We have already discussed GPSCY in great detail, and for many of you this may be on the only bar you ever attend (if you ever attend) because it has great social events, excellent prices, and delightful clientele. However, for those nights when you are hankering for something a little different, a little less Yale, perhaps you would like to check out some of these fine establishments. This is only a snapshot of bars we love in New Haven, as this post would be several pages otherwise.
Anna Liffey's (17 Whitney Avenue)
Good for: Pub Atmosphere, Happy Hour
While no one would go so far as to say that Anna Liffey's is an authentic Irish pub, it succeeds with that particular vibe better than most. They always have a decent selection of beer on tap, including some Irish staples like Smithwick's and a rotating selection of seasonal options. They also carry local brews, which are often on special. In general, the happy hour specials are good and ever-changing, and while the bar can get pretty crowded, there is always enough space to spread out just enough. The food is pretty good on the pub food scale, and we've heard excellent things bout their burgers. They host weekly events, including Tuesday night Trivia which is quite popular and draws a few teams from among YDS students and employees—Esther even won once, and if she can do it, well...
Black Bear Saloon (124 Temple Street)
Good for: Dancing, Happy Hour
Black Bear is a restaurant and bar in downtown New Haven that sometimes can't decide if it wants to be a nightclub, a sports bar, or a pub. There are numerous televisions usually set to sports, and every weekend (Thurs-Sat) there are DJs who take over and turn the whole place into a big dance party. Black Bear has great specials and happy hour deals, although the price you pay is that it's probably the bar with the biggest "college town" feel out of all the bars on this list. They are constantly putting on events for different local businesses, private groups, charity benefits, sports fans, and local bands, so there could just be something for everyone.
116 Crown (116 Crown Street)
Good for: Fancy cocktails
116 Crown began in the wave of "craft cocktail" bars that sprung up throughout the country several years back, especially in New York. As such, it has the most expensive drinks in town, but also the strongest. They offer all of the great IBA classics from Manhattans to Pimm's cups (served with ginger ale—Patrick's preferred method of Pimm's-ery) to off-kilter options like the Prescott (bourbon, St.-Germain, crème de mûre). The food is very interesting, but also outrageously expensive. The clientele and décor fit a young urban professional atmosphere. Overall, 116 is a great place to go for a cocktail or for a splurge.
Firehouse 12 (45 Crown Street)
Good for: Cocktails, Music
If you want to go somewhere with a little more swank, check out Firehouse 12. The drink menu is small in size but great in spirit (get it?!). The atmosphere ranges from incredibly chill to mildly crazy, depending on when you show up, and it's always an interesting mix of people from all over New Haven. The drinks can be a bit pricey, but they are also delicious and unusual, all named after local landmarks. They have a Jazz series that will be starting in mid-September, and they have live music events throughout the year that are often worth checking out.
Archie Moore's (188 Willow Street)
Good for: Wings Enthusiasts, Happy Hour
There are two great things about Archie's, and they are wings and vegetarian chili. This is a popular happy hour spot for YDS students, in part because of its relative proximity to campus and the East Rock neighborhood. There are good happy hour deals on food and drink, which can often mean that the modestly sized bar can get pretty crowded during those times. If you can grab a table, it's a great place to share a pitcher with friends, celebrate achievements, or host club meetings off campus.
The Cask Republic (179 Crown Street)
Good for: Beer Selection, Whiskey Lovers
This is without a doubt the best place for real beer lovers, since they have a selection of artisan and craft brews from around the world. You can always try something new since they cycle through specials regularly, and they bottle and age beer on site, so the staff is knowledgeable and full of recommendations. If beer isn't your thing but you happen to love whiskey, you will also find a haven here, with one of the widest whiskey selections in New Haven. Because of its tavern vibe it's rarely too loud or crowded to sit with friend and really enjoy your drink. The food is also great (if small), and so it's definitely a place you could hit for dinner and stay for drinks.
Prime 16 (172 Temple Street)
Good for: Happy Hour, Beer Selection, Burgers
Prime 16 combines the best qualities of other bars together into one shiny package. Their beer and whiskey selections are not as extensive as Cask's, their Happy Hour isn't necessarily as great as Liffey's, their atmosphere is not as interesting as 116's. But they consistently do all three well. But really, the huge draw for food here are their burgers; everything is top quality, whether 100% angus burgers, ground lamb, or house-made veggie burger. Their specials are a real draw: Happy Hour with 1/2 price on most of their 20 taps, $5 burgers between 2-4pm Tuesday-Friday, $3 pints of a craft brew on Mondays after 7pm, and tap-takeovers by different breweries with free tastings after 9pm on Wednesdays. The free tastings on Wednesday actually puts regular Prime-goers a leg-up over Cask: you can sample more offerings by more breweries, and do so for free, if you go consistently.
Rudy's (1227 Chapel Street)
Good for: Fries, Beer Selection
Rudy's is one of the oldest establishments in New Haven, but has recently moved and undergone a massive overhaul from its previously dive bar feel—though traces of those roots still shine through. Rudy's is a Belgian haven, from a sizable Belgian selection on tap (including Kwak in its funny glasses) to delicious fries with almost 20 different sauce selections, mostly based on mayonnaise. The scene is casual and a little hipster-y; definitely the kind of place to have a few beers, rather than "going out."
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar (74 Church Street)
Good for: Sports Fans, Wings Enthusiasts
Because they have roughly a babiillion televisions, Buffalo Wild Wings is quite a popular place to watch big games, or currently the Olympics. If you love wings, sliders, and other pub food, you won't be disappointed. They also have a wide beer selection and decent happy hour specials for both drinks and food. Plus, free refills on soft drinks - what?! Too good.
C.O. Jones (969 State Street)
Good for: Margaritas
C.O. Jones (so-called because the City of New Haven wouldn't approve the name in its original form, the Spanish cojones) is a fusion Mexican restaurant and tequila bar with a definite streak to it. Their happy hour is 1/2 off, like a lot of places, and includes a free burrito bar. People come for their margaritas, which range from standard fare to blood orange, cocoa, and jalapeño flavored varieties. Best of all, it's in the Upper State Street area of East Rock, so is close by to where many YDS students live. Watch out on the chips & salsa: they charge for refills!
J.P. Dempsey's (974 State Street)
Good for: Sports Fans, Wings Enthusiasts, Dive Bar Aficionados
We couldn't go without listing everyone's favorite dive bar, Dempsey's. It is exactly what you would expect: cheap draft domestic beer, low-lighting, TVs, wood paneling, lots of neon bar signs, and pails of peanuts on every table and shells littering the floor. Because of its location in East Rock and cheap beer, you'll find lots of grad students and recent college grads hanging around. It's a dive, there's not much more to say.
