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116 Crown
Categories: Restaurants Tapas Bars Nightlife Bars Lounges Tapas Bars, Lounges [Edit]
116 Crown StNew Haven, CT 06510
(203) 777-3116
- Hours:
Tue-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 1 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
79 reviews for 116 Crown
Review Highlights
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"...fries with chives, parmesan-reggiano, and truffle oil." In 10 reviews -
"They do have a great selection of cocktails." In 23 reviews -
"This pork belly based sandwich is a work of genius." In 6 reviews
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79 reviews in English
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Review from Amber C.
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
116 crown has the best cocktails in town. They are truly a work of art. Some of my favorite drinks are the Four Thieves, the Forth & Clyde and the Kabuki cocktail. They even offer (expensive) cocktail making classes.
The atmosphere is uber-hipster which I really don't mind. It's fun to sit at the long lit-up bar or weird suspended booths. Even their bathrooms are trendy.
The food isn't bad either. I wouldn't come here for dinner (there just aren't enough entree-size dishes for that), but they have some great bar food. Their truffle fries and grilled cheese really stand out. -
Review from Sean B.
New Haven, CT
2/21/2012
Love this place. Whoever's the mixologist here, he/she's part mad scientist, part genious. I found the drink menu to be both intimidating and fascinating. Most of the ingredients they're using I've never even heard of and the flavor combinations they come up with are completely out of the box and almost always wonderful.
The bartenders can be a little cold and businessy - like, in the world of bartending, these would be the 'techies', but they let their skills do the talking so I guess it's fine.
My only real critique is that I felt that the food menu was a little out of step with the drink menu - as if all the creativity went into the drinks. Aside from the pork belly sandwich (which was TREMENDOUS), I just felt like the food menu was a little ho-hum. -
Review from Konrad M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/20/2012
Cool and hip if a little bit overpriced.
Quality of drinks: 4
Value: 3
Service: 5
Decor: 5 -
Review from Alfredo M.
New Haven, CT
5/22/2012
Very nice place! Went there yesterday for drinks and have a blast.
Will definitely come back! -
Review from Su C.
Cambridge, MA
4/30/2012
Very creative cocktails and quite good food presented very attractively. We had the tagliatelle special, tuna crudo, charcuterie plate (3 items), fries, and the tangerine creme brulee, plus an Acid, a Chantmé, and a Kentucky Leftfoot. All were excellent, but some of the food prices seem unjustifiably high. For example, the charcuterie platter was $15 ($22 for 5 items). On this platter, the (admittedly thick-cut and extremely tasty) bacon portion was slightly more than 3 square inches. We had a great time, but for these premium prices, I'd like to see either exceptional quality or larger portions.
4 stars for food and drink, minus one for a too obvious profit margin. -
Review from J F.
TriBeCa, Manhattan, NY
5/2/2012
If I have to give a place in New Haven 5 stars this would be it
It has unique food, great drinks, and a good scene.
It's a great date bar, a good place to catch up and always lively -
Review from Joshua L.
2/10/2012
116 Crown kind of oozes coolness out of every pore, from its lit bartop (which emanates warmth), to the cozy little booths, to the interesting flatbread selections, and of course the cheese and carcuterie selections.
And hey, half-price wine on Sundays! That's definitely worth something. Plus if you're hard-up, you can take re-cork a bottle and bring it home.
The cocktails are pretty much all organic, complex, diverse, delicious, and will cost you a second mortgage on your house. Seriously. We're talking 14 dollars and up.
If you have a driver and a monocle and a top hat, this may not be a problem for you. But if you start having a few drinks here and there, it's going to add up and fast. The drinks are all very good, and I admire the push towards sustainability and organic ingredients, but this is New Haven, not Montauk.
The food and desserts are all pretty delicious and I don't think you'll be disappointed by the selection. It's just that the sticker shock is a little much. The service is pretty great and everybody is really friendly and attentive without being oppressive. And the music on the jukebox is a good mix of indie stuff if you're into that kind of thing.
If you're looking for somewhere very chill and hip and you don't mind spending a few extra bucks, you'll almost certainly enjoy yourself. But for me, it's just a little on the outrageous side for what I'm getting.
So I guess the question comes down to: what's a complex martini really worth to you? -
Review from Matt D.
1/29/2012
As a disclaimer: this review is for the cocktails only. I've had the fries here, which are delicious, but I haven't had enough to write a full-blown food review.
