Paul Bass Photo
Didi Muhammad and Angel Jiminez Monday with New Haven's largest mimosa glass.
Didi Muhammad showed up at New Haven’s “The Place 2 Be” Monday — wielding a mimosa glass large enough for a striped bass to swim in.
Muhammad was tending bar at the newly renovated food-and-drink spot inside the former firehouse at Park and Elm Streets that became a series of restaurants, from the circa-1980s Fitzwilly’s fern bar to, most recently, the pandemic-casualty Box 63 restaurant.
The bright two-story, bathtub-and-rubber-ducky-themed Place — the fifth in a chain centered in the Hartford-Springfield region — had a soft opening over the weekend. Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., it serves breakfast and “brunch” food all day, from omelettes and French toast to chicken and waffle sliders.
It also has two full-service bars. Asked about The Place 2 Be’s signature drink, Muhammad raised a glass. A serious glass. Big enough for a family of perch to swim in.
“We have gi-normously ridiculously sized mimosas here” filled to the top with two bottles worth of champagne, the bubbly bartender boasted in a conversation on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program.
Muhammad, 25, grew up in Bridgeport; she lives now in East Rock, and loves it. She has served up drinks previously at New Haven spots like Jack’s and Te Amo. “I’m a party girl. I love to party,” she said. “Why not be behind the bar bringing the party to the people?”
Muhammad studied mixology. She also studied broadcast journalism, at the University of Bridgeport. She does freelance writing on the side and is hoping to break into radio.
You can find Muhammad at The Place 2 Be Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
Asked about her personal signature drink, she described the “Didi Colada”: An enhanced pina colada. “If you’re feeling spicy and you want to take it up a notch, the rum’s not enough, I pour a little D’usse.” You won’t find the Didi Colada on the menu, but if you ask, “I’ll sneak it to you,” Muhammad promised.
Click on the video to watch the conversation with Didi Muhammad on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program. It begins at the 24-minute mark in the video.
Click here to subscribe to WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” and here to subscribe to other WNHH programs.
Click here for previous “Word on the Street” episodes and write-ups.
Upstairs at newly opened The Place 2 Be.
Yum! Brunch all day long, what a wonderful idea. We have had a serious shortage of breakfast and brunch dining options and the few places around that are really great close midday and have limited seating. I’m sure in a college town like New Haven, breakfast and brunch options served 7 am- 8 pm would be successful. Even better? Open from 6 am-10 pm for the before work or school diners, and the after work and school and out on the town diners.