Paul B.
Yelp
This is my third time eating here and it's become a reliable gem. I've never had a bad meal here and, as I've learned, the most "boring" dishes are often the ones that astound me the most.
First time eating here, in fall 2024, I ordered the fish and chips. Doesn't sound too interesting, but the fish was skate instead of haddock or cod. I have never been a big fan of skate, but it worked beautifully in this dish. The batter was crispy and not too heavy and the dish was just fantastic.
The most recent time eating here was for New Haven Restaurant Week in April 2025. I was disappointed when I saw the entrees: chicken milanese, buckwheat soba noodles, or black sea bass. In any other restaurant, the black sea bass would have been my immediate default. My friend ordered it and the fish was done well, and the fennel and pea base was excellent. But, given my past experience with BLDG, I decided to go against my misgivings and order the chicken milanese. Wow. It was excellent: crunchy breading, crisped to perfection, and on the inside a juicy, healthy-sized piece of chicken. There were a few melted shavings of parmesan (as stated on the menu), but I'm pretty sure there was some mustard coating the chicken (or maybe coming off the salad?) that added a welcome bite of flavor. The chicken, fish, and vegetables have all been very fresh every time I've eaten here.
For dessert, the carrot cake cheesecake sounded phenomenal, but I again went against my instincts and got the mint julep cake. My friend got the cheesecake and it was indeed good, but the coconut was too much for me (I'm not a fan of the fruit). I'm also not a fan of mint in sweet dishes because too often it tastes like toothpaste to me. But this cake had a perfect balance -- just enough mint to be refreshing, but enough cake and honey to not be overpowering. The lime gelato was a nice touch.
The seating has a little art deco feel and the bar is beautiful. It matches the overall vibe of the hotel and its classic Brutalist architecture. The wine menu is a little limited -- just a couple selections by the glass or bottle -- no special bottles hidden in back. But the wines are overall good and the cocktails and mocktails more than compensate. I'm looking forward to my next meal here.