August

I have been waiting to stumble-​upon a place like this. It is everything the New Haven food scene has been lacking (and I almost don’t want to let it out of the box). Superior knowledge, small but perfect menu for food, and a delicious selection of the perfect wine pairing. Cozy but not cramped. Old charm, but not in a stale or «trying too hard» way. Delightful and refreshing. I can’t believe I have been driving past it every day and only just realized it was a small gem I hadn’t noticed.

A super chill environment with an awesome bartender. The snacks ate also quite good. I’d come here all the time. –from a Wisconsin perspective.

Omg, how the hell have I not known this place existed?! I LOVE this little place. Very small, cozy little wine bar, just off the beaten path. Pretty sure if you didn’t know it was there or weren’t looking for it you wouldn’t even notice it. The staff was all very friendly and accommodating. We were here with a very large group for a birthday and they kept up with out craziness without batting an eye. They have a nice selection of wine & the 2 guys working behind the bar were knowledgable and provided information/​guidance if we ever asked for any. I personally didn’t eat, but everyone who did practically licked their plates. Oh, I lied… I did have some pretty fantastic cheese from a friend’s plate. He’s from Switzerland & was so excited to see cheese from there on the menu, so of course he had to have it. The 3 cheeses I had were awesome, I’m only sorry I didn’t write down what they were! I will most certainly be back here. Love, love, loved it.
Go have wine & cheese here now!

Who doesn’t love a small intimate wine café hidden in East Rock? WIth gorgeous décor (one table is actually an old radio), fabulous ambience and a great atmosphere, there is so much to love.
I went with a group of girls for a little GNO and had a great time. It is noisy, but not overly noisy you cannot have conversation. We had a fabulous bartender who did a great job at recommending us wine and food options. But overall the entire staff from the girl greeting at the front to all the bartenders are very friendly.
This is meant to be more of a wine pairing place, so if you are looking for a hearty meal this may not be the place for you. However, they do have a fabulous cheese selection. I highly recommend the truffle cheese. To die for.
One of the best touches of this entire evening? Our receipt given to us in a book (it was Hamlet no less). I died and went to literary heaven.
You will not regret going here!

My favorite bar in New Haven! Amazing wine/​food… Sweet owners/​staff & ambience! I can’t say enough good things about this special lil spot!

Decided to stop here for the first time New Years (early) Eve (ning) after seeing pictures of cheese plates by candle light and oysters plated on China seep through Instagram the past few months. Real life did not disappoint.
Everything about this place is in the details — August is tiny (12 seats at a dark hardwood bar) but that condensed space serves an immediate foreshadowing of the incredibly personal touch to everything there. A giant, wooden wine display, little bouquets of roses in glass jars, three different wine glasses for reds depending on depth and color. every single thing feels deliberate and hand chosen, food included.
The menu is brief, but confident. It’s crafted for wine pairings — cheese and meat plates, an east and west coast oyster selection, some lovely deviled eggs, pickles, olives, a little caviar, and a salad or two. I had a cheese and meat board and drinks, my highlights included a truffled cow cheese and my boyfriend’s wine, a ruché. Would absolutely come back for oysters, the deviled eggs, and to try wines I haven’t heard of.
Easy ⁵⁄₅.

My wife & I went here this past Friday night. I’ve got to tell you what a wonderful little place it is. The wine list is well thought out, and pairs well with the wine list. I give 5 stars to the food, wine; the staff. Everyone there was attentive, knowledgeable, and so friendly. The food was just fantastic. For example, my wife gave high praises for the deviled eggs; she doesn’t even like deviled eggs.
August is a real gem. It’s small, hard to find; oh so wonderful when you do.

In a kind of shady neighborhood but this place is just cozy awesomeness. The owners were very sweet and helpful with the menu. Everything we got was so tasty paired with perfect wine. If I’m ever in that area again I’m definitely stopping there.

Great little spot for wine and small plates. We didn’t order food, only had wine which was recommended by the owner and excellent. Great atmosphere, the wine bar is small but it wasn’t over crowded on the night we went. The owners are very friendly and make you feel welcome. Definitely will be back to try small plates!

