My husband has been getting me breakfast from Gruel Britannia for Mother's Day the past 3 years. This year when he went to pick up his order, they couldn't find it. Instead of sending him away, they pulled the order together quickly and gave us some extras. Love, love, love it here!

Although I've driven by it a million times, this evening was the first occasion for dinner there. Pity that I waited so long. The Sunday prime rib dinner evokes a Sunday roast at one of the best pubs in London. Meat, potato, vegetables all perfectly prepared -- and a freshly-baked popover! Charming ambience. A very special find.

This is a great place for a light meal or snack. One of the only good side effects of the pandemic might be to drive businesses to offer alfresco options and Gruel Britannia is making good use of their ample outdoor space. We enjoyed having coffee and sharing a piece of cake in the cool fall weather outside.

Amazing!!! My new favorite spot in CT ❤️ Amazing food, amazing staff, amazing everything!

Just happened to be looking for a coffee shop in an area we weren't familiar with and bumbled into this amazing little treasure! Wonderful friendly service and absolutely Gourmet delicious food. I had the egg with caramelized onions and cheddar on some kind of brioche that was amazeballs. My husband had the smoked salmon avocado toast and was also satisfied. the coffee was fantastic too. We highly recommend.

Fun atmosphere with lots of UK knick knacks, flowers and teapots. The staff was nice. Small place so I would make reservation. Ready-made food available to pick up on your way home. Enjoyable experience. Inside and some outside seating.

We had a really lovely breakfast. We felt like we were on a European holiday. Can't wait to go back.

My parents and I had a phenomenal dinner here to celebrate my Dad's birthday. The staff was all extremely kind (including the owner), and the food was great--fresh, flavorful, and you will certainly leave full. We'd return without thinking twice.

Charming and delicious! So happy to have a new cafe in town. We ordered the egg sandwich, salmon toast and delicious strawberry shortcake biscuit item. All were superb! I’m quite picky about my lattes and was super glad to see they have oat milk as an alternative milk and the latte did not disappoint. Only feedback would be to switch out the handleless pottery cups (although so beautifully presented) with ones that have a handle as it was piping hot and I could not pick up the drink so had to switch to a mug. Can’t wait to go back!

This was a good place for fish and chips! So pleased to have found this very British option. We made a reservation and I'm glad we did, because the seating is very limited. Charming display of British teas ,crackers, Bistro, and additional items for sale. Appears to have a number of regulars, and all happy customers.

What a fantastic little spot - went today with family for a post baptism lunch and Karen took amazing care of our large group that filled up the cozy space. British food isn’t usually at the top of my list but everything here was absolutely delicious and the staff were so attentive and friendly. We had delicious mini quiche, crostini & shepards pies to start and an amazing choice of entrees - I went for the burger on brioche with fries which was SO good. They had lovely beer wine and prosecco and a plethora of chocolates and other British goods for sale. A hidden gem.

Highly, highly recommended! I was taken here for a breakfast on my birthday. The owner was so warm and hospitable. She greeted us at the door and offered us seating on their adorable outdoor patio. Service was excellent-prompt and gracious. Their coffee was some of the best I’ve ever had. The English breakfast was authentic and delicious! I had mentioned to the owner that I was celebrating my birthday. She surprised me with a slice of cake and the servers all sang Happy Birthday - it really made the whole experience extra special. On all measures - food, service, and atmosphere - top rate! Will definitely be dining there again.

A full 5 stars 🌟 for this great little restaurant, a real place of British traditions.

A coffee & tea shop with delicious food! I love coming here to get work done. Breakfast and Lunch are all very good and very reasonably priced. Highly recommend!!!

Outstanding British food. Not the largest selection to fill your pantry but that doesn’t bother me as the cooked food is where it’s at! Full English breakfast is lovely , fish and chips is awesome hand cut chips are delicious you will not get it better anywhere! The wife has had a few different sandwiches and she loves them all. Oh and freshly baked cakes are unbelievable. Can’t wait to have the roast beef dinner one Sunday!! All the staff I have encountered are amazing and very helpful.

Love their oat milk lattes and avocado toast! Wish they had more vegan options. But still love them!

Always fantastic. Excellent service & food. It’s like your across the pond.

We stopped along our way home from New York city and were surprised. The restaurant is meticulously decorated. The menu the same. The food was presented well and was really tasty. Also suggest no skipping the coffee and tea here. Will stop on our next trip.

Don't avoid cuz u think English food is bkand this place is amazing! The owner is so friendly and she's always there making sure you're enjoying yourself, I believe she does the baking and possibly cooking all woth love. Start with scones and clotted cream SO GOOD!

