Tag Archives: Yale University

Chasing Griff’s Chicken Shack

Zach Bell, Yale University

When the dining halls at Yale serve chicken tenders, everyone smiles a little bit brighter. Eyes shine, brimming with tears as the YDN reports that yes, it is indeed “Chicken Tenders Day.” With chicken themed stories landing on the front page, hand breaded tenders have transcended their fleshy prisons into myth, manna from above. Students have even created a website notifying inquiring students about the dining halls’ tender supply.

Despite Yale’s deified tenders, I wondered whether there was a whole world of chicken yet to be explored. “Blasphemy!” they told me. “You’ll never get out of this town.” Yet, I had to try. On my longer runs I enter Hamden, a town north of New Haven. I run past schools, hardware stores, and kids on bicycles. I glance briefly at road food establishments like Glenwood, wishing I could eat a lobster roll and run six miles back to Yale with no gastrointestinal distress.

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Filed under College Life, Dining Halls, Food, New Haven, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale, Zach B.

Pancho Café: A Cajun Fire Gone Cold

Zach Bell, Yale University

After reading a positive Yale Daily News review of Pancho Café, I decided to try the new Mexican-Cajun restaurant for dinner. The Cajun side of the menu intrigued me, as I had never eaten New Haven’s interpretation of Louisiana soul. I ordered guacamole and the creole chicken, to balance Mexican with Cajun.

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Filed under College Life, Food, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale, Zach B.

Oaxaca Kitchen: Still Waiting for Some Heat

Zach B., Yale University

In a college town, restaurants have to find a niche market. An establishment often has to choose between quick, low price meals for the college student on a budget, and more expensive long service meals for a special night out or for professors and residents of the surrounding area. Oaxaca Kitchen, a new restaurant near Yale, tries to capture both demographics, with relatively pricier options and an extensive bar facing off against casual Mexican fare. As a result, the food fails to find its voice.

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Filed under New Haven, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale, Zach B.

Bangkok Gardens: Typical Thai

Zach B., Yale University

Looking for Thai food in New Haven, a student will find many options that are all very similar to each other. So a trip to Bangkok Gardens, a small restaurant on York and Chapel, seems random and out of the way. In fact, the only attraction I originally feel towards Bangkok Gardens is its glass walled dining room. At lunchtime, sunlight streams through the glass and lights up a room that would be ordinarily be dour and sparsely decorated, but the sparkling natural light awakens the space, and I immediately feel at home. (Pictures after the jump)

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Filed under Food, New Haven, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale, Zach B.

Betting “La Granja”

Zach B., Yale University

The world of New Haven burritos is a wide and varied one. From national chains like Moe’s Southwestern Grill, to the numerous carts lining Elm and York streets, burritos are a common choice for quick lunch. In contrast to the more well known spots, many people walk right by a small restaurant called La Granja (The Farm), located on Whitney Ave.

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Filed under Food, Restaurants, Reviews, Uncategorized, Yale, Zach B.

Yale Dining’s 2nd Annual Chili Throwdown Competition

Zach B., Yale University

As a break from restaurant reviewing, I decided to attend a chili cookoff, where student recipes faced off in an epic battle of tomatoes, beans, and of course well seasoned meat. Each diner paid five dollars (donated to the United Way) for an unlimited supply of chili. Out of the twenty two recipes, I particularly enjoyed a soy sauce based chili, a barbecue based chili and a traditional meat, beans and veggies chili, with a healthy kick of spice of course.

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Filed under College Life, Dining Halls, Food, Miscellaneous, Yale, Zach B.

Soul on Cuban Bread: Soul de Cubano

Zach B., Yale University

Billing itself as “Cuban cuisine and more,” Soul de Cuba Café has a tall order to fill. In its name, the restaurant claims to embody the soul of Cuba. I had to find out if the food backs up the name.

 

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Filed under Food, New Haven, Restaurants, Reviews, Yale, Zach B.