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Lena's Cafe & Confections
Category: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
873 Whalley AveNew Haven, CT 06515
(203) 397-5885
- Hours:
Wed-Fri 8 am - 3 pm
Sat-Sun 8:30 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
46 reviews for Lena's Cafe & Confections
Review Highlights
"The french toast souffle house special was mildly..."
(in 7 reviews)
"They have THE best corned beef hash I have ever had."
(in 3 reviews)
"I always get the poached eggs on top of some sort of corn..."
(in 6 reviews)
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46 reviews in English
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Review from Jesse W.
New Haven, CT
9/18/2011
LOVE this place!!
My friend and I come here every Saturday morning after the gym, and the food is consistently amazing! It's family owned and operated, so it has that "homey" feeling. The specials are always interesting and delicious. The servers are patient and kind, and even when there is a mob of people waiting in the wings, I never feel like they're rushing me through my meal. If you stop in on a Sunday, you're likely to be approached at some point during your meal by the owner to see how everything is.
I don't drink coffee, but I always end up going with someone who does, and the quality of the coffee bar seems good by their standards. Most of the time I order the Mediterranean omelet (sans ham - I'm a vegetarian) and a tea, which ends up being about $16 with tip. A little on the pricey side, but not too bad. I'm not a huge fan of the hash browns, but the omelets also come with toast, so it's fine in the end. -
Review from Stephen E.
Milford, CT
10/9/2011 4 Check-ins Here
The food at Lena's Cafe gets 4 stars, but they need to learn to treat their customers a little more fairly.
I am standing in line to pay and the older man at the register takes the guy behind me, says high, takes his visa slip. The guy paused at the awkwardness of cutting me in line for reason, but the owner/manager guy seemed to take no heed.
The worst part was that it would of been like 2 minutes. He made himself an asshole for no real reason, and anything his friend expected. -
Review from Angel S.
Long Island, NY
The first thing I noticed about this quaint and charming New Haven brunch spot is that it's obvious they want to be more than just another run-of-the-mill suburban diner. They care about quality and service, as apparent from the casual self-service coffee bar to the diverse array of brunch options.
The corned beef hash is fantastic, likely the best corned beef hash I've had to date. The corned beef was nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked with a light crunch. It had the same quality as beef you'd get from Katz's deli. Very good indeed. Plus portions were very generous.
The french toast souffle house special was mildly disappointing. No qualms about the presentation (a large super-thick cut of challah bread soaked in egg custard and topped with vanilla, cinnamon and crème anglaise), definitely fun to look at, though slightly bland in taste. If you find this to be the case, ask for a small side of powdered sugar or crème anglaise to kick it up a notch, as did the patron sitting in the table next to ours.
Overall, however, I'm a fan. Great service, perfectly warm and inviting atmosphere, and a menu filled with brunches, lunches and specialty bakes. Highly recommend. -
Review from Kayla A.
Boston, MA
12/30/2011
This place is awesome! As soon as you walk in they let you go over to a station to make coffee or tea in huge mugs or to go cups! Then you can go to your table if it's ready or go sit at your table. I had a bacon egg and cheese--it was good. My friends and I also got a pitcher or mimosas--we eat got a wine glass with an orange slice and our waiter poured all our glasses. It may I've been the highlight of my meal! I will definitely make this a meeting place for my friends and I when we're in CT!
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Review from Jenn S.
8/23/2011
We had brunch at Lena's this weekend while meeting a friend who lives in the area.
My friend put our name down for a 45-minute wait (3 adults, 1 kid) and when I checked in after about 30 minutes, I was told we were about to be seated. We ended up waiting about another 10 minutes - in the way of people until we were finally directed to the "waiting area." Apparently they called our name while we were there, but none of us heard it. It all worked out though, as we were finally seated. With no menus. Eventually, I went up to the hostess/cashier and asked for some menus.
Our waitress finally came by and we placed our orders and did not see her again until after our food came out. Which was, at least a good half-hour. Normally I would not care (especially if the waitress had popped by to say the kitchen was busy, or give some explanation), but we had a tired, hungry toddler with us who just.wanted.to.eat. At least they could have brought her kid's meal! I've been to plenty of restaurants where they bring the food for the kid(s) before the adults' food, because they know how cranky kids get. We would have asked for them to do that, but the waitress was no where to be found.
