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Was looking for a seafood restaurant and this came up as an option. Quick 15 min walk and was pleasantly surprised by the decor of this place. Super quaint from the outside and inside was just as great. Also not busy, couple other table. Sat at the bar and was greeted right away. Asked for a recommendation for wine and was glad to hear they had an Albariño which wasn't on the menu. Ordered the crispy prosciutto scallops for an app and the seared snapper. Two scallops with spinach and too many potatoes for the app. Scallops were cooked perfect and delicious. Snapper may have been slightly over cooked but had a crispy skin and the bock choy, cheese, sauce was amazing. The music was on point as well nice and mellow.
I stopped for lunch with a couple of friends. Upon arrival We were warmly greeted and seated inside near the open doors to the patio. Our server was attentive and friendly. We all ordered the lunch price fixe which was a two course for a good price. I had the tuna tartar and sea bass. I enjoyed them both. My friends ordered different meals and were happy with them. Service was good, place was quiet and calm and food was satisfying.
We decided to have lunch here for their $26 prix fixed menu. It was a good deal and the food was delicious. They are full size portions. It was very quiet in the restaurant when we were there for lunch on a weekday. Maybe 3 other tables were occupied in addition to ours. The crispy eggplant and burrata appetizer and the brussel sprouts salad risotto cake appetizers were good. For lunch, I ordered the swordfish special and it was absolutely delicious over couscous. The grilled salmon dish looks delicious too and my friend liked it as well.
The food here was so good! I came in with an extremely large party (I think we had 15+ people) and the staff was very attentive - our glasses always had water and cocktails refilled as needed. I got the braised beef dish and annihilated it. The beef was soo tender! We also had apps etc. I wish I took more pictures but I was enjoying the camaraderie and food!
Great lunch special! Lots of food for the price and well made. Service was kind and attentive.
My mom and I had a lovely lunch here! The standouts of lunch were the tuna tartar appetizer and the cavatelli pasta :) I would definitely get both of these dishes again. The fact that they offered a complimentary dessert for restaurant week lunch was a nice touch!
South Bay is located in a charming area of the city. We visited for a late brunch and had a good experience. The servers were welcoming and attentive. We sat near the bar, opting to stay inside to avoid the summer heat. The restaurant has a stylish yet simple decor. We started with a French 75 featuring Empress Gin, which I definitely recommend. For starters, we enjoyed the grilled octopus, seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection. For our main courses, my husband had the steak and eggs, while I opted for the steak panini. The panini had excellent flavor, but the steak could have been cut into smaller pieces as it was difficult to bite into. I ended up eating it open-faced, which was less enjoyable. Parking is available in the garage across the street or in a lot behind the restaurant. Overall, South Bay offers a nice dining experience with good service. I would return to try other dishes.
Sat on the patio. Nice Friday evening a few weeks back but I would recommend sitting inside to avoid the creatures of New Haven disturbing your dinner. By that I mean people walking by that are on god knows what trying to talk to u, etc etc. On to the food..... The goat cheese and beet salad very good. Not too much to say. Tasty. Mediterranean shrimp scampi a bit bland. Rice was basic white rice. Dense. A nice jasmine white rice or basmati would've been better and a bit lighter. Not sure what they used. Dessert I ordered gelato and it was literally like half a scoop split between two flavors. U don't get much! It also tasted icy. Not super fresh. My friends ordered what's in the other pics posted so I can't speak for those much. All I know is the branzino she ordered custom so that's not how it's typically served. Just fyi. I know she was hoping for some sort of veggies though. She eventually got on the side. Ambiance cute on the inside. Nice menu. Would maybe come back and sit inside.
South Bay was a lovely dinner spot. I went there on a double date and had a blast. The drinks were phenomenal, and the food tasted great too! I got the pre fixe and it came with an appetizer, entree, and desert for $40. The outdoor seating is great on a nice day. The service was a tad slow, but it was pretty busy when we went so, I do not blame them. Overall, great spot, and I will be back in the future.