3 of us stopped in here last night — admittedly our second attempt at wine after Cave a Vin was completely full. That’s our usual wine bar. We hadn’t been to August yet so we figured we’d try it out instead. The place is very tiny, though cozy. We sat at the windowsill. I don’t have a lot to say since we just had wine. Wine was fine, atmosphere was dark and calm but the wine was a bit on the expensive side. A wine I get at Cave a Vin that runs about $ 8 – 9 a glass was like $ 13 here. Due to that, I’m not sure I’d come back here over going to Cave a Vin in the future.

Wine.
Oysters.
Charcuterie.
Intimacy.
Romance.
Atmosphere.
Excellent *little* spot. Wonderful owners. Fabulous selection of wine. Delicious cheese; oh the cheese. Primo date night. Beautiful décor. Intimate atmosphere. Glorious bathroom. Well done, well done.

Easiest 5 stars ever.
Wife and I were in the mood to try something new and we were not disappointed.
We walked in and it’s a very simple, casual and cozy environment. It is a wine bar so don’t expect cocktails or a large beer selection although they have a few. The wines we had were delicious. The menu is simple yet delicious. We had a meat & cheese board and it was some of the best we have ever had.
I can only assume the duo behind the bar were the owners. They were welcoming, friendly and took the time to explain the various meats and cheeses.
We may have been early but after a few moments, the place filled up fast. So if you are in the mood for delicious wine, meats & cheeses and a friendly, comfortable environment, then this is the place to go.
I highly recommend August and hope to visit again very soon. Very happy customer!

I am in love with this place. Exposed brick, tin ceiling — so cozy and charming. I came here on a Saturday at around 5pm. It was pretty much empty, so probably a good time to go. The space is definitely small, so I could see it getting crowded during busier hours. Glad I went when I did.
They have a fabulous wine selection, and an equally great selection of small plates and meats/​cheeses. Was with a few people so we ordered a few different cheeses — with much thanks to the amazing staff who went through each type of cheese to explain the flavor profile. So happy with our choices — yum!
The service here is absolutely exceptional. Water glasses were never left empty at any point, and things were refilled/​cleared so subtly that we barely noticed and were never interrupted at any point. They are happy to go through the menus with you and explain anything you have a question about.
I can’t wait to come back here!

**This was written a while ago, just ended up unposted**
I went last night, late. I had a glass of cava and a panini with pork belly, spicy mustard and I think… cheddar cheese. It was served with a simple salad and light dressing that did not cover the taste of the fresh greens. Perfect for a late night meal. Filling but not too heavy, and yet still very flavorful.
I read about it in the New Haven Independent and several friends have also mentioned it to me.
It’s a very warm spot, and Andrew and Michele (Michelle, sp?) have created a great small space to enjoy a drink or panini (the oysters were out, when I came by, but next time!). I will go back, I felt comfortable and would go here alone to read. If you are looking for cosy date spots that are great for conversation, this should also be on your list;)

After a cold walk we were greeted by this cozy bar. A true jewel amid the zirconia, it’s rare and almost vintage looking like it belonged in Paris during the Impressionism Era but able to feel at home in New Haven. You can’t help but feel whimsical walking up to the door, all worries, fears, and nerves left outside. Once inside you don’t notice that there are no open seats because you are so absorbed and distracted by it’s charm. It’s has a simple and rustic look but everything looks like it was meticulously set in place.
We waited for about 5 minutes in the back corner for seats at the bar. This was a Saturday night so the wait wasn’t bad at all. Once seated, we were suddenly ready to indulge in good wine and food.
The Vina Alberdi tempranillo with it’s full body and silky mouthfeel was delicious and a great addition to the charcuterie and fresh oysters. We were raving about the red dragon cheese in the charcuterie during the walk back. It is delightful and the mustard seeds give it a smoky flavor, pairing well with the fennel salami.
Not yet wanting us to leave, the owners brought out salted caramel pudding for dessert. It was buttery and rich topped with fluffy whipped cream and shaved chocolate. And, on the house! As if the night couldn’t get any better.
You’ll leave feeling enchanted and magical, but that could be the wine too.