My family discovered this place and had to stop in for breakfast. Having lived in England for many years, this restaurant took us back. The scones were delicious, as was the rest of the spread. The place is filled to the brim with British character and charm. The space is tight, but well worth the visit.

Amazing food. Was so excited to find a place that was open Mondays because every other good place in this area is closed on Mondays (specifically Gaetano's and Mama Chow's). Bangers and mash are fire. Bacon butty is great too. You can also get frozen back bacon here! Highly recommend.

This restaurant quickly made its way to the top of our list in the area. No matter what you order, it’s delicious. They have adjusted to outdoor seating beautifully, with a very cute outdoor back patio and picnic tables throughout the property. Fun to explore British food as well. Lovely for a date or with friends. Definitely worth the trip!

Was their today with my son and surprisingly for the the way it's set up, having let say strangers sitting at the same table it was enjoyable. The food was good and the service outstanding. As a Dutchman in a British Eatery being told Bon Appétit LOVE IT. Love all the candy choices too. Will be back for sure. MH

All around such a delicious and lovely spot. The food is comforting and it reminds me of being back in London

Went to Gruel Britannia this past weekend in Fairfield, CT and had an awesome experience. This recently opened unique and cozy restaurant offers British inspired dishes for breakfast, lunch and beyond as well as exceptional specialty/coffee drinks featuring ilse coffee. Highlights from my time there included the friendly and knowledgeable staff, great service, and of course the delicious matcha latte, refreshing tumeric latte, and freshly roasted Ethiopia beans from isle coffee. Would highly recommend!

Lovely place, Friendly staff. Loved it. Latte was really good. Liked the peach cake.

Never had a full English breakfast and always wanted to try it. The food was excellent and the atmosphere is really welcoming. Also for Canadians out there they have Smarties and other Canadian chocolates!

Brilliant place to meet a friend or any Brit - get a pic with Queen Elizabeth or King Charles - we had enjoyed the GB Burger and a Blueberry Scone with Clotted Cream and Strawberry jam ...and don't forget the drinks/adult beverages. Great service and great food

I love this place! I've been three times now and every time the food is great and the service is good too. Adorable, eclectic interior and exterior both look beautiful with flowers for the summer. They have a large menu of breakfast, lunch, specialties and a lovely tea menu - they even serve alcohol. The food that comes out is especially tasty as well as thoughtfully prepared and presented. The loaded scone was to die for and so is the Coronation chicken salad. I can not wait to go back and try some new items. Cherrio!

We have been going here years. Never had bad food or service. Every ingredient is high quality, fresh. There is no other place serves breakfast like this. With fresh salads and brewed espresso! It’s very kid friendly!I would recommend ordering loaded scones.

Great food, cozy and cheerful atmosphere, and the staff was really great about helping me maneuver a wheelchair into the space during a busy weekend lunch hour service. I ordered salmon over little rice cakes, surrounded by greens dressed with a really nice vinaigrette. It was pretty to look at and tasted great! My companion was very pleased with their chicken sandwich as well. We both had a really nice time and would love to come back!

WOW!!! I am so happy that my husband and I ate here. First off, the staff were very attentive and accommodating. We had such a great experience with their service! For beverage, I had the turmeric tea and my husband had cortado. The barista was on point, even with the art. Next, the food, it was phenomenal! We ate every last bite! I had the Kale, Beet & Sweet Potato Sauté, it’s so healthy but oh so good! It’s sautéed at the right temperature that you can still have the crunch of the veggies and fresh taste with the perfect seasoning. And my husband got the traditional Full English Breakfast with a side of the mash. WHAT???!!! That was hands down best English breakfast! The sausage was so mmmm good with the delectable beans and mushrooms and the eggs and the bacon! And with mash potatoes with the onion gravy, it was just the cherry on top. We were so full but we had to get some pastries to go. And the owner and chef, Karen was so delightful and oh so down to earth, it was a pleasure and honor to meet her! She recommended the loaded scone, flourless GF brownie and blueberry square pastries! Can’t wait to eat them later. We also found out that the coffee is her son’s business and we got a bag and he grounded it for us! Now, that’s good customer service! We also noted repeat customers that came in and that speaks a lot about the establishment. It was great to see how much they like the restaurant. Highly, highly recommend!!!

I got the fish and chips and a pint for lunch. The fish and chips were well cooked and tasty. It came with mushy peas that were a bit bland but I still give the plate 5 stars.

This was a great British Restaurant with many usual and unique options. Hot Tea was served in a beautiful pot with Ceramic mugs. We even brought soup and food home from the mini-store.