Anyway, the food was delicious at least. I went with the Mediterranean Omelet (Prosciutto ham, sauteed spinach, tomato, roasted peppers, calamata olives, red onion and feta cheese), but opted for turkey sausage instead of ham and no olives. I got the 7-grain toast (which was SMOTHERED with butter) and, had the waitress let me know it came with oven roasted potatoes, I probably would have done fruit instead. As it was, I got the potatoes, which were good.
My husband went for what I think must have been a special - the French Toast Souffle. The waitress described it as similar to a bread pudding. Not sure what exactly it was, other than DELICIOUS.
Our friend got the Smoked Salmon Omelet (Norwegian salmon, red onion and tomato finished with creme fraiche and garnished with red and black caviar), which she said was fantastic. And she got the Kids Happy Face Pancake for her daughter.
The portions are definitely huge - there must have been about 10 eggs per omelet (although, mine was egg whites - gotta watch that cholesterol!) - yet we all devoured our meals!
Looking online before going, I had thought the menu provided a good selection of choices and the prices were reasonable. The menu definitely offered a more extensive selection than Bella's across the street - the only other brunch place.
However, when we paid, we definitely felt we paid a LOT for brunch... I believe it came out to about $50 before tip - for 4 meals and no drinks. That's pricey in my opinion! However, if you're able to save leftovers and get 2 meals out of your plate, then perhaps it's not so bad.
I'm tempted to give 3 stars, just because of the bad, slow service and the price. But the food saves it.Listed in: Clean Plate Club!, Brunch Bonanza
Comment from Christine C. of Lena's Cafe & Confections 9/6/2011
Jen, We always appreciate comments, good or bad, weekends… More » -
Review from Jessica B.
Norwalk, CT
11/8/2011
I was in the area for a doctor's appointment at Yale. Since I don't know the area at all I turned to Yelp and found Lena's.
I was with my mother and we went for lunch. She got the Cobb salad (with fresh turkey) and I got the Jessica salad. We both really liked our salads. The honey balsamic was so tasty and the salad was a great size. (I hate small salads.)
The vibe was very relaxed and since it was mid-day mid-week it was pretty empty.
If i'm in the area again I'd definitely go back. It's a cute place and I can definitely see it getting packed for brunch. -
Review from Natalie F.
Brick, NJ
8/19/2011
Delicious! Went for breakfast with a group of 5 and the place was packed. We actually stopped here because we saw all of the wonderful ratings this cafe got on yelp and we were NOT let down.
Very yummy food. Two of us ordered off of the specials and got a quesadilla with poached eggs and mashed sweet potatoes to share. Others at our table ordered the corn beef with home fries with toast and someone else ordered the stuffed french toast with fresh peaches on top with whipped cream. O.M.G. great to order if you like a sweet dish for breakfast.
this place was a good find, thanks yelp! -
Review from Reg Z.
Fairfield, CT
6/13/2011
Come hungry, as the portions are big and really, really good. We had a Philly cheesesteak omelette and a smoked salmon omelette... Both really interesting and tasty. The 30 minute wait on a Sunday morning wasn't bad, and they have free coffee and tea while you wait, plus places to sit. There are also couches in the back if the front ones fill up.
The staff was friendly and attentive. Definitely a moderately priced, good brunch. -
Review from Tracie J.
I ate there 3 times in one week while visiting my fam in New Haven. I could not order anything else but the corned beef hash. It's just so dang good. Lawd haf mercy!! I am going through withdrawal and wishing I could get some sent to me. For the rest of the food, it was okay and they have really good coffee.
I am not a fan of the prices, but I won't lie. I'd pay just about anything for that corned beef hash. -
Review from Christine S.
New Haven, CT
1/31/2011 1 photo
I love Lena's Cafe for brunch! Everyone is always trying to go to Bella Rosa across the street, which is also excellent, however it's smaller in size and tends to be crowded. In my opinion, Lena's is more spacious and accommodating for those waiting to get seated. They let you get coffee prior to getting sat, and there is a couch area with magazines.
Let's talk about the brunch! Like most places, they offer a weekend Specials menu. I always get the poached eggs on top of some sort of corn cake. It comes with meat, potatoes, asparagus, and hollandaise sauce. I consider it a gourmet brunch. Just check out the picture I posted. My belly is happy when I walk out of Lena's.
