Matthew L.
Yelp
The Pantry is a breakfast diner that opened in New Haven, Connecticut in 1987. It was founded by brothers Lenny and Artie Fritz. Lenny started his culinary career in the 1970s when he worked at a sandwich shop called Lettuce Please You in Meriden. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1983. He later worked for various hotel chains all around the country. After his father took ill, Lenny moved back to Connecticut and soon began looking for work in New Haven. The Fritz brothers bought a small building which used to house an old-fashioned grinder shop called Ed's Lunch. They turned in into their own café and breakfast joint. Both jazz fans, the brothers decorated the interior with all sorts of jazz memorabilia and always had jazz playing in the background. Lenny did all of the cooking in the kitchen while Artie handled the front. Artie retired in 2011. These days you will usually find sisters Marie and Joanna Despotakis at the Pantry. Marie cooks in the kitchen while Joanna handles the front.
My wife and I have been to the Pantry several times over the years. We think that it's easily the best breakfast joint in New Haven. We recently stopped in for breakfast one day when we both had off from work. The interior is small and cozy and there's always jazz playing. My wife ordered a plate with two scrambled eggs, home fries, rye toast, and bacon. I ordered the "Eggs Florentine" (sautéed spinach on grilled English muffin topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise, home fries, and fresh cantaloupe). We also shared a plate of one of the Pantry's most popular dishes: the "Cinnamon Roll Pancakes". To drink, my wife had a tall glass of orange juice and I had a cup of hazelnut coffee. This was another spectacular breakfast experience! We never leave disappointed at the Pantry. We'll keep coming back for years to come.