Top 10 Heart-Healthy Restaurants in the U.S.

We are proud of the accolades we've received over the years and we have our entire staff and community to thank for each and every one of them. Thank you so much.

On Tuesday, November 10, Claire Criscuolo, co-founder of Claire's Corner Copia,  was inducted into the Connecticut Restaurant Association Hall of Fame for her commitment to excellence within the restaurant industry and for her work in the community. The award was presented during the Connecticut Restaurant Association Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner held at Mohegan Sun Casino. More than  350 members involved in the hospitality industry were in attendance. 

Best of New Haven 2009 Winners:
    Best Vegetarian Restaurant - 1st Place
    Restaurant with Best Desserts - 1st Place
    Best Lunch - 3rd Place
    Best Salad - 2nd Place
    Best Soup - 2nd Place

The May issue of the Connecticut Magazine writes that "Lithuanian Coffee Cake at Claire's Corner Copia is one of the 50 foods you need to eat before you die."  

Claire's Corner Copia was voted Best Vegetarian Restaurant in the State, by the readers of Connecticut Magazine, 2009

Claire's Corner Copia was voted Best Vegetarian Restaurant, and Best Desserts in a Restaurant, by the readers of the New Haven Advocate, 2009

The Out Traveler (Regent Media)
The must-visit café for all is Claire's Corner Copia (1000 Chapel St.), a 33 year-old organic kosher vegetarian fixture of downtown New Haven. The food is heavenly (try their mango lassi or famous Lithuanian coffee cake), and the ever-present, motherly Claire Criscuolo sets a benevolent and welcoming tone. Over the years she has used the café to raise money for many charities, including HIV/AIDS causes — years before anyone would even talk about the virus (as a reminder for World AIDS Day this past December 1st, Claire removed all the local artwork from her walls). Famous regular visitors to this gem have included Jodie Foster, Clair Danes, and J. Roy Helland (Meryl Streep's hair designer).

Sierra Club Magazine, September/October, 2008 issue

Good Grub

Claire's Corner Copia New Haven, Connecticut
Yalies flock to this vegetarian, environmentally responsible, and organic cafe for whole-grain pancakes with warm berries and, according to students, "ridiculously good" smoothies. Not only does Claire's donate 10 percent of its profits to charity, but it also provides health insurance to its treasured waitstaff.

Pearl Street Boulder, Colorado
It's hard not to find green cuisine in this mile-high mountain college town. All the restaurants around the University of Colorado have committed to zero-waste and organic operations. The nearby Pearl Street pedestrian mall offers an impressive array of choices, including the wind-powered Kitchen Cafe and organic-centric Sunflower Restaurant.

Book Lover's Cafe Gainesville, Florida
"Come for the books, stay for the food" reads the front of the menu at this vegetarian restaurant that doubles as a used-book store. Just five blocks from campus, the University of Florida hangout also serves several delectable vegan dishes, such as tofu quiche and carrot cake.

Cactus Taquería Berkeley and Oakland, California
With two locations flanking the UC Berkeley campus, Cactus Taquería provides inexpensive and Earth-friendly Mexican food to plenty of Cal students. Die-hard Cactus fans claim the food--featuring Niman Ranch meats and Hoffman Farms poultry--is well worth braving the daycare atmosphere. Fortunately, you can always get your burrito para llevar.

Farm 255 Athens, Georgia
Serving only local, seasonal cuisine, Farm 255 offers dishes like tuna tartare; pork-meatball pappardelle; and a risotto of arugula, chevre, and lemon zest. Most of its food comes straight from the eatery's own seven-acre organic, biodynamic farm near the University of Georgia. While it may be more expensive than your average student-budget meal, the value is tremendous. —Michael Fox

New Haven Advocate Best Vegetarian Restaurant, 2008

Connecticut Magazine

Best Vegetarian Restaurant, 2008

Connecticut Magazine

Best Vegetarian Restaurant, 2007

Best Quiche, 2006

New Haven Advocate

Best Vegetarian Restaurant, 2007

Atlanta Journal, Travel Section, Sunday, February 3, 2008 

And, for a not-so-light finale? How about Lithuanian Coffee Cake at Claire's Corner Copia, A vegetarian and kosher hangout since 1975. The bundt cake, massive as a wedge of iceberg, hides brewed coffee, sour cream, nuts, cinnamon and raisins under that butter cream frosting.

Claire's may be the perfect spot to start the day, sipping tea under the hand painted sunburst ceiling, or to wrap it up, tucked against a window on the dimming world outside.

In this little hippie cocoon, it's a cozy spot to watch the parade of Birkenstocks and bow ties that is Yale and New Haven.

Claire Criscuolo, RN - Chef/Owner, Claire's Corner Copia

 VEGETARIAN CHEF NAMED
RESTAURATEUR OF THE YEAR
BY THE CONNECTICUT RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION   

(New Haven, CT - June 16, 2003) For the first time in its 30 year history, a vegetarian chef has been named Restaurateur of the Year by the Connecticut Restaurant Association. Claire Criscuolo, R.N.,majority owner with husband Frank of the acclaimed Claire's Corner Copia restaurant in New Haven, CT, is the award's 2003 recipient. More than 30 restaurateurs were considered in this year's competition, who represented more than  6,000 dining establishments throughout Connecticut. Candidates were selected based on leadership abilities and community involvement. 

In addition to her role as restaurateur, Claire is an established writer, having published three nationally distributed cookbooks (Claire' Corner Copia Cookbook, Claire's Classic American Vegetarian Cooking, and Claire's Italian Feast) and serving as a food columnist for the New Haven Register newspaper.

Partnership Award, 2002, from Children in Placement, a child advocacy program in Connecticut.

Aids Project New Haven Award for Outstanding Community Service,  1993