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Temple Street Grill
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Garage
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
20 reviews for Temple Street Grill
I have been here a handful of times in the past 3 months and have been pleased with everything I have tasted. The price is right. They don't have anything on tap. The outside seating is nice but often crowded. The wait staff has been anywhere between flaky and extremely accommodating. I guess it's luck of the draw there. I give it points for having an original menu and a lot of flexibility.
I still recommend it to others.
Recently while visiting friends in New Haven we went to Temple Street Grill for lunch and really enjoyed ourselves. We were bummed when they told us there was no more room on the patio but enjoyed having the indoor dining room all for ourselves.
The food was solid and there was plenty of it. We all ordered sandwiches and fries and were quite pleased with the results. There was nothing spectacular but everyone was satisfied. If I lived in New Haven I would depend on it for reliably good food and not expect anything more than that.
I eat out every night in New Haven because I don't own any food.
This is by far the best value in town:
You can get half orders of food that are still great portion sizes for half the price.
The outdoor patio is great during the summer.
Friendliest staff in town.
This is by far the best value deal in New Haven.
Nice patio dining
But why not have beer on tap?
Oddities abound
The food was really tasty and the portions were huge. Also it is fun to be able to design your own salad. That seems like the latest gimmick with chain restaurants like Chopt but this is a higher quality and larger portion version of that. I have a lot of food allergies so instead of building a salad I opted for a burger and fries which was delicious. We also ordered sweet potato fries as an appetizer which was well worth it. I had a glass of wine in addition to sharing the appetizer and ordering an entree and spent right around $20. Maybe I am just used to NYC prices now but that seemed great to me!
This place was A-OK but really not better. I was disappointed by the absence of beers on tap. I ended up ordering a Cuban sandwich and iced tea. The sandwich was far from the best Cuban sandwich I've eaten this month, but it was certainly acceptable. The cole slaw that came with it was quite good. I opted for the salad of mixed greens in lieu of the standard French fries and got something that was oilier than I expected -- not much in the way of vinegar in the dressing.
Somehow I have had the opportunity to patronize Temple Grill 3 times in the last few days. Twice for lunch and once for a cocktail.
For lunch they have a great design your own salad concept that really works. They give you a paper and pencil and you decide what kind of lettuce, veggies, and dressing you want. Not just the normal veg either - radish, chick peas, raisins, craisins, pecans, walnuts, beets, every kind of pepper that grows. You get the point. All for $5.95 You can even add on chicken, steak, tuna, shrimp for extra charges. My salad the other day was huge and fresh and a healthy alternative the burger I was craving.. Today I ordered the Waldorf chicken salad sandwhich. Both the hardroll and the chicken salad were dry, which shouldn't happen on a Monday when everything should be fresh. I should have stuck with the salad, which never fails me. The waffle fries were good though!
The bar is kinda jammed into the spac. It's so close to the tables that if you have to stand at the bar, you can quite easily use one of the diners shoulders as a seat. I'm guessing the ass view for them is not pleasant. I say for the sake of the diners lose two of the tables at night and during happy hour. They have a decent selection of beer but we drank cosmo's the other night. The going rate in New Haven leans towards $10 (and beyond) for a good cocktail. Our "house vodka and mostly cranberry" cosmos weren't close to being worth $10 and we should have know better. Stick with the beer here.
On a positive note the service here has improved a lot over the last 6 months. It was the service that kept me away for a while (even at lunch)but I see a lot of new faces and they are doing a great job. I also see live music out on their large and very nice patio during the week if you look for that sort of thing.
I recently came here with my Dad for Father's Day. It was busy but not as it normally is on a Friday or Saturday night. We were satisfied all the way. Their salad concept is actually very cool. You're given salad cards with your menus and you can design your own by checking next to each ingredient. I had a baby spinach salad with ample grilled chicken, chick peas, and onions. Devoured the plate. Service was commendable given the bartenders are pulling double duty, serving drinks to rowdy locals.
