Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the New Haven area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the New Haven area by diners
Breakfast holds a special place in American culture, serving not only as a source of nourishment to start the day but an opportunity to create traditions. It's a and is often regarded as the most important meal of the day, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.
While staples like eggs, bacon, and pancakes are common nationwide, regional preferences showcase America's culinary diversity. In the South, biscuits and gravy are a staple, while the East Coast is known for dishes like eggs Benedict and bagels with lox. The Midwest often favors hearty skillet breakfasts, while the Southwest's spicy breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros reflect the region's Mexican influence.
There are a wide variety of restaurants that serve breakfast today. Traditional diners often feature laminated menus filled with pages of combo meals pairing eggs with a breakfast meat of your choice served alongside hash browns, buttered toast, and endless coffee refills. Then there are modern breakfast spots that embrace innovation, adding global influences and creative twists to traditional dishes. Avocado toast, kimchi fried rice, and churro waffles are some of the more recent popular offerings that reflect how multicultural flavors have become part of contemporary breakfast traditions.
American breakfast culture has evolved significantly over the years. In the mid-20th century, diners and coffee shops dominated the morning meal landscape, catering to workers and families with fast, affordable options. Then, the rise of fast-food chains in the 1960s and 1970s shifted breakfast trends, introducing convenient grab-and-go items like McDonald's Egg McMuffin. By the early 2000s, the brunch boom transformed weekends into social events, with restaurants offering elaborate dishes, bottomless mimosas, craft Bloody Marys, and vibrant atmospheres that encourage extended Saturday and Sunday morning dining experiences.
Today, breakfast culture continues to balance nostalgia with innovation as classic comforts meet modern trends in both casual diners and brunch destinations, ensuring that morning meals remain a meaningful and celebrated part of life.
Curious about where to head near New Haven for your next breakfast or brunch? compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the New Haven area based on diners' reviews on as of March 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "breakfast & brunch" on Yelp that are open at 7 a.m. and are within a 10-kilometer radius of New Haven were included. Some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides breakfast food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 15 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to discover new inventive egg-centric dishes or time-honored classics for your next leisurely morning!
#28. Chap's Grille
- Rating: 3.1/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1174 Chapel St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
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#27. Valley Diner Restaurant
- Rating: 3.1/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 636 New Haven Ave. Derby, Connecticut
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, American
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#26. Hamden Town House
- Rating: 3.4/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2260 Whitney Ave. Hamden, Connecticut
- Categories: Diners, Salad, Breakfast & Brunch
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#25. Sam's Place
- Rating: 3.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 344 Washington Ave. North Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
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#24. John Davenport's
- Rating: 3.5/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 155 Temple St. Omni Hotel New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch
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#23. Brown Stone House
- Rating: 3.6/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2365 Whitney Ave. Hamden, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Waffles
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#22. Shoreline Cafe and Catering
- Rating: 3.7/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1247 Main St. Branford, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Sandwiches
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#21. Pop's Family Restaurant
- Rating: 3.7/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 134 Old Gate Lane Milford, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, Sandwiches
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#20. Breakfast Connections
- Rating: 3.8/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1188 Main St. Branford, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
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#19. Pistachio Cafe
- Rating: 3.8/5 (285 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 911 Whalley Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
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#18. Chip's Family Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (396 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 321 Boston Post Road Orange, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Diners
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#17. Manjares
- Rating: 3.9/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 382 West Rock Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Tapas Bars, Latin American
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#16. Tastebuds Deli
- Rating: 3.9/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6 Church St. North Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Delis, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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#15. The Pantry
- Rating: 4.0/5 (600 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2 Mechanic St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
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#14. The Plate
- Rating: 4.0/5 (222 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 587 New Haven Ave. Milford, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, Sandwiches
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#13. Nick's Luncheonette
- Rating: 4.0/5 (90 reviews)
- Address: 255 Saw Mill Road West Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Diners
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#12. Route 80 Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 697 Foxon Road East Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers, Sandwiches
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#11. The Breakfast Nook
- Rating: 4.1/5 (267 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 565 Washington Ave. North Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
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#10. Water's Edge Deli & Catering
- Rating: 4.2/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1546 New Haven Ave. Milford, Connecticut
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
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#9. Provenzano's Deli
- Rating: 4.2/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 153 Saw Mill Road West Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
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#8. Poppy's Coffee and Kitchen
- Rating: 4.2/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 374 Whitney Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee Roasteries
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#7. Route Ten Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (38 reviews)
- Address: 3810 Whitney Ave. Hamden, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Salad, Burgers
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#6. State Street Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (300 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 346 State St. North Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Salad, Wraps, Breakfast & Brunch
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#5. Scarpellinos Restaurant & Catering
- Rating: 4.3/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 257 Forbes Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
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#4. Zoi's New Haven
- Rating: 4.4/5 (321 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 63 Grove St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, Salad
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#3. Scratch Baking
- Rating: 4.4/5 (287 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 84 Broad St. Milford, Connecticut
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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#2. Branford Beach Donut
- Rating: 4.5/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 267 East Main St. Branford, Connecticut
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#1. Johnny Salami's
- Rating: 4.6/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 205 Food Terminal Plz New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Delis, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 293 metros.