I was super excited to try South Bay, I always walk by and it seems so elegant. I ended up being frustrated and still hungry. I decided to book a last minute date night on OpenTable for 6:00 reservation. I was super excited because it said happy hour is 4-6:30! My plan was to get a bunch of Tapas and split them, but plans changed. We got there a little before 6:00 and when we sat down it was very empty inside on a Friday night. The server came over and I asked them about the happy hour menu and said it's the whole menu and it's 30% off! But then they looked at the time and said it's only until 6:00. And at that time it was 6:01, so they apologized. I did say it said 6:30 online but they apologized then walked away. So at this point my date and I were kinda bummed because we specifically went for happy hour. This felt so wrong, since it says 6:30 on open table and I feel like they should honor that. I did see on their Facebook and Instagram says 6:00 after the fact. Also we got there at 5:55 so theoretically if they came over a minute earlier we could've ordered happy hour. We felt ripped off. We decided to stay but got a cheaper meal on the menu since we didn't plan on spending money on a whole fancy entree. I got the BLT sliders which were on the specials menu as well as the regular sliders. I've actually never been so disappointed going out to eat. The regular sliders smelled like meaty (in an unappetizing way) as well as tasted like it. The BLT sliders were okay at best, but the bacon tasted like reheated microwaved Canadian bacon. I don't want to blame myself on getting a cheaper meal on the menu or the fact I got sliders at a non American cuisine restaurant the reason it was bad. If you go here please know happy hour is only until 6:00 and do not get the sliders! Overall ambiance is beautiful and staff is attentive.
Stopped I. For a quick bite after traveling. This place is beautiful with impeccable service. I had a glass of Cabernet and the shrimp and hummus with pita. The hummus was lacking but props for everything else!
The food is amazing here. I went with my cousins first then brought my husband back. My husband and I have been back multiple times, weekly. We sat at the bar a few times. Julio the bartender is always fast and attentive. Food is always hot and fresh. We recently told some friends about South Bay and they are hooked!
I initially had a dine-in experience at this restaurant during restaurant week a few years ago. The menu was prefix, but I do recall everything being good. So while exploring restaurants on a food delivery app, I decided to go with South Bay again. I didn't know what I was in the mood for so I ordered a few appetizers. The food was OK. I enjoyed the crabcakes, although they were quite small. I'm not really an oyster fan, but I decided to give them a go. Surprisingly, they may have been my favorite or second favorite of the things ordered. Unfortunately, my cauliflower appetizer left a little to be desired in regards to flavor and seasoning, but I was able to make it work. My main entrée was a mushroom pasta, which was OK as well. I definitely enjoyed the dine-in experience better, and for this type of restaurant, I would highly recommend going in, to sit down and enjoy the meal. The location is great and the ambience was beautiful from what I recall.
Originally my friend made reservations to dine somewhere else. As we were walking by, we noticed how beautiful the food looked at South Bay while people were dining outdoors. The presentation was on point and it looked delish. We decided to have dinner there. The food was amazing, everything was extremely fresh. Our waitress was great. I'm glad we changed our plans. read more
We got the lobster bisque, grilled hanger steak, truffle Mac-n-cheese, prosciutto crisp, seared scallops, crispy mushroom risotto tater tots, and Brussels sprout salad with rice cake, and fried Sicilian calamari. Lobster bisque was hot though pretty liquid-y. The Brussels sprout salad was by no means a salad. More of a rice cake with Brussels shavings on too but really good. Calamari was okay. Mac and cheese was eh, really liquidy as well. I did really like the crispy mushroom risotto tater tots. They tasted just like tater tots. As we were getting to our last bites and still eating, at least three different staff members within a matter of a minute asked if we're were done and could take our plates away. I would have given this place four stars had we not been bombarded at the end of our dinner. It felt like we were being rushed out even though there were tons of tables and seats still available. Left a bad taste in my mouth. read more
