Pistachio Cafe — Restaurant in New Haven

Walking into Pistachio Cafe feels like tumbling down a rabbit hole into a Victorian fever dream conceived by someone homesick for Damascus. Crystal chandeliers dangle precariously above vintage radio collections, while classical busts survey diners from ornate shelving that groans under the weight of Middle Eastern curiosities. This is what happens when a Syrian architect-turned-artist channels exile into hospitality.

Mohamad Hafez, whose haunting "UNPACKED" installations recreate war-torn Syrian streetscapes in vintage suitcases, opened this Westville sanctuary in 2020 as pandemic therapy. The space he created in a former Masonic Hall defies every principle of restraint. Tin ceilings gleam with elaborate molding, mismatched antique furniture creates intimate conversation nooks, and tropical plants somehow thrive amid the visual chaos. A sign proclaims "we baklava you!" — the kind of wordplay that could sink lesser establishments but here feels like found poetry.

The menu bridges Hafez's two worlds with thoughtful precision. His "Mohamad Style" cardamom latte arrives fragrant with whole milk foam and ground spice, while even a simple iced decaf americano gets artisanal treatment with proper layering. The rose tartine — cranberry walnut bread topped with ricotta, rose petal jam, and pistachios — tastes like edible nostalgia, each bite balancing floral sweetness with nutty earth.

Service occasionally stumbles under the weight of ambition. During a recent Sunday visit, "hot" lattes arrived disappointingly lukewarm after an hour's wait, and communication barriers sometimes complicate ordering. But the servers' genuine warmth compensates for linguistic fumbles, embodying Hafez's vision of radical hospitality.

The baklava selection — supposedly Connecticut's largest — justifies the boast. Dense, honey-soaked phyllo layers reveal pistachios that taste like they were harvested yesterday, not shipped across continents. Turkish coffee arrives in delicate cups that demand patience, the grounds settling like sediment in a memory.

What elevates Pistachio beyond quirky cafe status is its deeper purpose. This isn't Instagram bait masquerading as culture; it's an artist processing trauma through the universal language of hospitality. Hafez describes his miniature war-torn dioramas as "letting the models do the yelling for me." Here, he lets the space do the welcoming.

The maximalist design could easily feel overwhelming, but instead creates pockets of intimacy within controlled chaos. University students huddle over laptops beside retirees lingering over Syrian breakfast platters, all seemingly unbothered by the visual cacophony surrounding them. The effect is surprisingly calming — like being wrapped in someone's most treasured memories.

At its second Chapel Street location, Hafez promises fine dining that honors "age-old recipes." But the original Whalley Avenue space remains the heart of his vision: a living installation where every ornament tells a story, every dish carries cultural weight, and every cup of coffee becomes an act of defiance against forgetting.

In an era of sterile minimalism, Pistachio's unabashed maximalism feels revolutionary. This is what home looks like when you can never go back — overwhelming, raw, garish, and...

Edit: @ the owner of pistachio cafe comment. Hello Pistachio Cafe,

First of all, I want to clarify that we 100% understand your staff aren’t robots—nobody is expecting perfection. But that doesn’t mean the service should be lacking. Let’s be honest: there simply isn’t enough staff. There’s no hostess for the dining area, which makes it confusing for first-time visitors, and nobody greets you upon arrival.

The girl at the register was not only taking orders but also managing the pastry area and running to the back to serve food. That’s clearly too much for one person to handle efficiently.

The strong presence you have on social media led us to believe we’d experience something far more refined than what we actually encountered. We were genuinely excited to try it, but the reality didn’t match the expectation.

This was our experience, and I wish you could understand that instead of dismissing it. Your response honestly reflects a lack of understanding of your establishment and your clientele.

Thank you, and have a blessed day.

Recently visited Pistachio Cafe with a group of seven. While the food was decent, nothing particularly standout, the experience was overshadowed by poor service. We waited about 90 minutes from the time we sat down until our food arrived, and even then, three orders were still missing. Throughout our visit, no one greeted us or checked up on our table, which was disappointing. It also seemed like they were short-staffed, which may have contributed to the delays. On a positive note, the location and aesthetic of the cafe were nice. Overall, I’d rate the...

My cousin and I found the cutest café to visit for brunch and I'm so glad we decided to take the short drive to New Haven! If you're looking for aesthetics plus good eats, visit Pistachio Cafe.

We visited when it was warmer out, on a Saturday afternoon and it was pretty busy but we were seated right away. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Majority of the café is sectioned off for customers who want to dine in and a small portion at the front is where you can bring a laptop and chillax. The customers arrived in waves, mainly for their hot/cold drinks and pastries to go.

We were seated at the prettiest booth with enough room to lounge out. The menu was great! TONS of options from different teas to paninis, waffles, soups, freshly squeezed OJ... you name it! I LOVE freshly squeezed OJ so of course I had to order a glass with a side of sparkling water, haha. The OJ was fresh, just the way I like. My cousin and sister ordered a matcha latte and you can't visit Pistachio Café without ordering anything pistachio flavored so my cousin ordered a pistachio latte which both drinks were delicious!

Our brunch orders consisted of fresh eggs, hash browns, toast, salad and a side of strawberries. I was full, but not uncomfortable which is always a win. Food was tasty, I would definitely order everything again. We did take a couple of macaroons and apple cider doughnuts home but we didn't like our choices. It's okay, that just means next time we have...