Located on Whalley Avenue in Westville (New Haven), Delaney’s is great for an escape from the ‘downtown’ nightlife. With two rooms to choose from (dining room and taproom) and a special focus on pairing food and drinks, it isn’t hard to see why this local dive is gaining a lot of attention.

The taproom and restaurant are both open until at least 1:00 a.m. every day, and they have tons of specials available. If you and your friends are looking for a more casual setting, try sitting in the newly renovated taproom and have a couple of drinks. If a meal is what you’re looking for, take a seat in the restaurant. Both rooms are very intimate, so small groups work best.

Just one look at the menu and you’ll be in love. Delaney’s has everything from bar food to full-course meals. Especially appetizing at any time are the sandwiches: in particular, “The Delaney.” The sandwich is a grilled chicken breast topped with prosciutto and Swiss cheese…sounds simple but tasty, right? But the real reason this sandwich is good enough to be named after the restaurant is for the final ingredient: red pepper aioli.

For those who don’t know, aioli is garlic mayonnaise that will make a slice of white bread taste deliciously fancy. If you’re not into the red pepper taste, try “The Single Decker” sandwich, which is made of sliced turkey, bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and cranberry aioli.

(There is a brunch menu, but if you’re going to wake up early enough and head to Westville for brunch, you should go to one of the many restaurants right in that area that specialize in it. Try looking up Lena’s, Bella’s, or Manjares.)

The food at Delaney’s isn’t the main showcase, though. If you find the food menu impressive, then your jaw is going to drop when you see the HUGE selection of beer, wine, and specialty drinks. Delaney’s has the best beer selection in Connecticut. According to the website, “Guests can choose from over 60 beers on tap, more than 70 bottle selections, and the only traditional Belgian tower in the USA.” That’s all in addition to over 100 bottles of wine and 34 wines by the glass.  Don’t be intimidated, though, anything you choose is sure to be a hit! May we recommend a Palm? Delicious!

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Category: Taproom and Restaurant

Service: Relaxed

Selection: Variety of options, great drink selection

Aesthetics: Dark, trendy

Atmosphere: Social, adult, casual