By Kait Richmond & Shawn Tremblay
The first stop on the Edible Opinions restaurant tour was Claire’s Corner Copia. (1000 Chapel St.) Situated right across the street from the UNH shuttle stop, Claire’s is the perfect stop for anyone at any time. This cozy restaurant is open all day every day, and has such an extensive menu that even the pickiest eater will find something to enjoy.
Claire’s is vegetarian but meat-eaters can order sandwiches with soy meat, or try one of the bigger dishes like eggplant parmigiana or the Mexican lasagna. They’re meat-free but big enough to leave you stuffed. And that’s not to say that the rest of the menu isn’t just as satisfying. The options seem endless with breakfast food, sandwiches, salads, and a variety of Mexican dishes, like quesadillas and burritos.
We stopped in last Sunday afternoon after taking some time to look at the huge menu. It definitely felt overwhelming at first, but we ultimately decided on the Grilled Cheese Florentine and the Mexican Lasagna. The Grilled Cheese Florentine was a combination of savory, simple, and refreshing. It is made on a fresh baguette with baby spinach, mozzarella, and chunked tomatoes, and was served with a small side of pesto pasta. The Mexican Lasagna can only be described as unique in texture and powerful with flavor. It consists of refried beans, corn, onions, cheddar cheese, corn and wheat tortillas, chunked tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, sour cream, and homemade salsa.
While the food was good, it wouldn’t necessarily be the only reason to visit Claire’s again. The atmosphere was the ultimate deal-breaker. It’s comfortable but quirky, and somehow, that’s the perfect combination. Everything from mix-and-match table and chairs, to the random brick walls and the pictures that hang on them, to the black and white checkered floor makes this a unique eating experience in New Haven.
You’ll feel at home whether you’re with a couple of friends or on your own. We stopped in just before the dinnertime rush, and you’ll probably be better off visiting then, too. While there is plenty of space to eat, the layout is a little awkward and could definitely get irritating in big crowds.
Even if that does happen, though, just find a little corner seat to enjoy this great atmosphere, free Wi-Fi, and tasty (but also healthy) food.
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Category: Vegan, Vegetarian, Organic, Locally Grown
Service: Customer Independent
Selection: Wide Variety
Aesthetics: Quirky, Unintentionally Trendy, Seemingly Small, Cozy
Atmosphere: Friendly, Social
