The Shack is a SE CT shoreline institution. The original located in East Lyme and one each in…read moreWaterford and Groton. The wait staff and cooks are all wonderful. They do a lot of charity fundraisers. Breakfast is top notch and plentiful but lunch and dinner are also excellent. The Mess for breakfast could literally feed three small adults. They have the best corn bread and muffins and desserts all baked on premise. Servings are plentiful. When it is crowded you could wait up to 30-45 minutes but most times there is very little of a wait period. They open early and close later than most restaurants. Take out is a great option if it is busy as well. It is a country kitchen diner vibe mashed with a cheers bar! A local and a visitor favorite but on Sundays they close at noon.

Took the family to a late lunch/early dinner at The Shack, a classic old-timey diner if you ever…read moredid see one. We were seated pretty quickly, and the staff was friendly. Apparently this is an institution (at least based on the shirts and paraphernalia they sell with The Shack name on it). The food was pretty standard fare, nothing crazy or out of the ordinary here, maybe some fun names for their everything but the kitchen sink omelettes (The Shanty and The Mess come to mind). Bottom line is they know their way around deep fryers, and they know eggs. My only regret is ordering the banana cream pie - crust was okay, banana pieces were good, the top "cream" part was like an odd key lime consistency and sour flavor that I did not expect or cared for. P.S. They have a massive senior citizen following, but that shouldn't be a negative like other reviewers seem to have made it. They like what they like, and then seniors like The Shack!

Stopped in after a night of donating to the local casino. Looked up reviews of local places and…read morethis place looked like what we needed. Service was not the fastest but wasn't bad for the CONSTANT flow of customers coming in the door. They kept my coffee cup full so that's a win in my book. Food came out in a reasonable time frame based on how busy they were. We ordered two omelettes and they were delicious!! If you're looking for a break from the same old same old, Jake's Restaurant is a great option. Just be ready to be here longer than your chain places.

One of the best breakfasts I've had in a very long time! The food was so good I forgot to take a…read morepicture! I had the rancher omelette which was so good and huge! I've never had home fries in an omelette but it was amazing! The service was great and whatever you do, get the jelly! Honestly the best strawberry jelly I've ever had (and it's homemade) and the mango was so good too! We sat at the counter as it was a shorter wait than a table for four people at around 10-10:30 on a Saturday morning. We only waited about 10-15 minutes! If you're in the area definitely stop in! It's so worth it!

Amazing diner! We flew in from South Carolina and boy did we have an awesome breakfast. Steve the…read moreChef is the BEST and Peter was fast and furious!! Everyone was so friendly!!! Reasonable priced too. Bib big portions! Plus, you get your meal in a snap! Thank you Norm's diner!!

I do love a diner. I think it goes back to being a kid and spinning around on one of those counter…read moreseats while the cook chatted up my mom. :D Whatever the reason, I am always on the look out for a true diner experience and Norm's has it. The parking lot is 'smallish' on the right side of the building and flows right to left in one direction, so be sure to look for the 'enter' sign. There are three steps up into the diner so be aware of that if you have difficulty using steps. Also, the restroom is tiny: like so small the sink is about a foot long by half as much wide, small. We stop in here on our trips out to Groton. Last visit we stopped for a late breakfast/early lunch. I ordered a coffee and it came in a nice big mug and is a mellow blend with a smooth finish. There are photo descriptions on the table of what your eggs will look like based on how you order it, so no surprises. What a great idea. The table holds napkins, hot sauces, salt & pepper, jellies, creamer and sugars. The staff are pleasant. Some are more chatty than others. There are definitely some regulars here each time we visit. The menu has lots of breakfast options but there are no substitutions so you may need to order al a carte or get a different 'meal' option and add-on an item. Just a heads up. They have plenty of toast options including English muffins. The lunch menu is a variety of sandwiches and burgers. Fries are tasty. Lettuce and tomato on your sandwiches are fresh. I can't think of a single disappointment we've had here. If you are in the area and enjoy a nice diner experience, stop in to Norm's.

Stayed in hotel near Foxwoods & previously visited this jewel retro family diner…read more This Coca Cola theme restaurant absolutely the warmest & best breakfast restaurant I have ever visited. All staff are from one family that make all guest feel like family. Highly recommended when in the casino area, worth your while.

From the outside; this doesn't look like your traditional diner. The inside however, is as cute and…read moreclassic as you can get. Service was friendly and the menu had a nice selection of traditional favorites and some fun specials. I went with a chili cheese omelette and it came with home fries and toast. I did go in Veteran's Day so it was packed. I sat at the counter but hopefully next time I can get a table. My seat was at the end of the counter and so there was a lot of back and forth with food going by and dishes being cleared. The wait for my food was around 40 minutes. This felt a bit too longer even with the crowd. The prices were great for the portions and I love this type of local gem. I'll be bald because I want to try some eggs Benedict or maybe something off the specials menu!!

Such a fun place! Great Food with Fresh Ingredients…read more This is a place to sit and enjoy. Take your time. Talk and engage with folks. The "Cheers" type of Breakfast/Brunch!! Made to order food. Be patient. Your generous portion is in the process.

Incredible staff. Food and options are amazing. I created my own sandwich and they were very…read moreaccommodating. The owner delivered my meal with a huge smile!! Haven't even finished eating and already can't wait to come back

A unique restaurant experience! They serve breakfast and lunch and the pancakes were the best I…read morehave 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!

This was a pretty amazing restaurant. It was right over the bridge in Groton and it was on the…read morewater 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.

Nice breakfast place, comfortable feeling from entering to leaving. Staff are so attentive and…read morefriendly. Did have the server ask if anyone at our table was a Veteran and got agree coffee. Lot of regulars at the place, like a morning gathering spot. Food was served quickly and was plentiful. Everything tasted great. Definitely glad we stopped in.

We were greeted upon arrival and were told we could sit wherever we wanted. It's decorated red…read morewhite & blue and they proudly support police, firefighter, EMT, military etc. This seems like a spot where you become a "regular" the staff was SO NICE! We ate breakfast and it was delicious (bacon eggs pancakes) if we are ever in the neighborhood again we will be back.

Food was Ah-Mazing!! Service good and the Ambiance charming. Straight out of a Norman Rockwell…read morepainting and into a Seaside Hallmark Village .... a great little place to either dream of or wake up to. Gastronomic pleasures await you here and it's rich with small town entertainment as well. Your hard earned dollars are well spent here, as well- in keeping this little eatery's doors open

A childhood landmark still going strong great service, food and a step back in time! I use to…read morecrush the penny candy there as a kid in the 80s.