Recently went here for a group dinner for a birthday. They were great about seating people before everyone arrived, and I thought the service was fine. The place seemed totally packed, but I think that it just has more of a bar crowd than they have space for. I understand why that might be, as the area bar scene leaves something to be desired.
The homemade thick cut potato chips were a welcome treat as we sat down, and the drinks come in big glasses! I love a voluminous cocktail.
I further liked the half portions of the entrees. The half portion was plenty big, and the tuna I had was good. I think most people felt like the food was good, though not stupendous. Perhaps that is because the menu is a touch too big. Too many options, not enough quality execution is usually my experience.
The deserts were good, the carrot cake was especially huge and tasty. Do not have a 1:1 desert to human ratio. You will be wasting your $.
All in all, I would go back if I were in the area again. Its like upscale pub food, and the prices are totally fair. Everyone ate and drank for under $40pp.
If it weren't for the excellent company, this place would be getting only two stars . . .
Lucky for me, my dining companions distracted me from a distinctly eh ahi tuna sandwich. My tuna was actually cooked to order. Too bad it wasn't actually a high enough quality, fresh enough fish to be enjoyed medium rare. And I think my bacon was leftover from Sunday Brunch. Maybe last Sunday or the Sunday before.
I do like those potato chips though. And I I like the way they do things at Temple Street Grill. It's reasonably priced, with a lot of options - I'd definitely take those control freak eaters who don't really care how something tastes here. That sounds awful, but people like that do visit one, occasionally. And I think if I knew the menu better I'd have ordered more successfully - the chicken salad looked kind of good, and the tuna salad might have worked too.
The outdoor dining was great, too. I haven't attempted this in New Haven yet because at other locales the tables look wobbly or uneven, like they'd dump your salad in your lap, or the street is a little too dirty, or there is construction. All these don't apply to the quiet courtyard where Temple Grill has its lovely stable tables.
Thanks to said tables, I didn't even spill any food down my shirt, which is a miracle.
The worst thing that can be said about the Temple Grill is that it's hard to get at table. In one of those impossible-to-understand paradoxes, every night of the week, the Temple Grill's 20 or so tables are always filled, cramming people, wood, and food into every last crevice of the small tavern-style room. Get there early or try to make a reservation though, because the Temple Grill is probably the best affordable restaurant in walking distance of central Yale campus.
Everything is reasonably priced and better yet, delicious. Highlights include the appetizers, the make-your-own salad (with little customization ballots and pencils on every table), the incredible Temple Burger, and the savory desserts. The wait staff is always nice and the food doesn't take too long at all. Definitely worth the wait and the crowd.
This is what I would call a Default Restaurant: it isn't phenomenal, but it isn't terrible. It's just about average, maybe even a little above average. It's the place at which you dine when you want to go out, but don't really *feel* like anything in particular. The prices are reasonable and the food is pretty decent.
That said... I think Temple Grill does attempt to be a bit innovative in light of the fact that they are just a grill. They give you a bucket of kettle chips instead of bread. But be warned: these chips may be sitting right in front of you, but you by no means MUST eat them. They're perfectly fine, but they are fried and therefore drenched with oil and likely to stuff you up before your entree even arrives. They also provide the option of ordering half an entree, which is convenient, especially if you've loaded up on chips. And as a nice closing touch, they give you a handful of red swedish fish with your bill.
I have only ever ordered their sandwiches. But I like that they give waffle fries, instead of the regular kind. They also provide a unique assortment of sandwich accessories, including sauteed mushrooms and wasabli aioli.
I have been told the meatloaf is very salty and the pork tenderloin is highly inconsistent, although I have tried neither...
All in all, nothing to rave about, but satisfying.
All in all, I like Temple Grille. The food is slightly above average, it's about the right size, and they have outdoor seating.
I've had a few different items there, and I've rarely been disappointed. I really like that they offer half portions of all their entrees, which is probably enough food by the time you stuff your face with their house made potato chips. The food itself isn't spectacular, but it's pretty good, and the fact that the half portions are under $10 and are still filling is the reason why I'm giving Temple 4 stars instead of 3.
I also like that you essentially build your own sandwich when you order. And if you like salads, they have a nifty little slip on the table and you simply fill it out yourself and hand it to the server.
