The Stack from Bear's Smokehouse comes to New Haven

BEAR’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ 

IS 

COMING TO NEW HAVEN 

WITH 

"THE STACK"

 

Barbeque, Brewery and Biergarten 

Opening at District

New Haven’s Campus

Such great news for New Haven! 

Bear’s Restaurant Group, which includes Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ in Windsor, Hartford, and South Windsor, Blind Pig Pizza in Hartford and Chango Rosa in Hartford, today announced its first location on the Connecticut shoreline.  

“The Stack,” featuring Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, a brewery and Biergarten, will be opening over the coming weeks at District, the revitalized 9-acre technology and innovation campus at 470 James Street in New Haven, formerly the site of the CT Transit bus garage.  

I go by this building every morning - so I'm super excited to be one of the first to find out what will be going here!

Jamie “The Bear” McDonald, Co-Owner, Bear’s Restaurant Group notes, “New Haven has been generating so much buzz for its vibrant food scene, so it was the obvious next step for the expansion of Bear’s Restaurant Group. He continues with,  “We will be bringing all of our barbeque favorite to this new location – pulled pork, brisket, ribs and “moink balls” – with a really unique twist – our own, in-house beer brewery and Biergarten.  We are working in collaboration with Jason Sobocinski, a veteran of the New Haven food scene with Ordinary and Caseus, who is providing not only his expertise of the food scene, but also his experience in brewing (Black Hog Brewing) when we open the brewery later this year.”

The food menu at The Stack will feature the brand’s celebrated barbeque favorites, smoked in the Kansas-City style that McDonald enjoyed growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, including Baby Back Ribs, Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, Kielbasa, Turkey, Texas Sausage, Brisket and Burnt Ends served as a Sandwich, Entrée or Combo Plate.  

The Three-Meat Combo at The Stack in New Haven

Other favorites served with a choice of smoked meat include Paw Paw’s Poutine (hand-cut fries smothered with cheese), Bear Bowl (cornbread topped with BBQ beans) and Super Spud (baked potato topped with mac & cheese, sour cream, bacon, red onion and cheese), as well as appetizers (including Moink Balls, bacon-wrapped meatballs), salads, classic side dishes and desserts.  

Moink Balls at The Stack in New Haven

Family meals and meat by the pound will also be available, as well as a Cub Meal for younger barbeque fans.  The menu will also include items inspired by the Biergarten featuring local cheeses, sausages and breads.

  

The Wings at The Stack in New Haven

The beverage program will complement the barbeque and Biergarten concepts, offering easy-to drink beers, BBQ-infused cocktails and wines on draft.  The bar will feature a combination of local and German Lagers, Pilsners and lighter Ales in cans and on draft, and when the Brewery opens later this year, will also offer five draft lines of house beers, in addition to selling the house-brews in cans.  

The CoCo Stout at The Stack in New Haven

Creative cocktails include the Smoke Stack Manhattan (Brisket Fat-Washed Old Forester Bourbon, Smoked Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters, Smoked Maraschino Cherries), Bacon Maple Old-Fashioned (Bacon Fat-Washed Pinhook Rye Whiskey, Maple Syrup, Black Walnut and Angostura Bitters), Stack Fall Sangria (Cabernet Red Wine, Apple Brandy, Citrus Vodka, Allspice, Lemon, Bubbly) and All About Our Coco Stout (Old Forester Bourbon, Stillhouse Coconut Whiskey, Black Hog Coffee Milk Stout, Licor 43, Simple Syrup).

 

The Bacon Maple Cocktail
at the Stack in New Haven

The 6,700 square feet restaurant will feature indoor seating for 200; the 6,000 square foot Biergarten, which will be partially covered and house fire pits and heaters to make it a year-round destination, will add an additional 250 seats.  

In addition, the Stack will be open seven days a week: Sunday-Wednesday (11am-9pm) and Thursday-Saturday (11am-10pm).  The restaurant also offers take-out, catering, food truck and on-site event options.

