Sandra's Next Generation has been my absolute staple in the community for over three decades…read more Sandra Pittman has been cooking in this same location since 1989, and I've been eating here consistently since 1995. It is, without question, the best soul food in the state. I have no problem running down I-91 from Hartford just to get my food because the quality and taste are on a level that nobody else can touch. Don't let the neighborhood fool you; this is a masterclass in authentic cooking. Sandra and her husband Miguel have been running this place for over 30 years, and that level of dedication shows in every single dish. The food has the kind of soul and precision that defines the elite dining scene in Connecticut. If you want the real deal--the standard that every other soul food spot is measured against--this is the only place to go. It's a class act that has stayed true to its roots for over 30 years.

Sandra's Next Generation is a well-known soul food restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut, known for…read moreits classic dishes such as fried chicken, catfish, smothered pork chops, mac and cheese, and collard greens. Although I don't typically dine out for soul food, my water was shut off due to maintenance on the outside pipes. Since it was Sunday and I usually cook Sunday dinner, I chose to visit Sandra's after hearing such high praise and wanting to try their menu. Upon arrival, I realized it doesn't particularly stand out, but there is a menu outside to review before entering. The restaurant is small, predominantly a takeout spot. I ordered the Pork Chop dinner, with sides of Collard Greens and Macaroni and Cheese. My son had the Ribs with Macaroni and Cheese and Rice, and my daughter selected the Fried Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, and Collard Greens. I also picked up a side of Sweet Potatoes and Fried Fish. The Fried Fish was underwhelming in flavor, with a slimy breading. I prefer my fish fried until very crispy, and although it looked crispy, it needed a bit more time. The Sweet Potatoes were good but could benefit from a touch more sweetness. When I opened my Pork Chop dinner, I was surprised to find only one pork chop, especially given that the dinner costs twenty dollars and pork is typically an affordable meat. I would expect two pork chops for that price. The Mac and Cheese was decent--cooked well but lacking the deep, savory richness I seek. The Collard Greens, however, were excellent; cooked perfectly and absorbed the rich flavors of their broth and seasonings. My children found the food to be okay, rating it around 2.5 to 3 stars. There is also a refrigerator with desserts and homemade juice drinks. Overall, the staff and environment were friendly.

Good seasoning pretty good I wouldn't mind a little bit more tho tbh, but the fish was cooked to…read moreperfection not soggy, oily or greasy and taste fresh. I called ahead of time so there was no wait. Not really made for dine it but it's still a clean cute lil spot. I would definitely recommend

I actually go here probably twice a month. This is a small Black owned business that makes Food to…read moreorder. There is no Food pre-cooked for you. There will be a slight wait but it's actually worth it. I do enjoy the food. I know that there is approximately 3-5 people in total that work there so Take note to that when you order or possible wait time depending on how busy they are. That's just my take on things.

I really wanted to like this place.....the food was awful! My hubby had fish and it wasn't cooked…read moreon the I side. I had sweet potatos that had been sitting out all day dried up and hard. My rice had pieces that were hard. The baked chicken was nasty tasting. I had a meal there B4 and it was fine. Very disappointed and the food is not cheap ...poor quality

I wish I could give a zero for a star because this place is ridiculous. my husband and I wanted to…read moresupport our Juneteenth people and decided to visit. we literally got a boney ass turkey leg w two sides for $22! an additional turkey leg is $6.99. sadly at a Spanish spot or Chinese food place we'd spend less. I understand prices are up but for a turkey leg !! in a supermarket I'd spend under $15 to make it myself! we won't be returning!

We enjoyed Ricky D's rib check so much we ended up going back two days in a row. Five star service…read moreand five star food. Even was able to buy some of their barbecue sauce and rub that they sell pre-bottled at the counter. It's also worth mentioning that these ribs are not your normal size ribs, in most cases I would say a half rack would fill one person. Definitely give this place a try whenever you're in the New Haven area.

Great meaty ribs and sides! We had mac and cheese, and sweet potato fries! Enjoyed it!read more

One of my favorite spots in New Haven! Support local and try this delicious family owned spot…read more Delicious fried chicken! I got both the wing and thigh and they were both cooked to perfection. So juicy and tender. The sides (Caribbean rice and mac n cheese) were also very delicious. The corn bread was good, a bit dry though. Overall, if you're looking for a good soul food place, I recommend this place.

This place is a hidden gem I stumbled upon. The service was amazing and the treat the guests like…read morefamily, the food is seasoned and cooked with love, and i the price was well worth it. A nice setting that's perfect for any meal and the ambiance is great. I will definitely come back and tell my friend and family

I truly enjoy this place and their food. Fresh clean tasting soul food. They have reasonable prices…read moreand have been open awhile. I had the lemon pepper chicken wings, Mac and cheese, candied yams, and collard greens. The wings were seasoned to perfection, my only gripe was that the wings were wingettes and not while wings. The service feels some welcoming and patient because it feels like you're at a family member's house who is happy to feed you and proud of what they are serving you.

