Possibly my favorite wine bar in New Haven!! I love the decor and vibe inside - they have tall bar…read moreseats but also plush couches where you can really relax and chat with your friends. The staff are also super friendly. Their wine selection is awesome! And if you get a flight, it comes in these cute glasses and a stand. Their chocolate fondue is a great pairing to the wine. I've been here again since my first visit and will definitely be back!!!

Good spot for a happy hour drink if you're cool with going with one of the small handful of…read moreoptions. I've found the happy hour whites to be pretty good and a nice value. Avoid food. It looks like a great deal but the portions are so comically small that it's actually a bit of a rip off. The food quality isn't great either. I've tried the fries, flat bread, and artichoke dip and didn't find any of them to be particularly good. Mixed experiences on service, a little hit or miss. Ambiance is nice and includes indoor seating as well as a few tables out front on state street.

My wife and I were in New Haven for a concert. We had tried the Stamford location previously and…read moreloved it. This location felt larger but was still an intimate setting for a date night. Our waitress Diana was pleasant and professional and made helpful recommendations. My wife enjoyed a wine flight of sparkling wine, Chardonnay, and Malbec. We selected two cheeses and a sausage for a light start. High quality, enjoyed the cheese with the flowers on the rind. I probably should have slowed the pace of ordering but everything was so tempting. Chickpeas, broccoli, spicy meatballs, honey nut squash, and patatas bravas were all awesome! The "half" paella was huge and we probably should have went with a lighter choice, that said it was still excellent and we finished the rice the next day as leftovers. I would have had the olive oil cake because it's outstanding but was too full and went with an excellent double espresso instead. Glad we went to Barcelona Wine Bar!

Came here for the first time for my brother and sister-in-law's rehearsal dinner, and WOW. 10/10…read moreacross the board! Every dish was phenomenal, but the standouts were the mussels (that chorizo-sofrito broth is insane; dip the bread), ham croquetas, meatballs, flank steak, chicken thigh, potatoes with salsa and a garlic aioli( patatas bravas) corn ribs, and crispy broccoli (super spicy). Wash it all down with their sangria; legitimately one of the best in CT.

We stopped in for apps on a Saturday afternoon. We ordered a glass of wine, ceviche, and skewers…read more We sat at the bar and the bartender was very friendly, full of energy, and efficient. The ceviche was excellent, everything was cooked throughout by the citrus. The portion size is small for $19 and it could have used a side of bread or tortillas to soak up the delicious citrus based broth. The skewers were also excellent. They were cooked perfectly, super tender, juicy and flavorful. They cooked them with a seasoning and had a delicious chimi on top.

On a recent visit to New Haven to see an exhibition at the Yale Center for British Art, we hoped to…read morehave dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (Barcelona Wine Bar), but they were fully booked with a Yale event. In a display of restaurant solidarity , they recommended that we try Vinas Wine & Tapas. As it turned out, we have a NEW favorite in New Haven! We arrived a bit early and were cheerfully greeted by Mike G, our server. The atmosphere was welcoming and relatively quiet, since their musical offering does not start as early as our 5:00-7:00 PM time slot on a Tuesday. We had asked for the waiter Christian because he had been mentioned in several of the Yelp reviews, but Mike proved that the service compliments should go to everyone. First, the tapas: We enjoyed all five of the tapas we chose. The "Calamares" were lightly battered and crispy. The Vinas salad was fresh, with tomatoes, cheese, corn, and croutons. The pork belly was delicious and more meaty than expected . The oyster mushrooms were presented with onion crisps. The baked birria empanada was stuffed with brisket style beef. Each of these "courses" was a unique delight to the palate, and for me and my partner, it was completely satisfying. In keeping with the spirit of a "wine bar," Vinas offered a flight of 4 wines in 3 ounce glasses, and after hearing about our food choices and wine preferences, Mike chose the wines for us, giving us a chance to taste some less familiar offerings. We had the Felino Malbec 2024 (Argentina), which became our favorite for its full-bodied and deep flavor. Our second wine was a unique Don Abel (private label) from Wallingford CT, made by one of the relatives of the owner, specially for Vinas. This one reminded us of the local wines one might receive in a B&B in the Loire Valley in France. The final two wines were both from Chile: Reserva Carmenere 2023 and Cabernet Sauvignon Marques de Casa Concha 2022. Both were excellent wines. It was great fun to have Mike choose the wines for us, and we really enjoyed the variety that the flight offerings gave to us. Of course, we had to try a dessert, and Mike recommended the Toffee Cake. We had heard that the owner claimed that some people cried with joy after eating it. Although we restrained ourselves, we had to agree that this was an extraordinary conclusion to a fabulous meal. Overall, this was a great experience for us, and we heartily recommend Vinas Wine Bar and Tapas for a relaxing and welcoming dinner. Some reviews I had read suggested that the portions were too small for the price. I have to disagree. My partner and I love food, and this was plenty. And the price was reasonable. Including tip and tax, we spent about $75 each.

