Sorry to see downvotes - folks don't often appreciate how valuable a rental-focused realtor can be, and that your fees are covered by the property owner/management co. It's a win-win for everyone, and because New Haven has such a strangely tight mix of places, you can still take a left or right and find you went from perfectly fine to roughandtumble.

The diversity is truly a strength, and Yale continues to push its programs into the Hill (upper Columbus) and Newhallville, and I can only hope it takes a beat to be sure affordable rentals remain, but fear everything will ultimately go the way of the usual gentrification effect.

(Long time NH area resident - traveled all the neighborhoods in the early 90's working part-time delivering pizza @ one of the only spots who delivered into every corner of the city...gave many a local a lift as I made my way around, too.)

As another who's been through the authentic areas, I am stunned to hear Viva's mentioned. I will have to give it a whirl.

And you should see about Baja's in Orange, as well as the two on Dixwell in Hamden (Orale and Mazorca). They're both new-ish yet, but solid. Curious how you might feel about them.

Barring those - I still pine for El Charrito's, but don't get out to the Stamford/Greenwich border much these days.

Everyone knows that "Ington" means 'whale vagina.' /s

...is a lie!

(also happy cake!)