Urgh, just like at Caseus one of the waiters managed to immediately made me and my fiancee feel like we don't belong to their oh so exquisite clientelle by coming up to us when we were just looking around to say 'there's a line for the tables'. It's a two week old place, and a bar that is supposedly for ordinary people. How are we supposed to know there is a line or a seating area or anything like it in a normal bar in New Haven other than waiting in line etc. I still prefer Zinc. read more

This place seems really excessive. It's one of those restaurants I want to be taken to but don't wanna have to pay for myself...the drinks were delicious. I had the white hat (if I remember correctly) only got to try the cheese plate which was very very basic... I don't love places that have those uppity vibes for no reason. read more

This place is small. It's overrated. Ordinary is probably supposed to be some kind of pun. But it's not. Never anyplace to sit and have a few without being surrounded by a bunch of privileged self-indulgent quasi intellectuals. And that's when can actually find a seat. Nothing but squatters. read more

This is one of my favorite bars to go to when I'm visiting New Haven. Even though I find artisan type bars a bit cliche, this place really pulls it off because it's not an act. These people know what they're doing and what they're talking about. It's clear that a lot of thought and consideration went into the drink menu. They have some uncommon ingredients and innovative pairings. The bartenders are attentive and not pretentious which is the perfect combination. The decor is warm and rich with history. The crowd is a diverse mix of mature people. read more

Went here in September and enjoyed the sazeracs I ordered. They were made well and definitely strong. I love the cozy interior and hope my husband who is also a fan suggests it for our next date night. read more

I'm impressed to see that Ordinary has 6 reviews already for only being open for 9 days...some establishments are open for years and don't get that many reviews. Bravo fellow Yelpers! I liked it, I really did. I stumbled upon a review for a new placed called Ordinary and as I was scrolling through the pictures realized it looked a lot like Richter's...which I never cared much for, thought it was grimy and divey. So...needless to say it was an excuse to go to dinner at Shake Shack RIGHT next door then have drinks at Ordinary. We arrived around 730pm or so..., got two seats right at the bar, most of the bar seats were taken, as were the tables in the back room. The menu is small, but the bar is full so you can basically order whatever you want - the liquor is all unique and nothing I had ever heard of, good for a connoisseur; of which I am not. I started off with the Mayflower IPA($7) and my hubby the Dunkel ($). First observation - all beer is served in Tulip glasses (even if they're not aromatic and can be in a straight up pint glass). Later in the night I noticed some lighter beers were being served in Pilsner glasses...the idea grew on me! Next, we browsed the menu....food - cheese platter, meat platter, nuts, olives and meat pies. Decent selection. We ate already but of course had to indulge in a cheese plate. :-) Delish. We went with two cheese so we weren't too greedy, a Sheeps Cheese and a Goat, served with cool crackers (waiters terminology, not mine), these cool nuts that cleanse your palate between cheeses, a strawberry jam and this other gummy cracker bread thing. Just enough and only $8 for two, $5 for 1 and I believe $13 for 3? Don't quote me on that one. So, definitely reasonable. The meat pies were coming out all around us and smelled fab. Back to the glass selection. They had bourbon glasses (don't know the official name, but the kind you get at a distillery tasting - short, small, tulip-like) which they obviously served Whiskey, Bourbon and Rye's in, then Champagne Coupe glasses which they servied basically all the specialty drinks and martini's in and basic old fashioned rocks glasses that served, you guessed it, Old Fashioned's and Gin n Tonics in...which brings me to my next topic...dun dun dun.. hubby moved to a Gin and Tonic after the beer and with the help of the bartender, decided on the Botanist Gin ($7)...which is a 2oz (I believe) pour over ice served with a whole bottle of Fentimans Tonic ($2)! Nice touch...but kind of forces you to order more gin...unless you want to hydrate with tonic! I moved to wine ($10) - nothing exciting to report., good wine though. As the night grew, more and more people arrived (some left - due to lack of beer selection and food). WARNING: do not come here if you drink water -aka- Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Lite...shame on you! Pros - see above ALSO....red wine, into a little carafe, then into my glass, they give a very, VERY good amount of wine for $7-$11/glass. Bonus points there. Cons - I'm giving them some time to work out the kinks. Bartender's know how to make the drinks but they can't tell you the price of it without looking it up yet....they refer to the menu quite a bit still...I don't hate that, it's only been a few days. I mean, I know what I want to order, I came here to spend money, so that's a moot point for me. OK...one pet peeve I have at bars is when they 'tenders rely SO heavily on a Double Jigger! That drives me nuts, is it that they aren't comfortable making drinks themselves, or is it to keep a VERY close eye on alcohol use? I mean, even pouring a neat amount into the TINY whiskey glass - tacky. You should know how high to pour it. That is so distasteful - even for a new place. Anyway, the pictures explain the decor, it's dark, warm and cozy. Intimate, with music, no TVs (thank goodness). We really enjoyed ourselves and will come back again to try the meat pies. :-) Although, with the prices as reasonable as they are and the menu so small, I'm nervous about how they're going to make rent. I did hear a bartender say the 'yards' are coming back! And sorry, 3 stars because it's SO very new and has lots of room to grow. I do not think Ordinary deserves a 4, definitely not a 5-star review just yet. read more