The District campus features ample free parking and ease of access from I-91, as well as the Mill River Trail.  In 2019, a kayak and paddleboard launch will also be opened for those seeking ease of access from the Mill River, and an Amphitheatre will open offering both family-friendly and adult programming, with views directly from the restaurant’s Biergarten seating.

For more information, visit www.bearsrg.com or call (203) 350-9060.

The Stack

470 James Street

New Haven, CT 06511

About The Stack:  

The Stack brings Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ to the District New Haven campus, located at 470 James Street.  The barbeque restaurant, brewery and Biergarten, opening in Fall 2018, features the award-winning cuisine of Jamie “The Bear” McDonald of Bear’s Restaurant Group.  Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, the location offers free parking and ease of access off the Mill River Trail, as well as a paddleboard/kayak launch.  For more information, visit www.bearsrg.com.  The Stack can also be found on Facebook (coming soon) and Instagram (@thestacknh).

ROIA Restaurant in New Haven

Social Media Promotion:  Feature Story:  

ROIA Restaurant Celebrates Five Years in New Haven

If you follow my Connecticut food and travel adventures regularly, you know that my number one criteria for dining out is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the experience. Eating out is an occasion to be relished and appreciated!

ROÌA Restauran
261 College Street
New Haven, CT

Breaking bread with friends, both old and new, while drinking in the sights and sounds of my surroundings is what every successful dining excursion must include. 

Chef's Sample Small Bite

And while I typically aim my camera at the beautiful sights that decorate the plate in front of me, sometimes the details and the ambiance of the decor at my location demand equal attention from the camera lens. 

Follow along with me at just such as place, as I indulge in the stately elegance found at ROÌA Restaurant - along with some exceptionally notable cuisine.

Magnificent architecture, old world charm, convenient location, delicious food, outstanding service... the ROÌA has all this, and so much more!

ROÌA is located on College Street, adjacent to New Haven's legendary Shubert Theater, in the area formerly occupied by the equally historic Taft Hotel's grand dining room.

Dining at ROIA Restaurant and Cafe

Named for the river ROÌA that begins in the French Alps and winds its way down to the Ligurian Sea to the little Italian town of Ventimigilia the menu blends a bit of both France and Italy's cuisines, highlighting seasonal harvests and fresh catches from the sea.

Executive Chef and Owner, Avi Szapiro, discovered the space while acting in a restaurant consultant capacity for the location's former owners. 

Chef Avi and Meera
Photo Source: Instagram

But Chef Avi fell in love with the space, and instead of a consultancy, acquired ownership, beginning a journey that included over a year of extensive renovations, opening the ROÌA Restaurant and Cafe in March of 2013. 

With his wife Meera at his side, Chef restored the venue to its former glory, uncovering the beautiful plaster molding and columns found within.

And while the space surrounding us as we dined was indeed beautiful, it was in the flavor of the dishes that we ordered where Chef's attention to detail would truly shine.

We started our meal with some signature cocktails, the Orange Blossom pictured below on the left and the Liqueurian to right. 

Next we ordered from the appetizer section, the Carciofi alla Judea, a citrusy artichoke dish, and the Soupe du Jour, a deliciously light butternut squash soup.

Carciofi alla Judea 

with pecorino di fossa, 

meyer lemon, parsley and pickled chilies

Soupe du Jour
Butternut Squash

View from the upper level
(Available for private parties)

Then we moved on to our main dishes, ordering one of the many specials of the evening Tajarin and Clams - with made on premise pasta. And the great thing --- Chef Avi is now including this dish on the new spring menu!

Tajarin and Clams
thin egg-yolk ribbon pasta with littleneck clams,
spring onion, ‘nduja, garlic 

I cannot begin to describe how delicious this dish was,  particularly the savory with 'just a hint of spice' sauce made with nduja sausage, a spicy, spreadable pork salumi from Italy, loosely based on the French andouille.

