The Shack is a SE CT shoreline institution. The original located in East Lyme and one each in Waterford 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. read more

Took the family to a late lunch/early dinner at The Shack, a classic old-timey diner if you ever did 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! read more

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One of my favorite spots while I lived in Waterford. Particulary on a Sunday morning. Orders were always right. Food was good and hot. Favorite were the pancakes. Seating was never a problem, unless you got there late. So, a big shout out to to wait staff and good luck to one and all. read more

Stopped in for a Saturday breakfast. Had a short wait to be seated as it was crowded. But expected for a Saturday morning around 0930am. Was seated in an end booth but had to wait a little extra time before someone asked about our drinks. A little after our server showed to take our order. I have always read the specials after we ordered. But today as we waited I was able to read all the specials. Saw that the French Toast sampler seemed like a good deal, compared to the 2 x 2 x 2 French Toast meal on the menu. The special gave you home fries, ham, bacon, and sausage in addition to the 2 eggs and French Toast. All for the same price as on the menu. Definitely made the right choice and certainly will pay more attention to the Specials board. Food was excellent as always, came quickly too. read more

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Number one place in Connecticut for breakfast for sure. The omelettes are amazing and fluffy the corned beef hash the best and leave room for those buttermilk pancakes. read more

My husband ordered the mess! It was huge, all the plates come loaded with food. The service staff are friendly and very attentive. Great breakfast and no waiting, the ambiance is country home cooking vibes! See you next time for another breakfast read more

Amazing food, amazing atmosphere. Highly recommended. Love the specials here...........................

Great little spot. They have three locations that are open all day, they serve breakfast and lunch foods as well. Their prices are a little higher than average for breakfast items, but the flavor makes up for it. Even on a busy day the service was great. read more

The Shack - Eggs Benedict with Corned Beef Hash instead of Canadian Bacon. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Waterford, Connecticut

You will definitely get your money's worth at The Shack. We arrived on a busy Saturday morning. There was one family ahead of us, but our wait was only five minutes. There were so many options on the menu that I almost didn't want to read the specials board. It was hard making the decision but in the end The Mess won and so did I! My plate arrived piled high with potatoes, veggies, sausage, eggs, cheese & bacon. Instead of toast i received a side of not one, but two pieces of delicious cornbread. I had so much food leftover that I was able to make two more meals. My son ordered the corned beef hash and toast. I was surprised to find that they didn't make their own hash. This dish was hardly seasoned and not well done as requested. That being said, it didn't slow him down from eating almost the entire meal. My mother-in-law ordered the Popeye Scramble, a plate scrambled egg, spinach, mushrooms & Swiss cheese with a side of home fries and toast. She was impressed with the meal and portion size. My husband ordered eggs, toast, bacon and home fries. His home fries looked different from the ones in my Mess. They were not seasoned enough for him, even after adding salt & pepper, he wasn't impressed. Three out of the four of us would return. read more

The Shack - The Mess, hot coffee and cornbread. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Waterford, Connecticut

I ordered food online before I arrived. Upon arrival I was greeted by a young tall Caucasian boy. He literally attacked me verbally. Let me backtrack: My mom resides in Waterford within walking distance of the restaurant. I reside in NYC and I travel often. When I return from my frequent trips I always check on mother. I returned from Iceland and extremely fatigued, I used my mother's Scooter to run a few local errands and pick us up breakfast. I am university educated with several doctorates one being a Physician, therefore I have common sense. Now to the core of the matter , there were no parking spaces available therefore I parked the scooter in front of the handicapped pedestrian walk. It was going to take less than 60 seconds to retrieve my food. The issue at had it isn't the fact that the boy had with the scooter, it was how he approached me like a pure low class fool who seemed to be a barking dog. It is unfortunate because Mother and I have sat down for meals at this location other times and the help wasn't rude. I wonder if it was my mom on the scooter who is a disabled Veteran, would the boy attack her as well? Is this a bad case of customer service or is it a racial thing. I am aware of how the region feels towards people of Color. Moving forward I would no longer recommend this establishment for People of Color being the way I was spoken to. When leaving the boy runs out and says just don't do it again, like I am a retard or a child. As one who is the CEO of a Global Enterprise with employees on every continent, the behavior of the boy who I believe was the manager gives the restaurant a bad look. read more

In Waterford very close to New London. Awesome service, plenty of seating good coffee, we enjoyed the turkey dinner, grilled cheese and fries and the Shack burger. Excellent parking, convenient to multiple stores as it is located in a shopping plaza. read more

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The food was okay, well cooked but so under seasoned. It goes well with their antique "American Diner" experience. That being said, if you're a person of color or just not a white American, don't go here unless you're prepared to be sat by the bathroom. HIGHLY segregated, and you can feel that in the vibe of the restaurant. I will not be coming here again. read more

