Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
American
Pizza
Organic
Delivery
Take-out
Bakery
Catering
Fusion
Breakfast
Kosher
A bustling cafe and bakery founded since 1975. Features daily changing selection of hot foods and specials plus fresh breads and bakery goods, including vegan cakes and treats. Serves vegan pancakes every morning. The french toast is now vegan as well. Bus-your-own table style. Open Tue-Fri 8:00am-8:00pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am-8:00pm.
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1000 Chapel St, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, 06511
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 18 Feb 2025 by ClairesCornerCopia
Update business info
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76 Reviews
First Review by Mary McCurry
fkniaz
Points +253
Menu/recipe update needed - Edit
I’ve tried Claire’s multiple times to give them a fair shake, but I’ve truly never had anything good here. Many of their products feature store bought mock meats and cheeses. For a fully vegetarian establishment I find this a bit lazy, but what’s worse is that these fake meats/cheeses are among the worse store bought options nowadays (it’s pretty easy to find vegan cheese that melts/doesn’t have a gluey texture)! The baked goods are quite dry, and every drink I’ve had here is way oversweetened. Maybe Claire’s purely vegetarian food is better, but I cannot speak to this. As one of the few fully vegetarian restaurants in New Haven, I really want this place to be better!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-10-29
Guest
Tkyla83
Points +245
Not great - Edit
My husband got the tofu scramble. It was really lacking any kind of flavor and very oily. I got the vegan pancakes and the texture and flavor just wasn't good. We also had lattes and they were quite flat, too sweet- just not a fan. We won't be back.
Read morePros: Lots of options
Cons: Food and drinks are just meh
Guest
mark m braunstein
Points +500
a landmark of vegetarian dining, now for 50 years - Edit
Until 20 years ago, vegans had little from which to choose. We could substitute cow cheese only with unflavored blah tofu. But Claire’s has changed with the times. Nut cheeses now are offered as alternatives. And the many all-vegan dishes now equal or outnumber the vegetarian dishes.
Read moreThe menus clearly indicate both on the wallboards and online what dishes are inherently vegan and what can be adapted. What’s more, its wide-ranging menus are for real. “Out of stock” does not exist in the vocabulary of Claire’s Corner Copia. Cornucopia indeed.
The many choices can be mind-boggling, even for vegans. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to make choices simply by reading the extensive menus. In person, you are better off viewing the display cases where you’ll see some of the standard entrées and most of the specials. WYSIWYG. You can judge these books by their covers.
Portions are generous. Expect a filling meal and, if you choose wisely, a nourishing meal. Just don’t expect a gourmet meal. The regular menu is familiar Americana. Noticeably absent are soups. Ethnic accents include Mexican burritos and Italian pizza.
Little, if anything, is ever deep-fried. Hurray for your health! While the breakfast menu includes one ultra-processed mock meat, several house-made burgers instead are composed of grains and walnuts. Claire’s makes no claims about serving natural foods, just vegetarian food. Still, you’ll find more natural foods here than at most other veg restaurants.
As a favorite lunch spot of the Yale community, the midday noise level approaches that of a college dining hall. Sit by a window where you’ll be entertained by the Yale and New Haven crowds parading by, a welcomed distraction from the noise.
Except on Sundays, finding parking can be frustrating, so expect a long walk. Also except on freebie Sundays, expect to pay ransom to parking meters. Despite the cost of parking added to your meal tab, you still will come out ahead because, even for cafeteria food, Claire’s is underpriced.
Staff work behind the counter and in the kitchen that are even more cramped than your seating area. Show them your appreciation through the usual means, your tip. Yet there’s no option to add tips to credit card payments, so bring cash to contribute to the tip jar. They deserve it.
Pros: extensive menu from which to choose, increased proportion of vegan entrees, the view out the windows
Cons: sometimes bland food, noisy and ramshackle interior, finding parking can be futile except on Sundays
veganqueenofqueensnyc
Most importantly, it is the place where our love story began, and all thanks to Happy Cow ❤️ ❤️
Read moreGuest
Veganish
Points +46
Veganish - Edit
Delicious, very flavorful food!
Read moreGreat selection of vegan food and lots of vegan/gluten free and vegan desserts.
I had the vegan huevos rancheros - made with tofu. Excellent!
Guest
amberleeoh
Points +148
Great Community Vibe, Mediocre Food - Edit
I love that this bustling place exists. Everything is veg or vegan. But the food is a bit bland and overcooked. They would do well to reduce their extensive menu by 50% and make each remaining dish a knockout.