The cowboy, who isn't really a fan of shellfish, dug right in for a forkful and declared he was ordering this on his next visit!

Tajarin and Clams
thin egg-yolk ribbon pasta with littleneck clams, 
spring onion, ‘nduja, garlic 

For his selection, he chose the ever popular Steak Frites, a lovely grass fed beef, perfectly rested, dressed with an aromatic and flavorful tarragon shallot butter.

Steak Frites 

8 oz. grass-fed beef onglet, 

tarragon-shallot butter

(Served with arugula salad not pictured)

Chandelier at ROIA

The finale, two extraordinary desserts, a Lemon Panna Cotta and a special Pear Dessert offering.

Lemon Panna Cotta 
with poppyseed shortbread crumble

Pear Dessert
with Meringue and Pistachios

The ROÌA Restaurant is the perfect place for a romantic dinner, a special occasion, or a fun gathering with friends. The restaurant is also available for private parties and functions, both large and small.

With its location next to the Shubert Theater, it's the ideal location for dinner and a show! 

Open for brunch on Sunday - check out their Mother's Day Brunch Menu  HERE

Be sure to stop in soon and enjoy some of Chef Avi's delicious offerings!

ROIA Hours of Operation

Tuesday to Saturday
Lunch    11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Dinner   5:00 pm to close

Sunday
Brunch  10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Supper  4:30 pm – 7:30 pm

ROIA Restaurant

261 College Street
New Haven, CT
(203) 200-7045
http://roiarestaurant.com/

About Avi Szapiro

A native of Bogota, Colombia Avi Szapiro was just 13 years old when he discovered his passion for cooking in the family kitchen. In 1998, Avi enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), which led to his first experience in a Michelin-starred kitchen as the apprenticeship program took him back to France and to Lyon’s Restaurant Pierre Orsi.  The training he received there fostered the love of French techniques and classics that are elements of his cooking to this day. Chef Avi's intention and main goal is to uplift and nourish his guests with each meal they have at ROIA. 
  

About ROÌARestaurat and Cafe

ROÌA Restaurant is located in the heart of downtown New Haven next to the Shubert Theater and adjacent to Yale University campus. ROÌA is housed in what was originally the grand restaurant of the historic Taft Hotel built in 1912. The charm and grandeur of this architectural gem have been restored to create a setting where you can enjoy great food and great company. 

Pronounced ROY-ah, ROÌA showcases Avi’s seasonally informed food, inspired by French and Italian cuisines and rooted in local sourcing.  The restaurant features food that delivers maximum flavor with a minimum of ingredients; food that combines culinary restraint with dynamic creativity.   

New Haven Restaurant Week - Spring 2018 Edition #NHVeats

- NEW HAVEN RESTAURANT WEEK -

PRESENTED BY KEYBANK 

RETURNS

WITH SPECIAL MENUS 

APRIL 8-13, 2018

Prix Fixe Options 

Plus Discounted Parking 

Follow the fun at #NHVEats

New Haven Restaurant Week returns this spring in a BIG way -  celebrating its 10th anniversary!

The spring New Haven Restaurant Week will be presented by KeyBank, and will take place from April 8-13, 2018. The bi-annual Restaurant Week will be made all the more super special with the line up of restaurants that are featured! 

With 30 participating restaurants, diners will have the opportunity to experience a variety of New Haven’s finest epicurean talents at an exclusive rate.

“New Haven Restaurant Week has become a much-anticipated celebration of our city’s dining scene and KeyBank is proud to once again partner with Market New Haven and participating restaurants to make it happen. We encourage everyone to take advantage of some great pricing to sample New Haven’s terrific culinary offerings.”

-KeyBank Market President Jeff L. Hubbard.

Special two- and three-course, prix fixe menus will be offered at $17 per person for lunch and $34 per person for dinner, excluding tax and gratuity.  

