Yale Billiards

Popped in after a concert on a Friday night and it was a little dead (no music til we hit the…read moreTouchTunes--everyone is welcome lol) but once the tunes started it livened up. The bartender (a gentleman in his 40s-50s) had such a cheery disposition and the beers were cheap. If I lived nearby, I'd definitely be a local. Plus I hear the jerky's great.

Cannot ask for more than good people and good drinks. Total local bar where all will feel welcome.read more

Bunny Hop for Sister's Project

See all

Available merch

Cherry Street Station

3.9(8 reviews)

0.2 mi

Great dive bar. It's a small place but the live music here is awesome. I saw some metal bands here…read moreand had a great time, the sound was great and wasn't muffled or anything. They have a decent selection of beer but that could always be improved, but I'm not complaining, it's more than serviceable and the bartender was great. There's a decent outside area in the back with some picnic tables set up and there's even a koi pond which was pretty cool. It's one of the few places around that can have a decent setup for some nice metal bands and as far as dive bars go, this one's damn solid.

The bar was awkward in layout and was only saved by the awesome bands that played there. Beer…read moreselection was ok, they had some interesting brews in the bottle, less on tap. Beer was not super expensive, about $5 each. What bothered me the most was the obnoxious smoke machine. Really? The 80's called they want their smoke machine back! All it did was piss off the patrons and make it harder for the band to breathe and sing. Get rid of it!

See all

Knuckleheads

4.0(442 reviews)

1.3 mi

Good Service and lots of creative menu options! The staff is friendly and it's a cool spot…read moreespecially if you like Hotdogs!!

Driving through CT - need dinner, where you want to go? KNUCKLEHEADS!…read more WOW - great burger, great beer! Worth the stop.

Interior

"Pig Wings" (pork shank meat on the bone with Acapulco Gold and Honey BBQ dipping sauces)

See all

Bad Sons Beer Company's "Hyrdoponic" (Hazy New England IPA)

O'brien's Pub

4.2(12 reviews)

2.4 mi

Stopped in on a Friday for karaoke. Shelly at the bar is fantastic and sweet as can be. Davy Dee…read moredoes a great job with the karaoke. Stop in sometime!

Firstly, the pizza here is phenomenal. The nachos not so much. Typical dive bar: regulars who…read moreconverse with the bartender & everyone shares a couple laughs. Great drinks, keno, scratch offs, pool table- everything you need for a chill afternoon.

Shelly at the bar even makes a cute twirl with the straw paper! And look at that glass!

See all

Grand Central Sports Bar

3.3(18 reviews)

1.2 mi

We came here from out of town after a concert at the oakdale theatre and the locals did not…read moredisappoint! There was karaoke on a Friday night and it was lively as hell in there. The bartenders were workin so hard and slangin drinks quickly. Plus they recently opened their kitchen (or a new menu maybe??) and the food was fire and pretty cheap! We had fries (they're the double coated kind, my fav) and burgers--which were huge and came on a toasted bun. Plus the kitchen was open at 1am which was SO clutch after being out all night. Really lovely time! Oh and it's a dolphins bar? Lol cool vibe in there

Omg! My friend and I went on a Friday night for karaoke. And this bar is like Toby Keith's sing, "I…read moreLove this Bar!" The people were so friendly and it was SO much fun!

Dolphins cards embedded in the bar

See all

Archie Moore's

3.4(209 reviews)

1.3 mi

Came here with a group of friends to celebrate New Year's Day…read more We were seated quickly with a party of 5. We started off with a few drinks, a New England hard cider and a cosmopolitan. The drinks were good and came out quick We got a side of cheese fries and a side of waffle fries. There were fries for our table plus some! The servings were huge!! We got a few orders of the buffalo wings and Thai chili wings. The wings were flavorful and crispy The quesadilla was huge! Enough to split with two people (4 pieces) Our server was quick and made sure we had all we needed.

