A unique restaurant experience! They serve breakfast and lunch and the pancakes were the best I have ever had. Sausage was what you would expect, and the coffee flows endlessly. I would love to come back for a burger, even some takeout. They also sell sweet treats! Oh yes, and the view is incredible! To see New London as a whole and imagining when it was a major port city and whaling hub, the history! The service was superb! read more

Great service, I love that seabird enterprise employes people with disabilities in order to help them. The food was good and had a great view as well as offering military's discounts I would love to come back. The only thing I would change is with the menu, it looks old and doesn't describe things vary well I had the combo meal I was asked what type of bread I would like I didn't see anywhere on the menu that the kinda bread meant what do I want my French toast to be made of. Besides that it was amazing. read more

Puffins Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

Having grown up in the area, I was looking for a new experience for breakfast when I came back for a quick visit. Saw the high number of stars of Puffins and headed there without reading more into the reviews. Didn't know the backstory but we're so happy we found this place. It's great in all ways --the mission, the food, the experience of being in this community. So glad to support them! read more

This was a pretty amazing restaurant. It was right over the bridge in Groton and it was on the water so it was a nice view of the bridge and of New London waterfront. I had pancakes and sausage and I found the food was very tasty. The most amazing part was the ambience and I don't mean the decorations with a furnishings, but the service staff that work there. It was a very, very heartwarming experience for me. Trust me on that. read more

Restaurant dedicated to the handi-capable, run by the handi-capable. Contrary to some websites' description of this establishment, opens at 7 am (not 8 am), closes 1 pm. I arrived solo. Probably 20 patrons present Friday 9 a.m. Simple minimalist breakfast/lunch menu over two pages, senior offerings BEFORE 9:30 am. Daily special paper menu also offered. Food arrived within 15 mins. of ordering. Some minor flaws, easily overlooked: (small delay in getting menus once seated, had to gesture to waitress; small amt of home-fries served with brkfst--very spicy, be forewarned--I wasn't; rubbery bacon, when crispy requested; a LOT of repetitious instructions for forgivable comprehension). Sizable juice cups/paper straw; ask for cranberry nut bread w/meal--worth every buttery bite!! eggs arrived hot and cooked to order; extra coffee and napkins brought by w/o asking; cloth table tops, metal utensils. Ambiance is a simple, colorful layout--lots of room (wheelchair?). Deck porch seats maybe 12-16 ppl at 3 tables--small area. Puffins sits across from New London industrial harbor and train, ferry services, with view of bridge nearby. Ample parking for perhaps 25-30 visitors, with wide open views of Thames R. Waitstaff worked in unison, albeit somewhat repetitively. No tipping apparently, donations to their NGO of choice. There was a tip jar though at checkout, where I deposited their well-earned tip. Restrooms ultra-clean, although not sure of handicap access. I'll return, with others. Service: B+ Food: B+ Ambiance: A read more

Great food and atmosphere. We have a beach home in Niantic but live in Maryland. Our oldest son is a disabled autistic adult. Puffins Restaurant's employees are disabled adults and l was very impressed. What a great place and enterprise. Wish you were in Maryland ! read more

Yelp has hours wrong. Open at 7:00. Also, someone told me they'd closed... not true. 1st time to eat here - I WILL be back. Homey kind of place. Limited menu, but exellent. Good food, enough of it and inexpensive. I had the combo breakfast with cranberry nut bread. Yum! read more

Yummy and so worth it. Service was greats and coffee was delicious definitely recommend

