You look so thin! Find the best spots to feast so your mother won't worry

Melanie Schoenberg

AMERICAN

With an old-fashioned storefront across the street from the Taft apartment building, The Anchor (272 College) is more of a bar than a restaurant, but its burgers and other such offerings are cheap and satisfying.

Opened by the owner's of the swank Union League Café (see French), Barkie's Grill and Rotisserie (220 College) offers steaks and a large selection of beer. The vegetarian sausage is a delectable alternative.

Casey's (266 College) serves gourmet pizzas, fresh seafood, and fine continental cuisine. While enjoying the food, take a few seconds to examine the autographs decorating the walls.

There will come a day when you will need to consume beef--a lot of beef. On that day, you will go to Chapel Street. You will enter the dim wooden environment of Charlie B's Steakhouse (1157 Chapel). You will glance briefly at the menu's offerings of seafood and chicken, and you will bypass them until you find what you need: the all-you-can-eat steak and rib dinner, a feast adorned with vegetables and rolls that tests the largest appetites. Sometimes you will enjoy this feast while listening to the house jazz band.

Replacing the short-lived Bulldog Eatery, Chap's Grille (1174 Chapel) offers standard American fare like large hamburgers and tasty salads at reasonable prices.

Claire's Corner Copia (1000 Chapel) is a vegetarian's heaven. The salads, hot soups, sandwiches, Mexican food, homemade desserts, and convenient location make it a popular restaurant. Try the delicious Lithuanian coffee cake.

Rainbow Café (1022 Chapel) offers large portions of unique salads, sandwiches, and ethnic entrées, including many vegetarian dishes. The cakes are always particularly tempting. This casual restaurant is a great place to have an inexpensive meal while taking a break from the dining halls.

Although you need a car to get there, The Chart House (100 S. Water), is the place to go for decent steaks, seafood dishes, and a beautiful view of the Long Island Sound. The prices are steep, and the vista is far better than the menu offerings, but it's a nice place for a date or any other occasion worthy of a fancy dinner.

In the Chapel Square Mall, there's a Burger King (900 Chapel) for all of you fast food junkies starving for a Whopper. And damn, those new fries are good.

DINERS, CAFÉS, AND SHOPS

Atticus Bookstore Café (1082 Chapel) is a novel experience--dining amidst stacks of books. The homemade desserts, scones, and muffins are huge, and are among New Haven's best. Enjoy Atticus' unique atmosphere over a cup of cappuccino or espresso, and don't miss the legendary black bean soup.

Au Bon Pain (1 Broadway) offers rather pricey, but tasty, sandwiches, soups, scones, and other baked goods. Reminiscent of a fishbowl, its nearly full-length windows facing York Street and Broadway make ABP a prime people-watching spot. It's usually filled with students and shoppers looking for a quick bite.

Bruegger's Bagels (1 Whitney, 15 Broadway) serves an incredible range of foods, including blueberry and sundried tomato bagels with good jalapeño and smoked salmon cream cheeses. The new Broadway location just opened last year, and has immediately become a hot spot for quick breakfasts, late night coffee, and casual get togethers in the comfortable and spacious upstairs dining area.

Cafe Europa's (99 Audubon) hot and cold grinders, freshly-baked goods, frozen yogurt, and lunch specials set it apart from other afternoon destinations.

The Copper Kitchen (1008 Chapel), located right across from Old Campus, is a good, greasy coffee shop. You can get cheap eggs, burgers, muffins, and milkshakes until the wee hours of the morning (although you should be warned that the waitstaff is known more for its body odor and chest hair than for its efficiency).

The Educated Burgher (51 Broadway) is a great spot for greasy burgers, fries, and anything fried that suits your fancy. Conveniently located along Broadway, it's an easy stop while doing errands or if you just have a craving for something a cut above McDonald's.

Louis' Lunch (263 Crown) claims to have invented the hamburger as we know it. Though slightly more expensive than similar joints such as the Doodle, this legendary spot is a must at some point during the year. Make sure you don't ask for ketchup, though--they won't let you spoil their "creations" with processed tomato goop.

TJ's Breakaway (24 Whitney) has a well-executed selection of sandwiches, soups, and salads. High quality ingredients are worth the trip past Grove Street. Try their Robby O sandwich, a heaping pile of pastrami dressed with cole slaw and Russian dressing on your choice of bread.