I have only been for breakfast, but both times were excellent food and great service from Joshua. Good gluten free options available. Thank u.

A taste of authentic English breakfast in CT. Who knew?!?! Seriously on par with any traditional pub in England. Gruel Britannia will be our family favorite for weekend brunch. Fantastic friendly service as well.

We come often for brunch on the weekends. Great coffee, high quality food and fun staff. We love the fanciful decor and scones, of course.

This place was delicious!! My first English breakfast and it was amazing. It’s pretty busy but our food came out fast.

This place was great - so fresh and so much nicer than a diner breakfast! Such a cute atmosphere

Everything about this place was perfect- we are a family of New Zealanders and not only was our BREAKFAST so so good … we were able to pick up all of our amazing treats we have been missing. Highly recommend Salmon toast, any of the breakfast sandwiches, and the full breakfast was amazing. The coffee was PERFECT- we need one of these in Orange County BADLY! Thank you for such an amazing experience!

Great spot. Very unique decor. I was so fired up after the meal, I wanted to see Man City on the pitch!

Fun little surprise gem in Fairfield. Fully decked out in UK garb, it’s a restaurant and store. The food is great. Classic Brit items on menu, plus more modern as well; sit down or takeout coffee

Charming place! Great espresso for Brits, Lol!! The menu looks good, a nice variety. I'll be back to try their food.

A neat place to grab lunch. Cozy, good food, good location, nice staff. There’s a wide selection of Cadbury products - cookies, chocolates, candy 🍭 in the shopping area within the dining room.

Went there for a wedding shower and had their English Tea. The mini sandwiches were amazing! Great atmosphere. Will definitely be back!

Love everything about this restaurant! Always a terrific breakfast, wonderful service and a great vibe. Today I made another visit and had the best sandwich ever! “Special Menu” Sauerbraten on Pretzel Bread Dip Sandwich with a side potato salad and greens. Absolutely delicious! I may have to go back tomorrow. Please put this as a regular on your menu.

Some of the best British food we’ve had outside the UK. Lovely waitress, lovely service, lovely place.

The Food was incredible, the meat loaf with bacon was mind blowing, the Newcastle Brown Ale was good, the hospitality was kind and comforting, and the atmosphere, smaller budget but effective, I took my grandpa to this restaurant, and me and him have a different perspective on British food then what we had before, I highly recommend this place if you into European Cuisine.

The food was absolutely delicious! The cafe is quaintly decorated & super cute inside and outside - very cozy and comfortable! The food has a great varied selection and was delicious. The kale & beet bowl was wonderful and the loaded scones are amazing! The full British breakfast was very good as well. Our service was excellent & timely.

Walked in for brunch on a Saturday. It’s a small building, there aren’t many tables available and it gets pretty packed. I’d suggest making a reservation. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait, we were seated right away. We ordered The English and The British platter as we wanted to try something ethnic. They were BOTH delicious! The waitress was kind. Service was quick also. We’re definitely coming back. The decor is really cute.

This place was so much fun! We ended up sharing everything family style and we were very happy with all of the meals; went for breakfast and ordered two specials (the English breakfast and quiche of the day) and then also got the kale and beet mix as well as the omelette. Really want to come back for lunch or dinner! The atmosphere is everything and it really is fun to shop the specialty items after eating. Certainly worth checking out!

I was so beyond EGGSITED to go to this place and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! The eggs were perfect!! The salad refreshing, bacon back cooked crispy and the popover the best!! Looking forward to coming here more often.

Quick Review: Taste: 4.6/5 Presentation: 4.8/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Positives + Proper back bacon, wonderful stuff! + Loved the vibe of the restaurant, made me feel like I was in a Yorkshire cafe + Friendly staff + Beanz meanz Heinz Negatives - No hash browns (devastating) - No black pudding (my day is ruined, and my disappointment is immeasurable) - Sausages taste more like German Frankfurters than English Sausages (they still taste great so not really a negative) Would I return? Yes Despite no black pudding and hash browns, this place was a lovely reminder of England (but it wasn't raining that morning so it felt a bit odd nonetheless), and the food was wonderful. I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the area as the food is delicious. Lovely stuff.

I loved this place. It is super quaint & cute, like you transported in London. The staff is sweet and the owner Karen is awesome. She sat down to talk to my husband and I. 100% will recommend. My chicken pie was delicious and I got my fix of Cadbury chocolate.

Carolyn King

Love everything about this restaurant! Always a terrific breakfast, wonderful service and a great vibe. Today I made another visit and had the best sandwich ever! “Special Menu” Sauerbraten on Pretzel Bread Dip Sandwich with a side potato salad and greens. Absolutely delicious! I may have to go back tomorrow. Please put this as a regular on your menu.