Archie Moore's is soooo underrated!!! This is the spot for a good time, to watch sports, enjoy a…read moredrink and a meal! The staff is also amazing here too, i'm always met with a smile and a big welcome! Came here for St Patties Day and we got a huge plate of Corn Beef Nachos that were delish! We also got Mozz Sticks (that my friend rated just okay) and Garlic Pretzel Sticks that perfectly drenched and delicious! For mains, we tried their Mongolian Beef Pita, Chili Cheese Fries, Boneless Wings, Cajun Fries, and a Jalapeno Burger and those plates were CLEAN by the end!! They also allowed us to get the Boneless Wings with their cajun seasoning from the fries and they were incredible- please add them to the menu Love this spot!

Boneless wings

See all

Cosmopolitan

Blackbird Tavern

4.3(118 reviews)

5.6 mi

So enjoyable. Has my birthday dinner here with my daughter and her boyfriend. The food was very…read moregood and I loved the atmosphere .

The food is so good and it tastes like heaven. There is lovely workers, it feels like a classic…read more1970's restaurant.

Buffalo blue cheese burger

Deep fried hot dog

See all

Hard Hat Cafe II

3.4(61 reviews)

1.0 mi

We went here for my birthday 2 of us had the steak one cooked perfectly the other too well done it…read morecame with broccoli and mashed potatoes. One got the seafood pasta special it was decent needed a bit more flavor the hunk of swordfish was very fishy it had shrimp was suppose to have scallops Then we had the wings garlic parm and teriyaki they were not crispy like we asked but good flavor. It was pretty busy . But we were seated right away and served pretty quick. It was a pretty good meal staff very nice and beautiful inside the restaurant I do love the salads Enjoy Chris m

Really enjoyed trying out the hard hat cafe a few weeks ago! This place definitely has a lot of…read moreregulars and I can tell for how chill and nice the ambiance was! We actually found out while we were there that they were doing music bingo which gave winners free drinks, food, and discounts as well, which was nice a touch! We went for happy hour and scored these impeccable Cosmo's for $7 each and they were delicious! We went for their loaded nachos, fried mozzarella sticks and some of their famous wings! We got the doob style (fried then grilled) along with their garlic parm ones and they were quite amazing! I've never had a Doob style but I absolutely loved it, between the char, the hints of buffalo flavor, I'm dying to see how I can make these wings myself! Would absolutely return here in a heartbeat.

Inside

Doob wing

See all

Outside

Contois Tavern

4.4(46 reviews)

11.6 mi

When people say the best burger in New Haven is Louis. Those are people that never been here…read morebefore. Louis is a joke compared to this place If you don't have this burger you are missing out. The service is what I love about this place. Brash, honest and too the fucking point. You gotta love that. The slogan here should be "how did I not know about this?"

Delicious burgers!!! No take out unfortunately. I'm still thinking about this burger!!!read more

View of bar & sign

IYKYK!

See all

Trackside Brick Oven

4.0(72 reviews)

2.1 mi

A must visit! Just…read moreoff Rt 5 is an old Philadelphia subway car that serves some amazing pizza. This is a really good New Haven style; thin, crispy, nice char! And their garlic bread with cheese and Caesar salad were excellent. Service was fantastic! A short drive from exit 13, definitely worth a visit.

