Local restaurant Mickey’s Restaurant & Bar announced March 11 it would not renew its lease and would instead shutter the doors of the popular hangout after 15 years in Hamden.
Chef and owner Michael Josephs opened Mickey’s in 2006 after closing up his former restaurant, Rosemary and Sage, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. After they saw the news of Mickey’s closure, fans of the restaurant flocked to Facebook in support of the local restaurant.
West Haven resident Clint Potter said “tears were genuinely shed” when he found out. Potter, a software engineer for UnitedHealth Group, had been going to Mickey’s for 10 years.
“Mickey’s was our friend group’s ‘go to’ for celebrations; birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Primarily, this was because of the food. But over time, we became friends with most of the wait staff, as well as Mickey himself,” Potter said, comparing the restaurant to the show Cheers where everyone would smile and say hi when he walked in.
When he started going to Mickey’s, Potter’s favorite appetizer was a “beef carpaccio over arugula with shaved Parmesan and truffle vinaigrette.” One day, he went into Mickey’s and found Josephs had taken it off the menu. Potter wasn’t disappointed for long.
“Without fail, if we showed up for dinner, a large plate of it magically appeared! Mickey didn’t have to do that, but that was the kind of place he ran,” he said.
Melissa Craine, a North Haven resident, said she held her wedding reception at Mickey’s in 2015. She sat down with Wendy Josephs, Michael’s wife, to plan out the event.
“Sitting down with Wendy [Josephs] to discuss the details was so much fun,” Craine said. “She was so thoughtful and had such an amazing energy. We sat and talked and laughed, all while having my favorite wine.”
Michael and Wendy were two of the most hospitable people, Craine continued, noting her family always went to Mickey’s for special occasions.
“When my daughter was invited to attend Harvard for college, naturally we went to our favorite place,” she said.
María A. Pérez, who worked at Mickey’s for 10 years, said she had to prove herself to Josephs when she first applied for the job.
“It’s a funny story: he tore up my application,” Pérez said in Spanish. “He didn’t believe in me because I’m a woman. But I said, ‘Let me try.’”
She must have done things right because 10 years later she had a lot to do in Mickey’s kitchen. Pérez worked the fryers, and she was also in charge of preparing salads, pizza and everything on the grill.
Pérez said she learned a lot from Josephs, who was wonderful with her and “a tremendous chef.”
“For me, it was a beautiful experience, because my passion has been cooking since I was very young when I came from Mexico,” Pérez said.
Looking forward, Pérez plans to continue with her business, El Sazon de Maria Birria Tacos, a taco restaurant at 168 Chatham St. in New Haven, which she said specializes in birria tacos from the Cabos.
Although Mickey’s is closed, residents and fans of the restaurant hope to see more from the chef.
“Mickey’s will be missed, but never forgotten,” Craine said. “[Mickey and Wendy] love what they do and it shows in the wonderful atmosphere and delicious food Mickey would make!”
Potter said he hopes Josephs doesn’t give up on the food industry entirely and that one day, he can “order some carpaccio, a medium rare hanger steak, and an upside-down apple tart, and all will be right with the world.”
HQNN reached out to Josephs, but he declined to comment.
2 replies on “Fan-favorite Mickey’s Restaurant & Bar closes up shop after 15 years in Hamden”
What a tremendous loss for the Hamden Community with Mickey’s gone. This was one of the finest restaurants in Town and we are so very sorry to learn that they have closed their doors. I pray for the owners, the chef, and all the staff. And I pray they will open up in a new location. And I pray they will re-open somewhere close by or even far away, because Hamden residents will travel to wherever they are to experience their delicious food and wonderful service. Too bad the town of Hamden government could not offer an incentive to Mickey’s to remain in Hamden.
Sorry to learn Mickey’s had closed in March. I imagine Covid really kaboshed many local restaurants.
I especially liked Mickey’s mediterranean salad as an appetizer and his Bucattini, but with his excellent bolognese sauce, and his firsh dishes were always excellent.