Why can't we have this in New York?!? I'm missing it already! We were gifted with the most amazing warm buttery cornbread, the best we've had. Then, we had the "kitchen sink" and french toast. I think the pictures say it all, top notch breakfast with excellent service and low prices. read more

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Best place for a huge breakfast. Buttermilk Pancakes are huge and always tasty, waffles are hot and crisp, the kitchen sink is a family favorite. Sometimes there can be a wait but tables move fast and service is always great. Sometimes you can grab counter seats which are also comfortable. read more

I just moved to the area and have been looking for a place with top notch biscuits and gravy. So happy to have found it in The Shack. Really friendly and accommodating staff, excellent food, and cute comfy atmosphere. read more

Very nice restaurant and staff. Had both breakfast and lunch there at separate times. Their food is good she they give a lot of food. The restaurant is a bit crowded though, but the wait isn't bad. read more

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Good place to eat. Especially for breakfast. Large portions and decently priced but I personally thought the food was lacking some flavor. However, I would recommend. read more

The Shack - The Shanty w/ a cup of grits. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Waterford, Connecticut

The food is Diner good! The service is quick and polite. I especially like the fact that they don't rush the elderly. The decoration is cute and seasonal. I do recommend the Shack . read more

Came here for breakfast with some friends. Okay food, but i'm not a fan of diner food overall. The omelette was yummy, potatoes were average. We also got a plate of mozzarella sticks with onion rings and they were yummy. read more

The Shack - mushroom omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Waterford, Connecticut

This place is great! The owners are wonderful and our server, Molly, was excellent and attentive! The portions are huge (see photos), so come hungry and/or get excited for leftovers. The food is delicious and there is a lot to choose from, I'm excited to go back and try more! I'm picky about my corned beef hash and theirs is just the way I like it, some of the best I've had. Their covid precautions are perfect and we felt safe and cared for. Thanks Jim, Nick, Molly and the rest of the crew for a great Saturday meal! read more

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Food was amazing and service was even better!! Portions are HUGE!! I had the fried Atlantic cod and it was sooo good! Our son got a chocolate milkshake and he slurped it down! Absolutely 110% recommend!! read more

They have THE BEST SWEET POTATO FRIES ever. ever. Also, amazing grilled cornbread (tasted more like cake which i'm not complaining about) Very friendly and accommodating staff. The only problem was I got the egg scramble and it was very watery, they also used canned mushrooms which is not the best, but other than that they have large portions and reasonably priced dishes. Definitely a go-to breakfast spot! read more

AMAZING experience! Would give ten stars if I could. The service was awesome, the coffee was always fresh & tasty! The food was the most delicious breakfast I've ever had (the kitchen sink + homey fries) would absolutely come back here any time that I am in that area! read more

The Shack - The kitchen sink - A close-up of a breakfast dish featuring biscuits covered in white gravy, with scrambled eggs and crispy bacon strips on top. The dish is served in a white bowl, with a background showing a person using a smartphone and other breakfast items on the table, including a black mug and a glass container. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Waterford, Connecticut

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First time customer. Made an order for take-out. "Soup, salad, and half-sandwich" did not include the soup. The taco salad did not include the sour cream and salsa that were supposed to be included. The chicken fingers were overcooked and dry. It is so important for restaurants to check take-out orders for completeness. Food was ok but not great overall. We won't be back. read more

This is my go to spot for a quick Saturday breakfast. Old-school diner experience ( including lots of counter seats) with great staff and continuous coffee refills! I recommend going early on the weekend as this is a popular spot! Great for families! read more

It is good restaurant. Breakfast excellent. A lot good food. Enough Coffee and Tea. Service excellent and food delicious

One of our go to places when we are in the mood for good comfort food. We especially enjoy breakfast and the variety. You could classify my wife and I to be regulars. The specials menu for meals changes every day. The staff is cordial and responsive. We love The Shack. read more

A decent breakfast option when heading to the beach or area shopping. We decided to check this place out at the suggestion of camp family but found out afterwards the Old Lyme location was the one they spoke of. The one stand out as a signature win was the grilled cornbread. That, my friends, was amazingly delicious!! The Mess, my biscuits and gravy and the Belgium waffle (taken to go) were pretty basic. While it's nice to have options we will stick with Herman's for home made sausage and Family Pizza for award winning corned beef hash when in the general area. read more

The Shack - About halfway through The Mess... finished with ease by this guy. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Waterford, Connecticut