The cocktails here are supremely creative, and delicious. They had a wonderful special here last year that had rice vodka, lemongrass and cucumbers, and I find myself craving it every once and a while.
Tonight, we had the "Four Thieves" and "The Diving Right of Kings," both excellent, but a the latter was a clear stand-out. A mix of champagne, lemon juice, orange juice, tuaca, lavender, and muddled rosemary. I love earthy, herby drinks, and this one took the cake. It had a beautiful cloudy amber hue and was served with a large rosemary sprig that gave off a wonderful aromatic scent and tickled my nose when drinking....fine cocktail creation!
The Four Thieves was a little more basic, but very good. I love the thick square, pure ice they use here. It will barely melt in a half hour, which makes for great sipping quality drinks. This is a hugely tangy, but smooth drink and has a slowly diminishing after taste. I might add some muddled blueberries to it if it were up to me.
I take away a star purely on price. There's really no reason to charge above NYC prices in New Haven. I understand they're quality ingredients and that it's a trendy (overly hipster, borderline pretentious) hangout, but $14+ average for drinks is just insane. -
Review from Jordan S.
3/16/2012
This is one of the better bars in New Haven, if you're looking for something that feels upscale and has creative drinks. Haha, what am I talking about? This is the only place that really fits that description. That said, be prepared to pay Manhattan level prices for the more inventive cocktails. Are they worth it? For the most part. Unfortunately, the food is priced similarly but shouldn't command nearly that much. Stick to the drinks and the semi swanky atmosphere.
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Review from Lindsay S.
Hamden, CT
1/23/2012
Like most of the reviews have said, the cocktails are unique, fun, and delicious. I recommend "The Divine Right of Kings" as an aperitif.
Bar area is lively, with low lighting on the tables and along the bar area.
Unfortunately, the drinks are the main focus here at 116 Crown, and food misses the mark. Not to say it isn't bad, it's just not noteworthy.
We ordered two drinks, one of them mentioned above, which were crisp, delicious, and flavorful.
Next we ordered the charcuterie platter for an appetizer. The meat, cheese, and pate were well presented and tasty. We would definitely order this again.
After, we had risotto balls and deer sausage, highly recommended by our server. The risotto balls lacked flavor and the risotto was heavy. The deer sausage was average, nothing special.
I would go here for their creative drinks and appetizers, but go to many other great restaurants in the new haven area for the main course. -
Review from Randy S.
Los Angeles, CA
7/26/2011
116 Crown should really change their slogan to: "116 Crown: We'll turn your 116 Frown...Upside-Down!"
116 Crown management, if you're reading, you can have that one, on me. Consider this a waiver.
The vibe is a bit too psuedo-New Yorky, the prices a bit too much, the bartenders a bit too - ah, dressed all exactly the same, but what are you gonna do? Though the liquor list is fantastically extensive, I also never had a mixed drink there that I actually enjoyed. On the other hand, I've never met a woman that didn't rave about the mixed drinks like they were ice cream after a break-up, so I suppose they're doing mixed drinks right. They also do nice things like make some of their own ingredients (e.g., preserves) in house. I only had the food a few times but what I had was always very good.
Good for dates, good to hang out in groups. And good for complaining about the ambiance.
Oh, and the bathroom is AWESOME. I LOVED using that bathroom. Sometimes I would go in there even if I didn't need to relieve myself, just to hang out.
("Is he just kidding? Is he?")
Food: 18/25 stars
Ambiance: 14/25 stars
Service: 22/25 stars
Bathroom: 25/25 stars
Probability of going back: 100%Listed in: Five Star Public Bathrooms
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Review from Art L.
Culver City, CA
12/18/2011
IMO over rated. Food is well presented and decent, but not deserving of the hype and $$$. It's got ambiance and the non-alcoholic drinks are pretty tasty - try them all. I honestly cannot tell you what meals I've had there despite 3 visits. Tells you a lot about the place - it's forgetful.
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Review from zoe p.
Old Lyme, CT
6/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm am shockingly disappointed. The best part of our meal was that it's Sunday so our wine was half priced. Next best was that we liked our wine. After that it pretty much went down hill.
The picnic charcuterie platter was just ok. Fries were like from McDonald's with a smidge of truffle oil. Beet salad flat out sucked. Pretty sure they were the most over vinagered canned beats ever.
Watery mussels in a bitter but bland broth. Scotch egg might have been cooked yesterday it was so hard boiled. And the John D Rockerfeller pork belly sandwich was chewy, too salty, and missing the promised fried oyster.
