Coming from New York, one of the biggest and most culturally rich cities in the world, my move to New Haven worried me ~food wise~. My mom is probably the best cook I know, but when I wasn’t eating her soul-filling Dominican meals, I had a selection of thousands of food places to eat from: local restaurants in my neighborhood, pizza shops and delis, or “bodegas,” on almost every corner, small up-and-coming places, food trucks/carts and festivals like the Queens Night Market (I could keep the list going for a while). Beyond missing home cooked meals, I expected that moving to a much smaller city would also limit my options in terms of quality and cuisine (I’m trying not to sound like a snob, but New York foodie culture is so strong).
But when I started to explore the restaurants, beyond the fast food places and chains, in New Haven, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only are there many options that are super tasty, but you can really get a nice takeout or sit-down meal much more affordably than in NYC (which was good for my tummy and my bank account). In this post I’m going to highlight some of my favorite restaurants from diners to sit-downs, desserts to more desserts (I love dessert), in greater New Haven and closer to Yale. Along the way I’ll feature experiences and photos of some of my friends. Coming from a background where food and eating is always a party––the more the merrier––I truly believe in the power of food to bring people together. Trying local restaurants around this city has been an honor and has left me with memories with my friends that I will savor forever––or, more likely, until I come back to visit as an alum!
