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Book Trader Cafe
Rating Details »
Categories: Coffee & Tea, Books, Mags, Music and Video
1140 Chapel StNew Haven, CT 06511
(203) 787-6147
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
16 reviews for Book Trader Cafe
Book Trader wins my vote for the best named sandwiches in New Haven (oh yeah, and they are tasty, too). My favorite? The Jane Rare ... it's roast beef with goat cheese, horseradish mayo and field greens. I like the Jane Rare so much that I hardly ever order anything else. But if for some reason there were a rush on Jane Rares, I'd either go for the Tale of Two Turkeys (with cranberry sauce!) or Vonnegut's Veggie (the brie oozing over the vegetables is rich, but worth it). The coffee and pastries are good, too. And if you're not in the mood for a big dessert, there are little chocolate truffles - five for a dollar and worth every penny.
There are other nice coffee shops in New Haven, but I love the dining area at Book Trader, which makes you feel as if you're sitting in a library. It's also a great place to eavesdrop, especially on TA's office hours. There is also a pretty seating area outside when the weather's good.
I loves the giant red velvet cupcakes. I also like the outdoor patio seating... there's not nearly enough of it in this town. The indoor seating area kind of makes you feel like you're inside a terrarium, in a good, cozy way. The humanities graduate students like to hold their office hours here, so you can eavesdrop on all manner of esoteric conversations. And inevitably someone you know is going to wander down Chapel St, so you can wave and get that small town fuzzy feeling. The book selection can be hit or miss, but for the times when you miss, it's a nice place to just hang out.
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very very cute place! i didnt eat any food so i cant comment about it. but the drinks are good and there is great seating. i played board games here with some friends and it was quiet, nice, and relaxing. highly recommended for studying purposes, board game playing, reading, chatting, sandwiches, etc.
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friends and I came for coffee and drinks, and to hang out in the cafe area. the cafe didn't have a crowded and/or rushed vibe; it was cool. there was also an outdoor area but no one was using it.
The whole vibe in the store reeks of fattening caffeinated lies. Upon entering, one immediately recognizes that books function as post factum accessories rather than main objects of attraction.
Sure the menu is upbeat, but the books are second-rate and overpriced; there are better prices, in my opinion, in the sale section of Labyrinth, and those books are new-ish. I've seen people eat and chat in Book Trader, but I've never seen anyone actually buy books, let alone trade them. Before stepping inside, I had high hopes, expecting to browse for hours, maybe take home a few. I spent twenty minutes inside and left empty-handed and disappointed.
This place might be tolerable if you bring your own book and pretend you bought it there, while you sip a hot cup of freshly brewed whatever the hell.
The best thing I've eaten at Book Trader is the vegan chocolate cake. It's amazing. It's the best vegan cake in town. It definitely beats Claire's vegan chocolate cake. And the funny thing is that Claire's specializes in desserts and cakes. Claire's cake, not to be too bashing, is very dry and crumbly. The chocolate cake at Book Trader is moist and delicious. I frequently go just to buy the take. And I sometimes buy multiple pieces so I can hoard them in my room.
The Tom Soyer is also tasty, though, unfortunately, not vegan. I wish it were. It's a great vegetarian sandwich, though, that's not lacking in the protein department. Most of the vegan menu items are pretty tasty. I've yet to try the soups, but maybe I will--just for Yelp's sake.
Of course, all I need to be happy is a little chocolate cake...
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I guess I have to give Book Trader Cafe five stars. In all the years I've been hanging out at coffee shops, this one is by far the one I'll remember most fondly.
And I totally second Mandy on the scones. These scones aren't only better than those at Atticus, they're probably the best scones I've ever had.
That damned strawberry cream cheese scone is evil, as is the orange cranberry walnut. And the muffins are just as ridiculous.