Katherine Brits

Some of the best British food we’ve had outside the UK. Lovely waitress, lovely service, lovely place.

FreeStar

The Food was incredible, the meat loaf with bacon was mind blowing, the Newcastle Brown Ale was good, the hospitality was kind and comforting, and the atmosphere, smaller budget but effective, I took my grandpa to this restaurant, and me and him have a different perspective on British food then what we had before, I highly recommend this place if you into European Cuisine.

Ashley Rosales

The food was absolutely delicious! The cafe is quaintly decorated & super cute inside and outside - very cozy and comfortable! The food has a great varied selection and was delicious. The kale & beet bowl was wonderful and the loaded scones are amazing! The full British breakfast was very good as well. Our service was excellent & timely.

Mariella Hill

Walked in for brunch on a Saturday. It’s a small building, there aren’t many tables available and it gets pretty packed. I’d suggest making a reservation. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait, we were seated right away. We ordered The English and The British platter as we wanted to try something ethnic. They were BOTH delicious! The waitress was kind. Service was quick also. We’re definitely coming back. The decor is really cute.

Josh Pollitz

This place was so much fun! We ended up sharing everything family style and we were very happy with all of the meals; went for breakfast and ordered two specials (the English breakfast and quiche of the day) and then also got the kale and beet mix as well as the omelette. Really want to come back for lunch or dinner! The atmosphere is everything and it really is fun to shop the specialty items after eating. Certainly worth checking out!

Ali Pepe

I was so beyond EGGSITED to go to this place and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! The eggs were perfect!! The salad refreshing, bacon back cooked crispy and the popover the best!! Looking forward to coming here more often.

Connor Debenham

Quick Review: Taste: 4.6/5 Presentation: 4.8/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Positives + Proper back bacon, wonderful stuff! + Loved the vibe of the restaurant, made me feel like I was in a Yorkshire cafe + Friendly staff + Beanz meanz Heinz Negatives - No hash browns (devastating) - No black pudding (my day is ruined, and my disappointment is immeasurable) - Sausages taste more like German Frankfurters than English Sausages (they still taste great so not really a negative) Would I return? Yes Despite no black pudding and hash browns, this place was a lovely reminder of England (but it wasn't raining that morning so it felt a bit odd nonetheless), and the food was wonderful. I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the area as the food is delicious. Lovely stuff.

Had a beautiful Valentine's Day dinner at Gruel Brittania this evening! Although we have eaten there several times before, tonight we were especially struck with what a gem of a place this is! The food was excellent (more about that in a minute); our server was relaxed and very friendly, but also quick and responsive; the ambience and decor were utterly charming (the dishes looked like ones your British grandmother would've set her table with); background music was well-chosen and played at an appropriate volume. Our server recommended the Peach Bellini mocktail which we both loved. I had a salad and the Proper Shepherd's Pie (made with lamb, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, and topped with steamed spinach, and served in a little round dish - each element had the perfect texture and appearance and was very satisfying to eat). My husband had the Scotch Egg as a starter (a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, then breaded and fried to perfection and served with HP Sauce - I don't usually like sausage items that much, but this was delicious, not greasy, and was made of good meat). Then he had a hamburger - he was delighted that it was actually medium-rare as he had requested. It came with french fries ("chips" - really more like what I would call steak fries) - he usually doesn't like any potatoes, but these he liked! He said it was the best hamburger he has had in years and was cooked to perfection! We bought some sausage rolls, pastries, and British sodas to take home. The owner was there - we complimented her and she said this restaurant is her baby. We could see the thoughtfulness and care that has gone into creating it. Altogether a very happy evening's meal!

J B (JB)

I have only been for breakfast, but both times were excellent food and great service from Joshua. Good gluten free options available. Thank u.

Lucy Santos

This is an adorable little homage to England. The food is absolutely delightful. We attended a special event, and they truly went above and beyond. There were excellent displays of tea tower fare, including tea sandwiches and petite desserts. A wonderful variety of teas was available. Additionally, there are numerous authentic items to take home with you. Plus, they had my favorite tea cookies. I might just have to return to Fairfield solely for this charming gem!

Full English breakfast delicious and authentic. Only thing missing was a teapot full of Earl Grey. That would have been 5th star. Know going in that it is counter service and you seat yourself after ordering, but the staff is very attentive and friendly.

Great place, great food, service was warm and welcoming!

