New Haven, CT Fall(ish) eats!

I am writing this food blog post on a Fall day in New Haven, CT (that feels more like late Summer to me) so my restaurant lunch choices may reflect that (smile).

I also eat, dress and live for the weather as opposed to the season so if my good buddy and Chief Meteorologist Gil Simmons of News 8 (ABC) tells me that it’s going to be 80 degrees outside, but the calendar doesn’t agree, I go with the temps…

With all that said, here are just a few of my favorite places to eat lunch in New Haven, CT when the leaves start to turn and the temperatures finally cool down:

New Haven Salad Shop – don’t let the name fool you.  This little gem on High Street in downtown New Haven also builds super hearty wraps that will easily fill you up until supper time.  There’s little room to sit inside though so I suggest you find a space on the Upper or Lower New Haven Green to enjoy your lunch.

City Point Kitchen  – a newer restaurant in the Oyster Point neighborhood of New Haven (beautiful water views!) with excellent, locally sourced food.  I tried the crab cakes over a salad bed on the afternoon me and my gf Christine went.  It’s cute and quaint inside and the small staff is friendly and very attentive.

Photo credit:  Mike Franzman Photography

Louis Lunch – By the time I went there, I had been working at News 8 for about 5 years.   Me and my co-worker Terri were talking about places in downtown New Haven to eat lunch  that were within walking distance.   I think she was the one who suggested Louis Lunch.   The fact that it was and is still legendary made it an obvious choice.  And quite frankly, I was a tad bit curious about the fact that I heard catsup was never allowed on their burgers.  The burger itself was good (always served on toast, not buns; with tomato, not catsup; and cheese whiz, not cheese.)   I missed my Ketchup though (smile).

Photo credit: Mike Franzman Photography

Pepe’s Pizza in New Haven – It’s no wonder that there are so many locations in Connecticut now – even at the Casino!  This pizza is by far one of the best in the ‘pizza-saturated’ city of New Haven.  And the Little Italy neighborhood where it resides is always a treat to walk around in.

Photo credit: Mike Franzman Photography

In the Upper State Street neighborhood of New Haven, you would do yourself a disservice if you did not stop and partake of a pie or two from Modern Pizza.  Well known for their brick ovens and thin crusts, these pies are to die for…

Photo credit: Mike Franzman Photography

If you have the time, and/or have saved some room for dessert, go to Libby’s Italian Pastry Shop on Wooster Street in the Little Italy neighborhood of New Haven.  Libby’s is known throughout the East Coast for their cannolis and other baked goods.  I can certainly understand why – Yummy!

Photo credit: Mike Franzman Photography

Happy Fall and enjoy your lunch!