Also, I should mention, that in my last will and testament, my final request will be for me to be buried underneath a mound of waffle fries, since I think they are one of man's greatest culinary achievements. Luckily, Temple Grille agrees. Well, I don't know if they agree, but they serve them with all their sandwiches, and that's good enough for me.
Did I mention that George Lucas walked in while I was having dinner there? I'm not factoring that into the rating, but it was pretty neat when my friend went over to him and punched him in the face for ruining Star Wars.
Okay, that didn't happen. But it would've been funny if it did.
**UPDATE**
I went here recently, and they didn't have waffle fries, but the server didn't tell me that, so she brought us all crappy battered fries instead. I was not pleased. I'm dangerously close to moving this down to 3 stars just for that, but I'll let it slide this time.
A solid spot for salad and outdoor dining. My salad was a STEAL for $6.50 with virtually unlimited vegetarian options. I didn't like that meat pretty well doubled the price. Also, service wasn't super attentive. But, cute space and concept.
I have only been here at night for drinks so I may be a little bit biased buts its a good place in the summer to hang out, have drinks and relax outside on the patio. Pretty good crowd, not too young not too old and it even has the potential for some cougar hunting. Go here if you want to have a drink or two and an appetizer with a friend.
When I lived in New Haven, Temple Grill was always one of my favorite dinners destinations when heading out for a casual meal with friends. So, imagine how happy I was when a friend from Fairfield County asked for recommendations for a place to grab a bite in New Haven before a show at the Shubert. Temple Grill was at the top of my list, as she was very specific about the tastes of the other couples she would be dining with. I told her Temple Grill was small, cozy, good food, generous portions, and very close to the Shubert.
Well, I am sad to report that their experience was less than 5-star. As she explained it, it was "One of the best meals I had, until..." Until what, I asked? "Until I found the top of a ballpoint pen in my Seafood Pie". Now, we all know these things shouldn't happen, but sometimes do. You would think the manager would have rushed over, apologized profusely, offered to replace her meal with whatever she like, and of course comp her for her meal. This would make sense, because even though the foreign object in your meal is unfortunate, you would certainly want your patrons to give you another try. Nope. That didn't happen. She received no apology, and was still charged for 50% of her meal. (I am assuming that was for the half she enjoyed until the stomach-turning discovery).
I am always bragging to my friends and co-workers in Fairfield County about the stellar dining options in New Haven. It's unfortunate they didn't have the great New Haven dining experience I had promised them. At least they LOVED the show at the Shubert!
Was in town for an interview, and stopped by here hoping to get a to-go order to take back to my hotel. Now maybe it's just because I came from "land of the oh so expensive" (San Francisco), but OMG the food was well-priced, and excellent. I did a "make my own" salad, and had a 1/2 order of the flank steak. I waited at the bar with a great glass of wine, and my order was up in no time. Can't wait to go back and dine-in!
The one great, thing that I can say about Temple Grill is the price... New Haven has a lot of great restaurants... but they really fall into two categories... expensive and cheap... there is nothing that falls into the middle... just a regular night out. Enter Temple Grill... reasonable price... reasonable food... reasonable service (though, admittedly, I did have a FANTASTIC server once... I mean, she was just FANTASTIC)... though on an up note... in warmer months (and even into some of the colder months with heaters) there is a plethora of outdoor seating... something that New Haven does not have enough of, if you ask me.
I know people are going to debate this but I just can't eat here anymore. Every time I come I can't get out of here in under 3 hours. The service has been slow and inattentive every time I have been there. The food is ok, I had a salad last time, but I just can't deal with shitty service. There are so many other places in New Haven worthy of my patronage.
For the most part I like Temple Grill. Most of the time the food is pretty good, the salads are lovely, the wine list is more impressive than most and the potato chips are delicious and the small plates are the perfect size for me. I've been there a bunch of times with friends and have never been disappointed until the last time: they just didn't cook my ahi tuna rare. I sent it back, and it still wasn't rare, but at that point I was too hungry to send it back again.