This has one of the best burgers I've ever had--I almost bought a second one. The PBB&J make a grown man cry (this is no joke). Great food at an incredible price. If I could give this place 10/5 I would read more

Cute cute bar! They have an expansive drink menu. I came for drinks but I believe they have a tiny dining area in the back.

I had such high hopes for this space.. I loved Richters and was excited that somone was using this space. I was initially impressed. The bar itself is beautiful. The wood work is very nice and the rest of the decor was impressive. We sat at the bar and the first thing we noticed was the awful music. It was so loud that I couldn't even hear the person next to me. The drinks were very overpriced and the staff was so rude!! They completely ignored us as soon as a crowd of Yale students walked in and it took 30 minutes to flag down someone as we sat with empty drinks at the bar. Nothing about this place will make me return, such a disappointment!! read more

This bar would be great if it could gets its service down. I get it, New Haven locals don't like Yalies. But for the sake of your bar and the take-home pay of your servers, I'd suggest teaching your staff some basic manners. I consider myself a pretty roll-with-it type of guy, but I've been forced to leave this bar twice now due to the ridiculous treatment I've received by different waitstaff at Ordinary. Snapping at paying customers, audible sighs and huffs, extreme gruff service ... these are not acceptable ever yet seem to be the new norm at Ordinary. Management: check the attitude of your waitresses. read more

I'm struggling to rate this place. On the one hand the bar is pretty cool with its ornate wood and speakeasy vibe. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and make some impressive craft cocktails. On the other hand, the food is simply okay and the portion sizes are tiny. read more

The ambience was nice. Like having a drink in your rich, great uncle's study: lots of scotch and whiskey at the bar, ornate wood pieces/furniture, hunting trophies, and a fireplace. Small and intimate, but cozy. I was just waiting for a man resembling Teddy Roosevelt to walk up to our table and regale us with a tale of his latest hunting expedition. The menu is limited to a few simple things, charcuterie board, grilled cheese, and meat pies. The meat pies are very good. Small (one may not suffice for a dinner) and a little expensive ($9), but delicious. The half priced bottle of wine, their Tuesday special, was a great deal though. Definitely willing to change my review after another go. I didn't even give their cocktails and beer selection a look after i heard the special. read more

The best cocktails and bartenders in town, in my opinion. Everything is hand crafted right in front of you, and it always packs a good punch for the price. The hand carved wooden bar and decor set a really cool historic vibe mixed with the modern music and menu. One of my favorite spots to get a couple drinks, regardless of the day or time. read more

Ordinary was OUT OF THE ORDINARY!!! My friends and I had such a great time! Old fashion cocktails were spot on traditional and their original cocktails were delightful! Vittles were also nice...i had a dessert. Sorry for being so hazy but as it goes with alcohol, memories often are altered with each libation. read more

LOVE this place! It reminds me a bit of The Campbell Apartments in NYC. Very cool ambience and great drinks that are priced right NOT too over the top like 116 Crown Terrific meat pies, cheese plates, charcuterie Light bites. It is SO NOT Ordinary! The Caseus boys do it again! read more

Waiter was cool. Food was yum. Cocktails were kinda weak but the swaguh was still delicious and interesting.

Come here for the ambience and the drinks. Very cool inside, with a deer head over the fireplace, dim lighting, detailed carvings in the wooden furniture, oriental rug, etc. Nice selection of beers featuring some from microbreweries. Also enjoyed the cocktail menu. Bartender was excellent. Menu is limited but features the famous grilled cheese from Caseus. I am giving 4 stars because my grilled cheese took 45 minutes, late at night on a monday when the restaurant was not crowded... really?? its GRILLED CHEESE. They kept forgetting to place my order even after several reminders, so by the time I got mine, everyone had already eaten. Regardless, I will be coming back here again. read more

