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

AMERICAN

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

Right down the block, the recently opened Tibwin Grill (220 College St.) offers an eclectic variety of meat, fish, and pasta entrees. Its classy yet casual atmosphere and moderate prices make it a good choice for a place where your parents can take you.

Another restaurant that opened this year is Bo's Barbeque Barn (181 College St.). Bo's has an authentic Texas-style wood-fired barbeque and plenty of ribs. It also has an old-fashioned ice cream parlor where you can get ice cream sodas, banana splits or sundaes.

Casey's (266 College St.) 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 St.). 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 Grill (1174 Chapel St.) offers standard American fare like large hamburgers and tasty salads at reasonable prices.

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

If you're hungry for Southern fare, Heart and Soul (236 Crown St.) is the place for you. Offering a '50s retro atmosphere, jazz music, and filling meals, Heart and Soul is the perfect restaurant to satisfy your cravings for cornbread, collard greens, fried chicken, and delicious grits at a reasonable price.

Rainbow Café (1022 Chapel St.) offers large portions of unique salads, sandwiches, and ethnic entrées, including many vegetarian dishes. The luscious 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 St.), 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 St.) for all you fast food junkies starving for a Whopper. And damn, those new fries are good.

DINERS AND CAFÉS

Atticus Bookstore Café (1082 Chapel St.) is a novel experience--dining amidst stacks of books. The homemade desserts, scones, and muffins are huge and 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.

Like Atticus, The Booktrader Café (1140 Chapel St.) is a bookstore and coffee shop in one. It offers many things: espresso drinks, salads, soups, sandwiches, and especially excellent chocolate chip cookies. It's a good place to study, have a mid-day snack or go for post-dinner coffee. Make sure to try the heavenly, though no doubt calorie-laden, devil's food cake.

Bruegger's Bagels (1 Whitney Ave.) has an impressive variety of bagels and spreads, including blueberry and sundried tomato bagels with good jalapeño and smoked salmon cream cheeses. You can even watch the employees take the bagels out of the oven, and the bagels are especially tasty when they're still hot.

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

The Educated Burgher (51 Broadway) is a great spot for burgers, milkshakes, french fries, and anything else 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 St.) 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 Ave.) 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 St.), commonly referred to as The Doodle, is famous for its hamburger-eating contest--break the record of 26 and your name will go down in history (keeping the food down is not required)! You can get a delicious burger for a little over a dollar (but 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 until midnight on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends, it's a terrific place to satisfy an evening craving for thick-crusted pizza or huge gyros, subs, and salads, particularly when returning from a late movie or a fraternity party.

Clark's Pizza (68 Whitney Ave.) 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 St.) 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 St.) is infamous for its Thursday night frenzies and known as much for its beer as its pizza. Carvings of past and present Yalies' initials on the 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.

Pepe's (157 Wooster St.) and Sally's (237 Wooster St.), though a bit far, are two places you absolutely must try. These are the parlors that made New Haven pizza famous. Pepe's gave birth to the brick-oven 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 that the lines outside are long and the people waiting in them come from miles away.

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

Yorkside Pizza (288 York St.) is a social center with cheap pizza and a large Greek menu. The huge Greek salad with feta cheese is a favorite, and the garlic bread smothered in tomato 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.

XandO (338 Elm St.), which used to be just a trendy coffee shop located behind Davenport college, now offers brick oven pizza that almost rivals that of Pepe's and Sally's. In fact, word on the street is that the chef even used to work at Pepe's. The grilled chicken and broccoli pizza is a good choice, as are the salads and sandwiches. And where else can you have an iced mocha or any other coffee treat with your pizza?

ITALIAN

Abate (129 Wooster St.) 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 St.) 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 its good reputation.

Delmonaco's (232 Wooster St.), 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 distant from campus, Geppi's (113 Grand St.) complements its excellent Italian cuisine with live piano music on 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, fresh garlic bread, and check out 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 St.) is another restaurant in the Italian district. With its red-checked tablecloths, it's a charming place to eat bottomless dishes of pasta and spicy pizza at decent prices.