While the optimistic foundation-premis-backstory on this eatery is Wonderful- my personal dining experience here actually gives me bad dreams. Whilst choosing a seat at a table having a stellar view of the Thames River, it was by happenstance located close to the kitchen. Which rang out visions of a torture chamber. Grunting, moaning, crying and what might have been slamming chairs along with scraping, dragging on the floor of the same. When my food arrived, good thing I'd already lost my appetite. As you can see by my pictures there was barely 2 bites of the Americas thinnest ham laying under the poached Benedict. The underlying English muffin was cold and dry. The eggs which looked like perfection on a plate were grossly over cooked, warm, but chalky, and very small. The accompanying potatoes reheated to the point of no return to edibility. Hard gravely looking much more appealing than they should have as I nearly broke a tooth trying not to discard it in my napkin. Service was attentive, and paying was a pleasure-(quick n easy) only because I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I've had in the past, experience at the Ladd School and worked at Dempsey Regional Center, with patience and tolerance... I believe in the project and process. But, I would-COULD- never recommend this restaurant. Unless of course you'd care to embrace the background noises of torture and mayhem in the scullery or need a little help with overindulging your dietary intake for the day. Me? I'd rather buy some Hollandais and just make my own or spread my encouragement and dollars elsewhere. This is my first poor review. And honestly, I find no pleasure in sharing it- but, like you, I depend upon the honesty of my fellow Yelpers for true and honest advice. So, yeah, I AM going to share my experience, here....reluctantly. read more

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Patience and Good Food in the Menu! Stopped in because of the stars for reviews. Didn't read any of them because i like to decide for myself. Stopped in around 11am, for a late breakfast. Beautiful views of the River and Groton /New London waterfront area, from the indoor dining area. Also, Definitely a plus since it is near work. The staff is very kind and helpful. Simple menu that made it easy to choose what I wanted to eat. Coffee was in a large cup, which is great for those who like a big hot cup of coffee. Enough to have a great conversation with those you come with or surf the web a bit in the WIFI, while waiting for your meal. Creamer came in a little pourer. Sugar alternatives on the table. A relaxing, slow pace, to enjoy your meal. I ordered the number one. Two eggs over medium, bacon, home fries and the cranberry toast. Definitely a twist on toast, which was tasty!!! If you are like me and need a to go box, ask one of the staff to get you a box. Each person working has their own task, so just ask one and they will help you out. Good for small groups or singles. Classic Mom and Pop Style restaurant with nautical and coastal decor and views from each seating area. Indoor and outdoor seating, depending on the season. Plenty of parking! ****** So, i looked at the sign holder in my table, thinking it had a special on it. Nope. It had the business description and information about the restaurant and employees. So, this place, headed by Sea Bird Enterprise Inc., is a vocational training program for those with physical and developmental disabilities. I absolutely loved their mission statement! Picture included. My sister is deaf, had to go through a similar program, when she was starting out working, as a teenager. I want to thank those who are running this program. Patience is a virtue here and it will give you a good feeling, knowing you are part of a learning environment for some great people! read more

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I love Puffuns Restaurant. The food and cranberry nut bread is delish, thanks to the skills of chef Vanessa and the kitchen cooks. The waitresses and waiters are friendly and kind I definitely will go back. read more

Quaint lil spot for breakfast and lunch with a beautiful view of the waterfront . This restaurant is run by Special Needs employees who takes your order ,cleans and serves your food with some extra care. They take pride in their work performance and it shows . I had everything I asked for and even a few good conversations & a newspaper I didn't know I needed ,but was given to me in case I wanted to have one . I had two eggs with bacon & homefries and it was very good and cooked perfectly. I definitely recommend you trying this place out and see it for yourself. Friendly ,fast and for everyone !!!!! read more

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The food is very good and the service (from adults with developmental disabilities) is stellar! Despite being situated right on the river, the ambiance is just a little "off", but I will still enjoy more visits there. read more

This is different kind of experience.. an experience for life rather. I am so surprised to see that this place gives an opportunity for special needs, and also these kids know what they are doing. I dined here on my visit at Mystic , with my husband and 18 months old son, I am happy to see such people and glad been here. The eggs were fine and my son enjoyed his crispy bacon with a toast smeared with butter. Myself had the eggs benedict with avocado (instead of ham) and husband had omelette with veggies (instead of meat). There was some confusion while ordering, since we always have special requests to substitute veggies instead of any meat in eggs at any restaurant, and later the host assisted our server and all went smooth. read more

Puffins Restaurant - When asked for a milk for coffee, we got this! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