The Yankee Doodle Coffee Shop (250 Elm), commonly referred to as the "Doodle," is famous for its hamburger-eating contest--break the record of 24 and your name will go down in history! You can get a delicious burger for a little over a dollar (you'll probably want more), and the service is fast and friendly.

PIZZA

Broadway Pizza (45 Broadway) is convenient, with quick service and cheap food. Open really late, it's a terrific place to satisfy an evening craving for thick-crusted pizza or huge gyros, subs, and salads.

Clark's Pizza (68 Whitney) serves Italian and Greek food along with some good pizza. Jukeboxes at all the tables offer added charm--your dinner won't be complete unless you listen to Gladys Knight and the Pips' Midnight Train to Georgia at least once.

Est Est Est Pizza (1176 Chapel) is more than a pizzeria, offering calzones, manicotti, cappuccino, Italian ices, and some mighty fine pasta. The relaxed atmosphere makes it a good place to go on a date.

Naples Pizza (90 Wall) was once infamous for its Thursday night frenzies, and is better known for beer than its pizza. Carvings of past and present Yalies' initials on big wooden tables and a jukebox full of cool tunes that span the ages make Naples a Yale tradition. The pizza is greasy, the grinders are great, and the lunch menu is excellent. Take advantage of Naples' free delivery policy.

Pepe's (157 Wooster) and Sally's (237 Wooster), though a bit far, are musts! These are the parlors that made New Haven famous. Pepe's gave birth to the modern pizza--the ultimate thin crust, a special sauce, and creative toppings. Even though it may not sound like it, the clam pizza--at both restaurants--is one of the best foods ever invented. What you hear about these two places is not hyperbole. There's a reason the lines outside are long, and the people waiting in them come from miles away.

Also, check out The Spot (163 Wooster), which stands on the original site of Pepe's and is a sort of Pepe's annex, with shorter lines and less atmosphere but the same pizza.

Yorkside Pizza (288 York) is a social center with great, cheap pizza and a large Greek menu. The huge Greek salad with feta cheese is a favorite, and the garlic bread smothered in sauce and mozzarella is the best way to start your meal. Yorkside's wall decor (old Yale football programs and team photos) is always fun to look at, and its late hours make it popular on weekdays and weekends alike.

ITALIAN

Abate (129 Wooster) is another Wooster Street food paradise. With good veal, chicken, steak, and seafood--along with excellent pizza that ranks only slightly below Sally's and Pepe's--this is a fine place to go when the lines at the other Wooster restaurants are too long to tolerate.

Consiglio's (165 Wooster) is located in New Haven's Italian district. Try all your Italian favorites in a comfortable atmosphere. It's been around for 50 years, and has deservedly earned it's good reputation.

 Delmonaco's (232 Wooster), also in the famous Italian district, offers excellent pastas and traditional Southern Italian fare at expensive prices. Portions are large, and the atmosphere is pleasant--it's definitely worth the trip.

Although a bit far from campus, Geppi's (113 Grand) complements its excellent Italian cuisine with live piano music on Friday and weekend evenings. The ambiance and incredibly friendly service make Geppi's one of the best Italian restaurants in New Haven.

Scoozzi's Trattoria (1104 Chapel) serves fairly pricey contemporary cuisine in a modern setting. Reservations can be hard to come by; if you can make one, snag the spicy, warm, and fresh garlic bread or the scrumptious tri-color tortellini. Sample the antipasto at the bar while you wait, but save room for the delectable desserts.

Tony and Lucille's (150 Wooster) is another restaurant in the Italian district. With its red-checkered tablecloths, it is a charming place to eat bottomless dishes of pasta and spicy pizza at decent prices.

Tre Scalini (100 Wooster) offers excellent pasta and seafood and some of the best overall Italian fare in all of New Haven. The menu is huge, and it's hard to make a bad choice when ordering. A perfect place to go with your folks on Parents' Weekend.

MEXICAN AND SPANISH

Baja's Authentic Mexican Restaurant (148 York) recently opened this second location (the first is in Orange), making its famously hot salsa bar and fresh ingredients much more accessible to the average student without a car.

Voted "Best of New Haven" year after year in this category, Chavoya's Mexican Restaurant (883 Whalley) lives up to its reputation. Lots of choices in appetizers, entrées, and margarita flavors make for a lively dinner. Don't miss their Cinco De Mayo celebration.

Only a few blocks from Pierson, El Amigo Felix (8 Whalley) serves some of the best hand-prepared Mexican food in the area. The drink specials on Wednesdays are not to be missed.

