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    The Shack

    3.5 (181 reviews)
    InexpensiveAmerican
    Closed 6:00 am - 8:00 pm

    The Shack Photos

    THE SHACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Shack

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    Susanne B.

    We stopped in at the end of a trip to Mystic. We were not disappointed. Everything we ordered was delicious!

    Clean menu
    Deb T.

    Excellent Breakfasts, reasonable prices and outstanding service---AND most Breakfast selections include coffee or tea Gratis‼. Styled like the diner it IS, very casual and comfort driven. Child friendly and very clean restrooms, too. Desserts home made, and very large portions of everything! Yeah, I'll be back, bringing both my friends AND my appetite

    Breakfast with Mama
    Tiffany Lynn H.

    THIS PLACE IS SO GOOD! I love the homey fries so much I wish they could be husband fries I've never had a bad breakfast there EVER. The worst part is waiting cuz the lines can be out the door sometimes (but it's totally worth the wait!) GO HERE. For breakfast. Find Tracy cuz she's AMAZING also & whatever you do, dont mess with the mess.

    a table and booths in a restaurant
    Geo M.

    i stopped here while traveling and this place is very comfy with older decor. we loved the mash potato's, what a creamy buttery taste they had. the strip steak had a charred taste to it so I honestly did not enjoy it, I leave criticism so restaurants can improve its not done to bring a business down. service was very good as well and I would definitely come back here and I recommend it.

    Thanksgiving Turkey (mash potatoes, stuffing and broccoli) $16
    E C.

    One of three restaurants in the area, this place serves breakfast and lunch. The breakfast is what I really like but the lunch menu is also pretty good. Nice people here.

    The Mess

    Great breakfast spot. Food came out fairly quickly. Was always checked on and was offered to take home some pie. Overall great experience and will be going back!

    Blueberry crumb pie

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    1 month ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    Mediocre food. Miserable staff. Not one person working there smiled. Felt very unwelcome.

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

    Good corn bread....you have to try THE MESS break fast plate....you get a mountain of breakfast food items.....I could finish mine

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Really enjoyed breakfast there while visiting the area. Nice sized portions and not a long wait time to sit.

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    2 years ago

    Good food prices and very Frendley not having watet long rather food good service was grate

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Excellent food. GREAT breakfast menu! Service was good and prices were excellent. You get really good value for your money.

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Always great and simple food with generous serving's all at a reasonable price A friendly staff

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    Page 1 of 5

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    Wood-n-Tap - Lobster Grilled Cheese on our Seasonal Summer Menu

    Wood-n-Tap

    (67 reviews)

    $$

    We kicked things off with a refreshing guava margarita and then went all in with a margarita flight…read more(rhubarb, dragonfruit, strawberry, and elderberry) Of course, we had to follow it up with a spicy mango margarita for a little kick For food, we started with calamari and chicken nachos for the table. I went with a buffalo chicken wrap paired with Parmesan tater tots, while my partner had the filet mignon topped with crispy onions, served with mashed potatoes and asparagus. And because it was a celebration... green tea shots were definitely involved We wrapped the night with crème brûlée that was insanely creamy and the perfect sweet finish. Good drinks, great food, and even better company! couldn't have asked for a better vibe

    Wood‑N‑Tap is... fine. Totally fine. But for a place branding itself as a tap house, the beer…read moreselection feels surprisingly basic. You're not coming here to discover a new local gem or a seasonal release you can't get anywhere else -- you're getting the usual lineup you've seen a hundred times before. Safe, but not exactly exciting. The food lands squarely in chain‑restaurant territory. It's consistent, sure, but nothing jumps out as memorable or worth a special trip. Think dependable weeknight dinner, not destination dining. You'll leave full, but you won't be talking about it later. Service is friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable, but overall the experience just doesn't rise above the pack. With a name like Wood‑N‑Tap, you expect a little more personality -- especially behind the bar. A solid option when you want something familiar, but not the spot for craft‑beer lovers or anyone looking for standout pub fare. Cheers

    Norm's Diner - BLTE with curly fries

    Norm's Diner

    (402 reviews)

    $$

    Just moved up to Connecticut from Florida and had to find a new breakfast spot... and wow, Norms…read moreDiner absolutely blew me away. Hands down the best breakfast I've ever had -- and I don't say that lightly. Everything was fresh, cooked perfectly, and you can tell they actually care about quality. The portions were great, the vibe was classic diner comfort, and the service made it even better. If you're anywhere nearby, this place is 100% worth it. Definitely my new go-to spot. Also , Steven the owner is amazing.

    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.

    Gatehouse Tavern - Beer

    Gatehouse Tavern

    (6 reviews)

    Gatehouse Tavern [GT]. (2 stars)…read more "Stuffed clams (or stuffies) are popular in New England and consist of a breadcrumb and minced clam mixture that is baked on the half shell of a quahog hard shell clam.[1][2][3][4] Other ingredients typically found in the basic breadcrumb mixture are: meat such as sausage, bacon or chouriço (Portuguese sausage), chili pepper, lemon juice, bell peppers, celery, onion, garlic, spices and herbs. There are many different recipes for stuffed clams; many restaurants in New England have their own variety, as do many home cooks." - Wikipedia "Stuffies - $2.50" The sign caught my eye. I asked myself, "Self, what the heck are stuffies?!" I walked up to the cashier and asked her. She said it's a stuffed clam. Ahhh... In all the years I have been up to New England I never heard of "stuffies" before. Perhaps it could be in part to the fact that I usually frequent seafood restaurants vice watering holes when I am here... As I perused the menu I also saw a pastrami sandwich so I decided to eat here. I ordered the following: -Stuffies -Pastrami Sandwich Stuffies. (1.5 stars). Somehow I imagined this stuffed clam to have some texture & seasoning but not an overkill of salt & onions??!! The stuffing was extremely mushy & unpleasant to eat. I took one bite & didn't finish the rest of it. There were a few minuscule pieces of clam meat chopped up in the stuffing mixture but it was tough to even discern any real clam flavor. I'm sure the locals probably go crazy over GT's stuffies but I just am not a fan... Pastrami (Reuben) Sandwich. (2.5 stars). GT's pastrami sandwich is different from most places I have eaten at because they cook their pastrami slices on a flat top grill. The pastrami had a nice seasoning but some of the sides were a little too burnt for my liking. Instead of the usual 1000 island (yuck) I requested spicy brown mustard & while it was a bit messy to eat, definitely hit the spot on a cold day. The sauerkraut was nice & crunchy which I appreciated. The "rye" bread was quite soft & fell apart before I could take a bite into the sandwich. The rye bread tasted like sourdough bread... --- All in all, GT is a quaint little water hole that is located right across the street from EB (Electric Boat). In its heyday, GT & Elfie's used to be THE places to go for EB employees during lunch. Most of the other establishments in this area (including Elfie's) is now closed due to the fact that EB now has a "cafeteria" on their premise. The owner/bartender is extremely friendly & social which made me feel at ease. Parking is wherever u find it. Street parking is about 1 block away in the residential area. But the good thing is, if u find a stall, it's free!

    Family owned forever. This place is a throwback. Like time standing still. Old timey and dumpy. Try…read moreit you will like it.

    The Shack - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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