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The Helmsman, Groton, CT

The Helmsman

4.1
4.1
70 Reviews
$30 and under
Seafood

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for brunch
  • Good for business meals
  • Good for groups
Rooted in the cultivated craftsmanship tradition of its New England locality, The Helmsman Kitchen & Bar opens its doors to bring a sure-fire culinary experience.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • 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
  • Phone number
    (860) 326-0360
  • Website
    https://helmsmankitchen.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Location
    625 N Rd, Groton, CT 06340-3212
  • Area
    Groton
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Varietal Wines of Oregon & Washington State

    US$70.00 per person

    30 Jan 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 Oregon & Washington State photo

  • Celebrate Valentines Day at The Helmsman Kitchen

    US$80.00 per person

    14 Feb 2025 - 15 Feb 2025
    Celebrate Valentines Day with our delicious, prix-fixe dinner in the heart of the bountiful New England Coast. Enjoy a special, 3-course menu with choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert, plus one glass of house wine. Settle into our inviting restaurant for an evening of celebration. 1 Glass of House red or White wine Included. To reserve your table, please contact us at (860) 326-0360 or reserve online via OpenTable. 5pm-10pm Reserve now. Space is limited.
    Celebrate Valentines Day at The Helmsman Kitchen photo

  • 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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 70 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

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

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Connecticut

    Great for brunch

  • New London

    Great for brunch

  • New London

    Child-friendly

  • New London

    Good for groups

  • New London

    Healthy

  • New London

    Great for fine wines

  • New London

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Helmsman offers an exceptional dining experience with "fantastic food" and "outstanding service." Guests rave about the wine pairing dinners and diverse menu options like swordfish, scallops, and New England clam chowder. While some reviews mention noise and occasional inconsistency, the overall atmosphere and culinary expertise are highly praised, making it a must-visit.

70 Reviews

  1. Mark

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    10 reviews

    3.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 1
    Food was excellent. Service was very, very slow obviously short of help the night we were there. Kitchen was very backed up.

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  2. Jed

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Service could not have been worse. Had a problem w entree and after discussing w waitress, she ignored us for remainder of dinner. Manager had to serve us thereafter.

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  3. Di Pietro

    New York City

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 26 December 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    The service was really slow and confuse. The food didn’t have any taste, the fish soup with out salt and the fish quality was so bad. The restaurant didn’t have bread!! We won’t be back again..

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  4. Esther

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on 25 December 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was pretty good; presentation was a bit sloppy. The service was agonizingly slow.

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  5. Mari

    Connecticut

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 15 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    I had the braised short ribs with mushroom polenta. It was very good. My husband had the chicken over creamy potatoes, and it was great. For dessert, we had a piece of chocolate torte(gluten-free) .Wonderfu way to end the meal. l

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  6. Marife

    VIP

    Fort Lauderdale

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 13 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    The place has delicious food!! The service is superb and with attentive staffing. I selected 3 stars for the ambiance bc it can be drafty, we played musical chairs to settle into a cozy spot. The bar gives decent pours together with a serving of chocolate torte for dessert! I highly recommend trying this place out. 💫

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  7. Jennifer

    Orlando

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 25 November 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 1
    Very disappointed in menu options for Gluten free and shellfish allergies. Although the waitress tried to accommodate, they slathered the food in butter to make up for poor taste. Waste of good food and nutrition.

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  8. Paul

    VIP

    New York City

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on 21 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great experience and value! wines chosen were great pairings with our meal, the Somm presenting was outstanding - just the right amount of information and then walked around the room answering deeper questions from the audience. Meal was very good and for the price great value!

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  9. Susan

    New York City

    37 reviews

    2.0

    37 reviews

    Dined on 16 November 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    My husband ordered a steak and it was tough and Chewy considering it was $42 definitely not worth that price

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  10. Christine

    New York City

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 10 November 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was okay, not spectacular. Cocktails mediocre. Service was terrible. Our waitress barely smiled, menus were left in the middle of our table the entire meal rather than being taken away once we ordered. There is no bread service. Cocktails came in the middle of our entree and we were left with water to drink during our appetizer course. Water was refilled quickly but we had to ask twice when we were getting our cocktails. I would understand if it was busy but it was pretty slow, only a few other tables with guests. I asked if they could make a spicy margarita with jalapeño infused tequila and was told yes. I received a mediocre margarita with no spice at all...certainly zero jalapeño in it. The waitress never asked us if we wanted a dessert. We will not be back. Very disappointed.

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FAQs

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

The Helmsman is rated 4.1 stars by 70 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 8 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Helmsman

625 N Rd, Groton, CT 06340-3212

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Area
    Groton
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Fri 06:30–11:00 Daily 17:00–22:00 Sat, Sun 07:00–12:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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