“Next Door” Restaurant Opens at Old Humphrey’s Site in New Haven

NEW HAVEN, CT - If you know the history of New Haven’s vast bar and restaurant scene then you know that one of the legendary locales was the former Humphrey’s restaurant at 175 Humphrey Street, just a little way from the busy State Street area.

Humphrey’s is long gone and many a restaurant has come and gone trying to make a go at the same location.
As of this June, there is a new restaurant trying to make a go of it at the historic location - Next Door.

The difference, the owners of this pizza/craft beer/small plates establishment told Patch in a recent interview is twofold: they are experienced restaurateurs and, they repeatedly told us: “We are in this for the long run.”

Robin Bodak, Doug Coffin and Domenic Giannotti are there three co-owners. Maria Corina is the place’s general manager.

Next Door opened for business on June 6.

So how’s business been?

“It’s been good,” said Giannotti, who added that summer is not always the best time to get a handle on the flow of business. He and the others said once the summer ends they’ll have a better handle on the stream of business.

Again, that’s where you hear “We are in this for the long run,” from the owners.

But, they are very optimistic. Corina said: “We are already seeing lots of repeat customers. Word of mouth is spreading.”

The restaurant owners say there is nothing like them - nobody that serves pizza, small plates and the best craft beers you can find.

Bodak, who works as chief chief, proudly showed off her “spotless kitchen” to a visitor.

The owners said so far that the most popular pizza orders are: clam, mash potato, clam casino, and New Haven plain.

Giannotti, who is in charge of the liquor, and also recently opened a bar in West Haven called “Dive Bar,” said the most popular beers of the 32 on draft that they serve have been New England, Counterweight, and No Worries.

The restaurant bar also features craft cocktails and local bourbons.

As far as the small plate menu, it includes roasted carrots with tahini, short ribs with Semolina “Cornbread,” and crispy duck confit with black lentils.

Currently, the restaurant is open for dinner every day of the week except Tuesdays and its hours are 4:30 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday; 4:30 to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays.

The owners said future plans may include opening for a weekend brunch but they want to take it slow, for now, to make sure they do things right.

Again, that phrase: “We are here for the long run.”

Photos by Jack Kramer