Honestly, we won't likely give it a second chance.
Oh yeah, our server was nice. And the salt & pepper pills were fun. -
Review from Scott V.
Updated - 11/6/2011
Already a fan of their intrinsic cocktail selection, I've been awaiting a moment to stop in to try a bunch of different plates, and none of tonight's restaurant week specials disappointed. The subtly sweet and appropriately fall-spiced butternut squash pasta dish would have been a great dessert, following itself as an entree, and the Sunday half-price bottle of wine deal was a solid deal. Service was very friendly and professional. The seasonally changing decor is always something to look forward to checking out and the cucumber infused tap water is a great little gesture as well. 116 Crown's attention to detail is definitely strong, making for a great night out that's worth the few extra bucks.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/21/2011
Trendiest bar I've been to in New Haven, hands down. Expensive, but as expected. I really liked… Read more »
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Review from Kedar D.
4/9/2011
I like the vibe in here. It's trendy, futuristic and intimate all at once, particularly if you sit at the long bar in the middle, right next to other couples. Inevitably you'll end up making friends with the people next to you.
While the cocktails here are expensive (all in the $8-12 range), they're creative and taste great. My date and I shared a couple of drinks made with zubrowka bisongrass vodka (I think 116 Crown is the only place in New Haven that serves it) and were really impressed.
Food-wise, there's not much for vegans, and most of the dishes can't be modified to be vegan. That's really disappointing as it suggest a lack of creativity in the kitchen; oh well, at least they're creative at the bar.
Come to 116 Crown for a fancy pre-meal drink date or to just chill after a long week of work. It's expensive, but worth it every once in a while. -
Review from Richard W.
Astoria, Queens, NY
4/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Here's what it's like walking into 116 Crown on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night:
UNCE UNCE UNCE
::hip acid jazzy techno music::
"I am Hansel. I am so hot right now. Are you hot right now? Of course you're hot right now. Let's be hot right now. Oh wait, we already are."
116 Crown is a really swanky joint with fancy (and pricy) drinks, good food, and a hip atmosphere It's a cool place to go to for drinks because although there are people there the place won't be jammed. I don't know how well it would work for a date at that hour given the loudness of the music. But, I imagine that it would work pretty well earlier in the evening given the dim and colorful lighting. Definitely worth a look-see and it's a place that I go to from time to time. -
Review from Christian R.
Woodside, Queens, NY
Updated - 10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I returned home to 116 Crown last Friday for some dinner and drinks with friends. It's always a fun and lively atmosphere and the owner, John, was very accommodating and funny. There's something very "Brooklyn" and hip about this place. I've nibbled here before but didn't order as much. I kind of expected the bill to be steep but still think it's vastly over-priced (4 people- 2 burgers, a tray of oysters, pork belly sandwich, an average of 2 drinks for per person (only 3 of us drank) for a total of $227 w/tip. They're known for their extensive cocktail selection - an overwhelming encyclopedia of sorts- some good, some mediocre. I recommend the Four Thieves (I always get it when i come here) from the website "organic house-infused blueberry vodka, cointreau, lime juice, simple syrup, soda - served on the rocks"- so refreshing.
Now the food. I appreciate their attempt at versatility- the operation, the website- it seems organized and flawless at times. However, the burgers are too small and cutesy (yes, burgers not sliders) tasting a bit mediocre for the price ($14) and, as with most of the food, it appears to take on a seemingly regal quality when it's elevated on wooden or glass cubes, but doesn't necessarily mean you're getting more bang for your buck. You can get a cheaper, larger, better quality burger anywhere in NYC and cheaper cocktails for that matter. The oysters were decent and fresh enough and the pork belly sandwich seemed to fall apart in your hand. I feel as though they're just trying to throw things together and experiment without being selective. My advice: stick to cocktails, wine and brews and if you are going to pursue the food route, choose one or two signature dishes and make them dynamite and worth it!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/2/2009
For a native New Haven-ite who currently lives in NYC, it's nice to come home and see how your… Read more »
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Review from Bryan Y.
10/3/2010
The decor of this place is amazing. The drinks are great. Bartenders and service was superb. But definitely not a working man's dive from the prices.
Been here about twice already this semester. Its a great place to start off your night, but be forewarned because prices are a bit on the high end. They do have a great selection of cocktails. Try the cachaca mojito, made with fresh mint leaves and limes! They also have a great array of red, rose, and white wines. Take their house malbec, its rich and starts off your weekend right.
