My buddy and I took a Saturday lunch at Eli’s On Whitney while catching the Michigan Wolverines’ noon football game against San Diego State, which was shown only on the Big Ten Network.
It was the last day of Hamden Restaurant Week, so we knew we’d get a spectacular meal deal.
I arrived so early I had my choice of seats in the bar area.
But before long, the dining room was packed—and stayed that way (the empty table pictured was vacated just as I took the shot and filled shortly thereafter) as people turned out in droves for the $12 prix-fixe lunch.
Eli’s staff is a big part of why I enjoy the restaurant so much. Manager Kevin Fitzsimmon’s is a good guy and a conscientious operator.
The hostess was as charming
as she was hard working.
Everyone who assisted us did so with a broad smile and a great attitude.
Soon we had good draft beers in hand.
From a selection of nine lunch appetizers, we chose the Asian calamari
and the panecotto or cooked bread (not to be confused with the dessert panna cotta or cooked cream).
From a selection of fourteen lunch entrées, we ordered the tilapia sautéed in a lemon wine sauce with rice and spinach
and boneless short ribs with polenta and wonderful roasted butternut squash.
And finally, from a selection of four desserts, we opted for the vanilla bean crème brûlée
and the molten lava cake with Buck’s vanilla ice cream.
Making everything perfect, Michigan prevailed 28-7 against an undefeated team that had scored 21 or more points for 17 straight games, the second longest such streak in the nation.
Go to Eli’s On Whitney for good meal outcomes. Good game outcomes, of course, are in other people’s hands.
Eli’s On Whitney, 2392 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, 203-287-1101
www.elisonwhitney.com