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Quick StatsBest Place to Take Your ParentsCollege Prowler Take
When asked what they think about Middletown, most Wesleyan students shrug and say, “Well, there’s a lot of good places to eat.” Unless you’re particularly imaginative, there is not a lot to do in Middletown other than eat. The upswing, however, is that the food tends to be very good, and the variety is amazing for such a small town. Middletown dining caters to just about every taste. From greasy, breakfast-style diners to high-end Italian restaurants, there’s something for everyone. There are mom and pop restaurants, as well as a Friendley’s and a McDonald’s (why you would ever want to go to Mickey D’s instead of one of the local diners is beyond me). For a larger, more expensive meal (the kind that only tends to happen when parents are in town), the First and Last Tavern and the Tuscany Grill are both great choices. The atmosphere is pleasant, the wait staff are friendly, and the food is great. Remember, however, to bring your latest paycheck, because you will not leave town a rich man or woman if you choose to eat out more than twice a week. The crown jewel in the Middletown restaurant collection, however, has got to be the Athenian 24-hour diner. Here, the prices are rock bottom, the portions are enormous, and best of all, it never closes. As the pressures of freshman year start to sink in, it’s wonderful to have that sort of security to fall back on. Even students who were never up past midnight back home find themselves heading out to the Athenian for 3 a.m. pancakes at least once or twice a semester. In terms of really late-night dining, the Athenian is really the only option. It is somewhat of a hangout for Wesleyan students, and why not? When they keep those cups of coffee coming, you’ll never want to leave!
Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
WesER says: Wesleyan University 2015 Arts, Visual and Performing  |
Middletown has lots of great...
Middletown has lots of great restaurants, actually. There are tons of places that deliver. There are also some that take Middletown Cash (which is money you can put on your student ID so you don't have to bring cash), and some that even give discounts to students. There's also a range of prices - some cheap for college students, and some more expensive for when the folks come to visit.
Off-Campus Dining: February 24, 2009
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WesAT says: Wesleyan University 2014 Social Sciences  |
I would say that there are great...
I would say that there are great restaurants off campus. There is a great variety: Thai, Mexican, Italian, and many other places. They are almost all within walking distance of classes. My favorite place is Thai Gardens, and if you show your student ID you can have a free Thai iced tea.
Off-Campus Dining: February 19, 2009
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Anonymous says:  |
One thing Middletown does have...
One thing Middletown does have going for it is food. There’s not much to do in Middletown besides eat. Mamouns and Thai Gardens are great, as are the diners. If you go a little further out of town there are some good places, too. It might not be worth your while to drive all the way up to Hartford for dinner, but there are some good places there. |
Anonymous says:  |
Most of the restaurants in...
Most of the restaurants in Middletown I wouldn’t go to unless I was with my parents. The Tuscany Grill is that kind of place. It’s an old people restaurants. The Red & Black Café is located at Broad Street Books, Wesleyan’s bookstore, and it’s surprisingly good. Middletown’s got the typical stuff, too, like ice cream, donuts, and more treats that will leave you plump. |
Anonymous says:  |
Thai Gardens is a big favorite in...
Thai Gardens is a big favorite in Middletown. There is one great diner, as well: the Athenian. Athenian is open 24 hours a day, which is splendid. |
FactsStudent Favorites
- Eli Cannon's
- Giuseppe's
- Klekolo World
- The Neon Deli
- Typhoon
Other Places to Check Out
- Brew Bakers
- Friendly's
- La Boca
- Little Tibet
- Red & Black Café
Grocery Stores
A&P Super Food Mart 820 Washington St. (860) 347-5378
Stop & Go Mart 294 S Main St. (860) 344-9011
Restaurant Listing
Amici Italian Grill Italian 280 Main St. (860) 346-0075 Price: $12-$20 per person Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Cypress Restaurant Bar, grill, American, seafood, pasta 1265 S. Main St. (860) 346-3367 www.cypressgrill.com Price: $10-$20 Middletown's oldest restaurant; always offers weekly specials. Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Eli Cannon's Classic bar food, burgers, wraps, and salads 695 Main St. (860) 347-3547 Price: $12-$18 per person Warm and crowded in a cozy sort of way, complimented by an eclectic assortment of decorations that range from road signs to vintage TV posters. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m., Saturday 3 p.m.-2 a.m., Sunday 1 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
First and Last Tavern Italian 220 Main St. (860) 347-2220 Price: $10-$20 Located in the same building as the Middletown Police Department. Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
Fortune Wok Chinese 844 Washington St. (860) 347-0885 Price: $6-$10 per person Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.-10 p.m.
Giuseppe's Pizza Italian 129½ Church St., Middletown (860) 347-4050 Price: $8-$15 Great homemade Italian dishes. Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Haveli India Indian 1300 S. Main St. (860) 347-7773 Price: $10-$20 Spicy to a fault—bring antacids. Hours: Daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m.
It's Only Natural Restaurant Organic, vegetarian 386 Main St. (860) 346-9210 www.ionrestaurant.com Price: $8-$15 Fantastic healthy food from vegan to seafood. Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Klekolo World Coffee Gourmet coffee shop 181 Court St. (860) 343-9444 Price: $3-$8 Live music Tuesday and Thursday nights, ranging from acoustic folk to acoustic rock, techno to hip hop; can sometimes get a wireless signal with laptop from the building upstairs. Hours: Daily 7 a.m.–1 a.m.
Mamouns Falafel Restaurant Greek, falafal 85 Howe St., New Haven (also has two falafel carts located on High Street and Vine Street) (203) 562-8444 Price: $10-$20 Cool Fetaures: Casual BYOB restaurant with arabic music; moderately-priced food. Hours: Daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Neon Deli and Market Deli 130 Cross St. (860) 347-1800 Price: $5-$10 Best soup variety in the area. Hours: Monday–Wednesday 6 a.m.–10 p.m., Thursday–Friday 6 a.m.–12 a.m., Saturday 7 a.m.–12 a.m., Sunday 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
O'Rourke's Diner American 728 Main St. (860) 346-6101 Price: $6-$10 per person Hours: Daily 5 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Thai Gardens Thai 300 Plaza Middlesex (four blocks from campus) (860) 346-3322 Price: $15-$25 Great specialties like Thai iced tea and crispy duck dishes. Hours: Monday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.–9 p.m.
The Athenian Diner Greek 864 Washington St., Middletown (860) 346-2272 Price: $8-$15 The only option for 24 hour dining in town. Restaurant closed on Christmas day. Hours: Daily 24 hours
Tuscany Grill Italian cuisine 120 College St. (860) 346-7096 Price: $10-$20 Very respectable, great place to take your folks. Or better yet, have them take you. Italian-American food with a Californian twist! Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.
Typhoon Thai 344 Main St. (830) 344-9667 Price: $10-$20 Authentic Thai dishes, can adjust spice level, homestyle cooking. Hours: Monday–Saturday 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m.
Udupi Bhavan Indian, vegetarian 749 Saybrook Rd. (860) 346-3355 www.ctudupi.com Price: $6-$10 per person All-vegetarian Indian cuisine Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Did You Know?Middletown is home to a fascinating cross-section of people and some of the most interesting work at restaurants. Chat up your waiter or waitress and you’re sure to get a few good stories. Though the service at Middletown restaurants tends to vary, sometimes the most endearing dining experiences occur at places where the service is terrible. The Neon Deli is famous for its cranky employees, but with the right sense of humor, this trait can be a plus.
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