Great Food as well as the Ambiance is Nice. The Smothered Pork Chops are good! Nice place!read more

Came across this food truck when it was parked outside Counter Weight Brewing in Hamden. From the…read moreoutside we couldn't really tell what kind of food it was, as there was no menu. However, inside the brewery, every table had their menu. Our first round of ordering included maduros, tostones, and papitas. The tostones and papitas were very good, the fries were crisped nicely. And the chipotle sauce that went with the tostados was had a nice zing to it. Enjoying these, we ended up order a second round. We tried three empanadas (the cheeseburger, the Sweet Flame, and the Roasted Green) and the popcorn shrimp special. The Brussels sprouts in the Roasted Green empanada were delicious, cooked and flavored well; the Sweet Flame has cajun chicken, cheese, and mango habanero sauce. All the empanadas were filled greatly and not too doughy. The shrimp were cooked to a golden crisp with a very tasty sauce that tasted like a sweet chili glaze. Overall, enjoyable and would try again.

Wow! Caribe Soul Truck was at Counter Weight Brewing in Hamden, and as I picked up some beer I…read morethought....I can't pass up on an empanada truck!!! I purchased the Sausage, and Chicken empanadas with a side of the yucca fries. Spicy, flavorful, delicious! Love the sauces too, a chipotle mayo, and a mango sauce. The lady running they truck ( I WILL get her name next time!) was super sweet and a pleasure to talk to. I hear they are stationed by Tweed, but I hope they are at Counter Weight again! I will make sure to stop by.

In this food bar, stainless-steel food trays inside a glass case enable you to view exactly what's…read moreon the daily menu. You choose to fit your appetite. The large combo platter comprises your choice of seven dishes, the medium platter is five choices, and the small is three. The five items depicted in my photo of my medium-size plate are, clockwise from the top, grilled tofu, steamed broccoli, baked sweet potatoes, sautéed green beans with red peppers, and curried potatoes. The above descriptions double as the simple names of the dishes. The food does not masquerade behind pretentious titles, nor does it appear flamboyant or pretend to be fanciful. What you're served are affordable and generous portions of delicious and nutritious food. Real food. Americans call this natural food. In the Rasta lexicon, natural foods are redefined as Ital foods. As you might adduce from the photo, the café's two owners are Rastas, and their cuisine is authentic Jamaican Rastafari Ital. "Ital" is derived from the word "vital." To provide "vitality," Ital food on your plate differs little from how it looks on the farm. Ital food is usually vegan, but not always. Only four of the five Rasta cafés in Connecticut and nearby Worcester are strictly vegan. As there is no Board of Ital Cuisine to issue certifications, Ital cooking does vary with the territory. The Ital food served at Caribbean Style Vegan is, as its name attests, always vegan. It also is always nourishing, colorful, and skillfully prepared. Nothing is ever too spicy or too salty or too sweet or too oily or overcooked or undercooked. Grilled in a spicy barbecue sauce, even the jerk tofu is humanely spiced. With just the medium platters, I always feel satiated but never bloated, evidence of the frugal use or total absence of oil. Never drowned in oily sauces, the veggies remain visually recognizable and inherently flavorful. Caribbean Style Vegan stands as my favorite of the seven Ital cafés in which I have dined both stateside and in Jamaica. At the two Ital cafés that I visited in Kingston, neither served any mock meats. Yet at some cafés in the U.S., their varieties of mock meats almost equal their numbers of veggie dishes. I am mystified that in our corner of New England they serve so many highly processed mock meats, a concession to the American lust for meat. In contrast, Caribbean Style Vegan upholds a higher standard. It serves only a single mock meat. Grains, beans, greens, and root vegetables predominate. Most veggies are steamed; a few are sautéed; none are deep-fried. My kind of food. For in-house dining, you'll find two sunlit tables along the south-facing wall of plate glass window. Still, the café is more conducive for takeout. I have witnessed a steady flow of regular customers who sometimes place multiple orders of takeout meals to deliver to their families waiting at home. Yet even when other customers wait in line with you, the wait is always short. Their social media accounts is seldom updated. So view only their website. Yet, the website menu is viewable only during open hours. To place an online order or simply to view the website menu, you must wait until 12 noon, Wednesday to Saturday.

The best food! It's so hard to find good vegan food with big portions at a fair price and these…read moreguys hit the mark every time without fail. We always have full, happy bellies with leftovers to enjoy the next day. The food is consistently amazing and the staff/owners are wonderful! We choose this place over any local vegan option nearly every time and happily make the 30 minute drive without hesitation! A must try even if you aren't vegan

I love the food at this place. I usually order the Hibachi Chicken and Shrimp Entree. The entree…read morehas enough food to fill your hunger. The location is mainly setup for TOGO orders, so no seating, but you'll love the food. The location offers an interesting mix of asian style recipes with some southern comfort food as well. Try out their Oxtail combo with some collard greens, and BBQ Ribs with mac and cheese and you'll see why. Places like this is what makes Hamden offer one of the best places to eat.

If you're feeling Chinese, skip the takeout place that's around the corner and go here…read more This is hands down the best takeout restaurant in the area. Prices are more or less the same as your average Chinese takeout, but much more quantity and much more quality. Take it from me, who's a big 220 pound guy who loves food: any time I order from here, I can never finish my food because I'm so full. Highly recommended!

Just okay. Stopped for a takeout dinner and liked the idea of quick preparation and it was 20…read moreminutes late. Cheese Quesadilla was good, cheeseburger was good. Ordered curry style chicken and it was just grilled chicken breast. Rice and pease was just white rice. Mac and cheese was okay. Mashed potatoes and green beans were also just alright. Atmosphere was very much a bar, dark and loud music. Not really a scene that jived for my quick takeout dream.

Not a bad location with a beautiful interior. However, don't rush in expecting to be fed quickly…read more And I'm sorry to say if you're of pale complexion, it might take the cook a really long time and the barkeep will charge you heavily for your drinks.