Trackside Brick Oven Pizzeria is a New Haven-style pizzeria that opened in Wallingford, Connecticut…read morein February 2001. It was founded by business partners Edward Naclerio, Arsenio Bernardo and Anthony DeNisi. The pizzeria is located inside a vintage 1928 Philadelphia subway car. In 1980, Jerry Collins started a small hot dog stand called "Chili Dog Chew Chew" on Route 5 in Wallingford. A couple of years later, he purchased the discarded subway car for $15,000. After refurbishing and reassembling the car, it became the new home for Collins' hot dog stand (which became more of a diner afterwards). It moved to its current home on Dudley Avenue in the late 1980s, right alongside the Hartford Line: a commuter rail line used by CT Rail and Amtrak. The business closed in 1997 and sat vacant until the new business partners purchased the subway car in 2000. After outfitting it with a gas-powered brick oven, the new venture was dubbed "Trackside". In addition to the signature New Haven-style pizza, the menu also consists of calzones, stuffed breads, Italian entrées, grinders, wraps, salads, soups, and various appetizers. My family and I visited for dinner this past summer. Although we've long known about the pizzeria, this was actually our first visit. Trackside is open for lunch and dinner, but dine-in seating is only available for the dinner service and we really wanted to eat in. The exterior and interior are both really cool. The owners spent a lot of time restoring all of the little details of the subway car. My family doesn't just love pizza, but we love trains too! We saw trains going by on the nearby tracks frequently during our stay. We ordered and shared the "Mashed Potato & Crispy Bacon", a Red Pie with Sausage & Ricotta, and a side of "Penne with Marinara" for our younger son who prefers pasta to pizza. This was REALLY GOOD pizza; excellent sauce, crust and toppings! We washed everything down with some locally-produced Foxon Park White Birch Beer. We all had a blast at Trackside and give them our seal of approval! We look forward to returning!

Interior

"Penne with Marinara"

See all

Exterior

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

10 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Jamison B.

8 years ago

Always a great time at Yale! Gorgeous new facility - family-friendly, clean, spacious, well-appointed and stocked with great music (sweet jukebox that you control from an app on your phone so you never have to leave your table or carry a pocket full of quarters) played through Bose speakers, full bar, good food and all the pool accessories you'd ever need to play - cues, cases and all the bits that range in price from inexpensive to "damn, that's a lot of money for a cue!" LOL The staff is always welcoming and Bobby and Liz keep it moving smoothly even when things get busy. The 9-foot Brunswick tables have all been completely re-felted and are straight and true even when my shots aren't. They're fast and fun! They even have two smaller "bar box" tables in a semi-private room that would be great for parties or work gatherings. Swing on down and have a drink or a snack while playing a few racks with your friends and family. You won't be disappointed. read more

Cheryl C.

8 years ago

The friendliness place in town. The owners Bobby & Chrissy Hilton have done a phenomenal job with the upgrade from the old location to this new bigger building. Excellent and professional service. All tables have been refurbished and play like new. From the people who come to play to the people who work there it's really a friendly environment. I would recommend this place to any family. read more

Jason F.

135

8 years ago

I've been coming to Yale Billiards for over 10 years and have had great times at the old location and especially the new location. The tables shoot amazing and the great times continue every time I'm there. Michelle Powers is always on her game and makes sure your glass is never empty. Definitely worth the check in!! read more

Karen F.

108

8 years ago

I love coming here! The owner is very friendly, the staff is awesome, and Michelle is one of my favorite bartenders. I've been playing at Yale for 8 years now and it's fantastic to see the new establishment filled with people having a good time. If you love playing pool, this is great place to come hang out! read more

Michael M.

8 years ago

Whoever writes anything less then a perfect review is an idiot. This place is by far the best with the best staff including the cook. Almost hilarious how someone can say anything less... sweatpants, hoodies, or not still the best place... Kelly Hodder is the best cook! read more

Stacey B.

8 years ago

Best pool hall around! The new place is great! Nice bar. Awesome employees! Drink specials. Great tables. The cook there is so sweet and makes sure your food is perfect for you! Kelly Hodder, love seeing ya there! read more

Andrew L.

7 years ago

This place can't be topped. Whether you're a hardcore pool player or just want a drink to unwind, Liz and Rebecca are the best in Wallingford. In a town with 15+ bars, this just might be the best! read more

Kathy P.

8 years ago

Great pool hall with great employees! Everyone is friendly and accommodating. Love coming here to play pool and socialize! Kelly Hodder cooks and even brings your food to you! read more

Craig C.

5 months ago

Great tables . I think GF Should of wore a longer skirt. Frommthe looks of the guys at the nearest table LOL

Eric B.

