Having grown up in Hamden, I’ve been a fan of the Eli’s Restaurants pretty much since their inception. I have a particular table at Eli’s on Whitney that I take almost every time I visit (which often happens when a University of Michigan football or basketball game is playing). I love to take home the exceptional pies from Eli’s Brick Oven Pizza & Market. I visit Eli’s on the Hill less often, purely due to geographical considerations. But I will be visiting the recently opened Eli’s Tavern in Milford, because they have taken an already good concept and kicked it up a notch.
Behind this change, which is also benefitting the other Eli’s, is the hiring of David Brooks,
whom some people may know from the original Rudy’s in New Haven, from BB Shack in Branford, but especially from Judies European Baked Goods in the Elm City, which he sold to the La Cuisine folks a couple of years ago.
Let’s take a quick look at the handsome new restaurant, which clearly is already a big hit.
My friend and I are lucky enough to snag a table in the window area where we can observe the activity on the street,
while attentive servers keep everyone happy.
Count on them to bring you a cold beer in a flash,
in our case an Ithaca Flower Power IPA
and a Blue Point Toasted lager.
Our first course is flatbread and salad.
The flatbread is topped with bacon and leek
and as tasty as it looks in close-up.
The shaved vegetable salad with truffle oil
is delicate and delicious.
But we also love an impromptu salad of watermelon, cucumber and avocado.
For our main course, we order a steak sandwich
and a burger.
Here’s the steak sandwich in close-up
along with spectacularly good fries, which come with a foamy hollandaise dipping sauce.
Here’s the Niman Ranch burger,
with its own fries,
including a close-up showing that when you order medium-rare, you actually get it.
We finish with churros,
cheesecake
and German chocolate cake.
Finally, here’s a look at the regular menu,
the oyster menu,
the specials,
the beer list,
the wine list
and even the dessert list.
Clearly, Eli’s Tavern has kicked it up a notch or two!
Eli’s Tavern, 21 Daniel Street, Milford, 203-693-2555, elistavern.com