I wish that it was warmer so I could go across the street and buy flowers at the Farmer's Market. -
Review from Kitty C.
Oakland Gardens, NY
Lena's Cafe for brunch is a great idea! Decided to take a mini roadtrip up to New Haven for a day away from NYC. I was looking up places to eat and decided to come to Lena's for brunch. It was a great decision!!
While driving to Lena's cafe, I called to make a reservation. When we got there our table wasn't quite ready. There was a complimentary coffee stand where you can help yourself with a cup of coffee while you wait. After I made my coffee and drank a bit, the table was ready. It was probably about a 10 minute wait but didn't seem like it at all since I was making my own customized coffee. haha
Once I sat down, there was the brunch special menu placed right in front of me. Each entree also comes with a choice of coffee, tea, or juice. We ordered the savory platter and the chef's favorite omelette which was both superb. The portion served was gigantic and the food was amazing. It's one of the better brunch places I've tried. If you happen to be at New Haven one day during lunch time, you should definitely give this place a try! -
Review from Ashley N.
New Haven, CT
9/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
The menu here is decent and pretty basic. Expect a long wait at Sunday brunch. The good news is they have a nice couch area for you to sit at while you wait. The bad news is your food may take an unreasonably long time to be prepared. Its disappointing each time it happens! Overall, it's worth the wait to go across the street instead.
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Review from Tania Q.
Hamden, CT
3/21/2011
Simply delightful ambiance and who can beat a delicious full glass of a brightly colored orange mimosa at 1pm????
Service was great, cozy atmosphere, loved the couches and self-serve all you can refill coffee bar. Menu deluctible, portions large. Will go again, but was advised to reserve a table for weekend mornings...can wait up to 1.5hour and some menu items will run out!
With a comfy couch or chair and glass of champagne, the wait did not appear long. :) -
Review from Larita P.
Woodbridge, CT
9/30/2010
We hit up Lena's the first time the day of our wedding- it was a nice relaxed way to start this magical journey. I was surprised the restaurant wasn't packed on this Saturday (I even made reservations)- I had always avoided it because it seemed overcrowded. No wait, no rush, good service. It had a nice creative menu, which I am all for when it comes to breakfast- I like breakfast choice variety and they got it.
My man had the oreo pancakes (I think it was a special). Though he said they didn't taste "exactly like an oreo", they were tasty and the portion was more than enough for him and his siamese twin, if he in fact had one. I ordered an autumnal omelet from the specials with gruyere, butternut squash (or was it sweet potato? I don't remember), turkey sausage and peas (!). It was delicious. The homefries were crispy like I likum. I had a little trouble deciphering my raisin scone initially, but it grew on my after I found out what it was- definitely savory over sweet with fennel (I think?).
I wanna take my friends here. -
Review from Beth W.
Woodbridge, CT
8/31/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Lena's is great for brunch! There's quite a wait, but they have a nice sitting area where you can enjoy coffee while you wait. They have THE best corned beef hash I have ever had. Oh, and the mimosas are wonderful as well.
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Review from Debrin S.
11/30/2010
I liberally gave all 5 stars for breakfast. It's amazing! The service is perfect: friendly, prompt, efficient which enhanced the experience. Our breakfasts were both fresh, very flavorful, & exactly as the menu described. Great menu & daily specials so there are many choices.
We started with Cappuccinos- which were smooth & nicely balanced and the local news paper.
We had the following: Stuffed French bread w black beans, chicken sausage, onions, peppers, tomatoes (all sauteed in w wine) & cheddar cheese- grilled on both sides, topped with two beautiful poached eggs & drizzled with a Santa Fe spiced Hollandaise sauce & a side of home made crunchy nicely spiced sliced home fries and a Smoked Salmon 9 egg omelet which also came w home fries & a HUGE glass of juice of choice. Amazing!
I perused the desserts on display- cupcakes, scones, mini-cakes, pies etc which all looked so yummy but refrained as I was satiated.
Street parking. Can be very crowded but they do have a "preferred" list if you call ahead.
Lena came to our table to see if we were pleased and of course we were happy to report that we really were. What a pleasure to have a leisurely breakfast at Lena's- cant wait to go again and try something else! -
Review from Donna R.
