Conn students are perhaps most familiar with Hodges Square as a one stop-shop for booze, be it at “Hodges,” or for the younger crowd, “Universal.” (Boy, free Bud Light posters featuring scantily clad cowgirls and the occasional gift of a Four Loko sure do make it worth the trip!) But for the first three years of my Camel career, my close friends and I enjoyed the honor of dining at the Portuguese Fisherman, quietly located on the corner of the infamous square. This detailed review of the area’s best-known Sunday brunch spots is in honor of the Fisherman, a modest restaurant that formerly provided the complete brunch experience for Camels and cadets alike. Sadly, as many of us true fans learned at the beginning of the school year, the Portuguese Fisherman is closed. No more shall anyone partake in the “captain” or “mate” specials, no longer will one be able to get a sausage, egg and cheese placed on a unique, perfectly toasted bun after a night of general Connecticut College debauchery. Below, please enjoy a reviewed list of restaurants that provide equally memorable Sunday brunch experiences.
Norm’s Diner | 171 Bridge Street, Groton
Norms has the best “look” of any breakfast spot included on this list. The restaurant is a classic silver bullet shaped dining car plopped on the side of the road in Groton. Inside, there’s a typical diner countertop that lets you enjoy the movements of the cooks — many great stories to be shared by the guy behind the counter! The seating includes a number of four-person booths, not to mention a classic jukebox. Norm’s will serve you a great plate of eggs and hash browns, in addition to a very solid lineup of sandwiches and burgers. Perhaps its biggest perk is Norm’s late night option: the car stays open 24/7. Always have a designated driver!
Make sure to order: Bacon cheeseburger (preferably late at night)
The Shack Restaurant | 441 Long Hill Road, Groton
If you watch enough T.V., you probably have seen commercials for The Shack! which actually has three separate locations. The Shack in Groton has a lot of floor space and is always packed on Sundays, so it may fall short of the intimate appeal offered by other breakfast joints. However, the Shack never fails to provide a friendly atmosphere for Sunday brunch. There are large booths for big groups of family and friends, as well as countertop seating. The Shack offers a great number of fresh breakfast specials, as well as heaping servings of various egg scrambles. Choose the Shack for parties exceeding four.
Make sure to order: The Mess
DJ’s Campus Kitchen | 422 Williams Street, New London
DJ’s gets my gold star. After the closing of the Portuguese Fisherman, DJ’s — located across the street from Hodges Square — filled the empty space in my heart almost immediately with its healthy portions and homey atmosphere, not to mention its extreme proximity to campus. The restaurant is covered with sports memorabilia from local colleges and high schools; cadets and Camels alike sit side by side every weekend to dig into huge fluffy pancakes or scarf down massive plates of eggs, potatoes and meat. Fun fact: in the six years the staff members have worked there, they’ve seen only one man with the stomach to take down their order of full stack pancakes. The current chair of Honor Council courageously consumed four humongous blueberry pancakes in a little under two hours. I implore you to make a Sunday morning trip to DJ’s before you leave for the year. (Keep in mind, DJ’s closes at midnight; the early bird gets the worm!)
Make sure to order: Pancakes
The Yolk Cafe | 825 Montauk Ave, New London
The Yolk is another famed spot. Located near Mitchell College, The Yolk boasts what is arguably the best menu on this list. Sundays at The Yolk can be enjoyed with a simple plate of eggs, toast, hash browns and bacon, but the restaurant always features a bevy of interesting, tasty specials. The staff is very fun, always happy to joke around — throwing marshmallows and shooting water guns are a few of their typical antics. Be sure to travel with no more than four people to The Yolk, as the seating is cramped beyond this number. This intimacy provides for the perfect Sunday brunch date, and we all know from experience how great the dating scene is at Conn.
Make sure to order: Spinach and goat cheese omelet
Muddy Waters | 42 Bank Street, New London
I’ll be honest; I have never been to Muddy Waters. Those who have — and there are many big fans on this campus — speak of their small, tasty breakfast plates, in addition to a number of high quality lunch options. The restaurant has the perfect boutique brunch ambiance, with cute furnishings in and out of the building and a great location on Bank Street. Of the restaurants listed, you’ll find the highest prices at Muddy Waters; however, the experience is always worth the price.
Make sure to order: bagel w/ lox, tomato soup
When Pigs Fly | 97 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford
The name When Pigs Fly grazed my Sunday brunch radar early this semester. However, I have yet to make a trip to this restaurant, which to my knowledge has very little buzz on campus. That being said, their website shows a restaurant that looks about as impressive and beloved as a neighborhood food joint can be. Example specials include BBQ chicken omelet and strawberry cheesecake pancakes. Their regular menu features a number of appetizing egg sandwiches such as the Mazoo: egg, spinach, roasted red pepper and Swiss on toasted ciabatta.
Make sure to order: Your guess is as good as mine, but this looks like the real deal, people, so make sure to give it thoughtful consideration.
Bonus food plug: Few Conn students are aware that there is a classic, red barn Dairy Queen in Groton, about a half-mile down the road from Starbucks. What better way to celebrate spring than with a Blizzard made the way you like?
These are some great places, though the absence of Mystic’s phenomenal and award-winning Kitchen Little is unfortunate