Raw Oysters. At 2.75 each, a choice to pick whether you want the west coast or east coast variant. Comes with cocktail sauce as well as a vinaigrette. Over not too bad, though prices should be a tad lower. -
Review from Jamie S.
Waterbury, CT
4/23/2011
A great spot for drinks and small plates....both are creative, different, and very tasty!
Nice hip loungy vibe! Beautiful modern sleek decor. And cool bathrooms. -
Review from Tricia M.
Fairfield County, CT
10/9/2011
One of the best spots to hang out it in New Haven. Go for the drinks, not the food. Zubrowka and St. Germain are a few of my favorites that I love to have in mixed drinks and they're the only spot I know of that carries them in New Haven. Cheers
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Review from Zoe P.
Arlington, MA
2/2/2008
Lots going on.
First, there's the drink menu. Extensive doesn't begin to describe it. But it's smart. I'm not so much a fancy cocktails person (cocktails, were, for the most part, invented during Prohibition when alcohol was so bad it needed a bunch of flavored distractions to make it palatable). But I like the classics and innovations approach, which introduces a skeptical girl, like myself, to elaborate, but not ridiculous, combinations of things. Anyway, the drinks themselves were delicious with lots of bite and pucker - not too sweet, despite the menu's emphasis on "simple syrup" and even, in some way, slightly savory/salty.
The layout is also kind of amazing - a long bar, two booths out front, a small lounge area and then actual tables and chairs and banquettes. And it was bustling, but not packed on a Friday night.
I've also had a fair amount of delicious cheese at this establishment.
Honestly, though, my favorite thing is the consistently EXCELLENT service. Attentive, friendly and forthcoming but not in your face.
All told, I've had about 6-8 of the various cocktails here and each and every one was delicious. I am beginning to feel that they should have a punch card. OMG. A "punch" card - http://en.wikipedia.or...Listed in: Nicer Nights in New Haven
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Review from Debrin S.
12/13/2010
This is a very chill place to meet friends catch up & relax & have one of their amazing/signature cocktails & enjoy small plates. The service is very nice too.
The decor & ambiance are modern with a relaxed vibe. The music is a blend of ambient soul...cool little side booths when you enter the bar area. I don't like dark bathrooms but they were clean. The crowd was comprised of a broad spectrum of ages of 20s-40s and the attire was casual w a trendy flair.
Can you say "holy cocktail selection!"? I had a Jolly Roger cocktail- passion fruit, bourbon & chillie flakes- OMG. We all shared the pesto pizette (we had 1/2 Prosciutto as I don't eat meat but my side lacked SALT so definately get the Prosciutto), the grilled cheese (I didn't like this as the cheese was too sharp & over powering) the Charcuterie- which serves all of their cured meats, cheeses, cornichons, olives & bread. Very nice selection & variety. The VERY BEST thing we had were the golden, crunchy perfectly fried Frites dusted w Parmesan cheese, garlic, fresh parsley & drizzled w White Truffle oil= Amazing!
Parking is tough (what else is new in down town) so be prepared to pay $10 CASH @ any of the 3 parking lots near this spot. -
Review from Michael H.
Guilford, CT
5/16/2008 1 Check-in Here
I've been here a few times and have come to conclusion that if I go here for drinks I'll be happy. So far everything I've ordered to eat has been average at best and not cheap. I've had a few cheese boards and they are always blah. The truffles fries were dry and over cooked. I should have known better than to order the risotto balls.
Was there last night and I"m not sure why the bald bartender hated my group of friends. He treated us with such disdain that we left after one cocktail. I'll look in the window before I go in next time cuz if he's there I'm heading elsewhere. If I want to be treated like crap while spening my money I'll head to Wooster St. for some pizza.
UPDATE: I went back. I looked in the window first as I promised myself and the nasty bald bartender was not there. That was my sign that is was safe to go in. All I had was a cocktail (ok, 2. I'm lying, it was 3.) and as I mentioned in my original post - it did not disappoint. I'd go out on a limb and say I had the best Negroni ever served. Another important note here is to say the owner sent me an email after my original post and apologized for all that went wrong. That alone makes this place better than I originally reported. Great customer service from owners/staff always over rule 1 bad experience. This is still the hippest place in town to have a hip drink, or 2. ALRIGHT! 3. -
Review from Lauren X.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2011
Simply beautiful decor. Clean, modern, sleek, creative.