Buffalo, NY
8/23/2010
Went here for Brunch on a Saturday Morning.
Super cute atmosphere...the woman who appeared to be running the joint was pleasant and working the busy dining room and counter.
I ordered the vegetable omelet. It had all sorts of seasonal goodness tucked into it. The one thing that I would have killed for was a sprinkle of some sort of cheese in the middle of it all....cheddar? Brie? Gouda? Feta? Goat? Whatever..anything would have worked. Homefries were seasoned and crunchy and fabulous.
Sister had tropical crepes. They were a special with pineapple and mango and some coconut sprinkled throughout. The crepe filling was a Boston-Creme-like custard. What I liked most about her dish was that it wasn't overly sweet (which is what usually keeps me from ordering pancakes/waffles/crepes/french toast for breakfast. Two bites and I'm in sugar overload.)
Sister's boyfriend had eggs, toast, hashbrowns and a ham steak. Looked good. Plate was cleaned with no comment so I don't think there was anything inherently wrong with any element of his meal.
Coffee was delish. They have a self serve bar with several flavored varieties in regular or decaf. I had a dark chocolate mint variety.
It's probably a great spot for a hangover breakfast. Their portions are ample and the coffee is hot!
I would definitely come back for a second visit, when I make another voyage east. -
Review from Aris B.
5/28/2011
HUGE portions! lotsssss of fruit when i added "a little bit of everything" seasonal fruit to my french toast. french toast was decent.. i just had amazing vanilla french toast at The Smith in NYC so could only give this three..and a half stars. eggs benedict was ok. lena's cafe is solid overall.
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Review from Zoe P.
Arlington, MA
9/23/2008
Not too impressed.
The Yummy: Three delicious cornmeal pancakes. I can't make fluffy pancakes and I can't make cornbread, so I really appreciated these.
The Service: Overwhelmed. So much so that when they gave me, and my brunching partner, pork sausage instead of the turkey we ordered, we just let it slide. At first I thought maybe they were out, but no, it appeared on our neighbors' tables. Also the pork sausage tasted exactly like the pork sausage from the old McDonald's pancake breakfast, if you ever had that. Bad memories.
The Bland: My "corn cakes" came with two eggs any style. They poached 'em nicely but literally, my $14 dollar special was the corncakes, the eggs and the sausage on a plate. Ta da! It was kind of diner. No syrup (I didn't even ask for real maple at this point), no nothing. I asked for a dish of salsa, which I saw somewhere on the menu on another special. It was fresh and bland and had cucumbers in it and I added hot sauce.
So, you know, if you're willing to work with them and get creative, together you can create a decent breakfast. Kind of defeats the purpose of going out, though . . .
The Coffee: Yes, you can drink it while you wait. But it's not very good.
I might go back, but I'll go with lower expectations.
Egg sandwich on a weekday morning is good, and larger than average. But it still requires a fair amount of patience. -
Review from Vijay J.
New York, NY
10/25/2009
Living in New York, I was a bit dubious when my friend told me she wanted to take me somewhere in New Haven with amazing brunch - my standards are high. Little did I know that Lena's blows away the competition. The specials were so good that we decided to come here twice over the weekend to try even more.
The first day, I had the omelet filled with spinach and artichoke dip. It was delish, though a little rich, and the pita that came it it was good for scooping up the filling. The omelet must have had four eggs - it was huge! The potatoes that came with it were perfectly roasted, though I had to add salt and pepper and hot sauce to them to spice them up a bit.
The second day, I had the pumpkin french toast special. Ah-may-zing. The french toast wasn't too eggy and the pumpkin bread was perfectly soft with mascarpone cheese and dried cranberries. I barely used the side of syrup since the topping was sweet and delicious. The others at the table got the challah french toast and the french toast souffle (guess we were all in the same mood) and "mmmmmm" was resonating from the table.
The coffee and OJ were so-so but the food was out of this world. Several brunch options for vegetarians and no complaints from the table. -
Review from Art S.
New Haven, CT
7/16/2007 1 Check-in Here
Lena's is a great place to get brunch. I had some duck crepes there which were not only delicious, but the size of my freaking head. I mean, really, how often do you go out to brunch and end up taking food home? It just doesn't ever happen.
