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The Helmsman, Groton, CT

The Helmsman

4.0
4
81 Reviews
$30 and under
Seafood

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 2 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Great for fine wines
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Lively
Rooted in the cultivated craftsmanship tradition of its New England locality, The Helmsman Kitchen & Bar brings a sure-fire culinary experience. Go beyond the expected and embark on a culinary journey of modern cuisine that centers on both land and sea specialities. Indulge in delectable dishes complimented by an extensive wine list, hand-crafted cocktails and mocktails. Host to monthly wine pairing dinners, happy hour, plus a myriad of special events and private dining celebrations. Located at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa serving breakfast and dinner daily.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Location
    625 N Rd, Groton, CT 06340-3212
  • Phone number
    (860) 326-0360
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Fri 06:30–11:00 Daily 17:00–22:00 Sat, Sun 07:00–12:00
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa

Experiences

  • Varietal Wines Of Spain

    US$70.00 per person

    27 Mar 2025 only
    Join us for a multi-course culinary journey where every course is accompanied by a perfectly paired wine selection. Enjoy coastal inspired cuisine alongside the finest wines, with each menu crafted to compliment the flavor profile of the pairing. Each presentation will be led by a special wine curator from the featured vineyard or distributor. Starts at 5pm Sharp! Reserve now spots are limited. Check out the exciting Menu at www.helmsmankitchen.com/menus
    Varietal Wines Of Spain photo

  • Cherish Mom: Unforgettable Brunch Experience

    US$75.00 per person

    11 May 2025 only
    Indulge in a memorable Mother’s Day celebration at The Helmsman Kitchen & Bar, where exquisite flavors and warm ambiance come together for a brunch experience like no other. Join us in honoring the special women in your life with a delectable spread crafted to perfection. Every detail is designed to make this Mother’s Day a culinary delight. *A 50% cancellation fee will apply for Mothers Day brunch reservations that are a no show or are not canceled at least 24 hours in advance. Reserved seating's are for 1 hour and 30 minutes. *No show and late cancellation fees apply.
    Cherish Mom: Unforgettable Brunch Experience photo

  • Easter Brunch: Join Us at The Helmsman!

    US$75.00 per person

    20 Apr 2025 only
    Gather round with friends and family to delight in an indulging Easter Brunch. Featuring a special menu of quintessential brunch buffet favorites array of dishes that showcase the finest flavors of the season. Includes a mimosa or choice of mocktail *A 50% cancellation fee will apply for Easter brunch reservations that are a no show or are not canceled at least 24 hours in advance. Reserved seating's are for 1 hour and 30 minutes. *No show and late cancellation fees apply.
    Easter Brunch: Join Us at The Helmsman! photo

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 81 people are saying

The Helmsman reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.0
4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.1Food
  • 4Service
  • 3.7Ambience
  • 3.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • New London

    Great for brunch

  • New London

    Child-friendly

  • New London

    Healthy

  • New London

    Great for fine wines

  • New London

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Helmsman offers a diverse menu and "excellent service," with standout staff like waitress Tia and server Yulieska. While some dishes are "delicious" and cocktails "amazing," a few patrons found the experience "overpriced" and portions small. Service excellence often compensates for occasional inconsistencies in food quality.

81 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston1 review

    4.0

    Dined on 27 February 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The experience notations say that it starts at 5:00 pm SHARP but they wouldn’t even seat us at 4:50 so I think the event should be pushed back if they won’t seat before it supposedly starts. Food was great, attentive staff, delicious wine. In the bar area where we had to wait to be seated the floors were extremely sticky and no one behind the bar. Not a great impression. Also, the only restroom near the restaurant was closed for cleaning just as the dinner let out. Poor timing.

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  2. Alysha

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 26 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Prime Rib Wednesday was perfection, especially for the cost. Great food and beyond fantastic service from start to finish.

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  3. Amanda

    Las Vegas1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 24 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful dining experience! The atmosphere was inviting, the service was excellent, and the seafood tower was absolutely delicious.

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  4. Nicole

    Greater Boston11 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 18 February 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Coffee was not hot but the the fruit salad that can along side both our pastries (and included in price) was a welcome, fresh surprise!

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  5. Megan

    Greater Boston1 review

    1.0

    Dined on 15 February 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    We went for Valentine’s Day dinner and the restaurant was completely unprepared. We had to wait 30 minutes beyond our reservation time to sit down because there were no open tables. We got our appetizers an hour after ordering and our waiter was not attentive. I understand this is a busy day for restaurants but to pay the price we did for dinner I expect better.

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  6. Richard

    Greater Boston1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 14 February 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was ok. Our server, Olivia, was amazing. But still a 3 star on service because that place was sloowwww! It is very noisy too. I enjoyed the food but probably won't go back.

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  7. Gary

    Connecticut1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 14 February 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was good, but a 3 hour dinner was not expected. It was Valentine’s Day had 6:30pm reservations got right in but was there for 3 hours, took 20 minutes just to get our drinks ordered. There were only 2 servers on.

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  8. Ben

    Las Vegas1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 14 February 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was just ok but the service was kind of slow. Delivered twice wrong foods that we did not order, maybe that was from other patrons.

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  9. Nigel

    New York City2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 20 January 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    I Rated this restaurant an overall 3 due to the slow service and loud noise . I do believe they were short staffed, as our waiter kept apologizing for the delays with our food etc. When we did receive our food it was great. I thought this would be a great place to have my wedding anniversary dinner, but sadly was not everything I was expecting due to the extremely loud noises.

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  10. Nicole VIP

    New York City15 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 17 January 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Crowded, loud, service not great. Ordered a bottle of champagne. They “couldn’t find it”. They gave me a different bottle. Poured in dirty wine glasses. More expensive and not as good IMO. Soups were good. My daughter said she could cook the salmon better. The Caesar salads had little to no flavor or dressing.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Helmsman offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (860) 326-0360.

The Helmsman is rated 4 stars by 81 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 2 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Helmsman

625 N Rd, Groton, CT 06340-3212

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Phone number
    (860) 326-0360
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Fri 06:30–11:00 Daily 17:00–22:00 Sat, Sun 07:00–12:00
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
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