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I made the mistake of bringing my non American friend here while they were visiting from Pakistan. She was in her traditional attire and it was very obvious from the rude glances, rude remarks, and the dismissive behavior that she was not welcomed in the restaurant. When the waitress came she threw the menus at us. As a white female coming to this restaurant for years as this was is one of my favorite breakfast places I never thought this would be an issue. I was beyond embarrassed and I have never witnessed anything like this in real life. Such disgusting behavior and bias towards someone that is a tourist to our town and country. We got up and left before even ordering.. I am still in absolute shock.... What a disgusting business and I will not be returning ever again... they need to be more careful who they are hiring to wait on people.. it should not matter what they look like or how they are dressed if they are paying customers.. terrible business practice read more

Visiting town and our host highly recommended The Shack. Great place! Good prices. Yum

Great selection. Overwhelming portion sizes for the price (specifically the turkey dinner). Staff is always perky and inviting. Shout-out to Kelly for being amazing!! read more

Great inexpensive breakfast spot. The coffee is delicious and the service is great. Homey fries and corned beef hash are my go-to's. read more

Wow, this was so good. Firstly, immaculately clean which was welcomed during these pandemic times. Then, greeted by one of the sweetest and nicest servers. The food was so excellent. I meant to take pictures but took one bite instead and devoured it before I realized there were no pictures. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy: comforting comfort deliciousness. Mom had a vegetable and macaroni soup. She loved it. My uncle had excellent linguini with meatballs. Portions were huge. Can't say enough: we'll be back! read more

The food is always consistently good. The cornbread is amazing. Home made food served with a smile. The specials are always great! Fish and chips, Mac and cheese, and pot roast are our dinner go to choices, you won't leave hungry! Breakfast all day, with creative specials! Portions are generous and the staff is always friendly and accommodating! Take out is fast and easy! Definitely a Top 3 of local places to go! read more

Omg this place is hands down best breakfast and you can feed two on one plate. . This place reminds me of a cracker barrel atmosphere but the food is so much better like grandma's cooking. People are family friendly So everyone should come by eat and enjoy. Wish they had this in TN. But I guess that's why it's so good. It's not a chain restaurant read more

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Where do I start with this place...from the drive up in I thought I was in the south for a second, the smell of crispy bacon on the walk up was everything. The food here is enormous so don't bother with a donut before your meal. The prices are super cheap but the quality of food is 5star service at a two star price. read more

The Shack - Delicious omelette. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Waterford, Connecticut

I feel like I totally just got ripped off by The Shack in Waterford. No seasoning or flavor in my omelette and got charged extra for cheese in my omelette. Not really understanding cuz I'd assume cheese is the whole part of an omelette like it's an automatic staple of an omelette so like it should be already included, I don't know. All I do know is I got charged $16.99 for trash and I'm not impressed. Probably will never go there again. read more

This is one of my absolute favorite breakfast spots. (We rotate restaurants for breakfast on the weekends.) My dear husband particularly loves their Neptune Benny, Eggs Benefict with lobster, and I've pretty much settled into the Texas French Toast with fresh fruit. Everything is yummy! Staff is super nice, and since Covid-19 reopening, I feel very safe there, everyone is masked, area is disinfected after each customer, and tables are all distanced. Shout out for their delicious clam chowder for lunch as well! read more

This review applies to carry-out orders only. I have been a dine-in customer at both locations in CT, and have enjoyed the food and service. We also order for carry-out often and though the staff have been very pleasant, there are always problems with our order; the orders are often wrong, and/or missing something. Relocating from NYC, we enjoy supporting smaller, local restaurants. We ordered breakfast (egg) sandwiches today, one with cheese, one with bacon.. not a tricky order. Given our history with take-outs, I asked Nick if I could repeat the order. He promptly said no, he got it. Once home, a town away, we realize the order was wrong; both of the sandwiches were wrong. I called back, and yes, I was frustrated, as this could have been avoided had I been granted the 10 seconds to repeat the order. I was disinvited to continue to be a customer. I was also admonished for the way I speak. I hadn't raised my voice, no bad/poor language, but definitely a tone of frustration, which seemed appropriate under the circumstances. We do not live in the immediate area and could not make the trip back in to pick up a new order just then. He suggested there is always a problem, and I asked why that was? Again, no raised voice, nor poor language, just trying to understand why this happens so often, and waiting for some level of accountability. Instead, from Nick's view, the problem is on my side....that The Shack cannot meet our expectations. Again, we're talking egg sandwiches. I am super disappointed by the way this was handled, and per Nick, there is no need to return as a customer. read more

Good inexpensive breakfast place! With a busy restaurant the service was fast and our waitress was great! We got 2 bacon egg and cheese sandwiches on english muffins and a side order of cheesy hashbrowns with bacon and chives. Everything was delicious, they load the sandwiches up with bacon, overall, good local place! read more

The Shack - bacon egg & cheese & hashbrowns with cheese bacon and chives - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Waterford, Connecticut