Friends - Waterford

What a delight...brunch was perfection! Able to sit outside and enjoy a leisure breakfast, made to order, fast and fresh. Smore creape, BLT creape, white fish platter was AMAZING. Latte, cold brew coffee, berry smoothie. Everything was wonderful. Staff was the best...service at its finest. Can’t wait to go back.

I've been dining at NV for years, and I usually love it. However, today I noticed that four employees—who were involved in food preparation, serving, and taking orders—were wearing their masks inappropriately, covering only their mouths while leaving their noses completely exposed. Given the current global pandemic and the fact that New London and nearby areas are in the red zone for COVID, this behavior is completely unacceptable. I was there with my 81-year-old grandmother, and it was quite concerning. Disgraceful.

It was heartwarming to observe the lead staff at the counter instilling confidence in a crew member who was taking a phone order. She handed over the phone with a casual, “You’ve got this” attitude. While I waited for my meal, I had a chance to see how the operations ran. Drinks, both hot and cold, were served promptly, often before customers expected them—which added to the experience. I also noted the variety of patrons this Saturday morning: families with high chairs, college students, and to-go customers in hard hats and bright green vests. My food arrived quickly, and it was clear I would need a to-go container. The elusive Orange-Cranberry Muffin that had tempted me from the display case, along with half of my burrito, made their way into the container. However, the shared berry crepe was more than enough to fill me up, especially alongside the fresh fruit and lettuce on my plate. A nice touch was the refreshing cucumber-infused water that accompanied the meal. The staff did an excellent job managing customer flow, ensuring that tables were promptly cleaned between service, which prevented any backlogs for those dining in. Normally, I believe there is always room for improvement, but today, everything seemed to operate smoothly and consistently. It was evident that the staff enjoyed making and serving the food just as much as my wife and I enjoyed eating it. I also want to give bonus points to the staff at the smoothie station for their prompt and professional response to a customer’s request regarding an iced coffee drink. I observed this interaction while I was getting another to-go container for half of my wife’s prosciutto fig sandwich. Overall, this was a delightful introduction to the eatery, and I will definitely return to explore more of the menu!

Every visit is a delight! I've been staying in the area for a short time, and I'm so glad I discovered this hidden gem! I've ordered takeout multiple times, and my favorite dish is the pear and prosciutto grilled cheese—it's absolutely fantastic! Each grilled cheese comes with a small serving of tomato bisque soup, which is surprisingly delicious, especially since I'm not usually a fan of tomatoes. I've also tried the fig and honey grilled cheese and the Greek version, both of which were outstanding! The Granny grilled cheese was just okay for me; I just wish the spinach had been cooked because it didn't quite hit the mark. The crepes are also amazing! I absolutely love the bagel with lox, cream cheese, and capers. There are so many great options on this menu!