Praise baby Jesus, I have finally found my new watering hole in New Haven. It’s about time!
As a wine geek this place does not disappoint. Their wine list is big enough but not novel length — selective with some really unique options. Garnacha Blanca and Zweigelt aren’t exactly easy finds on wine lists these days.
I think it’s important to note that August isn’t really meant to be a dinner destination, from my perspective — they have several fantastic small plates like cheese & charcuterie, almonds and deviled eggs (all of which were delicious) but not really enough to fill you up in my estimation. And thats ok! I have started making a habit out of coming here before or after dinner for an app and a glass of wine — the perfect start or finish to a night out on the town!
Well done, August. A welcome addition to the neighborhood and sure to be a frequent stop for me. Cheers!

Awesome service and good wine!
The owner gave us a couple of extra pours of different wines to taste, which made the rather expensive wine well worth it.
Very tiny place though, very intimate. Can’t wait to go back and try the food.

Small, intimate neighborhood wine bar with an upscale feel. Kind of has a West Village/​Williamsburg vibe to it, for lack of a better description. The space is fantastic and they really did a great job creating a stylish space. Wine and beer selections are interesting, and the small plates we tried were all very good. Strike up a conversation with the great owners, and relax.
Great addition to the Upper State Street neighborhood.

August is one of those intimate and cozy bars where you walk in and feel immediately at home. This quaint, 18-​seat wine bar escalates the East Rock bar scene to another level. Classy and sophisticated, this is the ideal place for a romantic night out or if you’re looking to get your night started with some delicious light bites and some expertly sourced vino. You can tell that they put a lot of love and passion into this place and that passion shines through in all aspects of their small business. It’s all about the details at August, and oh boy are there a lot of exquisite details. From the original exposed brick to the pressed tin ceiling to the intricately worked serving plates to the antique radio and tasteful artwork, every inch of this place has been artistically thought out to create an aesthetically pleasing interior that is a true visual treat.
Having just opened in May 2014, I saw the rave Unilocal reviews right off the bat (If Amber C thinks it’s cool… you bet your ass it’s freaking cool!) and then received my Daily Nutmeg email with a feature of this fantastic hidden East Rock gem:
. And upon visiting them for the first time this past Wed, owners Michelle and Andrew were amazingly welcoming and accommodating and our experience lived up to every expectation. I invited a few friends to meet me here and the 5 of us posted up at the long high-​top counter by the front window. We started off with a bottle of a French cab franc-​merlot blend, which was out of this world delish. Our served picked out a Spanish tempranillo for our second bottle, which complemented our savory meat plate quite well. I love me a well received reco! We kicked the food off with a dozen oysters, which were from of the Pemaquid variety from Maine. Served with the standard mignonette (vinegar and finely diced shallots) and a tobacco-​like runny hot sauce, these super fresh suckers were absolutely delectable. The pickle plate, a personal favorite of mine anywhere, had a house-​made feel where I felt like I was eating something made from a dear friend’s garden. I especially appreciated the chic, alternate colored wood serving tray that the pickles came on. Again, all about the details here. The $ 18 charcuterie plate was extremely generous and of excellent quality. Accouterments included whole-​grain mustard, locally-​sourced artisan bread, dried apricots and candied walnuts, and thinly sliced pear. The perfect flavor and texture contrasts to cut through the rich, fattiness of these cured meats. Fantastic and charming in every aspect.
Space is quite limited here so I can see it getting real crowded during peak weekend times, but crowds are a good thing for a new business, especially one that I want to see thrive and live on for numerous years to come. I can’t get out nearly as much as I like these days with the new baby and all, but August will be high on the list when we’re looking to keep it local and treat ourselves to a wonderful night out.

I love it here! It’s a cozy new spot right off state st. with a short menu of sandwiches, apps, meats and cheeses. The décor is fun and the owners are always welcoming.
Bottles and wine by the glass are delicious and reasonably priced. This is the perfect spot for people watching in East Rock.