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Meet the Foodies: Corinne and Jewelle, BTFO Food Coordinators
Throughout the week of BTFO most lunches and dinners will be provided for incoming students. As you may imagine, organizing food for a large group with diverse allergies and dietary restrictions could be logistically intimidating. Luckily for us, we have two of the most level-headed and generously-spirited young women at YDS coordinating all of these meals for us. Today we'd like you to meet Corinne Ellis and Jewelle Bickel, who will quickly become some of your favorite faces on campus, and not only because they're the ones with all the tasty treats.
Q: Who are you? What are you studying and how do you spend your free time?
Corinne: My name is Corinne and I'm a second-year MDiv from Chicago. I'mordination-track in the UCC and am trying to soak up all of what YDS has to offer, course-wise and otherwise. Outside of school I like to run (just finished my first half-marathon!), play around in the sunshine (living in Seattle this summer has been a little sunshine-challenged), and most importantly, cook and eat great food!Jewelle: My name is Jewelle. I am a second year MAR concentrating in Philosophical Theology. I am from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I love cooking, eating, playing soccer, and hanging out with all the wonderful people at YDS.
Q: This is a big job. Why did you want to coordinate food for BTFO?
J: I have certain dietary restrictions and last year was super impressed by how well BTFO made me feel welcomed by catering to my needs (literally.) Because of that, I want to make sure that everyone feels the same welcome this year.
Q: What kinds of deliciousness can we look forward to during the week?
J: New Haven has incredible food. Really. Corinne and I want to introduce you to the fabulous variety of food available in New Haven.
Q: Can you hint at or maybe elaborate on some of the more specialized meals, like faculty dinner, carts, pizza taste test, cook-out, etc.?
J: There are several exciting meals that you will have throughout the week. One meal that I think will be really great involves the faculty hosting students at their house. It just shows what wonderful people we have a YDS!
Q: "I have crazy dietary restrictions! Am I going to starve to death?!"
J: BTFO is about welcoming you to the YDS community. One thing we take seriously at YDS is food. NO matter what your dietary restriction is (gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, vegetarian or anything else) Corinne and I will work hard to make sure you are fed throughout the week. Just make sure to list your dietary needs on your registration form. If there is anything you need to add later, please get in contact with us. Also, during the week of BTFO if you find for some reason that the food we have does not accommodate your needs, please come speak to Corinne or myself.
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| Hm, I wonder if Corinne is putting fish on the menu? |
Q: "My whole family is coming to New Haven - are they able to join me for meals on campus?"
Q: We have already covered sustainability at YDS, but can you guys touch on some of the sustainability practices in play for this year's BTFO?
J: In addition to our food choices, we are asking you to help participate and make YDS a more sustainable community. The biggest help you can bring during the week of BTFO is to bring dishes and silverware from your house to use throughout the week. We will take time after each meal to wash the dishes together as a community. The dishes don't have to be anything fancy and there will be great benefits for those who remember their dishes.
Q: What is your favorite place in New Haven?
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| I hope we can look forward to some refreshing desserts, too! |
J: I like sitting in the grass behind the divinity school next to the div farm. There is a great view of East Rock and it's a nice little oasis close to school.
Q: When you get pizza in New Haven, where do you go and what do you order?
J: I go for a veggie pizza from Modern with no cheese.
Q: And the most important question, what is your favorite thing about Esther and Patrick?
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Refectory
The Refectory is located on the second floor of the Div School between the Common Room and Marquand Chapel. (Take an interactive tour here.) It opens for a continental, limited hot breakfast from 7:30-11:00am, when it transitions to lunch. There are also three selections of coffee: two caffeinated options (usually one dark roast and one medium roast), and decaf.
For lunch, there are several options for food:
- Hot entrée: Everyday there is an entrée in veggie and meat-eater varieties, on a two-week rotation. These include everything from sloppy joes to chicken tikka masala and saag paneer to stuffed shells.
- Salad bar: One of the lovely women who run the Refectory, Julia, puts together the salad bar every morning. It has a wide array of options for vegetables and meat to adorn your mesclun, iceberg, romaine, or spinach. And if you ask nicely, Julia will often take requests for things to include. She is always extremely delighted when she hears someone enjoying what she spends so much time on.
- Grill: The grill offers relatively standard dining hall grill food—burgers, veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers, fries (in Idaho and sweet potato varieties), grilled cheese, and so on.
- Refrigerator options: The refrigerator has a mix of things from prepared salads to sandwiches to sushi and bento boxes, and standard fare like yogurt, juice, and fruit.
The options are occasionally limited, which is occasionally frustrating as the semester passes, but this is a normal part of dining hall life. Regardless, as you purchase your meal, make sure to say hello to Miss Sandy, who is one of the most delightful people at the Div School, and will often be a warm smile on otherwise cold and stressful days.
The Refectory is open in the early evening to provide food for those in evening/night classes, but there is not hot food or salad bar—leaving the refrigerator options. It's not much, but it's better than nothing. The Refectory also offers some grocery options and snacks, and has a white board near the door to take requests. The prices are usually rather steep, but you can pay for the convenience of not having to run to the store for eggs or cereal.
There is a break from 12:30-1:20 every day for lunch, with the eye to having people eat together. This has long been a tradition of YDS, and something we try to preserve. (There used to be formal, shirt-and-tie, sit-down dinners every day when students still lived on the Quad itself before the renovations in 2001.) The Refectory is a great place to catch up with people, to talk to faculty (many will eat in the Refectory too), and to spend some time building the sense of community you will begin to hear so much about. Space is limited in the Refectory itself, so the crowd often expands into the Common Room and Commuter Lounge. This is also a popular time for student groups to have meetings, or for other special events to take place.
Part of your student fees include a $450/sem. meal plan ($230 for part-time students) to use over the course of the semester. The meal plan is a declining points plan, where points are spent like money. Divinity points, however, are accepted at all Yale Dining locations open to graduate and professional students, and at the Blue Dog Café in the McDougal Center at the Hall of Graduate Studies (HGS). We also receive $1 off the cash price at the HGS Dining Room (which is still $9.25 for lunch, and $12.25 for dinner.) As with any Yale student or affiliate (including alumni, believe it or not), we also have access at Commons, which at one time was Yale's only dining room, but now serves as a "common" dining room for all students. (A fun trick at Commons is that they don't kick you out once you're in, so you can pay the breakfast rate and stay through to lunch without having to pay again; some students—including one of the Food Coordinators for BTFO—have been known to bring computers and homework and set up for a whole day.)