Not your run of the mill cafe. All the food has an British twist. I was there for B'fast. Had a large b'fast sandwich which had sausage (bangers), sauteed onions and a special English sauce. Very good and filling. Eat inside or out. They'll bring your food when ready. Very polite staff.

Very unique offering, at least on this side of the Atlantic. True British spirt abounds in the food and the small goods for sale. There is a reason that this place is always crowded. Despite that, you are comfortable and cozy and the service is prompt and super friendly.

Thank you Johnny the Manger for your fantastic service!!! A solid 4 across the board, we had a wonderful afternoon and Johnny accommodated us for high tea despite not making the 24hr required reservation because his kitchen was not too busy. I was thankful brought my aunts from South Africa to have this experience. The High Tea towers were delicious and delightful no need to order anything else if you plan to pay for the high tea $36 per person it’s a bargain for the high tea experience. However I didn’t give them 5 stares for the following reasons, the groceries and freezer items are extremely overpriced, the tea pots and every cup and saucer was cracked and chipped, I understand being authentic and keeping classic tea sets but this is America and the Americans would care if you had locally sauced tea pots and tea cups just as long as everything looked cheap and clean and un chipped.

I love this English Cafe. The staff was so friendly and efficient. The food was very good. The tea party going on was charming. Order 2 days in advance and get tea, 2 trays of 3 tier trays of fresh made cakes and petit fours! Not a large place so call for reservations!

The service was amazing 👏. Crab cakes are delicious. I also had fish and chips - it was a little bland. There Scones, are awesome. Especially the fully loaded scone with jam and strawberries. My daughter had a burger she liked it. I've had their lunch sandwiches before and though they were good. This may be more of a lunc/brunch spot. Definitely going back for the scones.

Great, diverse menu. Got cappuccino and special toast of ricotta with grilled peaches and hot honey & pistachio with a side of salad. Good tasting cappuccino. Ricotta itself was delicious. Combination with salad seems a little strange to me though salad was fresh. Bread would be better toasted. I loved the British vibe of the cafe and all the things they carry ( although where I live Wegman has it too in international isle). Some to go food in refrigerator: salads, soups. Efficient service. Recommend and would come back.

So I will say that we absolutely love the food and the energy at this place however, I can’t give it five stars because I was mortified to find out that they keep the high chairs for babies and children in their bathroom. This should really be a major health violation in my opinion and I hope that they find a new place to keep them otherwise we won’t be coming back without major disinfectant wipes.

Cute little place. Nice staff! Good little brunch place, mimosas! Loaded scone was delightful.

This is an amazing little restaurant in Fairfield. Honestly I would have overlooked it if it wasn't for my friend who's half British. We love the atmosphere the service and the food. It's a very cozy little spot with traditional feel. Honestly it's like stepping into another world when you walk in there. I've had their lamb several times and it's delicious I am actually very impressed on how they cook the vegetables with such flavor. The fish and chips is delicious as well. I'm not a tea drinker but whenever I do go there I have their tea however this may be due to the fact that I prefer it over their coffee. This leads me to the only complaint I have about the restaurant. I literally gave them four stars out of five because I CAN'T recommend others to try the coffee and their sign outside clearly mentions coffee so it should be an amazing experience when you order their coffee. However I'm sorry their coffee is from a local company and it's taste rather wretched. I wish they served a brand of coffee that would actually be found in England such as Nescafé or Costa Coffee. Honestly it would have been more exciting to experience a British local popular brand. Well rest assured if you try this restaurant you most certainly will find it amazing the food the atmosphere the service the decor is all worth it. Avoid the coffee! Order the tea, soda, wine or anything else to go with the delicious food and you'll have a great time!

A small British restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is very small and has a few tables which turn over pretty quickly. The service is great and the food is good. I had the French dip which was served with a side salad and my girlfriend had the shepherds pie. Both meals were excellent. For dessert we had a guava flavored danish which was warmed up and was really good, probably the best thing I ate. In addition they also had prepared food one could purchase and eat at home.

Good place for authentic English food and tea. The place is small inside, and busy at lunch. But we were able to get a table fairly easy. Parking is tough.

A surprising little British gem in Fairfield Connecticut. The food options and taste are as authentic as those across the pond. Thoroughly enjoyed my "toad in the hole" and scone. Though I'd still disagree with their word choice pairings, I can't argue with the end result here.

The food was good! My son had the chocolate chip pancakes, which were excellent. Great atmosphere little pricey was around $50 for two people for breakfast. My only comment were beans were watery and ran into eggs. But love the atmosphere and Owner.

Such a great place. Went for breakfast and the food was delicious and the atmosphere is charming. Full English breakfast was our favorite. Also bought some of their pre made meals.

