Weekend Excursion

What's better than an outdoor restaurant with open-fire grilled steaks that encourages you to bring your dog along? Not much—which is why The Place (yes, it's just called The Place) in Guilford is a perennial winner for outdoor dining in the Best Of New Haven Advocate Readers' Poll. A winner again in 2001, The Place closes its grounds for the winter after this weekend, so take advantage of what are almost definitely the last days of our Indian Summer. This weekend, grab a couple of friends and head out to Guilford for some good old carnivorous fun.

DIANA GREENWOLD/YH

Famous locally for its casual atmosphere, grilled clams, chicken, and steaks, and its BYO salads and drinks policy, The Place is a seasonal operation that welcomes large groups and picnic-loving college kids. Owners and brothers Gary and Vaughn Knowles, who founded the establishment 30 years ago, modeled The Place after the roadside clamdigger stand where they worked during their high school and college days. Today, they employ a staff of mostly high school and college students who help them grill The Place's fare over a 20-foot woodfire pit.

All food is served on paper plates, drinks are poured into plastic cups, and customers sit on clusters of tree stumps. With the exception of large groups, The Place, the quintessential casual establishment, does not accept reservations.

—Katherine Hill

The Place is located at 901 Boston Post Rd. in Guilford. From New Haven, take Exit 57 off I-95 and turn right onto Boston Post Rd. The Place is six stoplights down on the left. It is open Fri., Oct. 26, from 5 to 10 p.m., Sat., Oct. 27, from 1 to 10 p.m., and Sun., Oct. 28, from 12 to 9 p.m. For more information and for groups of 12 or more, call 453-9276.

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