Read morePros: Community vibe, Local business
Cons: Food needs more seasoning, Food is overcooked
Guest
Ematus21
Points +901
It’s nice - Edit
They have many plant based options, from deserts to salads, wraps, pasta etc.
Read moreI ate a lemon-blueberry coconut loaves which was sweet but good.
You can say that you are vegan and the personal will give recommendations.
Pros: The place is nice , Personal is kind , Many vegan opt.
Guest
suikunkun
Points +944
Tasty and comfortable - Edit
Love the vibes here, and of course the vegetarian-ness. Flavors not all my favorite, but the dish was undeniably very filling, and the smoothie lovely to top it off.
Read moreGuest
MagdaDepa
Points +582
Nice vegan friendly spot - Edit
Went there for breakfast and really enjoyed it. Tried tofu scramble with side of toast and Lithuanian GF, V cupcake. Both were pretty good
Read moreMany items that can be made vegan so always something to choose from
Just wish they had better selection of vegan desserts.
Pros: Food
Cons: Needs more vegan desserts
Guest
jollieduck
Points +3077
Classic New Haven veg spot - Edit
I love this place, and appreciate the wealth of clearly-labeled vegan options. It can be expensive, though, and if you’re tight on time do not go during the lunch rush as it could take over half an hour to get your food.
Read moreGuest
Conniemm
Points +1849
Nice place to hang out - Edit
I came here to meet up with an old friend. The menu board is huge and it was a bit overwhelming to figure out what to order.
Read moreI ended up getting the pasta with vegan meatballs with vegan mozzarella. It was a large serving and delicious.
My friend had the roasted vegetable salad and it was also very good.
We were able to stay a while and visit which was really nice.
Guest
csailor
Points +968
Delicious! - Edit
Really loved the abundance of options for vegans, and clear labeling. Everything tasted homemade and fresh. I really enjoyed everything I tried here, and would only love to see more options for vegan baked goods. Wish I lived nearby I would be here all the time.
Read moreClairesCornerCopia
Thank you so much for your visit and for taking the time to be so kind. Generally, we have tons of yummy homemade desserts, but because we were closed for July 4, we let too many desserts run out - someone came in and wiped us out before we had time to bake up more desserts. We hope you'll be back again. Happy Summer.
Read morePeace,
Claire and Team
Guest
olivie
Points +145
Great pasta and more - Edit
Many vegan options on the menu. Vegan eggplant parm was amazing with homemade marinara sauce. Only drawback: my dish (vegan meatballs) was cold, and the meatballs were okay. Still 5 stars because we went back and loved it!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-06-30
Guest
beckylong
Points +2163
So Flavorful & Filling! - Edit
We probably could have gotten just one of these entrees to split because they were so filling!! The symphony of flavors probably contributed to the fullness we felt - the food was really hearty!!!
Read moreGuest
veganqueenofqueensnyc
Points +1435
"NI" for Needs Improvement - Edit
Excellent customer service; lovely staff. Sufficient vegan options on the menu yield acceptable but mostly mediocre offerings. Best to be seated by a window, unless you aspire to experience claustrophobia while dining within a somewhat noisy environment.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-01-04
Pros: Plenty of Vegan options, Attentive and friendly staff, Excellent customer service
Cons: Food is generally medicore; sometimes bland, Noisy and crowded at times
Guest
jow
Points +202
Yummy, a vegan gem in New Haven - Edit
Such a great find, so happy and full of great healthy food
Read morePros: Soooooo many vegan options , Very lovely staff, Clean and welcoming setting
Guest
ShaneAustinHall
Points +608
Claire loves vegans - Edit
Great spot right by Yale with great vegan dishes and treats. From breakfast foods, wraps, salads, veggie burgers, and desserts. I got their vegan Caesar with chipotle tofu. It was delicious and plentiful. Ready to go back!
Read morePros: Great vegan selection , Gluten-free options , Location
Cons: Parking can be a bit challenging
Guest
paigelikesfood
Points +197
Delicious, convenient, adorable - Edit
Extensive menu, great service, cute aesthetic inside, and nice classical music playing constantly on the radio lol. Ordered a soup sandwich combo with a falafel sandwich that I do wish had a better falafel-salad-pita ratio, but the tahini dressing was to die for and the soup was fantastic. I also ordered an oat milk latte but it took a while, and when I told the barista she apologized and gave me a free dessert.