Was really excited to try this place! My family is from England, so it meant alot. I've sadly never had an English breakfast. I'm just not a huge fan of breakfast. Came here with friends and we really enjoyed it. It's a cute little spot. The breakfast was great and I love that you can buy English items. This place is a must. Definitely a different experience that you will enjoy!

Kathy D

Such a great place. Went for breakfast and the food was delicious and the atmosphere is charming. Full English breakfast was our favorite. Also bought some of their pre made meals.

Andres Ayala

A small British restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is very small and has a few tables which turn over pretty quickly. The service is great and the food is good. I had the French dip which was served with a side salad and my girlfriend had the shepherds pie. Both meals were excellent. For dessert we had a guava flavored danish which was warmed up and was really good, probably the best thing I ate. In addition they also had prepared food one could purchase and eat at home.

Jack W Perry

Good place for authentic English food and tea. The place is small inside, and busy at lunch. But we were able to get a table fairly easy. Parking is tough.

Stephen Fang

A surprising little British gem in Fairfield Connecticut. The food options and taste are as authentic as those across the pond. Thoroughly enjoyed my "toad in the hole" and scone. Though I'd still disagree with their word choice pairings, I can't argue with the end result here.

Janet Tatusko

The food was good! My son had the chocolate chip pancakes, which were excellent. Great atmosphere little pricey was around $50 for two people for breakfast. My only comment were beans were watery and ran into eggs. But love the atmosphere and Owner.

Food was good l, staff was good, but we were waiting for An hour for our order

Ice tea was OK. There were some flies around (and on) scones and other baked goods. Didn't see any effort to cover them. Our waiter was nice but everyone else didn't seem to care about service quality. It may have been just a busy day but didn't love not being welcomed. Decoration and atmosphere are the best part of this establishment. Lots of details. Lovely.

Had high tea with 2 friends, making the reservations several days in advance which is required, The bread for the tea sandwich’s was hard, the pastries ok, the scones delicious and the service was poor. In addition I bought 2 Shepard’s pies to take home which were very good. This morning I called to make a take out order and was asked to hold a minute and after 9 1/2 minutes hung up, as I was on hold the phones were ringing and I overhear a young man say we are too busy to answer phones !

Worst British scones I ever had. So heavy not light and fluff and lacking taste. Pretty cheap on the clotted cream. Cookies are gross tasting. The parking is very limited.

First time. Food was good, unfortunately the poor and entitled service overshadowed the positives about the experience. My husband and I were waited on by an older gentleman with darker hair. He was inattentive, aloof and overall not friendly. I had to get up to get him to order our meal and to pay my check after waiting on him a fair amount of time; for anything we needed. Shady up-charging practices, when asked to clarify about it I was told “it said it on the menu” multiple times in an argumentative fashion. Espresso machine was down which was disappointing. If you don’t like your job, get a new one but scoffing and bringing that negative attitude to paying customers is wildly inappropriate. Too many other places to deal with this. Won’t be back.

We were excited to visit as we are British and live in the area, unfortunately this is British food without the British politeness. The food and our original server were great and the full English is authentic. After our meal we were interested in buying some British sweets so went to the front to have a look at what we could stock up on, unfortunately this is where we encountered the extremely rude old waitress, who kept barging past us while we were holding our newborn baby, she finally ran into me and instead of apologising scoffed at us. She kept making it seem like we shouldn’t be there with a baby and that we were in the way. Maybe they shouldn’t have a section of groceries where the waitress is barging through. We are disappointed and will not be going back. Fellow Brits, save yourself the trip.

Christina DeLuca

First time. Food was good, unfortunately the poor and entitled service overshadowed the positives about the experience. My husband and I were waited on by an older gentleman with darker hair. He was inattentive, aloof and overall not friendly. I had to get up to get him to order our meal and to pay my check after waiting on him a fair amount of time; for anything we needed. Shady up-charging practices, when asked to clarify about it I was told “it said it on the menu” multiple times in an argumentative fashion. Espresso machine was down which was disappointing. If you don’t like your job, get a new one but scoffing and bringing that negative attitude to paying customers is wildly inappropriate. Too many other places to deal with this. Won’t be back.

Michael Stevens

We were excited to visit as we are British and live in the area, unfortunately this is British food without the British politeness. The food and our original server were great and the full English is authentic. After our meal we were interested in buying some British sweets so went to the front to have a look at what we could stock up on, unfortunately this is where we encountered the extremely rude old waitress, who kept barging past us while we were holding our newborn baby, she finally ran into me and instead of apologising scoffed at us. She kept making it seem like we shouldn’t be there with a baby and that we were in the way. Maybe they shouldn’t have a section of groceries where the waitress is barging through. We are disappointed and will not be going back. Fellow Brits, save yourself the trip.