Lena's really does everything well. It's a little expensive, but as good as the food is, and considering the ridiculous portion sizes, you definitely get your money's worth. Plus, it's a local neighborhood place. Awwww. You gotta support it.
It's a shame they don't serve any alcohol, because if I could sip on a bloody mary whilst eating their excellent grub, that would probably make it a 5-star performance. -
Review from Stephanie G.
New Haven, CT
3/12/2008
Ohhh....how did I forget to review this place???
I've only been to Lena's once (and it was takeout!)...but it was delicious. The boy and I were heading up to a wedding early one Saturday morning and I was getting a blow out across the street at SoHo. Bella's was closed...so off I headed to Lena's. We ordered basic fair--two breakfast sandwiches, homefries, etc--but it was tasty, down home breakfast food. They were super crowded since it was 11 on a weekend....but every one was super nice and I didn't feel pushed to the side for the dine in patrons. I dig the little back area with couches,chairs, and magazine to hang out at while your waiting for your food too. I do agree that, for breakfast, it was a bit pricey, but you totally get what you pay for. The boy and I need to head back here to try brunch soon..those duck crepes Jon mentioned sounds delicious! -
Review from Aviva S.
New Haven, CT
5/16/2010
So tricky... I love the food here, but the service is terrible and has been for years. It doesn't seem to matter what I do - make a reservation, call in my to-go order well in advance, come in when it's really quiet - it always takes forever for my order.
That said - they do a great brunch and the Gold Coast panini (turkey, avocado, sprouts, other good stuff) is the stuff dreams are made of. -
Review from John B.
Westport, CT
4/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is well worth the visit for brunch, despite the wait. It's a "hip" environment with a crowd that has some culinary refinement - not just greasy eggs and bacon! Be prepared to wait...
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Review from Manu P.
Orange, CT
Absolutely LOVE Lena's Cafe brunches !!! The wait is made pleasant by the tea/coffee choices and the lil games and puzzles and magazines by the couch. The staff is so very friendly. Finally when you get the menu and realize the weekend specials do change every weekend and not just specials that get repeated every weekend. The portions are huge. Love the way they go creative with the specials and have always found it tough to make a choice from the list. And I am happy to pay the price for just that alone.
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Review from Nina L.
Norwich, CT
5/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best corned beef ever.
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Review from Patricia Z.
Bethany, CT
1/30/2011
Most of the reviews hit on breakfast but let's talk about lunch...Lena's is my absolute fave for the casual business lunch. Prices are reasonable when you glance at the menu but when the meal arrives you realize they are a bargain. The paninis are easilt twice the size of a normal resaurant fare. Lightly toasted with the fillings adjusted to your taste they are like heaven dancing across your tongue! The salads are crisp and fresh with seasonal offerings and homemade dressings. Close your eyes and savor the flavor! The owner, Gail, is super-friendly. The restaurant is named for her late mother. Her training as a baker is evident in the huge display of pastries and desserts complete with a coffee bar to compliment them.
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Review from Jeanne-Marie J.
New Haven, CT
11/15/2009
We hadn't brunched at Lena's for a couple of months before today, and I was happy to see that all was as we left it. One of the cafe's selling points over its competition up the road is that there's free coffee and tea if you have to wait (and inevitably, you will). There is an impressive array of flavors to choose from while you settle into a lounge area with well-worn couches and magazines, including my personal favorite, coconut macaroon. The furniture is also positioned for prime viewing of the day's confections.
Lena's has plenty of tried-and-true fundamentals on the menu, including the house special french toast souffle (a hefty slab of challah bread with vanilla, cinnamon and crème anglaise) and a solid range of omelets. The real draw, though, is the separate menu of weekly specials, and this week's was unusually impressive even given a high bar. I was torn between the caramel apple stuffed french toast (which I ultimately went with) and a twist on the usual souffle that included apricots and blueberry crumble. My fiance contemplated a shrimp omelet, but settled on one of the more inventive options: apple and fennel fritters topped with poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce and asparagus with a side of home fries. If we were beef eaters, one of us would surely have ordered a blue-cheese crepe with sirloin.