Starting last year, all "disposables" in the Refectory are recyclable. And this year, everything will be compostable, too! So before you toss that clam-shell salad container in the trash, aim for the compost bin instead. To be even more sustainable, there are a limited number of china plates and silverware outside the Refectory to wash yourself. These are even weighted in the system for the salad bar, so that you can use them for salads without being charged the weight of the plate. Alternately, several people bring Tupperware from home to use instead.
While the Refectory will not be open during BTFO—we cater all of the meals from local restaurants—it will quickly become a very familiar and dear space for you. A place to eat, a place to talk, and a place to share time with students and professors.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Grocers and Markets and Co-ops, Oh My!
Lunch and dinner will be provided almost every day during BTFO, but sooner or later you are going to have to buy some groceries. There are several options within walking or driving distance, and it will come down to how you want to source your food. Here we have detailed some of our favorite options.
Elm City Market (777 Chapel Street)
Elm City is New Haven's very own (and very new) food co-op! Because of Patrick's roots in very crunchy, very loca-vore, very farm-to-table Asheville, NC, this is where he does most of this shopping. Everything comes from local and regional farms, no matter the season, and there is always an interesting selection, often with a few items you may have never seen before. Prices are standard from a nearly-all-natural-and-organic local market, but you are paying for quality and to support the local farm culture. (Though oftentimes the produce is cheaper here than at other places in New Haven.) There is also a café (complete with Wifi) with different options each day, all of them tasty, as well as cut flowers, a bakery, a deli, a dairy, and a huge bins of dried goods in bulk. They have an entire department devoted to cheese! Everything is clearly labeled for gluten-free, kosher, vegan, organic, local, etc., and there is a surprising range of options for standard items. What makes ECM stand out for many is that they host classes, workshops, and events throughout the year to both educate and have fun with their customers and community. These events include tastings, cooking classes, and talks with local foodies or health wizards, and many of them are free or cheap.
Edge of the Woods (379 Whalley Ave)
Edge of the Woods Natural Market is where Esther does (most of) her grocery shopping. They have a great selection of organic and/or locally grown produce, excellent vegan, gluten-free, and natural food options, everything is organic and fair-trade and all the good stuff. Unlike the "Natural Foods" section of a larger store, there are options within options! Prices are surprisingly competitive with the larger supermarkets, even without a discount card. As if by magic, some of the items you are seeking out are always on sale, and even if you are distracted by a candy bar on your way out, at least it's organic fair-trade chocolate with 75% of the proceeds going towards jungle animal rescue or something. How can you turn that down? There is also a bakery and cafe attached, so you could grab coffee or lunch as well as your groceries for the week. Like many stores of its type, it is assumed that you will bring your own reusable bags, and that you will bag your own items.
Nica's Market (603 Orange Street)
P&M Orange Street Market (721 Orange Street)
Romeo & Cesare's Gourmet Shop (771 Orange Street)
Orange Street—the "main street" of East Rock—has three local delis/bodegas all within 6 blocks of each other, which are all very similar in style: Nica's, Orange Street, and Romeo & Cesare's. The owners/operators of at least two of the three are related to each other, which is a common theme in the New Haven Italian community (see the Pepe's/Sally's divide.) They are all smaller than the other grocery options, but have an selections of fresh, seasonal produce (some more local and/or organic than others). They're all close to campus and to many grad students' houses in the East Rock neighborhood, so they're also convenient if you need to run out for a tomato or some peppers for dinner. Loyalty to one over another typically falls upon which is closer to where people live. All are also gourmet shops, so there's a great selection of artisan foods but the prices at all three are there to match. They also have delicious prepared foods, like paninis, salads, or pizza, along with (variously) coffee bars, bakeries, gelaterias, and delis. Each also have outdoor patios if you wanted to grab a bite to eat and sit for a while - they're all in this sense much more of social markets than grocery stores.
CitySeed Farmer's Markets (Location varies depending on day of the week) Seasonal
Stop and Shop (1245 Dixwell Avenue, 2335 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, or 150 Whalley Avenue, New Haven)
Finally, there are three Stop and Shops located relatively nearby. There is one within walking distance of downtown New Haven, and two in nearby Hamden. These two are near one another and for some reason most Div students tend to go to the farther one. Esther just learned this and is absolutely confounded by why people make such weird choices; Patrick thinks the further one is cleaner and more spacious overall, as well as being closer to the (cheap) warehouse package store Liquor Land. Stop and Shop is a huge chain, and so of course they have a huge selection. Produce varies on the season, but you can usually find what you're looking for in one form or another. The selection of organic produce can be sometimes disappointing, and they don't always label what is local and what is shipped in from far away. They each have a small bakery, a natural foods section, a pharmacy, quite a bit of produce, and the largest and farthest one also houses a Dunkin Donuts. If you are going to go this route you should look into getting a Stop and Shop card because you really will save quite a bit of cash. If you drive, there is the added bonus of acquiring gas points with any Shell gas station. The Yale shuttle runs to and from the Whalley Ave. Stop and Shop every weekend as part of its regular weekend loop, so if you don't have a car you can still get to and from the grocery store with relative ease.
These are only some of your grocer options—there are numerous small markets and delis, corner stores, and probably a few other big ones that we just don't know much about. At the very least, when you first get to New Haven we hope you can find your way to any one of these fine establishments for sustenance—please don't starve your first week here.
Elm City Market (777 Chapel Street)
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| Elm City Market shortly after its grand opening. |
Edge of the Woods (379 Whalley Ave)
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| Don't be fooled by its distance from actual woods. |
Nica's Market (603 Orange Street)
P&M Orange Street Market (721 Orange Street)
Romeo & Cesare's Gourmet Shop (771 Orange Street)
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| Nica's Market has a wonderful selection of fresh greens all year long. |
CitySeed Farmer's Markets (Location varies depending on day of the week) Seasonal
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| The Downtown farmer's Market. |
Throughout the summer and fall, New Haven becomes home to several farmer's markets. The largest of these is located in Wooster Square and happens on Saturday mornings. Depending on where you live, the closer option may be Edgewood Park (Sundays) or Downtown (Wednesdays), but if you have the time you should definitely check out the various markets just to see which vendors are out there. Farmer's Markets are obviously going to be the best place to get local produce, and it's a great way to connect to vendors and growers directly, especially if you are looking to purchase a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture share) for the season. It's not all produce, of course, and several bakeries, speciality eateries, and local restaurants have booths as well. CitySeed began as an initiative for producers-only markets, so you will be getting everything directly from the people producing it, which is a comfort to many. Prices will vary depending on the stall and the time of season, but they are generally competitive with larger stores, with the added benefit of knowing exactly where the food came from and who grew it.