11 years ago

Great little divey place for some cold beer

Yale Billiards - poolbilliards - Updated November 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Wallingford, Connecticut Coffee near Yale Billiards

BEST of Wallingford, Connecticut Things to Do near Yale Billiards

BEST of Wallingford, Connecticut Darts near Yale Billiards

BEST of Wallingford, Connecticut Bars near Yale Billiards

BEST of Wallingford, Connecticut Bowling near Yale Billiards

BEST of Wallingford, Connecticut Arcade near Yale Billiards

BEST of Wallingford, Connecticut Snow Tubing near Yale Billiards

BEST of Wallingford, Connecticut Sledding near Yale Billiards

People found Yale Billiards by searching for…

Related Cost Guides

Florists

Best of Wallingford

Things to do in Wallingford

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Yale Billiards also viewed

Shooters Billiards and Arcade

3.4

(23 reviews)

First time coming here with a Family outing of six. We all had a fun time…read more There are about 20 tables to play, but overturned quickly. The place was packed on a Saturday night and we got 2 games in. Basic bar food and full bar service and a jukebox with music

First time coming to this billiards and arcade. I met up with my family. It was a party of six , We…read moreplayed a few games of pool. For a Saturday night it was pretty busy. We ordered fries and a soda from the concession stand. Fries were hot and yummy. Staff was helpful. Prices were fair. We had a fun time!

TCB Bar & Billiards

3.8

(16 reviews)

Nice drive bar with lots of space and games. They have a couple of pool tables, darts and a stage…read morefor karaoke. Drinks weren't too pricey and people are nice enough. I would go back with a groups to just hangout and play some games or alone to hear people sing.

Have a great time here. The staff is always super friendly. Reasonably priced. Fun atmosphere.read more

Towne Billiards & Bar

3.2

(13 reviews)

Came on a Saturday night 2 weeks ago with my boyrfriend after dinner to shoot some pool. The place…read morewas kind of dead at first, only 3 tables lit with players of an older crowd. As it got later into the night, many more of the tables started to fill up. The background music playing was lacking, but there is an electronic jukebox you can pay to hear songs, that's the way to go. The music plays pretty loud from this method, oh and there is an app that you can choose the songs directly from your phone search and play them. As for our drinks, the first round I had a cranberry and Absolut, boyfriend had Captain and Coke. Both came in small glasses with limes that, well..we're very brown. When the waitress realized we'd be there awhile for a couple more rounds of drinks, she suggested to get tall glasses for $2 more each. Out came fresh glasses, strong drinks and freshly cut limes. This is the way to go. All in all we had a great time :)

What an awesome place. Even if you are not into pool. The staff (Sarah & Catalina) are amazing…read more Definitely an A+++

Grand Central Sports Bar

3.3

(18 reviews)

Omg! My friend and I went on a Friday night for karaoke. And this bar is like Toby Keith's sing, "I…read moreLove this Bar!" The people were so friendly and it was SO much fun!

US 1 Billiards

3.5

(15 reviews)

This place is absolutely amazing! The food was beyond delicious!! It is very clean, fun music,…read moreupbeat atmosphere. I was here for a pool event, and had the best time. Not to mention the owners are fabulous- super nice, welcoming, and attentive! Highly recommend. Hope to be back soon!!

Rude staff, especially rude lady at the front. Not 18+ friendly. Food is okay. Place is cleanread more

The Gilded Curtain

4.5

(30 reviews)

