Kitchen Little - Mystic, CT

Posted By Michael Stern on September 2, 2010 6:31 PM

"Kitchen Little" isn't just a cute name. This place on the road to historic Mystic Seaport really is miniscule: 400 square feet, including the kitchen, with tiny tables packed so close together you need to keep an eye on your plate to make sure a neighbor doesn't accidentally fork up a piece of your corned beef hash.

Because this little eating hut has exactly twenty-three indoor seats, including a handful at a counter with a view of a mail-slot-sized window to the kitchen (plus an array of picnic tables on a deck out back), you might wait a while on a weekend morning; but if the weather is pleasant, the delay can be delightful. There are a couple of wood slat benches out front under a tall pole topped with a U.S. flag, and the steel-blue water lapping up against the grassy shore just beyond the café is hypnotic.

AM Eggstasy is the house motto; and the omelets are stupendous, as is a dish known as the S'medley, which is scrambled eggs combined with melted cheese, fried potatoes, sausage, mushrooms, and onions. The S'medley was named to honor Susan Davis, the woman who originally transformed the little building that had once been a private home, then a rug shop, then a greasy spoon, into Kitchen Little back in the late 1970s.

Another highlight from the breakfast menu is The Portuguese Fisherman, which is scrambled eggs, sausage, peppers, onions, and jalapeno cheese with a Portuguese English muffin. If you're watching your cholesterol, you can have an omelet made with just one yolk and three whites, filled with spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and carrots, with health nut toast on the side.

Lunch is not to be slighted. There are fine, big hamburgers, world-class fried clams, and superb Southern New England Style clam chowder. It is the clear-broth variety, steel-gray and briny, loaded with tender nuggets of clam -- a great winter-warm-up meal.

Overall Rating

Omelet

Hot Lobster Roll

California Benedict

Herbed eggs

S'medley

pancakes

Corned beef hash

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Posted By Josephine on September 18, 2011 5:05 PM

When heading for vacation on Cape Cod, we time our departure on a summer Saturday from New Jersey so that we can enjoy breakfast at Kitchen Little before the hordes arrive.

My favorite thing to eat here is the Portugese Fisherman, with enough spicy sausage and spices to wake me up even before I've had a cup of coffee! Sitting outside overlooking the Mystic River is a summer highlight. However, I would really like to make a trip in mid-winter and sit among the locals as they use their coffee cups which hang over the counter. (I'm sure they scatter when we tourist types invade their territory for a few months. I appreciate their patience!)

I do have a caveat, however. After reading some of the reviews, I agree 100% about the lunchtime lobster roll. I think the price is prohibitive for the size and taste of the roll. I was very disappointed. Also, as another reviewer stated, the scallop roll is stellar. My husband was absolutely loving his scallops (and crowing over the lower cost), and I was feeling like I just lost the lottery. However, this will never, ever cause my family to drop Kitchen Little from our itinerary... at any season!

Overall Rating

Omelet

Hot Lobster Roll

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Posted By Kate on August 3, 2011 2:57 PM

Outstanding! Best lunch I've ever had. Had sauté scallop sandwich with roasted red peppers, sauté baby spinach and a garlic sauce for 9.95! There were 6 large meaty scallops cooked tender to perfection. Seasoning was just right. It came with crispy golden fries - just enough for lunch. Wait staff was friendly...but not chatty, they are hustling to keep everything moving. It is a tiny place with a picturesque location. We ate outside at picnic tables by the water- beautiful weather, with a breeze on an August afternoon. This is not to be missed on a trip to Mystic!

Overall Rating

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Posted By Patti Menow on June 26, 2011 8:26 PM

My husband said his omelet was the best he ever had!

Overall Rating

Omelet

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Posted By Elaine Kalweit on December 12, 2007 2:04 PM

My husband and I went to Kitchen Little for the $12 hot lobster roll that was listed on Roadfood.com. We didn't care that it was a small place to eat with no frills. We walked in, sat down, and ordered the hot lobster roll, which we were dying for. We never looked at a menu, we knew what we wanted. My husband asked for onion rings, they didn't serve them, only fries. We said fine. Service was quick and the lobster was served on a toasted split hotdog roll. There was a fair amount lobster, a combination of tail and claw meat, flavored with a small amount of garlic and melted butter. It was a good lobster roll.

We each received about five french fries each and the fries were good, crisp and golden, but a little greasy. However, the problem wasn't the lobster roll, it was the price. The lobster rolls were $19.99 each. To top it off, I didn't get a fork. We won't go back. Disappointing!

Overall Rating

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