Louis Lunch
This longstanding, local hangout has a lofty claim to fame: it's dubbed as the place where the hamburger was invented. True or not, Louis is a classic, no-frills hamburger joint. Grab a graffiti-covered seat in one of the harder-than-rocks wooden booths, order a cold glass of birch beer and an original burger for five bucks. It'll come on white bread (of course), with cheese spread and a thin slice of tomato. Don't leave without trying a slice of homemade pie.
Louis Lunch
2610263 Crown St.
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-5507
www.louislunch.com
Bentara
Looking for something different? Try this authentic Malaysian restaurant in New Haven. The menu is extensive featuring a variety of appetizers like curry mussels and satay, and griddle breads--for example, the Chanai is unleavened ghee bread fried on a griddle and served with curry sauce. Noodle soups are popular, such as mee soup istimewa with egg noodles and vegetables in a peanut-based soup. Specialties include the grilled marinated salmon with coconut turmeric lime sauce or the fish, shrimp and calamari cooked in hot and sour sauce. The wok fried and coconut curry dishes (with a choice of tofu, beef, chicken, seafood and vegetables) are popular, too.
Bentara
76 Orange
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-2511
www.bentara.com/
Apate Apizza
There's nothing fancy about this Italian restaurant and pizzeria, but the food is hearty, simple and delicious. There's a lot of it, too, including subs, calzones, pasta and seafood platters. There's also a variety of full entrees like veal marsala, shrimp Florentine and chicken parmigiana. It's the pizza, however, that brings the locals back and causes the lines out the door. Many consider Apate the best pizza in town, and that's saying a lot in a college town full of pizza joints. There are a number of specialty pies, including the eggplant parmesano or the calmari with garlic, parsley and basil. Or, stick with a traditional cheese and pepperoni. Either way, the pizza comes loaded with ingredients, piping hot and well seasoned.
Apate Apizza
129 Wooster Street
New Haven, CT 06511
(203) 776-4334
Article Written By Pamela Wright
Pamela Wright is a freelance writer, author of more than two dozen guidebooks, and hundreds of articles. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including "National Geographic Traveler," "Family Circle," "Family Fun," "Backpacker," "Hemispheres," "Cooking Light," "Yankee" and more. An active member of the Society of American Travel Writers, she holds a Bachelor's from Michigan State University