Stop and Shop (1245 Dixwell Avenue, 2335 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, or 150 Whalley Avenue, New Haven)
Finally, there are three Stop and Shops located relatively nearby. There is one within walking distance of downtown New Haven, and two in nearby Hamden. These two are near one another and for some reason most Div students tend to go to the farther one. Esther just learned this and is absolutely confounded by why people make such weird choices; Patrick thinks the further one is cleaner and more spacious overall, as well as being closer to the (cheap) warehouse package store Liquor Land. Stop and Shop is a huge chain, and so of course they have a huge selection. Produce varies on the season, but you can usually find what you're looking for in one form or another. The selection of organic produce can be sometimes disappointing, and they don't always label what is local and what is shipped in from far away. They each have a small bakery, a natural foods section, a pharmacy, quite a bit of produce, and the largest and farthest one also houses a Dunkin Donuts. If you are going to go this route you should look into getting a Stop and Shop card because you really will save quite a bit of cash. If you drive, there is the added bonus of acquiring gas points with any Shell gas station. The Yale shuttle runs to and from the Whalley Ave. Stop and Shop every weekend as part of its regular weekend loop, so if you don't have a car you can still get to and from the grocery store with relative ease.
These are only some of your grocer options—there are numerous small markets and delis, corner stores, and probably a few other big ones that we just don't know much about. At the very least, when you first get to New Haven we hope you can find your way to any one of these fine establishments for sustenance—please don't starve your first week here.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Pizza Mania
One of Patrick's friends from undergrad is from Meriden, CT, a town just north of New Haven. The first thing he told Patrick upon hearing he was going to YDS was which pizza place in New Haven was the best. He was impassioned about it, and it was a little terrifying. Esther understands this type of pizza fervor because pizza is her favorite food group, and because she's from Philadelphia where everyone is impassioned about nearly everything.
New Haveners take their pizza very seriously. New Haven-style pizza is its own separate thing, different than New York-style and definitely different than Chicago. Here, pizza is called apizza (say "uh-BEETS"). Mozzarella cheese is a topping, not included, so if you want what would normally be a cheese pizza, you have to order a mozzarelle, or a mozz (say "moots.") There are two different bases of the "pie": white (with just olive oil and pecorino romano) and red (also with marinara). The pies are cooked in white brick ovens, which produce super thin, often blackened crust.
Mostly significantly, people divide into very entrenched camps along the various different restaurants. Everyone has a definitive opinion, and can give it to you without even having to think about it. There are many pizzerias in New Haven (many of which offer delivery), but four take-out/dine-in restaurants reign supreme.
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (157 Wooster St.)
Pepe's is easily the most famous of all four of the top contenders, in part because it is the oldest. Opened in 1925, Pepe's is one of the oldest pizzerias in the United States. Pepe was born in a town south of Naples and decided to start selling what was then a relatively unknown humble product from his homeland in his bakery in the heavily Italian neighborhood of Wooster Square. His tomato pie was instantly a hit. A close contender is the "white clam pie," complete with fresh littleneck clams and garlic, with lemons on the side. If this sounds weird, you just have to try it. The line at Pepe's typically wraps around the block for all meals, so come prepared to wait for a while. Luckily, Pepe's service is nothing if not efficient. This means, however, that the service is not altogether personable or patient: you should be prepared to sit down and figure out what you want quickly.
Sally's Apizza (237 Wooster St.)
Sally's was founded by Frank Pepe's nephew, Sal Consiglio, right down the block from his uncle's original restaurant. Everyone knows how that kind of family rivalry turns out: the competition here persists to this day as the major divide in New Haven among the Italian-American population. Sally's is small and dimly lit, which makes it easy to miss because it is a hole-in-the-wall, but these atmospheric touches are part of the reason that Sally's is Esther's choice for best pizza in New Haven! Sure, Sally's is only open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday and most of the waitstaff seems to have been there since it opened, but it's all part of the charm. Like Pepe's, it is known for having long lines, but the pizza is also worth the wait. Sally's prides itself on being a small pizzeria and it is not trying to win any awards for flash: it only serves soda, beer, and pizza, and does not accept credit cards. Bring cash, bring your patience, but definitely check it out.
Modern Apizza (874 State St.)
Modern is the closest of the four to the Divinity School with its location in East Rock, and for that reason tends to be a go-to for divvies, especially when ordering pizza for YDS events. It is much larger than Pepe's or Sally's, which means that the lines are shorter and the waitstaff is nicer. They have a great Veggie Bomb pizza (for the vegetarians, or vegetable-lovers out there) and an absolutely incredible Clams Casino pie, which is a riff off of the original "white clam pie" but with bacon (which frankly makes nearly everything even better unless you're a vegetarian like Esther, in which case it's irrelevant because you wouldn't be eating a clam pie anyway). They also have a fairly efficient take-out window, although you might get a busy signal a few times first. If you drive to Modern, be aware that there is very, very limited parking at Modern and its small parking lot is an utter nightmare 99.9% of time. Our recommendation? Just walk!
Bar (254 Crown St.)
Bar is located on Crown St., the main drag for bars and nightclubs in New Haven, and therefore offers a drastically different atmosphere than the other pizzerias. It is primarily - surprise! - a bar. It is also...well...different. Bar specializes in two things: craft beer and craft pizza. First, it is a brewpub that serves its own beer, all of which are pretty good and decently priced for a Crown street bar. Second, it offers toppings for its pizzas that are off-kilter, the most famous of which being mashed potatoes. Yes, that's right, mashed potatoes on a pizza. Esther recommends getting them on a white pie, maybe with some hot cherry peppers and onions - yummy. The atmosphere at Bar is easily the most relaxed, but it is also definitely a bar, so late nights and weekend nights in general mean that it definitely takes on a downtown New Haven bar vibe, complete with all the charming accessories (Patrick likes to point out all the Guidos). If you are heading to Bar for pizza more than you're heading to Bar for the bar, go on a weeknight unless you want to be waiting at the bar for well over an hour while a table becomes ready.
As you can see, this is something you're going to have to explore for yourself - everyone has their opinions and their favorites, and you will, too. One great thing about New Haven pizza is that it's pretty easy to get vegan or dairy-free pies since cheese is not necessarily included. There are also several places in New Haven that offer gluten-free pizza options, as detailed by our illustrious student body President, Nicholas Lewis, in his introductory post. There is something for everyone! And really, the best part of trying to figure out which place you like best is trying some great pizza from places all over town.