Came here for dinner on a Monday evening and had a nice time. We parked in a paid lot a couple streets away. We were able to sit outside on a nice day. The workers were all very kind and attentive. The menu has a variety of options and they all sounds delicious. My friend and I split the grilled yellowfin tuna and crispy red snapper. Both were so good. Flavors were good and fish cooked well. Portions weren't overly filling but very yummy. I thought prices were fair for $30 an entree. Overall a lovely dinner. read more
Was looking for a seafood restaurant and this came up as an option. Quick 15 min walk and was pleasantly surprised by the decor of this place. Super quaint from the outside and inside was just as great. Also not busy, couple other table. Sat at the bar and was greeted right away. Asked for a recommendation for wine and was glad to hear they had an Albariño which wasn't on the menu. Ordered the crispy prosciutto scallops for an app and the seared snapper. Two scallops with spinach and too many potatoes for the app. Scallops were cooked perfect and delicious. Snapper may have been slightly over cooked but had a crispy skin and the bock choy, cheese, sauce was amazing. The music was on point as well nice and mellow. read more
1 year ago
I stopped for lunch with a couple of friends. Upon arrival We were warmly greeted and seated inside near the open doors to the patio. Our server was attentive and friendly. We all ordered the lunch price fixe which was a two course for a good price. I had the tuna tartar and sea bass. I enjoyed them both. My friends ordered different meals and were happy with them. Service was good, place was quiet and calm and food was satisfying. read more
We decided to have lunch here for their $26 prix fixed menu. It was a good deal and the food was delicious. They are full size portions. It was very quiet in the restaurant when we were there for lunch on a weekday. Maybe 3 other tables were occupied in addition to ours. The crispy eggplant and burrata appetizer and the brussel sprouts salad risotto cake appetizers were good. For lunch, I ordered the swordfish special and it was absolutely delicious over couscous. The grilled salmon dish looks delicious too and my friend liked it as well. read more
The food here was so good! I came in with an extremely large party (I think we had 15+ people) and the staff was very attentive - our glasses always had water and cocktails refilled as needed. I got the braised beef dish and annihilated it. The beef was soo tender! We also had apps etc. I wish I took more pictures but I was enjoying the camaraderie and food! read more
5 months ago
Great lunch special! Lots of food for the price and well made. Service was kind and attentive. read more
11 months ago
My mom and I had a lovely lunch here! The standouts of lunch were the tuna tartar appetizer and the cavatelli pasta :) I would definitely get both of these dishes again. The fact that they offered a complimentary dessert for restaurant week lunch was a nice touch! read more
2 years ago
South Bay is located in a charming area of the city. We visited for a late brunch and had a good experience. The servers were welcoming and attentive. We sat near the bar, opting to stay inside to avoid the summer heat. The restaurant has a stylish yet simple decor. We started with a French 75 featuring Empress Gin, which I definitely recommend. For starters, we enjoyed the grilled octopus, seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection. For our main courses, my husband had the steak and eggs, while I opted for the steak panini. The panini had excellent flavor, but the steak could have been cut into smaller pieces as it was difficult to bite into. I ended up eating it open-faced, which was less enjoyable. Parking is available in the garage across the street or in a lot behind the restaurant. Overall, South Bay offers a nice dining experience with good service. I would return to try other dishes. read more
Sat on the patio. Nice Friday evening a few weeks back but I would recommend sitting inside to avoid the creatures of New Haven disturbing your dinner. By that I mean people walking by that are on god knows what trying to talk to u, etc etc. On to the food..... The goat cheese and beet salad very good. Not too much to say. Tasty. Mediterranean shrimp scampi a bit bland. Rice was basic white rice. Dense. A nice jasmine white rice or basmati would've been better and a bit lighter. Not sure what they used. Dessert I ordered gelato and it was literally like half a scoop split between two flavors. U don't get much! It also tasted icy. Not super fresh. My friends ordered what's in the other pics posted so I can't speak for those much. All I know is the branzino she ordered custom so that's not how it's typically served. Just fyi. I know she was hoping for some sort of veggies though. She eventually got on the side. Ambiance cute on the inside. Nice menu. Would maybe come back and sit inside. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