This is a very delayed review as I visited over the summer. Our party of 4 visited on an early…read moreSaturday evening and was able to be seated right away. The vibe is very much dark and moody. They were setting up for what looked like a guest DJ of sorts? Once the DJ started their music, it was VERY loud which was a little disappointing. We didn't try any of the food. We did try some of the cocktails though and they were all great. Also tried the paper bag beer because we couldn't resist the mystery. The beers were 16oz cans of craft beers. not bad! Overall, really liked the place!

Very moody, vibey lounge, restaurant, and bar in downtown New Haven. Stopped in before a late…read moredinner nearby on a Wednesday night around 6. There are couches in corners, tables, and bar seating. Only the bar tender seemed to be serving so service was very slow. I liked the aesthetic and Dj Kamakaze provided tunes or else I'd give a lower rating. Would return for an evening outing, good place to get lost.

Ambiance: Fun - casual…read more Service: great Food: breakfast is always a hit omelettes, waffles, etc. I had a great dinner of salmon and couscous I've been coming here for years , I had my children's parties here I'm glad they made it through Covid

Had a friend lunch date here and I'd definitely return. I had the chilaquiles and added steak, it…read morewas delicious! We also had an order of the beef empanadas with their chimichurri, which was also tasty. I had an Arnold Palmer and my friend had an iced mocha (she said it tasted like chocolate milk, haha). It wasn't busy, but there were only 2 people working. There were other things on the menu I'd like to try in the future!

Dined at Skappo to celebrate our anniversary. Genuinely one of the most memorable dining…read moreexperiences of our lives. The ambiance is so cozy and makes you feel like you're in an Italian home. We had the stuffed fig dish, momma's Sunday sauce, The lasagna, and risotto with pistachio. Everything was simply perfect, full of flavor, and brought me straight back to my travels in Italy. The stuffed fig dish especially should win awards. This place is truly a gem that's owned by a kind and passionate family, and that's evident from the moment you walk in. The service isn't just great, it's literally like being invited into an Italian home for Sunday dinner. During our meal, the grandmother came out from the kitchen to introduce her adorable grandson (~8 years old?) who was helping out tonight around the restaurant and to thank everyone for coming. We've never felt this much love at a restaurant ever before, and we cannot wait to come back to try the rest of the menu (and the fig dish again), and keep coming back for more. Thank you Skappo for a wonderful dinner and evening! Please keep doing what you're doing - the world needs more of places like Skappo.

Can't stop thinking about this place, the food!! Best pasta I've ever had. Very authentic and warm…read morefamily running the place. Live in NJ but want to make trip to go back

This place is great. Stumbled across it via the InKind app, and have been back multiple times,…read moreincluding making a special detour via New Haven on our last night before leaving Connecticut. The Ordinary is one of the oldest purpose build bars, with lovely dark gothic wood. A wacky gothic humor and excellent staff, who really care about the clients and the drinks. Good selection of gins. Outstanding cocktails on the list, at fair prices (especially happy hour). Or better yet, ask the expert staff to recommend and invent one for you. The bacon is a thick, crunchy, sugary must. Add it to your burger. And an egg. Get the shishito peppers. And the chocolate chip cookies. And if you're lucky and hungry, the coffin-full of sliders is a delicious bargain (with plenty for the next day).