New Haveners take their pizza very seriously. New Haven-style pizza is its own separate thing, different than New York-style and definitely different than Chicago. Here, pizza is called apizza (say "uh-BEETS"). Mozzarella cheese is a topping, not included, so if you want what would normally be a cheese pizza, you have to order a mozzarelle, or a mozz (say "moots.") There are two different bases of the "pie": white (with just olive oil and pecorino romano) and red (also with marinara). The pies are cooked in white brick ovens, which produce super thin, often blackened crust.
Mostly significantly, people divide into very entrenched camps along the various different restaurants. Everyone has a definitive opinion, and can give it to you without even having to think about it. There are many pizzerias in New Haven (many of which offer delivery), but four take-out/dine-in restaurants reign supreme.
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (157 Wooster St.)
Pepe's is easily the most famous of all four of the top contenders, in part because it is the oldest. Opened in 1925, Pepe's is one of the oldest pizzerias in the United States. Pepe was born in a town south of Naples and decided to start selling what was then a relatively unknown humble product from his homeland in his bakery in the heavily Italian neighborhood of Wooster Square. His tomato pie was instantly a hit. A close contender is the "white clam pie," complete with fresh littleneck clams and garlic, with lemons on the side. If this sounds weird, you just have to try it. The line at Pepe's typically wraps around the block for all meals, so come prepared to wait for a while. Luckily, Pepe's service is nothing if not efficient. This means, however, that the service is not altogether personable or patient: you should be prepared to sit down and figure out what you want quickly.
Sally's Apizza (237 Wooster St.)
Sally's was founded by Frank Pepe's nephew, Sal Consiglio, right down the block from his uncle's original restaurant. Everyone knows how that kind of family rivalry turns out: the competition here persists to this day as the major divide in New Haven among the Italian-American population. Sally's is small and dimly lit, which makes it easy to miss because it is a hole-in-the-wall, but these atmospheric touches are part of the reason that Sally's is Esther's choice for best pizza in New Haven! Sure, Sally's is only open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday and most of the waitstaff seems to have been there since it opened, but it's all part of the charm. Like Pepe's, it is known for having long lines, but the pizza is also worth the wait. Sally's prides itself on being a small pizzeria and it is not trying to win any awards for flash: it only serves soda, beer, and pizza, and does not accept credit cards. Bring cash, bring your patience, but definitely check it out.
Modern Apizza (874 State St.)
Modern is the closest of the four to the Divinity School with its location in East Rock, and for that reason tends to be a go-to for divvies, especially when ordering pizza for YDS events. It is much larger than Pepe's or Sally's, which means that the lines are shorter and the waitstaff is nicer. They have a great Veggie Bomb pizza (for the vegetarians, or vegetable-lovers out there) and an absolutely incredible Clams Casino pie, which is a riff off of the original "white clam pie" but with bacon (which frankly makes nearly everything even better unless you're a vegetarian like Esther, in which case it's irrelevant because you wouldn't be eating a clam pie anyway). They also have a fairly efficient take-out window, although you might get a busy signal a few times first. If you drive to Modern, be aware that there is very, very limited parking at Modern and its small parking lot is an utter nightmare 99.9% of time. Our recommendation? Just walk!
Bar (254 Crown St.)
Bar is located on Crown St., the main drag for bars and nightclubs in New Haven, and therefore offers a drastically different atmosphere than the other pizzerias. It is primarily - surprise! - a bar. It is also...well...different. Bar specializes in two things: craft beer and craft pizza. First, it is a brewpub that serves its own beer, all of which are pretty good and decently priced for a Crown street bar. Second, it offers toppings for its pizzas that are off-kilter, the most famous of which being mashed potatoes. Yes, that's right, mashed potatoes on a pizza. Esther recommends getting them on a white pie, maybe with some hot cherry peppers and onions - yummy. The atmosphere at Bar is easily the most relaxed, but it is also definitely a bar, so late nights and weekend nights in general mean that it definitely takes on a downtown New Haven bar vibe, complete with all the charming accessories (Patrick likes to point out all the Guidos). If you are heading to Bar for pizza more than you're heading to Bar for the bar, go on a weeknight unless you want to be waiting at the bar for well over an hour while a table becomes ready.
As you can see, this is something you're going to have to explore for yourself - everyone has their opinions and their favorites, and you will, too. One great thing about New Haven pizza is that it's pretty easy to get vegan or dairy-free pies since cheese is not necessarily included. There are also several places in New Haven that offer gluten-free pizza options, as detailed by our illustrious student body President, Nicholas Lewis, in his introductory post. There is something for everyone! And really, the best part of trying to figure out which place you like best is trying some great pizza from places all over town.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Community Dinners
Students at YDS have been described (by fellow students) as possessing certain rat-like qualities. Before anyone feels insulted, allow us to explain. The easiest way to attract them is to lay out free food. When they find the food, they will take some and then go tell all of their friends so that pretty soon you are overwhelmed with hungry and enthusiastic Divvies, lining up for whatever delicious treats you have on hand.
Throughout the semester, YDS hosts fellowship meals on campus that are open to students, faculty, families, administration, staff, and other loved ones, and these meals are affectionately known as Community Dinners. Depending on the weather and the season, these meals could be anything from barbecue to tapas, but they always include plenty of delicious food - often from local restaurants - and wonderful company. There are always beverages on hand, usually an alcoholic option as well as a variety of attractive and robust non-alcoholic choices...or sometimes Diet Coke. Despite the smorgasbord provided, attendees are always encouraged to bring along a little something to share, whether its greens from the garden, baked goods for dessert, or maybe just some chips and salsa. The primary goal of these Community Dinners is to take the time out of one's busy evening to sit and talk and share with other members of the YDS community, and maybe meet some people you wouldn't normally run into throughout the day. Community Dinners provide great opportunities to get to know fellow students and faculty outside of the classroom, meet colleagues' families, or just get to know someone new. The dinners are scheduled and managed by a group of dedicated and community-oriented students, and so if you are interested in becoming involved you should certainly seek out the chance to help with the planning and implementation of these fellowship meals.
The dinner is only the beginning, as many Community Dinners are scheduled in tandem with other community events. The Yale Divinity Drama group will often host a sketch show after a Community Dinner, and sometimes there are events such as the Taylor House Lectures or ISM concerts that might draw new folk out of the woodwork. Community Dinners are often but not always held on Friday evenings, and they have a wonderful habit of coming around just when you are in desperate need of a study break and some Thai food. Or pizza. Or burritos. Or...just about anything!
