The Shack Restaurant in East Lyme, CT Serves Up a Delicious Breakfast

It's a good sign when you see a line of customers waiting for a table to enjoy their Sunday breakfast at 9:00.

Being a person who knows that some restaurants ruin a breakfast with soupy scrambled eggs, stale pancakes, spicy sausages, and bacon not properly cooked, I take great appreciation for restaurants who serve a delicious meal to start the day.

In southeastern Connecticut, such a meal can be experienced at The Shack Restaurant in East Lyme located at 324 Flanders Road (Route 161) right off Interstate 95 exit 74.

I went with my girlfriend and we enjoyed a delicious breakfast in a busy restaurant but one where there was plenty of room between the tables, the customer service was outstanding, and the food was really good.

I enjoyed a mushroom and Cheddar cheese omelet with fresh mushrooms that came with delicious home fries, a tasty English muffin and a bottomless cup of coffee for only $7.48 plus tax.

The menu stated that other items that can be put on an omelet included ham, sausage, Canadian bacon, spinach, tomatoes, and bacon as well as cheese that included American, Swiss, or Mozzarella.

My girlfriend ordered the "My Two" which consisted of two buttermilk pancakes with whipped butter and syrup, two scrambled eggs, and home fries.
While she found the home fries to be a little spicy, she loved the pancakes, eggs, and pink lemonade.

I tasted a little bit of her lemonade and agreed it was tasty especially on a day that already was 72 degrees and was projected to be a balmy 95 degrees.

Other breakfast choices on the menu consisted of French toast, eggs Benedict, fresh Belgian waffles, old fashioned girdle cakes, breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, and fresh fruit cups.

Breakfast side orders that can be added to any order include bacon, grilled ham, home fries, English muffins, bagels, grilled hard rolls, baked muffins, corn bread, Canadian style bacon, corned beef hash, sausage patties, "homey fries" (home fries topped with Cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, sour cream, and scallions), and "Dixie fries" (home fries topped with Cheddar cheese and covered in sausage gravy).

In terms of toasts, customers can order raisin toast, white toast, Texas toast, as well as whole wheat, rye, pumpernickel, and swirl toast with cream cheese or peanut butter added for only 79 cents.

The clean and bright restaurant consists of stool seating at a spacious counter, booth seating, and table and chairs seating.

A chalkboard near the end of the counter at the middle of the restaurant lists the specials.

The clientele ranged from elderly senior citizens, families with young and old children, and both young and old couples.

While some in the restaurant conversed amongst themselves and others read the newspaper, most intently enjoyed the taste of their breakfasts while waitresses ensured that everyone's cup of coffee was truly bottomless and that people were satisfied with their orders.

The walls feature license plates, framed newspaper articles, and pictures while placemats show a map of southeastern Connecticut and the various tourist attractions that give the area plenty of flavor which range from museums, casinos, beaches, state parks, historic sites, and shopping.

As we ate, the restaurant stayed busy and when we left a line of about 10 customers was still waiting to enjoy some great food.

The restaurant's location near Flanders Four Corners, in the former Brooks Pharmacy, is close to the original "The Shack" located further down Flanders Road near the Interstate 95 southbound on-ramp.

That small restaurant opened in a small brown building in 1989 by Russell Han.

Its popularity led to long lines outside and customers ate in cramped conditions where roof leaks became the norm and potholes plagued a parking lot large enough that it accommodated tractor trailers.

Truckers made for a good portion of the breakfast business at that time since the closest truck stops to here are located in Stonington and Madison.

A move was necessary after rumors of developing the adjacent parcel near The Shack loomed and the Han family felt it was better to move before being forced out of their land-leased location.

They moved into the former Brooks Pharmacy in July 2007 which was vacated by the chain after it was bought up by Rite Aid which build a brand-new store with drive-thru pharmacy next door.

The shopping center, still called the "Brooks Plaza" does not have a parking lot that can accommodate large vehicles.

Russell Han works at the restaurant's new location alongside his daughter Michele Han and her husband Jim Morgan.

Breakfast is served every Sunday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is served all day Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In addition, the restaurant serves lunch and dinner Mondays through Saturdays.

The lunch and dinner menu consists of burgers, meatloaf, chicken, turkey, clam strips, hot dogs, melts, club sandwiches, wraps, sandwiches, salads, and soups.

Additionally, the restaurant has another location in Waterford called the "J.R.'s Shack", run by Russell's son Jeremy Han, located at 131 Boston Post Road in the Wynding Hill Plaza across from Super Stop and Shop.

It is located at the corner of Boston Post Road/Route 1 and Clark Lane.

That restaurant first opened in the former Newport Creamery in 2002.

They serves breakfast on Sundays from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Monday through Saturday, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Both restaurants are within easy driving distance to Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, Ocean Beach Park in New London, Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Southeastern Connecticut Children's Museum in Niantic, and Mystic Country.

The Shack Restaurant can be contacted at 860-739-8898 while J.R.'s Shack can be reached at 860-442-6660.