Came here for drinks and a mezzo plate. Being a vegetarian, I cannot comment on the fish that came on the plate but I am sure it was excellent, as was everything else. Simplicity. A poblano pepper roasted. Amazing. The hand made bread that was served with is was the perfect blend of crusty and soft. It is a great addition to New Haven. Service was impeccable.Super over priced and a tad douchey. -
Review from M M.
New Haven, CT
11/15/2010
Pros: The do a great job on the mixed drinks. The food is quite tasty.
Cons: The price! I get that they're trying to emulate a little NYC, but charging that much is tough to stomach.
Nice location for the occasion...but not a place to frequent regularly unless you can afford it. -
Review from Sandy S.
Wallingford, CT
1/13/2008
I was introduced to 116 Crown by a few friends of mine and I went back last night, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke that it was so good the first time. First, the decor is great, very different. I have only been in the front room but have been told the back room is very cool also. The drinks are very different, so come with an open mind.
They serve classics like the Tokyo highball, the sidecar and Manhattans here alongside drinks that are so interesting they just beg to be tried. I have had the kabuki cocktail which contains sake, pink grapefruit wedges, simple syrup, grenadine, lime juice and mint. I have also tried a few of the champagne cocktails which are really very good also. They have a wide variety of liquor- I mean they have black truffle vodka, not something I would order but I didn't know such a thing existed. They also serve hitachino- which I love and is very hard to get in a bar.
The only thing I have eaten here were the chocolate chip cookies. They are served warm and are to die for. If this says anything about the rest of the food, I need to come back and eat very soon. Take a look at their menu online http://www.116crown.co... and definitely come here for a change of pace, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Jordan Y.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2008
I had heard wonderful things about this place while dining at another restaurant in 9th square, but on first attempt to visit found it closed (note to the wise, they are not open Mondays... a shame for those of us who wouldn't mind a cocktail to get the week rolling on the right (or left) foot).
Though, this evening I was able to make my way over after dinner at BAR with two friends for a quick after dinner cocktail, which turned into another few hours (half an hour of which was spent just going over their cocktail tome which required a glossary (we called him Alex, our server) to get through, due to the large number of alcoholic beverages on the menu which I had never heard of before in my life).
Finally I settled upon what they call the Vow of Silence, a flowering tea based hot cocktail with chartreuse and a varietal of gin, along with local honey and lemon juice. One, I had never had chartreuse (which the owner was happy to inform us later is one of two beverages a vampire will drink, the other being human blood... who knew) and is made from hundreds of herbs, but that is all one can know, as there are only three monks in the world who happen to know the recipe. Wow... really? Overall, I have never had anything quite like this cocktail before... and can not wait to have anything like it again... amazing.
Their cocktails are amazing, taking standard favorites, recreating them, and offering interesting twists (a maple syrup old fashioned, for instance) and creating new cocktails (such as the Vow of Silence (still cant get over that name)).
I recommend this place whole heartedly for a night out with friends... though a bit pricey so I am glad that I visited on a Sunday night, rather than emptying my bank account while visiting on a Friday.Listed in: Why I am going to miss New…
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Review from Jason B.
Hartford, CT
2/9/2009
The fact that this is *actually* in Connecticut pushes it from 4 stars to 5. You might even forget you're in the Constitution State whilst sipping elixirs here.
The drinks are pricey, but given that they use all fresh fruit purees and juices and make their own syrups, it's worth it. The JOLLY ROGER (brandy, passion fruit puree and cayenne pepper) is super-yum, and the DAY-KER-EE is about the best daquiri I've had in ages.
We didn't have a full proper supper - but the charcuterie menu is nice, and it's relatively inexpensive when compared to everything else.
The atmosphere is a nice mish-mash of somewhere-in-Southern-California in the 70s and esoteric post-modern-with-lots-of-concrete. I would go here again just to try the different drinks, there were something like 40-50 on the menu with lots of different ingredients.
I wouldn't make it my regular watering hole because of the price, but definitely a good place to go for special occasions or to wow one of your friends who made the drive from any-other-cooler New England state to come visit you in Connecticut.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Ryan C.
New Haven, CT
8/1/2008
The sheer awesomeness of our meal and drinks last night leave me abosolutely speechless...but that doesn't make for a very good review, so I'll try to sum it up. 116 Crown is beautifully decorated, Talented and Varied with its service, friendly and quirky, and you could easily just feel like you want to hang out for hours. It's like the Scarlett Johansson of bars.