In keeping with YDS' sustainability efforts, most attendees will bring their own plates and cutlery to cut down on waste and clean-up, but this green practice has an added bonus: if you bring tupperware, you can usually go back for seconds to snag a snack for later.
Throughout the semester, YDS hosts fellowship meals on campus that are open to students, faculty, families, administration, staff, and other loved ones, and these meals are affectionately known as Community Dinners. Depending on the weather and the season, these meals could be anything from barbecue to tapas, but they always include plenty of delicious food - often from local restaurants - and wonderful company. There are always beverages on hand, usually an alcoholic option as well as a variety of attractive and robust non-alcoholic choices...or sometimes Diet Coke. Despite the smorgasbord provided, attendees are always encouraged to bring along a little something to share, whether its greens from the garden, baked goods for dessert, or maybe just some chips and salsa. The primary goal of these Community Dinners is to take the time out of one's busy evening to sit and talk and share with other members of the YDS community, and maybe meet some people you wouldn't normally run into throughout the day. Community Dinners provide great opportunities to get to know fellow students and faculty outside of the classroom, meet colleagues' families, or just get to know someone new. The dinners are scheduled and managed by a group of dedicated and community-oriented students, and so if you are interested in becoming involved you should certainly seek out the chance to help with the planning and implementation of these fellowship meals.
The dinner is only the beginning, as many Community Dinners are scheduled in tandem with other community events. The Yale Divinity Drama group will often host a sketch show after a Community Dinner, and sometimes there are events such as the Taylor House Lectures or ISM concerts that might draw new folk out of the woodwork. Community Dinners are often but not always held on Friday evenings, and they have a wonderful habit of coming around just when you are in desperate need of a study break and some Thai food. Or pizza. Or burritos. Or...just about anything!
In keeping with YDS' sustainability efforts, most attendees will bring their own plates and cutlery to cut down on waste and clean-up, but this green practice has an added bonus: if you bring tupperware, you can usually go back for seconds to snag a snack for later.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sustainability at YDS
One idea that we hope to instill in all incoming students is that YDS is more than a school - it is a community. As such, students are expected to feel and enact a certain level of responsibility for the campus, the facilities, and its impact. You will quickly learn that sustainability is an important aspect of YDS culture, and we hope that this idea is exciting for you - spending so much time and energy in a community that works to be green and ethical is something to be proud of - but it does take some work.
You will undoubtedly hear more about sustainability culture at YDS during BTFO as well as throughout your time here, but we wanted to just highlight a couple of practices and issues that we want you to be aware of before your arrival. Many of you may already know that we prefer to use reusable mugs and dishes for Coffee Hour and meals in the refectory, and that washing one's dishes after a meal is a standard part of eating together. We are also proud to announce that YDS has single-stream recycling, which means that you don't need to worry about sorting through paper, plastic, and metals, but can toss all recyclable items into the bins located around campus. You'd be hard-pressed to find a trash can where there isn't also a recyclables bin, and all plastics used in the Refectory are recyclable. We are thrilled that starting next year all serving utensils and plates in the refectory will either be reusable or compostable - no trash!
YDS has recently begun its own compost initiative, and there is a compost in located in the Refectory kitchen where students can deposit food waste. The compost is used for the YDS farm, which also accepts composts from student homes. Esther, who makes good use of the YDS farm, brings compost from her apartment each week to the giant compost bins on campus. In addition to the individual plots, the YDS farm has community plots that can be used by anyone affiliated with YDS, and which are often tapped for greens or goodies for Community Dinners or other campus events.
This directly relates to BTFO because during BTFO, everyone is expected to provide their own non-disposable dishes, cutlery, and drinking vessels for every meal. Many meals during the week of August 20-24 will be provided for incoming students, but we do ask that you provide your own dishes. This will help to streamline the clean-up of each meal, instill a sense of personal responsibility for the cleanliness of campus spaces, and reduce waste. We are hoping to produce a BTFO that is entirely landfill-free, and using reusable dishes for each meal is a huge part of that initiative. Everything else you see and use will be either recylcable or compostable, and there will be bins provided for both around campus. It's simple - some students bring canteen equipment from camping trips, but many also just bring less fragile dishes from home with regular silverware. Who knows? You might meet your new best friend through a conversation about their Hello Kitty travel utensils (true story - kinda).
We will talk more about food later in the summer when we introduce you to the two lovely ladies who will be coordinating the food for ya'll during BTFO, but we do want you to be aware that sustainability is a significant factor in determining which local restaurants and eateries we choose to cater events at YDS. As a school, and as a community, we have taken great strides in the past few years towards limiting the impact of our waste and creating an eco-friendly campus environment. We look forward to welcoming you into this sustainable community, and to seeing the ways in which members of the incoming class can further our greener goals.
You will undoubtedly hear more about sustainability culture at YDS during BTFO as well as throughout your time here, but we wanted to just highlight a couple of practices and issues that we want you to be aware of before your arrival. Many of you may already know that we prefer to use reusable mugs and dishes for Coffee Hour and meals in the refectory, and that washing one's dishes after a meal is a standard part of eating together. We are also proud to announce that YDS has single-stream recycling, which means that you don't need to worry about sorting through paper, plastic, and metals, but can toss all recyclable items into the bins located around campus. You'd be hard-pressed to find a trash can where there isn't also a recyclables bin, and all plastics used in the Refectory are recyclable. We are thrilled that starting next year all serving utensils and plates in the refectory will either be reusable or compostable - no trash!
YDS has recently begun its own compost initiative, and there is a compost in located in the Refectory kitchen where students can deposit food waste. The compost is used for the YDS farm, which also accepts composts from student homes. Esther, who makes good use of the YDS farm, brings compost from her apartment each week to the giant compost bins on campus. In addition to the individual plots, the YDS farm has community plots that can be used by anyone affiliated with YDS, and which are often tapped for greens or goodies for Community Dinners or other campus events.
This directly relates to BTFO because during BTFO, everyone is expected to provide their own non-disposable dishes, cutlery, and drinking vessels for every meal. Many meals during the week of August 20-24 will be provided for incoming students, but we do ask that you provide your own dishes. This will help to streamline the clean-up of each meal, instill a sense of personal responsibility for the cleanliness of campus spaces, and reduce waste. We are hoping to produce a BTFO that is entirely landfill-free, and using reusable dishes for each meal is a huge part of that initiative. Everything else you see and use will be either recylcable or compostable, and there will be bins provided for both around campus. It's simple - some students bring canteen equipment from camping trips, but many also just bring less fragile dishes from home with regular silverware. Who knows? You might meet your new best friend through a conversation about their Hello Kitty travel utensils (true story - kinda).