This place is so pretentious for what is is. I've been there I few times because it is a popular place for drinks downtown but for me it has always fallen short, in terms of service and products, I have not been a great fan of their cocktails, they made me a cezerac that was awful and so overpriced. The food was nothing great and we wait forever to get it. It is a shame because they place itself it's totally cozy but the service is always so slow and the staff acts as if you should count yourself lucky to be there, extremely unfriendly and unwelcoming staff and waiter. read more

Came for their all day happy hour on Monday. The bartender was incredibly friendly. It was my first time being there so he helped me pick out a cocktail to suit my taste. Craft cocktails can be disappointing if they aren't done correctly, but the people here know what they're doing. Great experience. read more

while searching for a bar in New haven that served bee's knees on google, my girlfriend found this place, which serves the drink. We visited Ordinary that same night. We arrived around 7pm and the bar area was full but not crowded, we put our names for a table in the back, and luckily the wait was about 10 min, which we employed to have a drink at the bar. Obviously, my girlfriend ordered the bee's knees and I dont remember what I ordered, but it was good. the ambience is exceptional, it is a 1800's fancy bar with modern touches. Certainly, such bar goes very well with the Yale's eclectic vibe around New Haven. We were seated after 15 min, and the seating area is cozy, romantic, and inviting. (FYI, there are not many tables). Our waitress came over with water promptly and we took some time to order. Finally, we ordered some snacks: candied bacon, grilled cheese with brisket, pulled pork tacos, and the cheese and meat platter. Where to begin? The tacos! insanely delicious. Of course tacos are americanized, but they do not have anything to envy any mexican taco, these tacos have their own identity, I would even recommend a name change. The grilled was superb. Great combination of flavors, there was no excess of any ingredient, just the right amount. The cheese platter was good, too. it offered the right combination of flavors, with some paste (I forgot the name of), jam, and olive. They also brought some toasted bread, fresh and crunchy. Finally, the candied bacon was unique. I am not an expert in candied bacon, but could eat tons of this. The only thing that threw us off was our waitress attitude. Although she was attentive and helpful, she did not look happy and we were a bit afraid of asking her for things. The rest of the staff was extremely friendly. We had a great time overall and look forward to go back soon. Ordinary is extraordinary for sure. PS. By the time we left 9.30, the bar was crowded and there were many people waiting for tables. so I guess going early is best. Ordinary does not offer a full menu for dinner, but their small (Snacks) plates can suffice. read more

I get what they are trying to do, but it just doesn't work. Really bad service ruins the experience . Lots of options in new haven. Would recommend looking elsewhere. read more

Stopped in here on Friday night for dessert and after-dinner drinks. I never saw Richters, but my husband was a regular, so we had different expectations going in. I was surprised it was so small, but it is beautiful and we appreciated that they preserved so much of the history. We actually got a table immediately. The chocolate raspberry tart was delicious, and hubs liked his whiskey, but my cocktail (viking funeral) was revolting. I had to move it away from me to avoid the smell. I realize I was probably overly adventurous in ordering it and it just wasn't up my alley, but I was disappointed. So for now I average it out to three stars. If I do better on my next visit I will up the rating. read more

I LOVED this place! If I lived nearby, you would find me here all the time. We posted up at the bar, which became extremely crowded as the night wore on. Drinks were innovative and delicious, and it seems like the menu is constantly changing. Prices were low compared to the (mostly inferior) bars I normally go to in NYC. We tried: - Hot buttered rum: one of the hot drinks on the menu. I've never been to any of the Harry Potter theme parks, but this is what I imagine butterbeer to taste like. I could see them using the immersion blender, so I think there was actually butter in this. - Some kind of drink with tea: I'm sorry, I don't remember the names of any of these and the drink menu is nowhere to be found online. The presentation of this one was really cool, it came in a french press and you could let the tea steep for as long as you wanted for a different flavor. - Some kind of drink with gin, honey, and lemonade: I haven't dared to drink gin in a very long time due to some bad experiences with it (oh, college days...) and this was an excellent reintroduction to it. - Grilled cheese: only $5 during happy hour. "Tomato soup dip" tasted like regular marinara sauce to me, but it was solid overall and a good way to soak up the alcohol. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in New Haven! read more

This place has lovely drinks, which is expected given its pedigree. However the food options leave a lot to be desired. Despite my desire to like six pence pie company, I just can't. The crust to filling ratio is off and is just terrible. The cheese plate we ordered was quite good, and the decor is fantastic. I just wish they raised the bar with the food offerings. read more