All of the specials, which typically run around $13-$15, include your choice of bottomless coffee, tea or juice. Since I had already helped myself to a lot of free caffeine during a wait of about fifteen minutes, I ordered some grapefruit juice for the first time at Lena's. Now juice is expensive and it comes with the meal, but I can't say that I wasn't disappointed to see that bright-pink, lots-of-sugar-added stuff that was dispensed from a machine in my college dining hall. It was completely incongruous with the fresh, cozy feel of Lena's, and I'd rather have had to pay $2 more for the real stuff. For $5, I could have had a mimosa or glass of sangria, a fact which was charmingly presented on a blackboard with multicolored chalk.
The entrees were very good, if not the best I've had at Lena's. The apples in the stuffed french toast were cooked just right, slightly mushy but not falling apart, but the mascarpone and caramel filling blended a bit too easily into the whipped cream at the center of the plate. I'm a mascarpone nut and so my opinion might be skewed, but I would happily have tolerated slightly more of it to offset the tartness of the apples. The presentation, as always, was lovely, with green apples in the main dish and red apples as garnish.
The fiance's fritters were moist and chewy, and the fennel paired well with the Hollandaise sauce in what could have been a bizarre combination of flavors. The broken yolks of the poached eggs also made a nice topping for the asparagus, which got sliced up to mix in with the fritter-mush rather than left on the side. As with the french toast, though, the dish would have benefited from just slightly more sauce, since the fritters were a generous size and quickly sopped up most of what was there.
All in all, Lena's specials fall just a *tad* shy of their ambitious conception. But in a great space run by friendly people and so full of sweet ideas, I'll gladly give an "A" for effort and keep coming back for more.
*For a full review, check out my brunch blog: http://champagnesunday.../ -
Review from Henry V.
Southington, CT
The food is very good hear and they go the extra mile to make things better then most breakfast places. I did love the food presentation also.Service is fast friendly.
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Review from Andy P.
6/2/2008
I think this place is a 3.5, but given the positivity of the reviews, I thought I would sort of give "the dark side"--as it were--to Lena's. I've been there many times and every time it's sort of struck me as the same, which is to say... good food, but not amazing.
The food at this place is sort of like IKEA-esque (not like the food at IKEA, just like IKEA the brand). It sort of looks the part, but there is something missing. You are not getting the full on quality. It's got fancy ideas, but the executions are only okay. I think it aims high, but doesn't fill it's promise.
That is not to say it isn't good, but I think Bella's across the street is much more solid and The Pantry is clearly superior. Still, I think it's a nice Bella's-style change of pace.
Maybe a little more style than substance, but worthy of a shot. -
Review from Ali A.
New Haven, CT
2/22/2010
I'm a die-hard Pantry fan, but yesterday I got a chance to try Lena's and I was definitely impressed.
Compared to the Pantry, Lena's has a much, much nicer atmosphere while still feeling quite homey. They have a wide range of brunch foods, ranging from simple pancakes to a very tasty (and large) french bread souffle with creme anglais. I tried some of the poached egg special, which was served on a brie, tomato and basil stuffed panini. The egg was fairly well cooked, but the panini was a little on the bland side. I ordered a bagel with lox, which was surprisingly good for a place not in NYC. The portion of lox was very generous and the bagel was fresh and lightly toasted. The only complaint I have (and it's a small one) is that the bagel came already heaped with cream cheese and lox ... I usually like everything separate.
The other thing I liked about Lena's was the coffee. I don't think they use anything fancy, but it's better than the coffee at the Pantry and they will give you as many refills as you like. I'm also not usually a flavored coffee fan, but they had a pumpkin spice coffee and it was quite tasty! -
Review from Jack N.
New Haven, CT
2/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
We go to Lena's every MLK day before heading to Peabody Museum
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Review from megan s.
Annandale, VA
1/16/2011
I went to Lena's for breakfast this winter with a friend who lives in New Haven, on her recommendation. As we walked in, it struck me as a very quaint, warm, cozy neighborhood place. The aroma of coffee that permeated the space was wonderful and I was expecting a delicious breakfast! I was not disappointed.
The menu here is the kind of menu where you want to order everything! Both my friend and I decided on the challah french toast, mine with bananas and hers with blueberries. I wanted strawberries, so it was a bummer to hear they didn't have any. My friend also originally ordered the french toast souffle, but I believe the waiter told her it was a mistake on the menu and they didn't have it.