South Bay was a lovely dinner spot. I went there on a double date and had a blast. The drinks were phenomenal, and the food tasted great too! I got the pre fixe and it came with an appetizer, entree, and desert for $40. The outdoor seating is great on a nice day. The service was a tad slow, but it was pretty busy when we went so, I do not blame them. Overall, great spot, and I will be back in the future. read more
2 years ago
I was super excited to try South Bay, I always walk by and it seems so elegant. I ended up being frustrated and still hungry. I decided to book a last minute date night on OpenTable for 6:00 reservation. I was super excited because it said happy hour is 4-6:30! My plan was to get a bunch of Tapas and split them, but plans changed. We got there a little before 6:00 and when we sat down it was very empty inside on a Friday night. The server came over and I asked them about the happy hour menu and said it's the whole menu and it's 30% off! But then they looked at the time and said it's only until 6:00. And at that time it was 6:01, so they apologized. I did say it said 6:30 online but they apologized then walked away. So at this point my date and I were kinda bummed because we specifically went for happy hour. This felt so wrong, since it says 6:30 on open table and I feel like they should honor that. I did see on their Facebook and Instagram says 6:00 after the fact. Also we got there at 5:55 so theoretically if they came over a minute earlier we could've ordered happy hour. We felt ripped off. We decided to stay but got a cheaper meal on the menu since we didn't plan on spending money on a whole fancy entree. I got the BLT sliders which were on the specials menu as well as the regular sliders. I've actually never been so disappointed going out to eat. The regular sliders smelled like meaty (in an unappetizing way) as well as tasted like it. The BLT sliders were okay at best, but the bacon tasted like reheated microwaved Canadian bacon. I don't want to blame myself on getting a cheaper meal on the menu or the fact I got sliders at a non American cuisine restaurant the reason it was bad. If you go here please know happy hour is only until 6:00 and do not get the sliders! Overall ambiance is beautiful and staff is attentive. read more
2 years ago
Stopped I. For a quick bite after traveling. This place is beautiful with impeccable service. I had a glass of Cabernet and the shrimp and hummus with pita. The hummus was lacking but props for everything else! read more
2 years ago
The food is amazing here. I went with my cousins first then brought my husband back. My husband and I have been back multiple times, weekly. We sat at the bar a few times. Julio the bartender is always fast and attentive. Food is always hot and fresh. We recently told some friends about South Bay and they are hooked! read more
4 years ago
I initially had a dine-in experience at this restaurant during restaurant week a few years ago. The menu was prefix, but I do recall everything being good. So while exploring restaurants on a food delivery app, I decided to go with South Bay again. I didn't know what I was in the mood for so I ordered a few appetizers. The food was OK. I enjoyed the crabcakes, although they were quite small. I'm not really an oyster fan, but I decided to give them a go. Surprisingly, they may have been my favorite or second favorite of the things ordered. Unfortunately, my cauliflower appetizer left a little to be desired in regards to flavor and seasoning, but I was able to make it work. My main entrée was a mushroom pasta, which was OK as well. I definitely enjoyed the dine-in experience better, and for this type of restaurant, I would highly recommend going in, to sit down and enjoy the meal. The location is great and the ambience was beautiful from what I recall. read more
6 months ago
Beautiful space inside, but service was a little lackluster despite it not being busy at all, as well as the portions and taste for some dishes. Lamb Lollipops: come with three pieces. It was on the plain side for me in terms of flavor, and these are very, very gamey lamb chops, so those that can't handle it, be warned! I'm a lamb lover so I didn't mind, but someone in my party of four took one bite and couldn't continue anymore haha. I also wished the sear was better on these too. Grilled Octopus: such tiny pieces! I really enjoyed the octopus, but there was more greens/salad than the seafood itself. My party didn't care for this so I'm alone in enjoying haha Seafood Paella: very generous portion! I enjoyed the flavorful rice and majority of the seafood here, but the shrimp was a bit off - super seafoody taste in a bad way. Red Snapper with Gnocchi: gnocchi was horrible, the fish is ok Lamb Chops: same comments as the lollipops Seafood Linguine: pretty meh read more
