The early Sunday morning of June 3rd wasn’t the customary closing for Christopher Martins Restaurant and Pub. Or any restaurant for that matter. At 1:45am, an irate young man—having commandeered a brand-new Volvo across town, and with police in pursuit—attempted …
Surf and Surf

When I hear stories of old-time prisoners in Maine revolting over their steady diet of lobsters, I imagine myself committing crimes just to get thrown behind bars and into a bib. Trouble is, unless you know where to look, it’s …
On a Roll

“Watch out for the skinny people,” says Helen Xiao with a playful grin. She’s talking about the lean customers who visit the all-you-can-eat sushi restaurants she owns with her chef husband, Sai Cai. They’re the patrons, she explains via an …
Fluent in Italian

If I had to choose one word to describe the cuisine at L’Orcio, it would be “delicate.” This is high praise and might be surprising, considering that Italian food is often associated with words like “robust” and “hearty.” But at …
Currying Flavor

Indian culture is so sensuous. Its colors are vivid and madly saturated. (“Pink is the navy blue of India,” fashion deity Diana Vreeland once observed.) Its religious paintings feature blue-faced gods chasing after bare-bellied ladies draped in silk and jewels; …
Pita Party

Sababa falafel. It’s so much fun to say out loud. Try it with me: SA-BA-BA FA-LA-FEL. Like Middle Eastern baby talk, right? Actually, it’s Hebrew for “cool, great, all right, no problem.”
Now, here’s something else you must try: the …
Will Power

When 116 Crown opened its doors in 2008, it inspired shock and awe among even the most jaded sophisticates. Writers described its retro-modern interior as “James Bond’s rumpus room” and “space-age meets the stone age;” the New York Times raved …
Food Fight

Even as New Haven Restaurant Week wraps up (just three days remain), we find ourselves with two more not-to-be-missed culinary events sure to appeal to New Haven’s dashing diners: the Iron Chef/Elm City Battle on April 22nd and the combination …