I have a soft spot in my heart for Giant View Café in Hamden for a couple of reasons.
First, its owner, Kamran Moody, is one of the most personable gentlemen in the business.
Second, the café is my favorite place to pick up a bite of food after earning it the hard way—with a hike up Sleeping Giant—including the steep Blue Trail that I used to use to train for distant mountain climbs, which skirts the right rim of the abandoned quarry.
For those who are a little less adventurous, the surfaced Farmington Canal Trail runs right behind the café.
So although Giant View Cafe has actually been operating for a couple of months now, my wife and I turned out with glad hearts and healthy appetites to attend its Grand Opening ceremony.
Due to the festivities, the little café was even more packed than usual.
All eyes were upon Hamden Mayor Craig Henrici as he struck a congratulatory pose with Moody,
cut the ceremonial ribbon,
and of course got a bite to eat.
Moody seemed to be everywhere as he saw to guest needs yet found time to pose with lovely Kelly Campanelli from the Hamden Chamber of Commerce
and a friend.
I may have been toting around my heavy Canon, but I made sure to find time to enjoy the food. I’m a huge fan of Moody’s panini sandwiches,
to which guests were helping themselves. Here you see a close-up of my favorite, the eggplant panini (left), as well as the ham panini.
Superior ingredients make the difference. I also enjoyed chicken Marsala and two different pasta dishes.
Giant View Café also offers freshly baked cookies,
muffins and scones,
and even some fancier desserts packed to go.
Self-effacing Moody would be the first to credit his staff for the success of the café, so I close with the following photograph.
Giant View Café, 3584Whitney Avenue, Hamden, 203-285-3000
My daughter is a freshman at Quinnipiac University. During a recent visit to the University we came across the Giant View cafe. The food at the cafe is excellent and the atmosphere is relaxing. On recent visits to the University, my daughter requests that we go to the cafe for a delicious lunch and great conversation. We look forward to the next 4 years at the University and many visits to the Giant View cafe.
Excellent food and better service!!! The top gourmet cafe in this region, highly recommended!
Every Saturday and Sunday I enjoy breakfast at the place we refer to as “Kamrans”…A great place to go and grab a quick snack and a coffee and meet with friends and family…Looking forward to more great times at Kamrans…
What a friendly place to hang out and have a great bite to eat. I find myself going there more and more. Go to Giant View cafe, you will be presently surprised, and Kamran will make you feel like one of the family.
A breath of fresh air at the edge of the Farmington Canal Greenway, this new restaurant on the site of the former Duck’s Soup has a menu that surpasses it’s vaunted predecessor. And it has a proprietor that makes you feel like you’re being welcomed into his home. Each panini I’ve tried has been outstanding, and the cookies . . . time to head back on the trail.