I would like so much to give this restaurant a good review, because I like British cuisine and want to support the only local restaurant that offers it. However, as other reviewers have mentioned, there is an extremely rude waitress who works here. Today I visited this restaurant for the third time in five months, and I'm afraid it is going to be the last time. The previous time I visited, the waitress in question was quite harsh to me, but I tolerated it because I figured she was having a bad day. (She was also inept, giving my party-of-two the bill for a table of six. ) Today, however, this waitress not only barked at me, treating me from the moment I walked in as though I were a problem, but she also terrorized my friend and yelled at the waiter who was kind to me. I feel so sorry for the other staff who have to work around her. They are all nice and are doing the best they can. This waitress has serious issues. I feel sorry for her because it's probably not easy to keep a job with such issues, and everybody deserves to be able to work. But please, Gruel Britannia owner, if you're reading this, if you're going to keep her on staff, invest in some anger-management classes for her.

DE Goldstein

I would like so much to give this restaurant a good review, because I like British cuisine and want to support the only local restaurant that offers it. However, as other reviewers have mentioned, there is an extremely rude waitress who works here. Today I visited this restaurant for the third time in five months, and I'm afraid it is going to be the last time. The previous time I visited, the waitress in question was quite harsh to me, but I tolerated it because I figured she was having a bad day. (She was also inept, giving my party-of-two the bill for a table of six. ) Today, however, this waitress not only barked at me, treating me from the moment I walked in as though I were a problem, but she also terrorized my friend and yelled at the waiter who was kind to me. I feel so sorry for the other staff who have to work around her. They are all nice and are doing the best they can. This waitress has serious issues. I feel sorry for her because it's probably not easy to keep a job with such issues, and everybody deserves to be able to work. But please, Gruel Britannia owner, if you're reading this, if you're going to keep her on staff, invest in some anger-management classes for her.

Fish, of fish&chips may be 2nd best I've ever had in over 70 years if eating! Coating on fish is light and does not interfere with excellent taste of fish. Service - friendly and competent.

I would like to start this review by saying the food was great and the staff were lovely, but unfortunately the owner really lets this establishment down. I was enjoying lunch with a friend and both our 3-month old babies when a woman approached our table and asked if she could have a word. She proceeded to tell us that it was very unfair of us to be sat at a table of four with our babies taking up two seats when there were people waiting for a table. She then stormed out of the restaurant leaving us sat there completely taken aback by the encounter, and frankly very embarrassed. I appreciate mothers and young babies can be tricky customers (trust me, we don’t love lugging around car seats either!), but what is the alternative- ban us? It was precisely for this reason we called ahead to check that it would be ok to bring our babies and checked again upon arrival, whereupon your staff confirmed for the second time that it was no problem and happily accommodated us. I’m not entirely sure what you were hoping to achieve with your comments, but you seemingly didn’t feel it was necessary to have the same conversation with a table for four near us which was only being used by two people. I understand babies are not ‘revenue-generating’, but their mothers are, as are repeat customers who return to places they are made to feel welcome at. In future, if you don’t want babies, I would suggest briefing your staff on how to deal with this and communicate it on your website as opposed to confronting your paying customers mid-mouthful. Given the reaction of your mortified staff, this is not the first time they have had to apologise on your behalf. As a Brit who is new to Connecticut I arrived at Gruel Britannia feeling hopeful I’d found a new spot to visit when I was feeling nostalgic for home, but sadly I left vowing never to return.

If you are looking for an authentic English Afternoon tea don’t go here . Such a disappointing experience, and I’m British 🇬🇧 The sandwich fillings were on point until you got to the roasted veggies on Focaccia bread ( Italian last time I looked ) the sandwiches had been made way in advance and the edges were dry and some of the sandwiches were literally opening up because they were dried out . The sweet treats that came with the tea were so disappointing, one scone ( which was ok in flavor) was cut into 5 pieces 🙄. This tea was $32 per person plus tax and tip and it was so not worth the cost , there was not an abundance of food for this kind of cost . But what made this experience SO disappointing and unsatisfactory was the owners attitude when we complained about our dried up sandwiches and quality of the food and expressed our disappointment in the experience. She was arrogant, unapologetic and rude . She took the price of one tea of the bill which was $32 and we had to pay the remainder of the bill for 4 teas that we had not eaten , which came to over $130 . I have never been to a restaurant in my life that if you are not happy with something that they have not offered to make it right . I have frequented this restaurant in the past and have recommended to my friends , I will NEVER go back and would only recommend it going forward if you want to feel like you were robbed by an arrogant rude business owner . What a shame that in these times when restaurants are struggling and people are struggling a local business owner does not want to keep her loyal customers happy …