This breakfast/brunch/lunch place requires a special mention so that you know what to expect when you arrive. Puffins is part of a small group of restaurants that help train special needs people on work and life skills to help them contribute to society. For a nice, relaxing meal, Puffins is a good choice, but if you are in a rush to eat quickly and get back to work, this place might not be your first choice. The food is "hearty" and excellent; very New England farm style with lots of butter, cheese, breads and so on. The pastrami hash is a signature dish well worth a try. The ambiance alone makes this place well worth a visit. There is a very large indoor dining area with excellent water views, plus a good-sized covered porch overlooking the river Thames. You would expect to pay a premium for the views alone, but the costs here are quite reasonable. In summary, good food, great views, good value, and all for a good cause. Try Puffins today! read more

I can't believe that I missed reviewing this restaurant. I mean it was in the top 3 for breakfast on my last trip to New England. I was going through my pictures when I was reminded of Puffins. It was so good that the pictures made wish I could stop by this morning. The food was great and the portions were awesome. The restaurant is super clean the service by highly functioning special needs servers was probably one of the best anywhere. I definitely recommend anyone in the area to make this stop a priority! I will be back. read more

Cute breakfast spot right on the water. Nice & peaceful, and great service! Their bread is amazing, i never care for the toast & it was so good I'd go back for that! I tried the cranberry walnut. Their potatoes were cooked with really nice flavor & overall I really enjoyed my meal & can't wait to go back! read more

Puffins Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

I wanted to find a new venue for breakfast and I was successful. We drove from the Groton New London Airport and found this lovely place overlooking the Thames River. I had read about their signature pastrami hash and so we ordered eggs with hash browns and cinnamon toast. It was delicious as was the wonderful service, cleanliness and ambiance. My friend was equally impressed with Puffins......we'll definitely be there again. read more

Puffins Restaurant - Eggs over easy with pastrami hash and cinnamon toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

I had a wonderful experience while I was here. My boyfriend and I had wanted to go here over the weekend when we were looking on Yelp for breakfast places near him but were disappointed to see that it only opens Monday-Friday. I decided to come here Monday morning after my boyfriend went to work because I wanted something to eat before making the trek back to Boston. I got the corned beef hash with over easy eggs and wheat toast. Everything was delicious especially the bread. My only regret was not trying a more interesting toast option; I had overheard the lady next to me get cranberry cinnamon apple! Moreover, the service here was impeccable. The staff oversees a group of special needs kids and help them run the restaurant. My water glass was always full and it never took me more than a few seconds to grab my waiter's attention. It was a delight to start my day off here! read more

Puffins Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

Bestie and I just did lunch. Extremely pleasant experience. Setting is peaceful and comfortable. Nautical theme setting on point, not over done. River view. Emasculate. Service was outstanding, profession without being stuffy. Very attentive without being pushy. Prices are surprisingly affordable. Off street parking, and ramped. Handicapped accessible. NOW, the food! Everything was beautifully presented. She have the French toast. Fluffy, flavorful cinnamon just highlighted the comfort food vibe. They do their own baking. I had on of the specials. Chicken ranch wrap. Perfect wrap bread. fresh chicken breast, not deli slices. Fresh veggies, lettuce, tomato, pepper, and a wonderful dressing. Everything played well together. Home style potato salad. Their own, I'm sure. Definitely going to be repeat customers I think that about covers everything read more

This place is serviced by adults with disabilities. The food was absolutely delicious. All breads were homemade. Very generous portions. The staff taking care of worked so hard to make sure everything was perfect, with a smile on their face. read more

Food was 10/10. Service crew was friendly and absolutely lovely to interact with. The waterfront view was so nice but somehow prices so reasonable. I highly recommend going! I'll be back again and again read more

A great place for casual dining. Went there for lunch the other day and ordered a delicious breakfast. Other people with me had a meatloaf sandwich and a cheeseburger. All were delicious and presented nicely. The service was excellent and very attentive. We would highly recommend eating here for breakfast or lunch. And it supports an excellent organization as a bonus. read more

This breakfast spot is definitely good. They hand make their muffins and pancakes. So their food is fresh. read more

Puffins Restaurant - Pumpkin French toast. Option B5. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