1 year ago
Came here a couple weeks ago for a girls dinner. The restaurant is beautiful and as usual I really love the dim lighting. For drinks we got a pitcher of Sangria, which was really good. For our apps we ordered the oysters and crispy mushroom risotto tater tots. The oysters were so fresh and delicious! The best I've ever had. Loved the risotto tater tots. Never had anything like that before so it was nice to try something new! The sauces they served with it were good too. For my entree I don't remember the name sadly and couldn't find it online. It was fish from the specials menu. Served with fingerling potatoes and carrots. It was delicious. The service could have been better, server wasn't really happy and inviting but we did have a great time and would definitely return. read more
3 years ago
Tried South Bay for the first time last night, it's been on my list for a while. We were attending a show two doors down at College St Music Hall. Perfect location if attending a show there or across the street at the Shubert. Service was on the slow side, but in their defense there was a big show happening with 1,700 nurses attending so I can totally understand why. That would definitely not deter me from going again. Our party loved the food and drinks! We had the octopus, coconut shrimp, goat cheese salad, cauliflower steak salad, crispy red snapper and halibut. Delicious and were perfectly cooked! Can't wait to go back. read more
11 months ago
Went to check out their restaurant week for lunch! It turned out to be a great deal with full 3 courses. Prepare to be stuffed by the end! Started off with the tuna tartare that was almost an entree portion - tuna was fresh and the bread was toasted but the fish flavor was major lacking and begged for the avocado sauce. For my main, I did the crab cakes - the flavor was complex, perfectly crispy and the veg were a nice textural and flavor change. The berry cake dessert was super rich, buttery and complimented well by the tart berry sorbet. The service was attentive and quick. The place itself was pretty tight but would be nice for a date night. Taste:4/5 Value:5/5 Ambiance:4/5 Service:4/5 read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
A cute place on College Street sandwiched in between Villa Lulu and Pacifico. Lunch outdoors provided an opportunity to enjoy not only the lovely weather but also engage in people watching (which in New Haven always promises a character or two). Staff were super courteous. The lobster and crab meat salad also included arugula, avocado, cherry tomatoes, oranges and pancetta in a light citrus dressing. I loved it so much I left nothing on my plate. (But for $24 a plate, even if I didn't love it, I would have devoured it.) Apparently, there's another location in Fairfield and in Greenwich. Great menu offerings. A little something for everyone, including non-pescatarians. read more
I have tried South Bay twice and both times it has been lackluster. The service is never amazing and the food is always a bit bland. The most recent time we ordered the shrimp and the sliders. Both were fairly priced, but I was expecting a much better meal for what each dish cost. They weren't particularly bad, but nothing was very memorable and I was generally disappointing. Everybody else on Yelp seems to like this place, so maybe I have just had two bad experiences and am the outlier. Regardless, I will not be going back for the foreseeable future, especially because there are so many other restaurants nearby that I like much better. read more
4 years ago
Ambiance 9/10 - beautifully decorated place. Service 5/10 - very par Food 2/10 - maybe it was only the pastas but coming from someone who loves and appreciates good homemade pasta, this was not right. Cooked way too long which makes the pasta quite soggy. Also I got the carbonara special and it was more of an Alfredo than carbonara, there was clearly no pecorino Romano, the maybe 3 small pieces of pancetta, and possibly not even made with egg yolk. Highly recommend going somewhere else, which is unfortunate because everything on the menu sounds like it should be delicious. Also scallops are very small. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Southbay is one of the best charcuterie board experiences! Sicilian calamari with marinara sauce, fried jalapeño, and cherry peppers, along with crispy eggplant burrata drizzled with pesto. Not to be missed is the goat cheese ball atop honey, a standout on the board. Trying steak tartare for the first time, I'm now a big fan, especially with the addition of a quail egg and truffle. The service is quick and accommodating, and always brings good music and vibes especially when you sit on the patio in the spring and summer. read more
