most memorable, unique pizza I've ever had; it arrives almost crimson-red with a generous layer of corn and takis atop. It's still incredibly well balanced despite the hodgepodge of varied toppings. It's hard to pick a favorite between this and the bbq brisket though; while one is incredibly unique the other is simply sumptuous, nothing pedestrian about either of the two. The service is also impeccable, almost rivaling that of southern hospitality. I always thought Californians were friendly but something is in the air every time I visit New Haven. Incredible!

Great Little bar with friendly staff & patrons. The burgers were also really good. Will be back…read moreagain

Best neighborhood bar in East Rock. Bobby is the GOAT. Get the cheeseburger, best in CT.read more

10/10! I've been…read morehere a few times now and it's always consistent! The popcorn is seriously addicting! The Korean short ribs were nice, saucy and tender. The filet tacos were full of meat and tender. The carpaccio was nice and light! They also whip up some excellent espresso martinis! The service is always great and the bar is always full!

Pre Valentine's dinner. Jeanette, our waitress was attentive but not overly…read more My favorite burger was cooked perfectly; so much better than last time. The French Onion soup wasn't the best, tasted very commercial. I was expecting a deeper, rich flavor. The broth was thin. Didn't have enough onions for me. First scoop was deceiving. Definitely had lots of cheese. Would be nice if served with a piece of bread. A one and done for me here.