El Niño (245 Crown) is a new restaurant which serves up Chilean and Argentinian cuisine. Definitely unique among New Haven eateries, El Niño prepares a wide variety of interesting dishes. Try the arepa, a corncake covered with shredded beef.

Pika Tapas (39 High), a charming café with a great atmosphere, offers a variety of Spanish dishes. Since the portions are small, you can try several different kinds of foods. Be prepared to be adventurous unless you know Spanish cuisine, in which case, just prepare to enjoy.

Viva Zapata (161 Park) is a favorite Yale hangout for Mexican food in a casual atmosphere. Exposed beams, sawdust on the floors, sangria, and great chicken nachos attract large groups.

Less than a block from TD, The Whole Enchilada (21 Whitney) serves up new Mexican cuisine with less grease, but little atmosphere. Despite its unabashed former-TCBY interior, the place has good food and especially great burritos at very inexpensive prices.

Although it's kind of a schlep, Dos Tacos (39 Elm) is worth an occasional afternoon visit. The burritos are huge and cheap, they serve a bizarre-yet-tasty brand of soda that you can't get anywhere else, and the staff is pierced and not overtly hostile. Plus, they have an ancient, table-shaped Ms. Pac Man game that you can play until the alterna-staff glares at you and makes you leave.

EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN

Asian House (1150 Chapel) offers a menu that can squelch the potentially violent squabbles among roommates who can't decide between Chinese, Thai, or Japanese. Asian House's three-cuisine menu should satisfy all your friends and prevent full-scale warfare.

Bangkok Gardens (172 York) is Yalies' top choice for Thai food. However, there is often a wait because the restaurant is small. Although some entrées can be pricey, the menu is extensive and the atmosphere makes it a great place to take a date.

While its exterior may not be particularly attractive, Hunan Wok (142 York) serves some of the better Chinese food around campus. If you don't want to trek down York Street, take advantage of Hunan's free delivery.

Indochine Pavilion (1180 Chapel) has excellent Thai food and a good combination of Vietnamese dishes, distinguishing it from its other Asian food counterparts in the area.

Main Garden (376 Elm) is known as much for its late hours as it is for its inexpensive (albeit greasy) Chinese food. A large portion of fried chicken wings and fried rice is $2.99, and other prices are just as appealing. The General Tso's chicken combo, which comes with rice, broccoli, and an eggroll, is a favorite all over campus. If you're feeling lazy, you can get it delivered right to your dorm.

Miya's (68 Howe) features Japanese cuisine in a traditional setting. With its reasonable prices and extensive menu, Miya's is usually crowded, especially during weekend dinner hours. While Miya's may have the best broccoli tempura maki and udon noodle soup in New Haven, the extremely slow service can be trying to a hungry Yalie's patience.

Pad Thai (1170 Chapel) serves good Thai food at prices better suited to a student's budget than those of Bangkok Gardens or Asian House. Make sure to try its namesake noodles, but ask for extra sauce. And don't forget to bring your Yale ID for an extra 10 percent off.

Samurai (230 College), located across from the Shubert Theater, is a popular but pricey Japanese restaurant, known especially for its fresh sushi. For something new, try drinking some sake (hot Japanese rice wine) with your meal.

Seoul Restaurant (341 Crown) provides traditional Korean dishes at moderate prices--it's a tasty alternative to the plethora of Thai places in New Haven.

Thai Taste (1171 Chapel) is yet another Thai restaurant in the Yale area. Its below-ground location makes it slightly more private than the glass windows of Bangkok Gardens, and the food is equally as good. Because of its lower profile location, fewer Yalies go to Thai Taste than the other Thai restaurants, making it ideal for an intimate meal.

INDIAN

One of New Haven's quirkier features is the high concentration of Indian restaurants within a two-block radius. India Palace's (65 Howe) weekend brunch quickly banishes thoughts of YUDH's rubbery scrambled eggs and stale bagels. The Palace's walls are covered with prints that make for lively conversation, and its naan is among the best in the Elm City.

Tandoor (1226 Chapel) offers naan baked with your choice of garlic, onions, or other tasty ingredients. Its combination of 1950's decor and sinus-clearing tikka masala always makes for an interesting evening.