Great banter with bartenders, awesome small bites and some top notch cocktails will keep me coming back. I guess I've never caught them on an off night, and when it's busy I understand drinks can take a minute to make. $4 (quality) tall boys on mondays and half priced wine bottles on tuesdays... read more

Don't be fooled by the neon BBQ sign in the front window - like I was - and don't come here hungry. This is a high end tavern that has a few "BBQ ish' items on the menu. It's smoke somewhere else then delivered here. I would classify portion sizes as petite. Big let down for me. read more

Without a doubt greatest cocktails in the area. My wife and I jus moved to new haven and have been doing some exploring, this is hands down the best place we have found. Very laid back atmosphere and every person,staff or patron was warm an friendly to us. I can almost guarantee we will become regulars read more

We went during the day when they first opened up so the bartender was waiting on most of the tables so it was a tad bit slow but beside that she was friendly and the food was great and the atmosphere is really unique, definitely try it out!! read more

I came in with my fiance for a drink on a Monday night. Upon walking in, we were immediately impressed with the old school nostalgic look and feel to this place. Beautiful wooden bar carved by hand from the early 1900's. There was a good amount of people and we were able to find 2 seats at the bar. I ordered a drink named bee's knees, it was delicious! It's a drink made with gin but not just any gin, it was a specialty gin. My fiance ordered an old fashioned in which was made to perfection and he truly enjoyed a second one! While we sat at the bar, we browsed the food menu and since we just had eaten dinner, we couldn't order more food! We did find the candied bacon on menu sounded interesting so ordered that and we were glad we did. WOW the bacon was glazed with bourbon and brown sugar, the most delicious thing I have ever eaten! I don't know if it was a dessert or not, but it complimented the end of our night perfectly! read more

Ordinary - The bee's knees, a must try!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Good drink list. Average food. Incredibly bad service. On the surface I really like the venue, but I would not go there again. Go to Anchor instead. read more

This is an excellent bar, particularly on Mondays and Tuesdays. Although the decor is a little stylized, the wait staff is friendly, the music is tasteful, and (on Monday and Tuesdays) the deals are fantastic: great deals on beer on Monday, and great deals on wine on Tuesday (half-off bottles!). The snacks are delicious, too. Ordinary has the same cheese plates as Caseus, a beloved restaurant on the other side of town known for its locally produced and high-quality cheeses. It also has terrific meat and vegetarian pies (also local). Great for meeting up with a friend, splitting a bottle of wine and snacking after a hard start to the week.... read more

I'm raising my rating to 4 stars. After several outings, Ordinary has replaced 116 Crown in my mind for "best cocktails in New Haven." Their drinks are outstanding. Fresh juices. The right amount of liquor. Intriguing concoctions. Wish I could go more often than I do. read more

Ordinary delivers exactly as advertised: Dark wood paneling and utterly impeccable and knowledgeable bar service with a list of offerings that borders on the byzantine. We've yet to sample to the purposefully limited menu, but one can hardly find a better spot to kick off an evening in New Haven. read more

Very nice place with a limited menu and drink list. I actually haven't been blown away by the wine here but their menu changes and I haven't tried everything yet. They have a fun cocktail menu and competent bartenders. The beer list is also pretty good. It's a nice upscale atmosphere. My husband recently had the grilled cheese and loved it. Their happy hour specials are not great though, so this ends up being expensive. read more

Excellent happy hour, amazingly crafted cocktails, really some of the best in New Haven so far. The BBQ portion of the business should be ended, I would rather eat food from a gas station than the BBQ in this restaurant which is disappointing. The bartenders and service were excellent. I didn't try any other food but it only takes one BBQ item to determine if a smoker knows what he is doing or now and this one has no clue. read more

F this place. 12 oz beers. Out of food. 3 bite sandwich. I'd give no stars if it was possible. How is it possible to eat a $7 sandwich in 3 bites? Wtf. You're out of food because the students are back? They come back every year. Can management not plan??? read more

My good friend Derek brought me here for my first Old Fashioned and I haven't had one quite as good since. Derek past away about a year and a half ago but I still think about the night he took me here and the laughs we shared at your bar. Thanks for providing that experience and for the delicious cocktail. read more

This was my first time here since the transformation from Richter's... the bartenders are the absolute best. I was able to tell them the flavor I was looking for and they absolutely nailed it. Aside from the bad experience with the hostess, I feel as if this was a good replacement for the classic Richter's. read more

The menu is limited but the drinks are stellar. Heather our server was amazing at recommending drinks. The atmosphere is like a smokey smooth bourbon. The music was a likable 80s groove. read more

I loved the look of this place. It was rustic and homey. The bartenders really know their stuff. Highly recommend!