This year’s spring lineup of restaurants will include newcomer, Jack’s Bar and Steakhouse - the City’s only steakhouse - as well as official wine sponsor, Josh Cellars. 

“Josh Cellars, one of the hottest wine brands in America, is proud to be the official wine sponsor of New Haven Restaurant Week. During this time, we will be extending a special offer to patrons.”

-Tina Afonso 

Trade Marketing Manager 

Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits 

Visit www.infonewhaven.com/NHRWInfo to learn more!

As an added incentive, Park New Haven and The Shops at Yale will be offering a special discounted rate of $5 parking throughout the duration of NEW HAVEN RESTAURANT WEEK.  

The offer will be valid at the Temple and Crown Street garages and parking spaces at 255 Crown Street (behind Pacifico) and 161 York Street (behind Harvest) from 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. 

The full list of 30 restaurants for this edition of New Haven Restaurant Week includes all your favorites!

New Haven Restaurant Week Participants:

• 116 Crown – Mediterranean
• Adriana’s Restaurant – Italian
• Atelier Florian - New America/Belgian Flair
• Barcelona Wine Bar - Spanish Tapas Read HERE
• Basta Trattoria - Organic Italian
• Caffe Bravo - Italian
• Caseus Fromagerie Bistro - Sustainable Cheese-Centric Bistro
• Cask Republic - Upscale American Fare 
• Christopher Martin’s Restaurant - American Bistro Read HERE
• Fornarelli's Ristorante - Italian
• Geronimo - Southwest Grill
• Goodfellas Restaurant - Italian
• Harvest Wine Bar - Modern American Read HERE
• Heirloom - Coastal Farm Cooking
• Jack's Bar & Steakhouse - American Steakhouse
• John Davenport's - Contemporary Coastal New England
• L'Orcio - Contemporary Italian
• Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale - Seafood
• Miya's Sushi - Sustainable Sushi
• Olea - Spanish, Mediterranean 
• Olives and Oil - Italian
• Pacifico - Nuevo Latino Cuisine
• Prime 16 - Modern American
• ROIA Restaurant and Café - French and Italian
• Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill - Seafood, Steak & Raw Bar Read HERE
• Soul de Cuba Café - Cuban Soul Food
• Tarry Lodge - Italian Read HERE
• Tre Scalini Ristorante - Italian Read HERE
• Union League Café - Contemporary French
• ZINC - Modern American

About Market New Haven: 

Market New Haven supports jobs and taxes in New Haven through promotion of the City’s thriving dining, shopping, arts, culture and events scene, with a view towards bringing in visitors to generate economic activity.

Market New Haven is a public/private partnership among the City of New Haven, Mayor Toni N. Harp and the Board of Alders, Yale University, Yale New Haven Hospital and the local business community.

Local business community funders include: KeyBank, Knights of Columbus, Citizens Bank, Avangrid, U.I., Southern Connecticut Gas, The Study at Yale, Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. 

http://infonewhaven.com/marketnewhaven

About New Haven: 

A vibrant destination whose deep-rooted history has coined it the “Cultural Capital of Connecticut,” New Haven is enjoying renewed fervor. Famed historic sites host lively year-round concerts and events. Acclaimed internationally diverse restaurants, eclectic shopping, cultural adventures and sophisticated nightlife add to the destination’s urban renaissance and dynamic pulse. 

Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #NHV.

Mecha Noodle Bar in New Haven - Time to #EatRamen

Social Media Promotion:  

Slurping Encouraged at Mecha Noodle Bar!

You have to love a restaurant whose tag line is "Slurping Encouraged", right??? So, when Wendy and Greg from Connecticut Lifestyles contacted me about attending a foodie meetup at New Haven's newest restaurant, Mecha Noodle Bar on Crown Street I said, YES, count me in!

