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!

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!

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.

* Good variety of games from fighting to driving. They all seem to work pretty well too…read more * Great variety of beer and drink options at a fair price. * Surprisingly clean considering how many drinks must get spilled here * The bathrooms look like they're from an abandoned building but I love it ? lol * Friendly staff * Good vibes Looking to kill some time? Come here, grab a beer, $5 worth of tokens and you'll be set!

I want to love barcade because the concept and the games are absolutely great. And we found a…read morenearby parking garage that was decently cheap on a Sunday afternoon. Buttttt the place was dirty as in tons of gross unbussed tables and drinks everywhere - it was literally the bartender solo or so I thought but later saw that a big guy playing games also actually worked there but was not "working" shall we say, too bad because the drink I had was good (margarita) and the games made for a fun time.

Though Cafe Nine's ownership has changed, there are some things about it that remain the same: the…read morebathrooms that are always interesting sights to behold with their graffiti and decals promoting X, Y, and Z band or organization; the cheap beers (who else in this area offers Genesse on tap with its intimidating axe-shaped handle?) served alongside some more popular local craft brews; the chill vibe; great live music. I've been to the Sunday jazz jams many times (which always is free of cover charge) and glad to know they still hold this Sunday tradition (albeit on Saturdays now) along with jazz jams every other Tuesday night. If you play a jazz instrument, you can just go up and play along with other folks in an informal setting. (It was great to see women on the drums and that massive upright bass last night!) I personally appreciate that Cafe Nine offers Athletic on tap for those of us who prefer non-alcoholic brews and still want to blend in with the setting. Cafe Nine is still a great place to relax with live music. I'm so glad they still offer the jazz jams, and on more than just the weekend.

A fun dive bar with great vibes all around. I came to see Squints perform and Cafe Nine was a great…read morevenue for them to play. We also caught a few other bands performs like Seepie and Shortwave too. The volume of the mics were just right, and the crowd was energetic from start to finish. It was a packed house! We love to see it. The bar staff was also very friendly. We will be back!

Great place, great employees, great customers. It's the only place in town I can enjoy a good cup…read moreof coffee and a cigarette.

We had a great night at the owl bar. Chadwick was our bartender and had all great suggestions for…read moredrinks and cigars. The prices aren't bad and the drinks were excellent. Highly recommended: THE LEGIONNAIRE $13 Vanilla Vodka, Pineapple Jalapeno Shrub, Dry Sherry, Lemon, Cassis - a F r e n c h M a r t i n i w i t h a t w i s t - The old school hip hop music was on and everyone seemed to be having a great night. There was no dress code and there was a mix of age levels.

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

The meatloaf plate is SO good. Big sexy knows how to throw down in the kitchen…read more But really, you can't miss with this place. Everything is delicious and service is pretty quick too!

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!!!

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

Came here before class even though I was already running late, bcuz my priorities include food…read morebefore punctuality. The ECS Burger looked popular, so of course I had to try it. I ordered it medium; This burger was SO flavorful. The sharp cheddar, smoked aioli, sweet onion jam, baby arugula and tomato all worked together perfectly. The onion jam gave it that little sweet hit, the arugula added an earthy bite, the tomato kept things fresh, and that smoked aioli brought everything together. Every flavor had a job and they were all getting along partying in my mouth. The burger comes with hand-cut fries, but I paid the extra $3 for the truffle parm fries and YES. Delicious. Definitely worth the upgrade. I ended up eating the whole thing in my car because I was pressed for time. No regrets. This might be one of the most flavorful burgers I've had in a very long time. The only problem? I almost missed class because this burger gave me a major case of the itis. I'd def come back when it's popping.. this spot has that lively gastropub/bar atmosphere people come here for, w/cocktails, brunch and rooftop seating in the warmer months. I came for a burger before class and left fighting not to fall in a food coma.

80 Proof and Barracuda now serve Brunch on Saturday!! Went to Brunch on a Saturday to check it out…read moreas we usually go there for brunch on Sunday's. It was the same great service we always expect from Clarissa! This time we had the Chicken & Waffle, Shrimp & Grits, Meat Lover's Omelet and Chilaquiles, and of course the Mimosa Bar!! All were delicious. It's always a fun vibe at 80 Proof. Good music, good food, good energy is what keeps us coming back!!

This is my second updated review for 80 Proof and Kitchen. My cousin and I came to get a bite to…read moreeat. 80 Proof offers classic food options, a focus on shareable plates and craft cocktails, two bars, a patio, a private, and multiple private dining and event options. We ordered Macaroni and Cheese, Sweet Chili Wings, and Nachos. The Sweet Chili Wings were good. They had great flavor, and the sauce stayed on the wings instead of all over the plate. They had a great flavor and were crispy. The Nachos were good. They were crispy with plenty of toppings. The Macaroni and Cheese was okay. It lacked flavor and the noodles were a bit overcooked. The customer service was excellent, and our server was very friendly.

Friendly and cozy place. Food is also great. I'm not even vegan and have been enjoying the menu.read more

Fish sando- crispy tasty yummy would get again! No allergy issues!…read more Mac with homemade cheese- creamy and fun! Would definitely return!