The Salty Heifer Diner — Restaurant in Ledyard

TLDR: Great breakfast (decent portion) farm fresh, farm to table, a little expensive, but it's fresh ingredients. HIDDEN PUERTO RICAN SPANISH FOOD. Take out menu option Ice cream spot as well The chef cooks with love and consistency New owner and new name since 2023

Was looking for a place to eat with my family and came across this place online. I was looking at the pictures and saw they also had Hispanic food i was excited to try the place out. When we arrived, there was plenty of parking when we got there around 2pm. We were able to sit down wherever we wanted inside and were greeted and given menus. I ordered a ham cheese omelet add spinach with sourdough bread and potatoes. I also got 3 pancaked with added chocolate chips inside and on top for 8 dollars! My girlfriend had French toast with scrambled eggs, sourdough bread and potatoes on the side. Our kid got biscuits and gravy and then had some French toast. He also got scrambled eggs as well. Unfortunately, they ran out of Pernil (Spanish pulled pork) as my heart was set on that. All the food was perfectly cooked! eggs weren't over cooked. They were light in color, the potatoes were diced up small and cooked to perfection. They were crispy, not charred and had flavor. The pancakes were great! The chocolate that they used on the pancakes were great!. We enjoyed the biscuits and gravy as well. They had a different taste but it went well. Maybe they used cheddar cheese in the gravy. Biscuits were tasty, gravy was full of flavor, didn't taste like flour as I've experienced in other places. The sourdough was toasted light. The French toast was crispy and cooked consistently on both sides. The orange juice was goo too. I'm sometimes picky with Orange juice at places I eat at and this place does not use cheap orange juice haha.

I was introduced to the owner because I asked if they made Pernil sandwiches with a certain type of bread. She came out to talk to me, apologized for the pork running out but she can make those sandwiches as well. I am extremely happy that there's a spot in Ledyard that serves breakfast and also makes Spanish food. I'm excited to come back and try their pernil. We were given some samples to try. We were given Puerto Rican stewed beans with pumpkin. They had the right amount of seasoning and were refreshing to taste. We also tried their steak and peppers. The steak was cooked perfect! Tender when you took a bite and had amazing flavor. The outside had a perfect sear. We also tried their stewed Chicken (pollo guisado) with a side of white rice. The chicken was smothered in flavor and absolutely complimented the rice as you pour it over to give the rice some flavor from the chicken. The chicken was also tender. Simple but amazing. After that, we tried their Cuban sandwich without the pork sadly. It did not disappoint! I'm positive with the pork, the sandwich would've been next level. Finally, we had their Flan. It was soft, you cut it with a spoon and take a bite. It melts in your mouth as you start to eat it. Alot of flavor there as well. Nice little portion as well. Our kid had their chocolate ice cream. He finished every single piece haha. We all left with full stomachs and a new favorite place in town. Definitely a hidden gem and only one in town for Hispanic food. Next time we will try their weekly takeout menu. They have more Spanish options as takeout throughout the week. I can't wait to try their Rice with gandules and Pernil sandwich The staff was nice and friendly. Our waitress Sarah (If i remember correctly) was able to answer our questions to the best of...

I’ll start with the good: My bacon, egg and cheese on the roll was decent. What I was looking for-only two slices of bacon but that was okay with me. The pricing seemed appropriate. Staff was nice.

My experience: You walk, there’s no sign saying to self seat so you wait to see an employee who’ll end up telling you to sit. Unfortunately, 3 tables are dirty. There aren’t many options for sitting. Maybe my experience would have been way better if I was in a different location. I sit down take in everything as a I overhear a couple complaining. I noticed a couple in the corner with no drinks and seems frustrated. Two other tables in a situation with no drinks. I wait for about 7 minutes with no menu and no one asking for a drink order. Finally someone goes to the table that seems very frustrated where they ask if they could finally have a menu. I should have taken this and left but I stuck it out. When that table asked for a menu. I asked and another table did. Finally got a menu after 7-8 minutes waiting. There was no waiter in this area we were-or I’d have communicated that menus were needed. Both tables across from me told me they order about 10 minutes ago and never got their drinks. A manager I believe came over where I would say we kinda attacked her with drink requests and orders but she wouldn’t take the order-stated the waitress would come over. Another 10 or so minutes go by, I’ve known what I wanted to eat for 15 minutes but no waiter was seen. My experience and understanding is diner is fast paced, I’m expecting a quick turnover. I’ve been here 25 minutes finally my order is taken. I overheard a mom say that her daughter’s dish supposed to have bacon, we order the same thing for my daughter. When my daughter’s dish comes-you guest it, no bacon. I asked for bacon, never got it. At this point, I’m just over it. The home fries tasted like cardboard absolutely nothing to them. I understand keeping them somewhat blend but these were dry and disgusting The fruit was old.

This is a very harsh review-I feel bad because I know this is a new business. I do hope my review helps the business with these issues. As I was leaving the other tables were equally upset and dissatisfied. I’m just shocked by how poorly this experience went. If I go back, I’ll be happy to adjust my review but currently no plans to go back. I understand this is a new business: If you plan to have guests sit themselves: have a sign, have menus on the table for them. Have a busser take the...

I don't think I've ever left a public review for a diner/restaurant, but I need to share a few thoughts about this little gem. My love and I had spent the prior day at Mohegan Sun, and decided to spend the afternoon in Mystic before taking the ferry back to Long Island. We had been in the mood for a real breakfast - comfort diner food - after several nice meals at the casino. We literally drove past The Salty Heifer, I asked if she'd noticed the sign, she said she was about to say the same, so we pulled in about 1:20, and saw they were closing at 2. Evidently we had just missed the ribbon cutting ceremony, but the universe made sure we were there in time to eat.

We asked if we still had time to eat, they led us to the tables, and not once was there a hint of being rushed. (Trust me. Not all NYers like to rush. This was a welcome pace.)

We couldn't decide on eggs or pancakes, so we split our orders, (which we often do, and highly recommend). We had to try the Salty Heifer Breakfast - could've stopped there. But couldn't. Also got a veggie omelet. Sara was the ultimate waitress, and offered us fresh fruit cup instead of a second potatoes, since one came with the SH Breakfast. All eggs were perfectly done - the omelet and the eggs over medium. The fruit, ( w/ salmon colored watermelon!), sausages and perfectly thin and crisp bacon were pure comfort. And the pancakes... and coffee... yeah, you get the idea.

Everything was farm-to-table, and some of the freshest ingredients we'd tasted. When she realized we enjoyed the food and its sources, Sara gave us the history of everything on our plates, all without ever interrupting our meal. It all just felt like a home away from home. Yeah I'm gushing a bit, but we're from NY - we have our fair share of diners. But The Salty Heifer is a place we would frequent regularly. So, while we are telling all our friends, and making this a stop on their trips to casinos or Mystic, we need all of you who live close enough, to make sure this place thrives so it's there every time we return.

Oh, I said we were on our way to Mystic I'd always wanted a slice of Mystic Pizza, from the movie. But Sara told us about the ice cream, so we had that in the car and bought blueberry pound cake for the ferry. Needless to say, we were too full from our brunch for any slice - and would do...