116 Crown should be held up as an example to other 'boutique' bars in the area, or the country. With premium prices (10-23, most 12-15) for cocktaills, come very high expectations. Where most establishments might be content with serving mojito's and calling themselves 'exotic' 116 goes to places with their drinks I could never have dreamed up on my own anf then executes those experiments flawlessly.
'Pimms Cup' - A strong citrus flavor is mellowed by a fresh finish, excellent summer drink. the 'Colorfield' is a take on the classic drink by bring strawberry into the mix. Both were wonderfully prepared. I also had a 'Grand Prix' - a litle more adventurous gin, grapefruit juice and black pepper concoction, that was layered with complexity and very enjoyable. While I can't speak firsthand, some other comments overhead at our table: 'Churchkey' - Excellent, St. Mary's Old Fashioned - 'Can I get another!', 'Empire' - Like a strong manhattan.
Though the variety and quality of drinks are the strongest assett of 116, their food does not disappoint. The fries are excellent, but be sure to add truffle oil, which were unanimously declared superior to their untruffled brethren. The green bean tempura, 116 Lobster Roll, spinach salad and burger were also very good. The hummus was ok, as was the cheese selection. They had a fries, the 116 and the salad as a prix fixe option, for an excellent first sampling of 116's fare.
The best part of 116 Crown is the service and atmosphere, which compliment the drinks. Our waitress was affable, comfortable, friendly and quirky...she could have fit right in joining us for a drink. The music was chic but low key and good level. While we were there for a birthday celebration abck in the lounge area, others were at the bar with their laptops (come to think of it, they were all macs...). There's also a room in the back for alrge groups that you can bring your iPod for a personalized ambience.
This is the upscale, premium bar for the design concious or the cocktail afficionado of New Haven that wants to try something unique and different but guaranteed to be excellent. While it might be middle of the pack in NYC or LA's trendy nightspots, it is the best New Haven has to offer. -
Review from Michael E.
Dayton, OH
1/12/2009
You can sit in pods
To watch yourself on TV
Drinking old-fashioneds -
Review from T T.
San Diego, CA
9/6/2011
Professional looking & nicely decorated place - definitely not like any other college bar down the street. Their drink menu is extensive & interesting and the bartender is knowledgeable about his mixology & made it right. The cost of a drink is a bit high, but you're totally paying for the service & ambiance of this place. Definitely would love to come back again so i can try out their food items as well.
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Review from Art S.
New Haven, CT
Updated - 8/8/2009
What's with all the recent hate for this place? This is one of the best all-around bars in the state. You certainly can't get a drink made any better, that's for sure. 116 actually makes using jiggers seem cool, and this is coming from a bartender who definitely prefers to free pour.
True, this is not a beer bar. But, I wouldnt say their beer selection is poor. It's, at very least, adequate. I've drank beer here, and while I wasn't overwhelmed by the choices, they have a beer to suit everyone's mood.
Their wine selection is solid. They also do half-price bottles on Sunday, which comes in handy when I want some wine to drink at home (yay blue laws!). Just pop in, have them open it for you, and put it in a bag with your receipt. Voila! You just got wine take-out, and only paid a small markup from what it would cost at the liquor store.
Food-wise, there are deals to be had, although I do understand why people complain about the $7 slider. There's something about paying $7 for one mini-burger that is unsettling. It just seems expensive. But, I do have to say, it's really damn good. You'll just have to decide for yourself if it's $7 good. The short ribs, on the other hand, are worth whatever the cost. They are succulent, tender, delicious, and there are not giant globules of fat all over them as with some places. I also tried the vegetable terrine, and that was really really good (and pretty to look at). Highly recommended.
Admittedly, the drinks are on the pricey side. This is true. But, at least they offer a unique experience that you can't get anywhere else in CT. It's not like you're paying $12 for some artificially flavored pumpkin martini type thing. When you consider the quality and rarity of the ingredients that they use, it justifies the prices of many drinks. And, hey, if you can't afford to fork over $14 for a drink, they have a variety of drinks in the $7-9 range as well.
Also, if you get a chance, talk to the owners. They are extremely nice people, and really enjoy what they're doing. Their genuineness will make you want to give them your business.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/29/2009
Went here again last night, and, as has been the case on every previous visit, I was very impressed.… Read more »
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Review from Travis H.