5 years ago
New Haven was seriously lacking in the culinary department until the arrival of South Bay. The quality of the food is definitely on par with some of my favorite NYC restaurants and the hospitality is evident with a welcoming environment. The portions are large but not overwhelming. Clearly, but quality and quantity are balanced. Complex flavor pairing exists in every dish--especially the red snapper that comes with gnocchi. Definitely didn't expect to love that pairing but they work so well together! Would recommend leaving room for the orange creme brûlée for dessert! read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
OK so let's just start with I LOVE SOUTH BAY and my fav server is Johnny!!! Johnny is always so good to me when I dine at South Bay. One of my last visits was after a night of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. I just waltz right across the street from the Shubert theater and get my eat on!!! So I got my fav drink which is the same blue drink I get at Harvest New Haven. It's sooooo tasty. I kind of like my drinks fruity, sweet and pretty and this one definitely fits the bill! For my meal, I got one of the seafood specials. I don't think I've had a bad meal at South Bay ever. They never disappoint. South Bay has specials that you won't find anywhere else and they always have really good seafood options. And of course I had dessert! It was so good that Johnny gave me a second on the house! I'm due for another visit soon and can't wait to eat outside with the warmer weather and people watch! read more
4 years ago
==== GRADE C+ ==== South Bay is a Mediterranean-inspired seafood restaurant set among the strip of bustling restaurants on College street. They had soooo much promise. To my surprise, a few of the dishes were even Latin-inspired! South Bay missed the spot on what would've been an wonderful opportunity to fuse Latin and Mediterranean food. We chose South Bay as our first stop for New Haven restaurant week and would unfortunately, have to pass on this one next year. [Harvest Brussel Sprouts Salad - 8/10] The presentation here was beautiful! The truffle pesto and lemon olive oil paired well with all the ingredients in this dish , making every bite flavorful. The parmesan risotto cake was crispy and was the perfect backdrop for the fun texture of the Brussel sprouts. This appetizer was definitely the highlight of the meal. [Grilled Swordfish - 3/10] The swordfish was well cooked; it cut through like smooth butter. It was really fatty, however, and I wish I had a few more greens to balance it out. While everything was seasoned well, the flavors never quite incorporated. The mango chunks on top of the fish were sweet and tangy, but not every bite had mango. Maybe turning that into a sauce could've brought out the mango flavors more. It was a pretty big portion, but eating it got boring after the first few bites. I wouldn't get it again. [Berry Shortcake - 5/10] The almond flour sponge cake was moist and gave "tres leches" vibes. While it did mesh well with the whipped cream and peach jam, everything was a little too sweet. However, I'd say my personal preferences for desserts err on the side of being less sweet so others might find it to be the right level of sweetness. The raspberry was perfectly tart, smooth and creamy. Overall, the presentation of the dish was very pretty and colorful, but the flavor wasn't anything special. [Drinks - 1/10] I got a mango mojito and oh boy, it was WAY too much mojito and not enough mango. The mint was so overwhelming that it became impossible to drink it without a bitter, uncomfortable feeling. I wanted to like it, but couldn't take more than 2 sips. [Service - 10/10] Both the hostess and servers were awesome! They offered help with the menu and checked in on us frequently. No complaints here. [Ambiance - 8/10] South Bay gives a seaside fine-dining vibe with its moody lighting and nautical decor. It also offers some fire-warmed outdoors seating for those more bold and adventurous. The servers were decked out in blue uniforms and the restaurant is immersed in flowy Latin music. All in all, it presents a great scene for a more casual version of a fine-dining experience (fine-dining lite maybe). [Overall - 5/10] The staff and ambiance were amazing. The food and drinks? Not so much :( . The food tastes alright overall, but it's not worth the hefty price. For the $45/person (not including drinks, tax, or tips) we paid for the meal, you're definitely better off spending your money elsewhere. read more
1 year ago
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