Tre Scalini (100 Wooster St.) 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

Voted "Best of New Haven" year after year in this category, Chavoya's Mexican Restaurant (883 Whalley Ave.) 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 and Davenport, El Amigo Felix (8 Whalley Ave.) serves some of the best hand-prepared Mexican food in the area. The drink specials on Wednesdays are not to be missed.

Pika Tapas (39 High St.), 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 quite well, in which case, just prepare to enjoy.

Viva Zapata's (161 Park St.) is a favorite Yale hangout for Mexican food in a casual atmosphere. Sangria, great chicken nachos, and a wait staff that is willing to accomodate groups of all sizes (and ages, if you know what I mean) attract large groups.

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

Although it's kind of a schlep, Dos Tacos (39 Elm St.) is worth an occasional afternoon visit. The burritos are huge and cheap, there is 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 staff glares at you and makes you leave.

EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN

Asian House (1150 Chapel St.) 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 make everyone happy.

Bangkok Gardens (172 York St.) 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 quaint, Hunan Wok (142 York St.) serves some of the better Chinese food near campus. If you don't want to trek down York Street, just call for free delivery.

Bentara (76 Orange St.) is a new and modern restaurant in the Ninth Square district that serves up Malaysian cuisine. Though a car is not necessary to get here, the walk from main campus is farther than to most area eateries--but this should not discourage you from trekking here to sample the fabulous stir fry.

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

Main Garden (376 Elm St.) 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 until 1 a.m.

Miya's (68 Howe St.) 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. The Monday night all-you-can eat buffets lure in a particularly large crowd.

Pad Thai (1170 Chapel St.) 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 St.), located across from the Shubert Theater, is a popular but pricey Japanese restaurant, known especially for its fresh sushi. For something new, try some sake (hot Japanese rice wine) with your meal.

The recently re-opened and renovated Seoul Restaurant (341 Crown St.) 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 St.) 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 just as good. Because of its lower-profile location, fewer Yalies go to Thai Taste than to the other nearby 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. A Taste of India (122 Howe St.) is the latest addition
to the Indian restaurant scene. Like the other restaurants in this area, it serves up delicious naan bread, tandoori chicken, and chicken curry. It has a cozy environment and its décor is less elaborate than Royal India's.

India Palace's (65 Howe St.) weekend brunch quickly banishes thoughts of YUDH's rubbery scrambled eggs and stale bagels. The Palace's walls are covered with exotic prints that make for lively conversation, and its naan is among the best in the Elm City.

Tandoor (1226 Chapel St.) offers naan baked with your choice of garlic, onions, or several other tasty ingredients. Its unique 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 St.) offers delicious entrées and an elegant interior, complete with gilded ornaments and decorations. The restaurant also has a reasonably priced buffet lunch and dinner on weekends, without any loss of quality. Portions are extremely large and satisfying. Keep a full glass of water at the table, as the cuisine can be spicy!

AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN

Aladdin (260 Crown St.) 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 St.) Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisines 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.

Near Aladdin, the upscale Istanbul Café (245 Crown St.) recently opened. Istanbul is the only restaurant in Connecticut that serves authentic Turkish fare. While there, you can recline on the embroidered curtains and admire the silk curtains. It's a great place to bring a date or your parents.

The somewhat more modest Mamoun's Falafel Restaurant (85 Howe
St.) serves great Middle Eastern dishes 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 St.) offers excellent French food prepared by a native French chef. It's too expensive for the typical student budget, but there is a reasonable prix-fixe dinner on Sundays--appetizer, entrée, and dessert for $21. Or have your parents or significant other take you here to celebrate a special occasion.

GOURMET COFFEE

Koffee? (104 Audubon St.) is the hangout for Silliman and TD students. 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. Recently it started serving quiche and soups, in addition to its brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Koffee? also features live music on weekends.

Willoughby's (1006 Chapel St., 258 Church St., and 276 York St.) 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 is XandO (338 Elm St.). The two-story building offers plenty of room, and you can now order pizza there as well (see PIZZA). If you're of age, try a coffee cocktail. If the library is getting dull, XandO is also a good place to hit the books, though the lighting is pretty dim.

SWEETS

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

Chapel Sweets (1042 Chapel St.), 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.

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

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

Graphic by Melanie Schoenberg.

Back to Key to City...