When Mickey’s closed on Whitney Avenue in Hamden in 2021, plenty of regulars figured they had eaten their last plate of Chef Mickey’s cooking. They were wrong.
Chef Mickey Joseph and his wife, Wendy, are back with Josephs on Whitney by Chef Mickey, a neighborhood bistro and bar that opened in May at 2001 Whitney Ave. in North Haven, at the corner of Skiff Street. The building was most recently home to the short-lived Trattoria Dal Forno, The Connecticut Scoop reported.
A Whitney Avenue homecoming
The original Mickey’s ran for 15 years at 2323 Whitney Ave. before closing in 2021, according to the New Haven Register. Haven Beer Company now occupies that space. The Josephs moved to Florida and opened Mickey’s Downtown, the Scoop reported, then came home. As Wendy Joseph told the Register, they “missed Connecticut” and “missed the community tremendously.”
Chef Mickey is from Israel, the Register reported, and the menu shows it, pairing Mediterranean flavors with American classics like grilled steaks and chops. The restaurant calls itself a place where “friends gather, families connect, and neighbors become regulars,” and one of the few locally owned spots where the owners are visibly present every day. Through the Mia Rose Foundation, the Josephs have supported local families, according to the restaurant.
The comeback moved faster than the paperwork. When the couple reopened this spring, they were still operating under the Trattoria Dal Forno name while a banner out front announced “Mickey’s is Back,” the Register reported. They promised a bistro rather than an Italian trattoria, while keeping some signatures from the old place, such as chicken Parmesan and eggplant rollatini, both still on the menu. These days the restaurant is also promoting Sunday Funday specials built around “sauce, football and family.”
The room and the bar
Diners can choose the indoor dining room, a lively bar and cocktail lounge, or a seasonal outdoor patio, according to Happenings in Hamden. The entrance is on Skiff Street, and the restaurant promises lots of parking. Testimonials on its website range from “Creative food in an unpretentious setting” to an OpenTable diner who called the spinach soup “an unusual treat.”
The cocktail list leans playful. Signature drinks are $14 and include a Blood Orange Martini, a Pistachio Martini with Bailey’s, amaretto and Frangelico, an Espresso Martini and a Black Forest Manhattan with bonded rye and black cherry purée. Wines by the glass start at $9. On weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m., the bar’s Afternoon Delight deal offers $10 bar bites, according to the restaurant.
What’s on the menu
Appetizers run $14 to $18 and include eggplant rollatini, cornmeal-dusted fried calamari with hot cherry peppers ($16), Mussels Santorini with fennel, leeks and an ouzo reduction ($15), and Dalia’s Trio of house-made hummus, baba ghanoush, Israeli salad and falafel with pita ($16). Soups are $10, including a pasta fagioli the menu describes as “simply the best.”
Pastas are $24 to $32: Linguine Vongole with littleneck clams, Tortellini Bolognese, Bucatini all’Amatriciana with guanciale, and Linguine Mare e Monti, with fresh tomatoes, wild mushrooms, littleneck clams and grilled shrimp ($32). Entrées include chicken parmigiana over linguine ($24), Atlantic salmon with cannellini beans and broccoli rabe ($26), grilled lamb chops ($36) and a Mediterranean Mixed Grill with a beef skewer, lamb kofta kebab and chicken skewer, plus couscous, tahini, amba and pita ($34).
The restaurant’s own photos show the Linguine Mare e Monti arriving as a tall twirl of pasta ringed with clams and shrimp, the kind of dish that turns heads on its way to the table. The menu asks guests to tell their server about food allergies and to ask about gluten-free options.
What to order
Pork Milanese
A boneless pork loin Milanese with toasted Israeli couscous, sautéed spinach, an arugula and tomato salad, and shaved pecorino ($27). It’s a big, crisp plate with a bright salad on top.
NY Strip
A 14-ounce Black Angus New York strip finished with a sauté of wild mushrooms and onions, served with mashed potatoes ($36). It’s the bistro’s steakhouse moment.
Burrata
Fresh burrata with roasted beets, arugula, pesto, chili honey and pistachio dust ($16). It’s a starter made for sharing, if you’re willing.
The Aperol
Aperol, sparkling wine and club soda, one of the bar’s $14 classics. Order one while you wait for a table, or settle in at the bar for Afternoon Delight.
Why we like it
Chef-owned neighborhood restaurants are hard to come by, and harder to keep. Josephs on Whitney brings back a chef with a loyal following, a menu that wanders happily from Italy to the Mediterranean, and a dining room that feels like a family gathering on a good night.
What diners are saying
“No complaints. Have been there a few times. Delicious food. Awesome martinis. Great waitstaff. Love it. Will be back.”
— Maria, Google review
“We had such a wonderful experience at Joseph’s on Whitney! The customer service was outstanding from beginning to end. The staff was warm, attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and made us feel genuinely welcomed.”
— Danielle, Google review
Hours and reservations
Josephs on Whitney is open Tuesday through Sunday, with doors opening at 4 p.m. It’s closed Mondays. Call (203) 248-4070 for reservations, or email info@josephsbistro.com. Google puts the typical tab at $30 to $40 per person.
Key facts
- Where: 2001 Whitney Ave. at Skiff St., North Haven (enter on Skiff St.)
- Hours: Tue.-Sun. from 4 p.m.; closed Mon.
- Phone: (203) 248-4070; info@josephsbistro.com
- Price range: $30-$40 per person (Google)
- Owners: Wendy and Chef Mickey Joseph
- Website: josephsbistro.com
Have a favorite dish at Josephs, or a North Haven restaurant story we should tell? Send us a tip at northhavencourier.com/contact.
Photos: Robyn Sweet via Google; Eddy via Google; Photos courtesy of Josephs on Whitney
