Half Moon, Archie’s Top List of Favorite Town Eateries
By Annie Nam ’11
News Reporter
Choate students often search for a meal to add some flavor to their sometimes-monotonous dining hall experiences. Especially for students who cannot travel home for a weekend, several restaurants in the town of Wallingford provide students with much-welcomed change in menu and atmosphere.
One of the dining options most well known among Choate students, Half Moon Coffee and Grill, is a great place to go with friends for a cup of coffee. "I'd say I go to Half Moon the most because it's nearby, fairly cheap, and the portions aren't enormous like at Archie's," said Steven Choi ’10. "Half Moon is best just for hanging out with your friends, or even studying when you need to get away from Choate for a little bit." Since it is the closest to campus and therefore feels the most intimate, many students are fond of Half Moon. But its proximity is not the only reason for its popularity. Molly Mercer ’11 said, "[Half Moon’s] food is really good. Their Vanilla Chais are amazing." As Mercer commented, the café’s drinks—hot and cold—are very popular. One can often observe groups of students holding Half Moon cups as they return to campus, drinks in hand.
Archie Moore’s Bar and Restaurant, familiarly known as Archie’s, is a popular destination for more special occasions, as is Michael's Trattoria. "Archie's is more like a bar, so I don't really go there to hang out," said Erin Turnquest ’08. "But Michael's is a good place for special occasions, like your friend's birthday or parents’ weekend."
Students often go to Anne’s to satisfy a craving for an enjoyable breakfast or brunch. "Anne's has a comfortable atmosphere. Their price is also relatively inexpensive," explained Fatema Maswood ’11. "While Archie's is a place where you can lay back and pig out on burgers, Anne's is where you can get really good food." The one downside to Anne's is its distance from Choate campus. Choi explained, "Anne's is perfect…if you're in the mood for a diner-quality breakfast; however, the walk is a little bit more tedious than to walk to and from Half Moon or Archie's.”
Half Moon holds a clear lead in the race for popularity among Choate students. However, some maintain that it is not the best restaurant in town. Krysten Peck ’11 said, "I personally like Tavern on Main better than Half Moon. I like the service there; they are more likely to give the money back if you over-pay them." It also seems that the café’s good reputation brings an unfavorable side-effect: its line. The cafe seems to have a hard time handling all the people in an efficient way. "It's sort of dark in there, and they are usually really busy, so you have to wait in a really long line," said Dominique Hedderich ’11.
Some students feel that a trip to town is too inefficient, despite the quality dining. "I have far too much homework to go out to town," said Jennifer Davis ’11. "And I don't feel like going to town in cold weather." For these students, the stress from homework makes the trip to town seem like a waste of time.
Wherever they go when they eat off campus, Choate students seem to crave a place where there is good food and a good atmosphere in which to "chill" with friends. They also look for a change, for something other than the repetitive food on campus. "I get sick of the dining hall food sometimes," said Maswood. "I go to the town for variety."
Archie Moore’s Bar and Restaurant, located across the street from Half Moon, is another popular choice of students looking for a change in menu. PHOTO/Lizzie Needham ‘09