Unfortunately, I had two bad experiences here. I typically meet my friend one day a week at Gruel to have tea and lunch. Today they wouldn’t sit us at a 4 person table because we were just two, I was left standing there for 20 minutes, staring at an empty table. So unfortunate, I just don’t understand why restaurants do this, as time went on, the table remained empty. I just got more frustrated and left. Not sure if I’ll go back.

I have consistently visited this place and brought family and friends to eat here. The food is great. The ambience and the owner is not. The first time I visited with my newborn baby I was asked to move TWICE. To make space for other people. Fair enough. I don't mind at all helping people squeeze in. This restaurant is extremely tight and small. The second time I visited with my baby, I reiterated that I'd be happy to move and double checked with 2 servers it was ok for me to sit there. Half way between my meal I was interrupted by the owner telling us that this isn't really the place to bring babies, it's small and there's people waiting. I am from England and absolutely love visiting. But I will no longer be eating here because of the owners complete disregard for anyone. Updating this review since the owner replied -“taking up space” of which we were there for only 45 minutes. In addition I called ahead to make you aware I was coming. I checked with 2 servers it was ok for us to put the babies on the chairs. In addition, there were 2 other tables with 4 chairs of whom only 2 people were sitting. And this is not the first time we had been asked to move when we brought our babies. Your staff were all excellent and lovely. You are the reason me and many of my friends will not be returning

Very disappointed today. We had brunch here, sat at 11:30, had a nice meal and we’re chatting as we finished our dessert, and around 1 the staff came over and asked us to leave because they needed the table! I was quite shocked that they would do this. We had guests in town who had to hit the road afterwards, and it was snowing outside, so we felt rushed out the door into the snow, where we had to make a hurried goodbye. Horrible experience! Edit: insults now. This is what they call a non-apology apology!

Food is ok, but very expensive for the portion you receive.

Firstly the food was ok. I moved to the area from England a few months back & was missing a good old bacon butty. The bacon and roll were fine but it was supposed to be served with “HP sauce”. It was clearly off brand brown sauce that was served and ANY British person would not have been fooled. Feel like this was a sneaky way for them to save money. Also the staff were friendly BUT we met the owner and although she was nice to us, we heard her multiple times talking to the young staff like absolutely garbage. It was such a shame and we will never return to give her the business. A bully asserting her power to people she clearly deemed beneath her. Very upsetting to whiteness. Positive: decent range of snacks to purchase.

Stopped here for lunch on the Thursday before Christmas 2023. The Coronation Chicken Salad was delicious and service great. The problem is with the groceries I purchased. I bought a bacon mayonnaise and steak sauce. I was so excited I bought some extras as Christmas gifts. When I went to use the mayonnaise I noticed that the expiration date was 08/23 and the steak sauce expired in January 2023! I don’t live nearby so I’m just going to have to toss the rotten food. If they are going to sell food they need to check expiration dates. Quality matters and for me I think this really reflects badly on the restaurant. Eat in I guess but don’t buy anything without checking the date.

Waitress gave me a dirty cup. Asked her to replace it and she said it’s only tea residue.. don’t worry . I said, I didn’t drive over an hour to be served with a dirty cup. She stormed off with an attitude. Short woman with black hair. Food was warm. Yes, service has definitely gone down hill. My sausages were barely warm on the inside.They were great when they first opened up. I will not be going here again or recommend it to any of my British friends or family.

I went here with my girlfriend after previously coming here with my family for Boxing Day. The younger waitress was rude and made us feel unwelcome. Dirty looks and sighs at normal requests and it wasn’t busy. Needless to say our family changed Boxing Day plans this year.

H P

I went here with my girlfriend after previously coming here with my family for Boxing Day. The younger waitress was rude and made us feel unwelcome. Dirty looks and sighs at normal requests and it wasn’t busy. Needless to say our family changed Boxing Day plans this year.

Elese Taylor

Waitress gave me a dirty cup. Asked her to replace it and she said it’s only tea residue.. don’t worry . I said, I didn’t drive over an hour to be served with a dirty cup. She stormed off with an attitude. Short woman with black hair. Food was warm. Yes, service has definitely gone down hill. My sausages were barely warm on the inside.They were great when they first opened up. I will not be going here again or recommend it to any of my British friends or family.