We will talk more about food later in the summer when we introduce you to the two lovely ladies who will be coordinating the food for ya'll during BTFO, but we do want you to be aware that sustainability is a significant factor in determining which local restaurants and eateries we choose to cater events at YDS. As a school, and as a community, we have taken great strides in the past few years towards limiting the impact of our waste and creating an eco-friendly campus environment. We look forward to welcoming you into this sustainable community, and to seeing the ways in which members of the incoming class can further our greener goals.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Daily Coffee Hour
While we're on the subject of coffee in New Haven, we wanted to let you know about one of the daily joys of life at YDS: Coffee Hour! This short segment of each day is just one example of how YDS strives to cultivate a sense of unified community among its students, faculty, administrators, staff, and families by creating space and time for daily fellowship.
Every weekday morning from 11:00am - 11:30am, the YDS common room becomes the center of life for Div students. It's a great place to grab a warm beverage and a snack, chat with professors, meet up with fellow students and club members, or to check in with what's happening around campus. For anyone who has dietary restrictions, there are always some gluten-free and vegan options as well as donuts or coffee cake. Students will often use this time to host sign-ups for events or volunteer opportunities, make public announcements, or do something crazy like pie one another in the face (hey, it happens). Whether or not you choose to attend Marquand Chapel that day, coffee hour provides a great chance to debrief with classmates about the service or a morning class, and to check in with one another with concerns and well-wishes. We all need study breaks sometimes, and they might as well be tasty.
Coffee Hour can be a great opportunity to become involved in the daily life at YDS, and there are a handful of students who run the event each day. You don't have to officially be a part of the Coffee Hour team to participate, however, and donations of baked goods and beverages are always welcome and appreciated! If you love to share with others, Coffee Hour may quickly become your time to shine.
We'll see you there!
Every weekday morning from 11:00am - 11:30am, the YDS common room becomes the center of life for Div students. It's a great place to grab a warm beverage and a snack, chat with professors, meet up with fellow students and club members, or to check in with what's happening around campus. For anyone who has dietary restrictions, there are always some gluten-free and vegan options as well as donuts or coffee cake. Students will often use this time to host sign-ups for events or volunteer opportunities, make public announcements, or do something crazy like pie one another in the face (hey, it happens). Whether or not you choose to attend Marquand Chapel that day, coffee hour provides a great chance to debrief with classmates about the service or a morning class, and to check in with one another with concerns and well-wishes. We all need study breaks sometimes, and they might as well be tasty.
Coffee Hour can be a great opportunity to become involved in the daily life at YDS, and there are a handful of students who run the event each day. You don't have to officially be a part of the Coffee Hour team to participate, however, and donations of baked goods and beverages are always welcome and appreciated! If you love to share with others, Coffee Hour may quickly become your time to shine.
We'll see you there!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Café Culture
From time to time on the Candy Bowl, we will give a cross-section of New Haven's offerings on a specific topic, just to give y'all a taste of your home for the next few years. Today we will discuss places that Esther and Patrick know well and love dearly: coffeeshops.
Coffeeshops are a standby for students reading, studying, or writing papers. New Haven, like most college towns, is ripe with choices, each with its own character. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of the most popular ones among YDS students.
Blue State (York St. and Wall St.)
As you might imagine from the name, Blue State has an unabashed political stance. In fact, its slogan is "Drink Liberally." This small chain only has stores around major New England universities: Boston (Boston University), New Haven (Yale), and Providence, RI (Brown). What makes Blue State really stand apart is their commitment to sustainability; they try to be a "zero waste" business, which means almost everything is recyclable, or better yet, compostable. Patrick thinks the espresso here is pretty good, and that their chai is also excellent.
There are two Blue State stores in New Haven. The first, on York St., is close to a lot of stores downtown and several undergrad residential colleges, so it gets a considerable amount of foot traffic. York St. is also the smaller of the two, so it can sometimes be more difficult to find a table. The second, on Wall St., is on a small side street further into campus and a bit further away from the center of residential colleges. There are lots of tables that are often pretty crowded, but most are marked as "communal," so you can ask to share without being considered rude. Wall St. is generally the quieter of the two, but both are relatively calm places to write a paper.
Koffee? on Audubon
Koffee a is distinctly off-centered coffeeshop, and for that reason is both Patrick and Esther's favorite. It is located in the Audubon Arts District of New Haven, and attracts an appropriately quirky clientele. Their espresso, brewed coffee, hot chocolate, and food are all excellent, if a little more expensive than other places in town. The combination of quirk and delicious coffee are evidenced in the following quote from Prof. Carolyn Sharp: "And just in case you'd be tempted to say I never taught you anything worthwhile: the best mocha lattes in New Haven are at Koffee on Audubon Street. There. That's something you can cling to when all the world seems to be awash in postmodern relativism." After 5pm everyday, Koffee Afterdark begins, with an array of craft beer, wine, and cheese. (Neither of us have been to Afterdark yet, but in the sake of research for y'all, we will be in the near future.)
Koffee can be a little louder than than many coffeeshops, which could be a good or bad thing depending on whether or not you like to study with background noise. For instance, Patrick will read and study here, but not try to write a paper. Esther will sit here for hours reading, writing papers, or just chatting with friends, and usually some combination of the three. Koffee also has yard space in the back and is next door to a children's music program, so afternoons sometimes include a surprise mini-concert. Perks all around. A final thing to know is that there is a $10 minimum for credit cards, so getting your change put on a gift card is the best way to go if you are a mostly cash-free consumer like Patrick. They also have a rule stating that you can't sit there for more than two hours without purchasing something else - while they may not strictly enforce this rule, it's pretty easy to keep seeing things you want if you make Koffee your home for the afternoon.
Café Romeo
Café Romeo, on Orange Street near the intersection with Pearl Street, is another place that tends to be a bit louder and a bit busier, but for good reason. They have tasty food, a good amount of tables for individuals or groups, outside seating, and good coffee.
This is definitely more of a café than a coffeeshop, but it's on the list because it's another place where students often come to work on papers or read for a few hours. The seating is in hard chairs at tables, so it's not a particularly cozy place, but it's wonderful for meeting with other students to talk about projects or upcoming exams. It's only a quick walk from YDS, and so Café Romeo is also a popular lunch spot for students who are looking for a break from the Refectory.
Willoughby's (Whitney Ave. and School of Arch.)
Willoughby's is known for the the quality of its coffee, which is excellent. Its espresso is crisp, bold, but not burnt. They also offer a wide selection of brewed coffee and teas.
