When craving some serious eats in the morning, sometimes the instant eggs and gray oatmeal in the dining hall just aren't enough. The hung-over and the hungry deserve more. So, instead of waking up to mediocrity, check out one of these local breakfast spots.
The Wooden Spoon
A favorite among students, the Wooden Spoon in Ashford is a UConn favorite. Serving home cooked meals at student prices, this restaurant looks like the home of an adorable grandmother. The Wooden Spoon is about a 15-minute drive from campus and worth every minute. The restaurant offers breakfast and lunch, as well as daily specials. Notable items include the breakfast sandwiches (such as a bacon, egg, cheese and sweet pepper sandwich), avocado and sundried tomato eggs benedict, sloppy joe omelets and amazing cornbread with real corn. Be warned that this business doesn't take cards for payment, but an ATM is located inside.
"Honestly, I love the Wooden Spoon," said Michael Ross, a 6th-semester natural resources major. "I usually get a breakfast sandwich, but the specials are always changing and always worth trying too."
Bagels and More
A 10-minute drive from campus down Route 195, Bagels and More will change your definition of bagels. Offering bagels, donuts, sandwiches and various beverages, this store is fairly priced. Bagels and More offers original bagel flavors, such as jalapeño and corn, as well as the standards, but the real unique aspect of this shop is its wide assortment of cream cheese. Look for toasted onion and garlic, everything, jalapeño, horseradish and bacon, lox and more, all also available in light varieties. Need coffee to jump-start a morning? Try the iced coffee in flavors such as chocolate raspberry, toffee, caramel or the screwed-up option, which is a combination of all the available flavors. Even better, the ice in the iced coffee is made with coffee, so no need to worry about your drink becoming watered down.
"This place is awesome," said Tyler Leslie, a 6th-semester fine arts major. "The bagels are so good and they have really interesting flavor combinations. I go there just about every weekend."
Track Nine Diner
A little farther from campus, the Track Nine diner, located off the Tolland Turnpike, is another great morning option. Though lacking the warm comfort and originality of the Wooden Spoon, this spot offers breakfast classics at middle-range prices. Look for the giant muffins and boysenberry jam, and enjoy the very friendly wait staff.
"This place is good if you have a car and a little time to drive," said Nicole Myers, a 6th-semester economics major. "They have really good homefries and the prices aren't bad either."
Thread City Diner
If you wake up early enough, there may be time to enjoy the local favorite, Thread City Diner. Located on Main Street in Willimantic, this diner is for the early birds, and is only open until 11 a.m. Meals have good-sized portions and prices are low enough to make waking up that much easier.
"It has the history of Willimantic on the back of their menu, which is kinda cool," said Nick Rogers, an 8th-semester English major. "They have good food, but it's hard to get there after a night of drinking. It's good for early birds."
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