God bless this place. The opportunities they give people with special needs is fantastic. The food itself was so good and very inexpensive. What a fantastic breakfast. The pastrami hash is legit and just bursts with flavor. Perfect overeasy eggs with fresh potatoes and thick slice rye. Great coffee, too. The service was a little slow, but absolutely forgiven. We had a great time hanging out on the deck overlooking the Thames on a beautiful summer morning. read more

We were driving to the Pt. Judith ferry and stopped for lunch at Puffins. We were unaware that the restaurant is staffed by special needs employees but picked up on it very quickly. I have to say, that was one of the best turkey clubs I've ever had and my boyfriend was very happy with his Reuben. The staff was friendly, courteous, and enthusiastic. They do not accept tips so we donated an additional $10 on top of our meal. read more

Good food, friendly staff, reasonable prices and portions. We have been back and will return.

The idea behind the establishment is admirable. The food was made to order and delicious.

I might've just had a top 10 breakfast experience....I've had many breakfasts before.... Great spot! Great servers, I fit in perfectly and view was full on man. Non profit let's me throw bands on these guys and have a clear conscience too....food was perfect, affordable.... I hoped to see a submarine drive by but I write as I wait...just ferry traffic and birds idling in the current.... I will be back and encourage all to go go go! Get that hash. read more

Great Place! Great People! Can't wait to come back with Dylan, our son who has special needs! Great Concept!!!! read more

Love what they are doing for the community, place has excellent views and friendly staff. Cranberry walnut French toast was very good. Not a fan of having eggs served on a paper plate, but I would go back, perhaps after the pandemic lightens up. A very basic set up but still a nice place. read more

First time here. Our kids loved the location they wanted to sit on the patio and watch the ships go by. Friendly and quick staff. The food tasted great I had the pastrami hash instead of the typical corned beef hash. I like to try new things and I wasn't disappointed. read more

Don't remember the last time we had breakfast for two for $20 (including a 50 % tip). Their bread and English muffins are made in house. Yum! read more

Puffins Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

Great location on river. Food was ok hash was really good. Staff was friendly and like the thing they do employing special needs staff. Would recommend as a stop just for the location and service read more

I had breakfast this morning at Puffins Restaurant. It was probably the best breakfast that I ever had! The bacon was cooked perfectly, the scrambled eggs were cooked perfectly, the potatoes were cooked to perfection and the wheat toast was excellent. Everything was hot! The coffee was great too, and the service was excellent! I highly recommend Puffins. read more

Puffins is a restaurant located on the Groton side of the Thames river. It is on Thames Street and has a million dollar view. They are open for breakfast and lunch Monday - Saturday. The wait staff are people with special needs and they are a delight! Puffins has their own bakery so their sandwiches are all made with fresh bread. The sandwiches are wonderful, plentiful and extremely well priced! There's an outdoor deck for those sunny days. Go once, and you'll be sure to make it a regular stop! read more

I've been here twice and enjoyed each experience. The staff is very attentive. Each time I come back I bring more people. The eggs Benedict there is amazing. Very tasteful and prepared well. The coffee here is a little bland and could use some work. I'd recommend the patio for your choice to sit. The views are great. read more

Puffins Restaurant - View from the patio - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

I've been to Puffins on several occasions, but not recently. The only reason that I found out about it was a few friends of mine work down the road at Electric Boat and told me about it when I was looking for a place to donate some proceeds of a fundraiser. Great food-the place has it's own bakery. The meatloaf sandwich is delicious and so are the deserts. The atmosphere is good and the view is spectacular. If you can make it there on a sunny spring or summer day, try getting a patio seat overlooking the Thames River. The waitstaff, and some of the food prep personnel, are comprised of, I believe the politically correct term is now, intellectually disabled/challenged individuals. They have great attitudes and their service is top notch. read more

Absolutely delicious breakfast! The pastrami hash and the homemade thick cut raisin bread were amazing. Everything was wonderful, even the coffee was very smooth and not the least bit bitter! I will certainly be back. The prices and the staff were excellent as well! read more

I just had pastrami hash for the first time in my life. IT WAS AMAZING!!! The selling point for me was their weekday breakfast staff. That alone made me want to frequent Puffins. Businesses like Puffins restore my faith in people. 10 stars read more