The sound of sizzling tandoori chicken can also be heard on the corner of Howe Street, where Royal India (140 Howe) offers delicious entrées and an elegant interior, complete with gilded ornaments and decorations. They also have a reasonably priced buffet lunch and dinner on weekends, without any loss of quality. Portions are extremely large and completely satisfying.

AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN

Aladdin (260 Crown) is a new contender in the hummus arena, with the added feature of quick dorm delivery late into the night. It's also next door to Crown Pizza, so if you have a sudden change of appetite, there's no problem.

Caffé Adulis' (228 College) Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine are perfect for a fun meal with friends or an intimate evening out. Entrées are placed together atop a layer of sourdough pancakes on a platter in the middle of the table, making sharing easy. There are many vegetarian options, and any dish can be ordered mild to spicy.

Mamoun's Falafel Restaurant (85 Howe) serves great Middle Eastern favorites at low prices. A favorite for late-night partiers, Mamoun's is open every day until 3 a.m., so stop by for a quick bite to stave off hunger pains in the wee-morning hours. As an alternative to pizza, Mamoun's kebabs, falafel, and baba ghanoush are the way to go.

FRENCH

Union League Café (1032 Chapel) offers excellent French food prepared by a native French chef. It's too expensive for the typical student budget, but there is a reasonable price-fixed dinner on Sundays--appetizer, entrée, and dessert for $21.

GOURMET COFFEE

Casbah Coffee House (166 York) has cramped, intimate, and scarce seating, so come with someone you love to be close to. Loud flamenco music, blinking lights, and mannequin body parts fill the interior, distinguishing this place from Atticus or the Daily. The house coffee is served in china you might expect to see at high tea in London, but it reveals its plebian roots when you taste it. The espresso, however, is strong and sweet.

The Daily Caffé (316 Elm) bears the motto,"Great coffee, fine pastries, and decent people." To blend into its urban, artsy scene, wear black and bring your Camel Lights. A lot of Yalies swear by its coffee, so don't be afraid to venture past the punk-haired skaters who perpetually guard the Daily's doors.

Koffee? (104 Audubon) is the anti-Daily. Brightly lit and spacious, with a beautiful courtyard in back, Koffee? boasts friendly service and huge cups of the best-brewed coffee in New Haven. And, like the Daily, it's usually chock-full o' TAs.

Taft Caffé (263 College) is located on the first floor of the Taft Apartment building. Sister restaurant to the nearby Caffé Adulis, its charming interior offers fruit smoothies, tempting pastries, and Internet service.

Willoughby's (1006 Chapel, 258 Church, and 276 York) boasts 38 varieties of coffee and an espresso bar. Sit inside or relax at a small table on the sidewalk if the weather's nice. The cakes and pastries complement the coffee well. The York Street site is the one most frequented by Yalies, but the one on Chapel is closer to Old Campus.

Behind Davenport and across from the Daily, XandO (338 Elm) is the latest addition to the Yale late-night coffee scene. The two-story building offers plenty of room, and the top floor feels a lot like Friends' Central Perk. Be careful not to sit in the 21-and-over section, but do try a coffee cocktail if you can. After all, the signs brag that "You'll always remember your first kiss"--Mocha Kiss, that is.

SWEETS

Ashley's Homemade Ice Cream (278 York) is known to have the best ice cream in town. The long list of flavors always varies, but the coffee-oreo and chocolate-banana constants are sublime.

The aqua-blue counters and swivelling stools at Clark's Luncheonette (74 Whitney) enhance the thrill of choosing from an extensive selection of ice cream and frozen creations overflowing with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and peanuts. A great place for a study break, especially for residents of nearby Silliman and TD.

Durfee Sweet Shoppe (basement of Durfee Hall) is open from 11 to 1 a.m., Sunday to Thursday, and offers gourmet coffee, fresh baked goods, made-to-order sandwiches, frozen yogurt, and a wide selection of candy. Meet friends for a study break here--and then Bursar-bill your parents for the snack.

Libby's (139 Wooster) serves up Italian pastries and ices at really cheap prices. Among their best treats is the cappuccino gelato. Be sure to stop at Libby's after a meal at Pepe's or Sally's; it's right down the block.

Sugar Magnolia (1042 Chapel), across from Vanderbilt Hall, offers a broad selection of gourmet candy and old-fashioned sweets. If you have a hankering for Godiva chocolate or Sour Patch Kids, this is the place to go.

Rosa Gonzalez, Andrew Krause, Kenrick Ou, Brian Levinson, and Jason Heller contributed to this article.

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