Read moreVery reasonable prices imo. Soup, sandwich, and a large coffee all for around $18 is pretty good. Have to add points for the great location as well, super close to a fav concert venue of mine. Will definitely be back soon, excited to try more of the menu!
Guest
happydillard
Points +767
Really Good - Edit
Most of the food was delicious, so we ate here for both dinner and breakfast. My family and I tried the Vegan Lemon Coconut Blueberry Loaf, Vegan Lithuanian Coffee Cupcake, Tofu Avocado Salad, Soy BLT Salad, Vegan Breakfast Sandwich, and Vegan French Toast. I would recommend!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-07-29
Guest
Herbievore310
Points +261
CAKE SHAKES! - Edit
They let me pick a slice of vegan cake and put it in the blender with some vegan ice cream and it was a gift made by the vegan gods! Almost everything can be made vegan and it’s so delicious and good ole fashion comfort food. A favorite place to go on my birthday!
Read moreGuest
faskom
Points +174
Very good food - Edit
If it was all vegan l would give 5 stars, but there are tons of vegan options and everything l had tasted very nice.
Read moreGuest
gpotter110
Points +28
Great vegetarian and vegan options - Edit
The food is good, great spins on classically non-vegan dishes like pancakes, French toast, or BLTs. The food is sometimes a bit rich for my tastes, but still quite good for vegan/vegetarian food.
Read moreGuest
E1yza
Points +226
i don’t recommend it - Edit
As a lifetime local of New Haven, I never recommend this place to anyone vegan. There are much better places to eat.
Read moreYou can eat the same type of food, much better taste + quality elsewhere for half the price.
The food is basic. Only good for smoothies and occasional baked goods (sometimes dry). Staff is wonderful.
Updated from previous review on 2023-04-19
Pros: Great to have vegan options, Friendly staff
Cons: Expensive, Food is not good
Guest
RW13
Points +55
Great place with lots of veg options. - Edit
Glad to hear they reopened. Lots of veg and vegan options, plus excellent desserts. Can be rather busy at times.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-02-19
nogodsjustwriters
Hi! We checked. All socials are still up to date, open on Google, Grubhub, etc., so looks like it's still open. I have hidden your review for now, so as not to confuse other people wanting to visit the restaurant. Thanks! Martin, Team Cow.
Read moreRW13
I went by and it was closed recently, but It looks like they just reopened, I’ll edit my comments.
Read moreGuest
BettySlutsky
Points +1055
Time consuming, but an experience worth having - Edit
The staff are phenomenal- we came as a party of four and they were very coordinated! I was surprised how patient and friendly they were while getting slammed with complicated orders from a Sunday brunch crowd.
Read moreI didn’t love the food. I got a burrito that ended up feeling more like fake cheese than vegetables. The cookies and whoopie pie were kinda hard and crusty, and when I asked for the pumpkin lassi to be vegan, they didn’t substitute the honey for anything else, so I was basically drinking unsweetened pumpkin through a straw. It was a really cute place, though, and I would give it another shot if I was in town again.
Pros: Fabulous staff, Adorable place, Vibes
Cons: Counter service , Crowded, Suboptimal food
Guest
figeon
Points +81
Good, but not the greatest options for vegans - Edit
I made the mistake of getting a pizza, specifying that I would like it made vegan. What I received was just an extremely oily tortilla with marinara sauce and store-bought vegan cheddar. If you're vegan, I would suggest getting the options that are already vegan to begin with like falafel or curry. On the plus side, they have some really good desserts, many of which are vegan.
Read moreGuest
iheartplants
Points +327
my fav for veg-based treats - Edit
the tastiest pastries and breakfast options, coziest atmosphere, most welcoming staff!! i heart claire’s! would recommend lithuanian coffee cupcake, whoopie pies, and mini loaf. pancakes deserve an honorable mention.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-10-17
Guest
aldendirks
Points +86
Mediocre - Edit
We got the fried oyster mushroom tacos, curry, and soy bacon lettuce tomato sandwich. The fried mushrooms were just deep fried which means they weren’t fully cooked and were tough. They were not tender enough to allow for a clean taco bite to be had without pulling out all the filling. Also the shell was dry. The curry tasted strongly of curry powder, which is kind of a nice expectation for a diner curry. It was fine but not spectacular. It was supposed to have pineapple and cashews but I only encountered a single one of each. The tempeh sandwich was my favorite.
Read morePros: Extensive menu
Cons: Imperfect execution
Guest
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