Haven Hot Chicken Opening in New Haven

A team of local industry vets have partnered together to bring “Haven Hot Chicken” to downtown New Haven after months of sold out popups, social media giveaways and curbside pickup popups. The takeout and delivery focused restaurant, which features cult classic Nashville Hot Chicken (and vegetarian Not Chicken) in a variety of heat levels, is slated to open at 21 Whitney Avenue this Fall.

“New Haven has long been regarded as a serious foodie destination and we’re excited to join the ranks of such accomplished brands,” says Chef Rob LaTronica, one of four partners in Haven Hot Chicken. LaTronica, formerly of Wheeler’s and The Beer Collective, is complemented by partners Craig Sklar, owner of The Beer Collective, Jason Sobocinski, of Caseus, Ordinary and The Stack, to name a few of his ventures, and Etkin Tekin, former founder of The Little Salad Shop. Together they created the concept as a result of a shared passion for the fiery cuisine that originated in Nashville.

As New England’s first dedicated Nashville Hot Chicken restaurant, Haven’s menu lists five levels of heat so that guests can experience an authentic Nashville Hot Chicken and Not Chicken flavor. After several trips to Nashville and hundreds of test recipes isolating every last detail, Chef Rob LaTronica honed his recipe for the perfect piece of chicken, the Haven recipe. The not-at-all spicy Country heat level is a no-heat offering for those who love everything a juicy fried chicken should be. The Hot Chicken or Not Chicken, a vegetarian cauliflower option, at the you-should-wear-gloves Haven heat level is very spicy and is served to guests with caution.

Guests can choose from core menu offerings like THE Sandwich, Haven’s flagship offering which features a crispy juicy chicken breast on a potato roll with pickles, Rob Sauce, and coleslaw; a Tendie Combo, which includes chicken tenders with your choice of heat level and fries; or the Tendie Roulette, a menu option that features all Haven Hot Chicken heat levels for guests to try. The chicken and not chicken offerings are complemented by a rotating menu of classic sides including french fries, collard greens, seasonal veggies, cole slaw and banana pudding. Haven will also offer family combos and have several options for kids, with a soft serve program driving home the restaurant’s dessert offerings. 

In addition to building a strong food concept, the team has also embraced their growing platform as a way to give back to the community. Their new initiative, One Percent for the People, will contribute one percent of all profits to focus on equality for all people.

“We believe in equality for all humans, and we’ll do everything we can to achieve that and grow our movement,” said co-founder Craig Sklar.  Local, Connecticut-based organizations will be selected on a monthly basis to be the beneficiaries of these donations, with the company opening it up to customers to help suggest initiatives for donations after Haven Hot Chicken opens its doors.

The 1,000 square foot restaurant will not offer any dine-in seating and will instead focus on takeout and delivery in order to bring Nashville Hot Chicken to the greater New Haven area. Its downtown location offers a convenient pickup destination and will also offer a delivery radius that serves the surrounding population. With respect to current social distancing protocols, Haven’s location has been built with intent to ensure the safety of its employees and guests.

Haven Hot Chicken will be open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday from 11am-9pm.

Haven Hot Chicken 21 Whitney Avenue, New Haven

For more information, follow @havenhotchicken on Instagram or visit havenhotchicken.com. 

About Haven Hot Chicken
Haven Hot Chicken brings Nashville Hot Chicken to downtown New Haven, located at 21 Whitney Ave. Opening this Fall, Haven Hot Chicken is the first fully dedicated Nashville Hot Chicken concept in New England, founded by local industry veterans Rob LaTronica, Craig Sklar, Jason Sobocinski and Etkin Tekin. The restaurant will be open six days a week for lunch and dinner; the convenient downtown location offers easy pickup access and a sizable delivery radius for the surrounding area. For more information, visit @havenhotchicken on Instagram or sign up for their newsletter at havenhotchicken.com.