Bar Bouchee (left) offers French far, while The Halal Guys (right) serves meat and falafel dishes. Photos courtesy of fredbollacienterprises.com and the Phoenix New Times
This weekend, parents from all over the world will visit their children’s classes, meet their teachers, and watch their sporting events. When in need of a respite from the hustle and bustle of campus life, parents and families may want to grab a bite to eat in Wallingford or one of its neighboring towns.
Located within walking distance of campus, Archie Moore’s is a classic American-style restaurant with a lively atmosphere. The dimly lit interior of the restaurant has bar, booth, and table seating. The large windows at the front of the establishment offer a glimpse of the outdoor seating area, which lines a portion of the sidewalk and is separated from passersby by a short partition. Nicknamed “Archie’s” by students, it offers lunch and dinner options including several types of wings, hamburgers, salads, and nachos. “The food was good, and the setting was very welcoming,” said Holden Zerega ’20, who had one of the restaurant’s signature burgers last Parents Weekend. Archie Moore’s tends to be very crowded on weekend nights, though it does take reservations.
Wood n’ Tap Bar and Grill, another casual option for lunch or dinner, is a mere eight-minute drive from campus. Like Archie Moore’s, Wood n’ Tap is also a classic American-style restaurant. “I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the Wood n’ Tap restaurant,” said Xavier Shattuck ’21, who visited Wood n’ Tap last year with his parents. “They cooked very good steaks and they were a reasonable price.” Shattuck visited Wood n’ Tap last year with with his parents. This restaurant is often less crowded than Archie Moore’s and has a plethora of burgers, salads, and steaks.
Several Choate students have also had excellent experiences at a restaurant in New Haven. Located on Chapel Street, The Halal Guys is a gyro and chicken restaurant that began as a food cart in New York City before becoming the brick and mortar spot it is today. Now, there are several locations worldwide. “We went to [The] Halal Guys because it was really famous and really cheap,” said Will Flamm ’21. The restaurant’s menu consists of beef, chicken, and falafel sandwiches and platters. The Halal Guys is about a 20-minute drive from campus, but students and parents can avoid the difficulties of parking in New Haven by taking the train from Wallingford Station on North Cherry Street. Tickets cost $3.50 per person.
Bar Bouchee, an authentic French restaurant in Madison, Connecticut, is another out-of-town dinner option. The restaurant has an elegant atmosphere, with dark wood paneling and subdued lighting. “They had delicious French food,” recalled Ian Bamford ’19. “The food was very fresh and the setting was small.” Bar Bouchee offers a wide variety of options for food, though menu items tend to be pricey, ranging from charcuterie and cheese boards that start at $13.75 to braised wild boar for $27, an amusing option given Choate’s mascot.
Whether you are looking for something close by, casual, or authentic, Wallingford and its neighboring towns have a great variety of dining options.
