BLDG - New Haven, Connecticut

Jon A.

Expectations exceeded! Our expectations were low due to this being a "hotel restaurant". We were pleasantly surprised bordering shocked. For drinks, we had the Strawberry Fields and the Limon Skies with the latter being the stronger of the two. My wife being her typical weirdo self, ordered the Elote Dip, fresh bread with olive oil on the side. She RAVED about the Elote Dip (see photo) and the bread was truly fresh homemade bread, but would be much better paired with butter. The bread was outstanding though. I had a burger and fries. I eat a lot of burgers and was shocked at how good this was. I typically do not care for fries and find them boring and uninspired. The fries at BLDG were delicious and had a light seasoning that put them over the edge.

Only slight negative was the waitstaff was a little out of sync in seating us and taking our order. Waitress was very sweet and personable though. This is a great place to eat if you value space. The tables were spaced out well so other table conversations do not permeate your space.

Do not sleep on this place. We were staying at the Hilton and only ate here because we didn't feel like going out. We expected BLDG to just go through the motions and did not expect to enjoy the food so much. Do yourself a favor and give BLDG a try - you won't be disappointed and may even become a fan.

Jeremy E.

BLDG in New Haven serves up serious hotel restaurant energy, but in the best possible way: think upscale casual meets actually-good-lobby-bar. Located at 500 Sargent Dr, this lil spot has mastered the art of the perfectly charred burger, served on an impressively sturdy brioche bun.

The space strikes an interesting balance between polished and playful, with its curved bar topped by a distinctive mesh-enclosed soffit and those powder-blue backed chairs that somehow work perfectly. The beer list reads like a love letter to Connecticut craft brewing, featuring local heroes like Fat Orange Cat and Counterweight.

While most hotel-adjacent restaurants feel like they're trying too hard or not hard enough, BLDG hits that sweet spot - much like their burgers, which come with a generous heap of crispy fries in an Instagram-worthy hammered metal vessel. The $30-50 price point feels justified by the quality and setting, though you might momentarily forget you're next to an IKEA when you're sipping a Celestial Union Festbier from New Haven's own Armada Brewing.

The modern-minimalist design manages to feel both sleek and welcoming - not unlike those sweet potato fries that keep disappearing even after you've declared yourself "definitely done." It's the rare hotel restaurant that locals might actually choose as a destination, rather than just a convenient compromise.

Brittany C.

Food and service were great. The French fries were oddly different but incredible! They had a very different crunch to them and the seasoning was great. Drinks were good- no complaints for an on site hotel restaurant.

Wesley D.

We stopped in for cocktails, cocktails, and appetizers after our long trip up. The drinks were great, the cocktails, yoi couldn't tell the difference, and the appetizers were awesome. It was so good, we stopped in one more time before we returned home the following day! Probably.one of the better restaurants in a hotel thay we have been to.

Sara L. F.

BLDG is situated within the lobby of Hotel Marcel, a fossil fuel free hotel, the first of it’s kind in the United States.

Firstly, the service was excellent. We were greeted enthusiastically and had an energetic host and server which added to the whole experience in a supremely positive and enjoyable evening.

The ambiance is also notable - mid-century modern in keeping with the Breuer vibes.

The cocktails were imaginative. Our favorite was the Pirelli - a nod to the history of the building as a tire company - which was in a tire 🛞 shaped glass and made with activated charcoal. The other cocktails are similarly Bauhaus or Breuer inspired, which is a delight to architectural geeks like us. 💕

The food was good but not incredibly impressive. We would have loved more transparency on the sustainability of it’s sourcing on the menu. The chicken sandwich is our recommendation, but the pasta and salmon less so (though still delicious).

While it is a bit out of the way from downtown New Haven, it is a fun experience to eat in such a historic hotel, and we recommend that more people try BLDG. We didn’t stay at the hotel, just came for the restaurant and the vibes!

Johnny M.

Chef Megan Gill’s flavor combinations are inventive and delicious. Plain and simple. A true underrated gem in an already exceptional culinary city! Try the phyllo and feta wraps with the cranberry compote. Perfection!

Just B. M.

10/10 -Knocked my socks off!! YUM! And the vegetarian options were amazing!!! The service from the staff was incredible!!! Got a peak at the kitchen and it’s pristine! Perfect sign that they care about what they serve, who they are, and how they portray their brand! Thank you to all the staff! Ate there on a Saturday night, no reservation was needed. Will eat here again!!!

Carrie P.

We enjoyed dinner here while staying at the hotel for a night. We chose this restaurant for convenience. The menu prioritizes local sourcing. We had a salmon dish and a burger that was a nightly special. Both were delicious and cooked perfectly. The service was exceptional. While there wasn’t a kids menu for our sons, the server presented a handful of solid options they could whip up and made the kids feel welcome. I was impressed with the detail, even with the kids’ dishes. You can tell the chef puts a lot of heart into the food. We look forward to eating here again when we’re in New Haven.