I, too, live within walking distance and agree with Mandy about walking the extra block or two in New Haven. In the summer, I'm there all the time hanging out on the Book Trader patio....reading and smoking and enjoying the squirrels. But come winter, that damned city wind drives me to the much closer Starbucks.
Speaking of STarbucks, my only complaint about Book Trader is that I like my coffee really strong and bold and Starbucks just makes a better cup of dark roast. Book Trader's is a bit weak.
Oh Yeah!! Great used books at great prices.
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I've bought several books here at great prices, some I probably never would have known about or found anywhere else, and the coffee is good. Also good for people-watching, inside and out on the patio. They have baguettes with butter on some mornings, or at least used to- but never on weekends when I was most likely to come.
Went there for lunch on a Saturday afternoon while pouring over a mountain of articles.
The mesclun greens salad (with chicken salad) is one of the best lunch deals in New Haven, and it comes with a decent piece of bread. The salad knows what it is and doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. Best part of is clearly the creamy vinaigrette (why is it creamy? best not ask). The chicken salad adds flavor and filling-ness, but doesn't -quite- fit in with the rest of the plate. Iced tea was solid but unspectacular.
The interior is drab and seating is cramped, but then, there's a certain charm in playing guess-what-foreign-language-the-people-next-to-you -are-talking-in (I think I got Italian and French today). I don't know if these place even has a bathroom, but I picture something not too pleasant.
All in all, the rest of the place needs to step up to the quality of the food. The Perfect New Haven Cafe remains elusive. Still, not a bad place to get a little work done.
Ambiance: 12/25 stars
Service: 15/25 stars
Food: 18/25 stars
Bathroom: 10/25 stars (that's how I imagine it)
Probability of going back: 90%
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We had a very tasty lunch here! They offer a lot of very healthy and delicious selections, and the employees are nice, too! Definitely lots of vegetarian options, and yummy sweet treats! We'll be back.
Exceeds expectations. I've been here a few times and every time it somehow exceeds my expectations. Do I forget how good the sandwiches are? Does the corny menu give off a bad vibe? Or maybe its the slightly-less-than-professional-and-hygienic staff?
Whatever, never fear. It's tasty, fresh and filling.
UPDATE: I much prefer the roast beef or the veggie to the turkey concoctions. Chicken salad is also blah. Maybe they could toast the bread for the veggie? Or no?
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Grrrrrrreat sandwiches. They are all a bit more than the conventional ham and turkey on rye. Each sandwich has a literary name, and has some twist to it that makes it superior to the typical sandwich. I had my first curried chicken salad sandwich (with cranberry chutney, on pumpernickel. woo!) and fell in love at first bite. My goal is to try all of their sandwiches some day in the near future (not in one sitting. Although, that would be quite the feat, indeed....). Next on my list is Vonnegut's Veggie - their home roasted veggies with brie.
I also love their little display case of baked goods. Cookies, muffins, scones!, loafy and bundt! cakes, etc. They always look so good, and if I had zero self-control, I would get one of each on every visit.
Book Trader scones are far superior to Atticus scones. Come to think of it, so are the coffee, the sandwiches, the staff and the ambiance.... ok, maybe the extra 10 steps Atticus is from Book Trader relative to my old apt displeased my inner sloth... but still, if i were ever offered a ride down the block, Book Trader is where I would be dropped off.
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So nice to be able to just wander in, get something nice and warm at this time of year (written in November here)... and find a nice little cookie to go along with it... and not feel like you are selling our your soul along with drinking the coffee.
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I've never seen anyone buy a book from Book Trader, but they have excellent sandwiches. To compensate for the lack of book trading most of the sandwiches have literary names, but the only significant question you need to answer when you order is "Turkey A" or "Turkey B"? And if bookstore-cafes were ranked by US News and World Report for employee satisfaction I'm sure this place would rank first--the staff is always so chipper and pleasant. How do they have so much fun serving sandwiches? All Book Trader needs for that fifth star is some wifi.
Book Trader's cranberry chutney is superb.