Nevertheless, the french toast was wonderful and very fresh. The slices of challah were thick and fluffy, with a hint of cinnamon, and the bananas went well with drizzled syrup. Although it sounds like a heavy combination, the french toast was actually quite light. The portion size was absolutely massive, however--I only made it through half my plate before I was stuffed. The prices here can typically be justified for the amount you of food you receive.
While we waited for our food, we helped ourselves to the coffee bar--I indulged in coconut-flavored coffee and it was a nice change from the usual. I was a bit disappointed that I missed out on the special weekend french toast versions, but I suppose that was the trade-off for coming on a weekday and not having to wait for a seat. It was relatively uncrowded, and I think there was only one waiter taking care of diners. He actually made odd comments, but I think he's just a quirky guy, and service was good. All in all, Lena's seems to be the type of place where the standard is a mouthwatering home-cooked breakfast with an emphasis on freshness and flavor. If I'm ever in the New Haven area again, I will definitely be back for brunch! -
Review from Marsha G.
Trumbull, CT
Updated - 8/19/2011
Our second visit (for lunch on a Sunday) was every bit as wonderful as our first (for brunch). Parking was much easier this time than last (in the middle of the biggest snow this past winter.) There were 4 of us. Two had the Reuben sandwich and raved about it. My friend had a salad that was huge and fresh and extremely tasty with perfectly grilled chicken on top. My salad with hummus was so big I had to take half home. It was delicious. The atmosphere is cozy, the service is excellent.... friendly, efficient, and quick. We will certainly return. We recommend this place highly to everyone.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/30/2011
Today was our first visit to Lena's but it certainly won't be our last! We called on the way there… Read more »
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Review from Ryan D.
Hamden, CT
7/26/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 1 Check-in Here
Insanely delicious brunch!! The brunch special Huevos Rancheros was quite honestly the best thing I've ever tasted, and the Summer Berry Belgian Waffle was equally out-of-this-world delicious!
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Review from annie w.
4/25/2011
very open, warm, old country kitchen atmosphere, and fantastic food. four items with hollandaise sauce on the extensive brunch menu! huge portions, everything cooked to perfection. a little pricey (~14-16/plate), but worth your while. good coffee, too! didn't try out any dessert/bakery items, but imagine they're also good.
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Review from Mojo J.
Wallingford Center, CT
8/28/2010
Solid. Interesting and usually very good specials on the brunch menu (the french toast souffle is for sharing!), and very nicely executed standard fare. The pancakes are just OK, but the gigantic omelets are delicious, if not too big. The coffee is decent, but I usually stick to water.
They offer a large, fresh fruit bowl that is also great for sharing.
Service is good enough that it doesn't take away from the food. -
Review from Gizmo G.
Wellesley Hills, MA
4/23/2007
A hidden gem that came highly recommended and did not disappoint. We went in at a little past 11:15 on a weekday and although their breakfast is only till 11, they were sweet enough to serve us our eggs and toast. (Weekend brunch runs till the afternoon)
I got the grilled salmon omelet -- very fluffy, done just right and came topped with salmon eggs and fresh fruit!! Excellent service, beautiful picture window to sit at and endless coffee. -
Review from Janice M.
San Francisco, CA
8/17/2008
I had an amazing 5 cheese infused souffle with poached eggs drizzled with this wonderful pureed spinach sauce over two english muffins. My boyfriend had a giant sized texan omelette with home fries and cheddar cheese biscuit; relatively good but not something that would take your breath away. Brunch is a bit pricier here than at Bella's and The Pantry, but I love the friendly service and sunny, warm ambiance. Unlike Bella's or The Pantry where you have to wait outside for a table, at Lena's you can grab a mug of coffee or tea and wait comfortably on a sofa reading the sunday newspaper or magazine!
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Review from Shin e.
Saint Louis, MO
2/8/2010
Lena's took our reservation over the phone so we didn't have to wait, though they've got cushy couches and a coffee bar for those waiting. My french toast souflee was inventive and delish. My friends considered their omelettes only so-so. We were politely asked for our payment after the cheque had been sitting there for 20 minutes. They're busy on Sunday morning and trying to capitalize on that, I suppose.