I've been to Ordinary perhaps 3-4 times. Being a New Haven native, I've been to about every bar,…read morerestaurant, or eatery in the city, and Ordinary has been no exception. First few times I went was during covid, and they were one of the few that allowed folks to just be. They resembled a real speakeasy during lockdown because you had to ring a bell and be let in. My most recent visit was with two of my long time friends on a rainy Wednesday night. We got seated by the "fireplace" and browsed the menu. I landed on a mocktail old fashion, my friend got the bee's knees and we got the big pretzel and the candied bacon. Pretzel was great, old fashion could have been better but the ambience was just what we needed. You really get a feel of old school New Haven being at Ordinary. The staff was great so I'll be back.

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

I really don't want to write this review. I've been here twice in the last 4 months. I'm allergic…read moreto seafood and fish and it seems as if so many entrees, including a steak dish, contain seafood. Overall, the food was fine, a bit pretentious but fine. The dining room was so loud esp when the bartenders were shaking drinks as if they were starring with Tom Hanks in "cocktail" We had the pea salad which was very fibrous and chewy (a 10 second Blanche wouldn't hurt) and the burger was tasty but served with frozen French fries, and way too much of them. Considering the style of menu, frozen fries don't belong on the menu. The fish was overcooked and dry. Overall, it's an inconsistent experience. Dinner for 3 was $200 with 1 shared app, 2 burgers and the fish course plus 3 drinks.

My niece and I came here to celebrate her new job, and it was the perfect place for the occasion…read more From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable and made the evening feel extra special. We were welcomed with freshly baked bread and a warm gougère, which reminded me of Brazilian pão de queijo. For drinks, I enjoyed the French 75 along with the non-alcoholic Pamplemousse, while my niece ordered the non-alcoholic Guadalupe. To start, we each had the French onion soup, which was rich, flavorful, and comforting. We also shared the foie gras torchon, which my niece described as incredibly smooth and creamy. For our entrées, we ordered the filet of beef and the rack of lamb. Both were cooked to perfection, and I appreciated that neither dish was overwhelmed with gravy or sauce, allowing the quality of the meat to shine. For dessert, we shared the mixed berry soufflé and the Feuillantine. The Feuillantine was my favorite--it was wonderfully rich, chocolatey, and creamy. Pairing bites of the light, fruity soufflé with the decadent chocolate dessert turned out to be a delicious combination. To end the meal, the restaurant surprised us with complimentary pistachio macarons, which was a thoughtful finishing touch. The restaurant has an elegant atmosphere that feels refined without being stuffy. Combined with the outstanding food and exceptional service, it made for a memorable celebration, and I'd happily return.

Started with the caviar, added the escargot and each had two entrees (mine was salmon and so, so…read moregood) and ended with crème brûlée for dessert. If Michelin ever rates CT this will absolutely and deservedly get a star. The service was excellent, the drinks were fabulous (they had champagne waiting for us; it was our anniversary). The space is beautifully appointed and I want to eat there every day. Simply outstanding.

Love this place! If I owned a bar/restaurant this would be it!…read more Greeted by a charismatic young lady that was extremely helpful and welcoming for a mid week lunch stop off on my way north. I was hooked by the name. Quirky. Perfect for me. The decor is very local. It's plain but upper middle class dive feel. The menu was very ambitious, but delivered. Hot-crispy fries and chips seasoned perfectly. Chicken sando on a great focaccia was a banger. Beverage was a Fuzzy baby duck IPA. Quirky and I couldn't pass it up. Highly recommend!!!

Not a fan of this place. The decor was confusing.....sports, a crooked goat head, big sexy signs…read moreand a few ?? Satanic symbols similar to Baphomet. I just didn't get it. Loved their sours idea of the Cajun spiced chips but they were so excessively spiced they were inedible (your lips and tongued burned awfully) and I love heat (I'm a fan of ghost peppers) and spice. The big sexy sandwich tasted great but left me nauseous all night long making me wonder if something in it was off. It was disappointing. On the other hand they make an excellent expresso martini. As a bar I'd recommend this place but as a restaurant I would not