Wow, what a find. Not sure exactly how I came across this business on yelp but so happy I did. I…read morestopped by an hour before close after dinner tonight. I just missed their live jazz band that they have on weekly Wednesday basis starting at around 7 or 8pm. I wasn't too disappointed because I knew I'd be back. The entrance is setup as a VHS store with VHS movie cases displayed all over the "storefront." Everyone here was polite and welcoming. I was met by a host who showed me the way into the hidden bar, that you enter via a soda machine. If I'm not mistaken, there's a specific button that opens the vending machine door (you'll get a hint as to which one it is.) I was lead to the back to a narrow, elongated bar area that was perfectly dim with cozy decor; incredibly inviting, warm, could make be described as elegant. At the end of the bar, near the exit (at the back of the establishment), is where the band usually sets up. I sat down and asked the bartender to free flow through his cocktail creativity and to please include smoke. He didn't disappoint, I can't recall the name of the cocktail but he included two scotches and delivered the smokiness I was looking for. I love a good spirit despite lacking the knowledge of its production to which Jeremy, the founder, explained to me in a way that helped me understand the distilling processes simpler than I thought possible. On their bar top there were two mini wooden barrels that held their own aged products . One contained Irish whiskey which was referred to as the Irish- the other was as a cherry infused bourbon-- both good but the bourbon? Divine. Tonight I learned that the wood you choose to age your alcohol in heavily impacts the flavor of the liquor, not only through the amount of time the spirit ages in the barrel, but the type of wood used. The example I was given was that of oak and its ability to allow sugar to be drawn from it via a liquor (can't recall which one exactly was used to describe this process). Here they also produce all of their bases/ juices or an additions to the drinks they make. You know exactly what you're drinking here. I had little knowledge of this distilling/infusion/aging components and also of Wallingford, a place that was once referred to as the wettest town in the U.S. It makes sense given that their main strip contains 18 bars in itself. This Gilded Curtain was incredibly immersive, there is no doubt that I'll be back, lots of times, with lots of different people to impress. Love this place, it's a must visit recommendation from here on out. Thank you Gilded Curtain (Jeremy).

There are two speakeasy a couple blocks from each other in Wallingford. This one is through the…read morefront of a 1990 video store. I like this one a little more - simply a matter of ascetics. Nice cocktail menu. They have trivia periodically- though it's such a small space I am not sure how. Nice people. Good drinks. My biggest issue with these little cocktail bars is is simply how long are you going to be there. These kinds of places are great in a city. You pop in before or after a show. There is not much around here. Some other restaurants and bars nearby. But it still feels like it was just dropped in from above. But by all means if you are in the neighborhood drop on in.

The Village Barn

4.2

(6 reviews)

The VB is a little hole-in-the-wall, locals-only sort of place where everyone will turn from their…read morebarstools to look at the strangers walking in, but are just as likely to buy your next round and then remember your life story the next time you show up. It's always a good indication of a place when the staff hangs around even when they aren't working, since they like it so much. I tend to only show up with Sarah G. is working (hi!) but it's one of my favorite spots to go when I know I don't have to impress anyone and can just be myself.

Nice little towny bar. Cash only but they do have an ATM in case you find yourself without cash…read more They have a couple pool tables in a separate room than the bar which is always nice and roomy. Service is perfect. Bartender is very observant and knows exactly when you need another drink. Drinks are made perfectly too

Branford Cue & Brew

3.8

(23 reviews)

This Place is Special. Deluca magic when they created this pool hall vibe. Service, drink and food,…read moresince day one has always been awesome and fun, second to none. Sicilian kiss. IYKYK. RIP and Cheers my friend. Penna

First time going here and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming .... Food was great I had the…read morebuffalo shrimp wrap ! I will definitely be re visiting!!!

The Den at Hush

4.6

(18 reviews)

I checked out The Den at Hush and loved it. It's a clean, cozy spot with friendly staff, and this…read morehidden speakeasy‑style cocktail lounge was such a cool surprise. Make sure you bring your ID as you will get carded prior to entering.

This place is a really cute hidden gem. It's hidden behind a bookshelf in the spa. The place is…read moredecorated super cute with plenty of seating. They have games and books on shelves and tables. There are come counches and some chairs as well as bar seating. The bar tender was really nice, open and very welcoming making the whole experience even better. She made me a drink that was really good so I got it twice.

Horatio's Bar

4.8

(10 reviews)