Rounding out our food squad were Natasha from Natasha Explores World and Ron from Ron's Food Trips. But I have to be honest and admit that this was my very first time visiting a "noodle" bar so it was a doubly fun experience for me! I loved the interior decor - with some neat ceiling sculptures created by varying lengths of wood planks that cast a beautiful ambient shadow around the room.

We arrived at around 6:00 p.m. on a rainy Tuesday night, and already there was a line to be seated! Seating is on a 'first come-first served' basis and no reservations are accepted so be sure you plan accordingly when you visit. Luckily, a large table opened up within a few minutes and we were seated very quickly. In addition to a large bar area there's also a community table to sit at which looked really fun and seating appeared to turn over quickly. Overall, this is really THE place to meet up with friends or family or a group from work. The best part of meeting with a group? You can share and sample a bunch of items from their menu.

That's my favorite way to visit a restaurant, especially one with a cuisine that I'm not familiar with - because the shared plate ordering gives me the opportunity to try a lot of different things and find out what I like! Lucky for me - I loved just about everything we tried - so it was a win win!

Cocktails were fun at Mecha Noodle Bar with names like Yuzu 2.0, Love Potion No. 9 and Stevie's Wonder! Of course, being a total 60's child I had to go with the Love Potion, and yep! Loved it!

Love Potion No. 9.
Madame Ruth made this batch with mizu shochu, aperol, lychee,
lemongrass, and garnished with a lime

Left: Stevie's Wonder
Right: Love Potion No. 9

And here's something out of the box - or should I say in the box...called Way of the Warrior!

Way of The Warrior
 mizu shochu, bushido sake,
st. germain, velvet falernum

Next we moved on to some appetizers and small bites from their "Snacks" menu, trying the Kale Salad, KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), Saigon Egg Rolls, Red Oil Dumplings, Mushroom Dumplings, and Firecracker Wings.

Red Oil Dumplings
pork, shrimp, sichuan vinegar, cilantro

Kale Salad
 fresh and crispy kale, miso vinaigrette, avocado

Roasted Mushroom Dumplings
brown butter miso, arugula

Saigon Egg Rolls
 ground pork, lettuce wrap, nuoc mam, mint

Firecracker Wings
togarashi, tomarind, sichuan peppercorn

Korean Fried Chicken - KFC
 gochujang, pickled daikon-carrots, kewpie

Favorites? OMG - The dumplings! Both the Red Oil and Mushroom were absolutely delicious. Another favorite believe it or not was the Kale Salad. I usually tire quickly with Kale finding it a bit fibrous...but these were tender and oh soooo good - I would definitely order this salad again!

Next we moved on to the Ramen each ordering a different kind, from the Paitan Chicken, to the Spicy Miso, and the Vegetarian selection. Greg even ordered a "Chef's Choice" - filled with a bit of everything!

Here's a look at my Spicy Misu. It definitely packed a little heat on the palate - but not so hot that it couldn't be enjoyed.

Spicy Misu Ramen
red miso, chashu, mushrooms, chili oil

We ended the night with bubble teas and hot sake - and packed up some leftovers.

Mecha Noodle Bar is a great addition to New Haven dining. It's a fun and casual spot to gather with friends and enjoy some great food and drink and good company. A parking garage is right next door, and you may even be able to find some on street parking!

 Mecha Noodle Bar is close to much of Yale and a few blocks from the 9th Square.

 Best of all - it's easy on the wallet with items ranging from $6.00 to $14.00. Service was fast paced, knowledgeable and friendly and offered up some great recommendations on items to try.

 Be sure you visit them soon! And, remember - slurping is encouraged!

Mecha Noodle Bar

201 Crown Street
New Haven, CT 06511
203.691.9671
Web: https://mechanoodlebar.com/
New Haven Menu: https://mechanoodlebar.com/menus/new-haven-ct


Disclaimer: I was invited to visit Mecha Noodle Bar by members of their marketing and management team, however, all views and opinions are my own.

© Home Place 2016