Pasadena, CA
11/29/2009
Well, I survived the night here, but got another chef from Chicago
bombed here. So gotta give it thumbs up for that.
Even better is I took the next day off and he had to be in at 7a...
Yeah, I did stop by and check in on him..poor bastard.
Food wasnt bad, had atleast 8 different plates that night.
If I had this in Pasadena I would make a stop here n there. -
Review from Allison L.
Orange, CT
2/24/2008
I heard many great things about this place, so I was definitely looking forward to trying this place out for a friend's birthday gathering. But to my dismay I was sorely disappointed. The service was just plain poor. It was hardly busy, and we had to wait 40 minutes for our tapas because they forgot to put in the order to the kitchen. Given that this is a tapas bar, the proportions/sizes for what you pay does not match up. You can get a better deal at Barcelona. Then, at the end the waitress spilled oyster juice on my scarf as she was clearing the dishes. :( But I won't totally shoot them down. The drink menu was quite extensive, and was quite pleased with my drink.
Pros: Drinks
Cons: Service -
Review from John B.
12/14/2009
Depressing gentrification spot. I'm glad that New Haven has some life nowadays, but this is the poorest way to express it. I visit these "nouveau" cocktail lounges only under duress, but it strikes me that a bartender should know how to make a Bronx cocktail. It is, after all, the drink that got the founder of AA started on his merry ride.
Lose the weird coordinated shirts, the tiny and ugly booths, the illuminated bar, the glasses full of blueberries and other fruits to be muddled. Learn how to make the official cocktails of the International Bartenders Association. And arrange the seating so that I don't have to stare directly at a minister wearing a kilt. -
Review from Jessica S.
Ithaca, NY
1/26/2011
I never write online reviews, but this place deserves it. Simply put, it's easily the best place in Connecticut for drinks and rivals any cocktail-focused NYC establishment. Food here, for me, is secondary to the drinks, but match the concept perfectly and all dishes are sure to please (careful...the truffle fries are especially addictive).
Good for any and all occasions--there's no such thing as a bad drink here, while standouts like "The Lower East Side" and "Forth and Clyde" bring spirit enjoyment to a whole new realm. Pair that with professional service, funky ambiance, good tunes and half-price oysters before seven, and you have pure (and priceless) libation-based nirvana.
Though I don't live in Connecticut anymore, 116 is without question my first and last destination when visiting! -
Review from S N.
Brooklyn, NY
3/2/2010 2 Check-ins Here
In New Haven, 116 Crown is one of my preferred places to drink. They have very good mixers, including fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs. That's hard to find in this town!
Unfortunately, they know it... the drinks here are more expensive for the same quality that you can find in other cities. It's priced like the higher end of NYC. I'm guessing that's because of the smaller population of New Haven - lower volume of people coming through, maybe.
I appreciate 116 Crown's decision to organize the menu by flavor profile (flavorful/complex/diverse; refreshing/light; bitter, etc.) This is extremely, extremely helpful when making a decision. However, there are a few things on the menu that raised my eyebrows, but not in a good way. There's the $30 "The Last Word" with no ingredient description (are we supposed to be sold on mystery? No, I already know that chartreuse cocktail by heart and can get it elsewhere for $9.) And the drink that takes 30 minutes to settle. I guess the 30 minute drink might get a test from me at some point, when I know I plan to be there for a while. Otherwise they're just a little irksome and distracting when glancing over the menu. It's enough to have the fresh squeezed juices, and fruity vegetabley herby garnishes, and some perfectly rationed pours of good liquor.
The food I've tried here has been good, but it's rather expensive given the quantity and quality of what you get.
I have always had very friendly, helpful customer service here, both from bartenders while I sat at the bar, and from waitstaff when at a table. Also, it gets a little busy on weekend nights, but it's never as terribly crowded and loud as some of the other places around. I like coming to 116 Crown to have a few good cocktails and avoid the screaming hordes of Crown Street on weekend nights! One of the more civilized places in the area. But if there were a variety of comparable options doing equally high-quality drinks, I might rate it less highly due to the prices. -
Review from Edward O.
Updated - 5/9/2010
A follow up experience that could not possibly have been any better.
Full disclosure: after posting my first review, I was contacted by the owner, who it turned out was the one waiting on us that first fateful night. John Ginetti was, to his credit, was more concerned about our experience than my prior review. In his own words, "you were more than fair; you gave us 3 stars for a 1 star experience."