We list it this far down because, if you're looking to study, Willoughby's is really not the place to go. The location at the School of Architecture is very small and is usually crowded with Architecture students (go figure.) The location of Whitney Ave. has no exposed plugs and no free WiFi, which in New Haven is the standard announcement that students are not really welcomed. We mention it because of its coffee, which is really good, and because it can be a nice escape from people doing schoolwork if you are looking for a coffeeshop to relax in.
Café Lulu
Café Lulu is a cute little coffee shop next to Orange Street Market in the heart of East Rock. It is run by a lady (Lulu) who lives close by, and is often greeted by name by her clientele. Their espresso is mid-range in quality: not great, not terrible. Esther was disappointed to learn that Lulu doesn't do anything over ice, which - let's face it - is an essential beverage for finals period.
Lulu's is hardly ever crowded and they have nice armchairs inside and wooden patio furniture on the sidewalk which makes for a great place to read. However, there are no electronics allowed (posted all over the door), which wards off people from setting up shop for the day. Still, students are welcomed as long as you come, drink your coffee, socialize, maybe read a little, and then leave.
Starbucks
Not much needs to be said about Starbucks' coffee. They are the largest coffee chain in the world and transformed Seattle coffee culture into its own brand. If you don't know them, you have likely been living under a rock for the past 15 years.
The Starbucks nearest campus (Chapel St. at High St.) is eternally slammed full with undergrads. It has many long wooden tables that can seat a lot of people, but these are almost always packed to brim. There are some YDS students who study or write at Starbucks, but most avoid it like the plague and choose one of the many more locally minded options.
Coffeeshops are a standby for students reading, studying, or writing papers. New Haven, like most college towns, is ripe with choices, each with its own character. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of the most popular ones among YDS students.
Blue State (York St. and Wall St.)
As you might imagine from the name, Blue State has an unabashed political stance. In fact, its slogan is "Drink Liberally." This small chain only has stores around major New England universities: Boston (Boston University), New Haven (Yale), and Providence, RI (Brown). What makes Blue State really stand apart is their commitment to sustainability; they try to be a "zero waste" business, which means almost everything is recyclable, or better yet, compostable. Patrick thinks the espresso here is pretty good, and that their chai is also excellent.
There are two Blue State stores in New Haven. The first, on York St., is close to a lot of stores downtown and several undergrad residential colleges, so it gets a considerable amount of foot traffic. York St. is also the smaller of the two, so it can sometimes be more difficult to find a table. The second, on Wall St., is on a small side street further into campus and a bit further away from the center of residential colleges. There are lots of tables that are often pretty crowded, but most are marked as "communal," so you can ask to share without being considered rude. Wall St. is generally the quieter of the two, but both are relatively calm places to write a paper.
Koffee? on Audubon
Koffee a is distinctly off-centered coffeeshop, and for that reason is both Patrick and Esther's favorite. It is located in the Audubon Arts District of New Haven, and attracts an appropriately quirky clientele. Their espresso, brewed coffee, hot chocolate, and food are all excellent, if a little more expensive than other places in town. The combination of quirk and delicious coffee are evidenced in the following quote from Prof. Carolyn Sharp: "And just in case you'd be tempted to say I never taught you anything worthwhile: the best mocha lattes in New Haven are at Koffee on Audubon Street. There. That's something you can cling to when all the world seems to be awash in postmodern relativism." After 5pm everyday, Koffee Afterdark begins, with an array of craft beer, wine, and cheese. (Neither of us have been to Afterdark yet, but in the sake of research for y'all, we will be in the near future.)
Koffee can be a little louder than than many coffeeshops, which could be a good or bad thing depending on whether or not you like to study with background noise. For instance, Patrick will read and study here, but not try to write a paper. Esther will sit here for hours reading, writing papers, or just chatting with friends, and usually some combination of the three. Koffee also has yard space in the back and is next door to a children's music program, so afternoons sometimes include a surprise mini-concert. Perks all around. A final thing to know is that there is a $10 minimum for credit cards, so getting your change put on a gift card is the best way to go if you are a mostly cash-free consumer like Patrick. They also have a rule stating that you can't sit there for more than two hours without purchasing something else - while they may not strictly enforce this rule, it's pretty easy to keep seeing things you want if you make Koffee your home for the afternoon.
Café Romeo
Café Romeo, on Orange Street near the intersection with Pearl Street, is another place that tends to be a bit louder and a bit busier, but for good reason. They have tasty food, a good amount of tables for individuals or groups, outside seating, and good coffee.
This is definitely more of a café than a coffeeshop, but it's on the list because it's another place where students often come to work on papers or read for a few hours. The seating is in hard chairs at tables, so it's not a particularly cozy place, but it's wonderful for meeting with other students to talk about projects or upcoming exams. It's only a quick walk from YDS, and so Café Romeo is also a popular lunch spot for students who are looking for a break from the Refectory.
Willoughby's (Whitney Ave. and School of Arch.)
Willoughby's is known for the the quality of its coffee, which is excellent. Its espresso is crisp, bold, but not burnt. They also offer a wide selection of brewed coffee and teas.
We list it this far down because, if you're looking to study, Willoughby's is really not the place to go. The location at the School of Architecture is very small and is usually crowded with Architecture students (go figure.) The location of Whitney Ave. has no exposed plugs and no free WiFi, which in New Haven is the standard announcement that students are not really welcomed. We mention it because of its coffee, which is really good, and because it can be a nice escape from people doing schoolwork if you are looking for a coffeeshop to relax in.
Café Lulu
Café Lulu is a cute little coffee shop next to Orange Street Market in the heart of East Rock. It is run by a lady (Lulu) who lives close by, and is often greeted by name by her clientele. Their espresso is mid-range in quality: not great, not terrible. Esther was disappointed to learn that Lulu doesn't do anything over ice, which - let's face it - is an essential beverage for finals period.
Lulu's is hardly ever crowded and they have nice armchairs inside and wooden patio furniture on the sidewalk which makes for a great place to read. However, there are no electronics allowed (posted all over the door), which wards off people from setting up shop for the day. Still, students are welcomed as long as you come, drink your coffee, socialize, maybe read a little, and then leave.
Starbucks
Not much needs to be said about Starbucks' coffee. They are the largest coffee chain in the world and transformed Seattle coffee culture into its own brand. If you don't know them, you have likely been living under a rock for the past 15 years.
The Starbucks nearest campus (Chapel St. at High St.) is eternally slammed full with undergrads. It has many long wooden tables that can seat a lot of people, but these are almost always packed to brim. There are some YDS students who study or write at Starbucks, but most avoid it like the plague and choose one of the many more locally minded options.
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