Reflecting on our first visit, I should say I really wanted to like 116 Crown because it seemed precisely like the sort of place we would seek out. It was for this reason, I think, that we were so disappointed that first time. We wanted to come in and really be blown away, but because of a convergence of circumstances (mostly to do with Restaurant Week), weren't.
Despite all this, I endeavored to be fair in the prior review, not only in application of the Golden Rule, but also because going that first time gave me an opportunity to try Michter's Bourbon, which was so good I went out and bought a bottle the very next day. That alone made it worth it in my mind.
I should also say that I accepted John's return invitation with a certain amount of concern. As a small business owner, I felt his pain, but at the same time I don't want to compromise my "Yelp Cred", so to speak.
Can you imagine if there were some equivalent of Yelp reviewing everyone's job performance every moment of your life? You have potential here for a nightmares of Freudian proportions. I can only imagine what it would be like to be in an owner's shoes, particularly someone who ardently cares about the result, which is certainly the case at 116 Crown.
Finally, I want to say that John never asked for this review to be written. As I said before, he felt obliged to show us how they can do it right. That says it all, in my opinion.
Do it right they did: I am always, always happy to re-encounter products from La Quercia, which at Crown comes in the form of charcuterie (lardo!!!) and pork belly. The Rockefeller sandwich could kill you (pork belly, cornichon, fried oyster, sriracha and more) but if it did, you would indeed die happy. Other highlights included the bone marrow, and the pizzette, which included a sunny egg and capsules of some rare and amazing dried chile flakes and sea salt.
The cocktails were, of course, once again superb. This is the raison d'etre of 116 Crown; when it comes to the pairing of spirits they are deadly serious. Ingredients, right down to the garnishes, are carefully selected and expertly prepared.
My advice: run, don't walk. But save us a seat.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/19/2010
Timing is everything.
Went last night armed with fair expectations and left somewhat disappointed.… Read more »
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Review from Alex Z.
Lancaster, PA
5/8/2008
This is not my type of bar and I still like it; that ought to say something. It's very upscale, something I can't stand, but in spite of that it's still a very nice place.
Why do I like this place? Everything I've tasted here has been outstanding.
Food: Although the menu seems very upscale (and it would be easy to blow big $$$ here), you can still escape with a moderately filling (and delicious) meal here for under $15, if you're creative. Every little detail of the food was addressed...it was balanced, creative, and tasty, even simple things like the green salad. The menu is perfect for light snacking too...there's a broad array of stuff and I imagine just about anyone would find something just for them.
The drinks? Exquisite. Most bars seem to load up on the sugar on nearly all their drinks, especially the fruitier ones; this place is subtle. You will find flavors emerging and vanishing; you will find complexity! I crave complexity! There was bitterness, bite, and restraint in all the drinks. I like it! Everything here has an ethereal quality, even the water, which they seem to have infused with cucumbers.
The service was very good in our party too. In spite of the fact that we were one of the shabbier looking groups of people in the establishment, we were treated very nicely! Our waiter was so nice! -
Review from Joshua F.
Washington, DC
11/26/2007
Yet another tapas bar enters the New Haven scene, however, this one fits the bill. 116 Crown is a small, ultra-modern bar with amazing drinks and very good food. If you want to eat somewhere right out of New York City, this is where you have to come.
The food menu is small and concise with the standard tapas flair. I tired the hummus platter, the spicy olive bowl, the roasted beef marrow, the french fries, the fried risotto balls, their maple smoked gouda cheese plate, and the mousse of duck foie gras. Everything was very well executed and the presentation was unique (though a little repetitive). The cheese plates, sliders, and foie gras were presented to us on wooden blocks. Other dishes were served in 116 Crown's uniquely shaped martini glasses (the same ones that drinks are served in, which I found a little weird).
Their drinks were top notch. I found the drink menu complex and it varied wildly. 116 Crown's spirit collection was also very impressive. I would definitely recommend this place as just another bar stop, even though dinner was fantastic.
Not everything was perfect, however. Service was surprisingly slow. Since it was a tapas style menu I expected much more contact with our wait staff. Most of the food was brought out by runners, and our waitress checked on us far to seldom for my liking. Also, 116 Crown got very, very busy around 10:30 which made it a little off putting for my liking. Trying to get out of the restaurant after our meal was almost impossible due to the crowd!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at 116 Crown and would definitely go back for another go. Hopefully with experience the wait staff will improve (being the restaurant's only draw back).Listed in: Top Restaurants
