Gruel Britannia - Fairfield

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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!

Love everything about this restaurant! Always a terrific meal, wonderful service and a great vibe.

We LOVED this place! On Mother's Day yet! Service good, if not perfect, on a day when even high end operations fail miserably. And the back of the house?? They batted a thousand! Michelin star operations couldn't make a better side salad. FABULOUS coffee, even the decaf was delicious-generous portions-were prices a buck or 2 higher than the norm? Maybe, but "you get what you pay for!" And the Made in England products for sale were a hoot! AND TASTY!

It's been awhile since we last visited. Service still good and everything stays the same except the food seems changed. We ordered lamb burgers (medium) but turned out well done very dry and no more taste of lamb, the bun is different too. The fried fish very dark color (probably old oil) and greasy. Seems quality dropped. My English breakfast is fine, but family are very disappointed. Hope they will improve in the future

I had Gruel Britannia as the caterer for my daughters Bridal Shower! Everything was wonderful - the food, the beautiful dishes and the staff that helped serve and organize the party. It was a cocktail party where Harvest Sangria (delicious) was very much enjoyed and we had lovely individual crostini, mini sandwiches, quiche, mini scones, all amazing. It was a fun and unique experience. Karen was so nice to work with, a lovely lady. The party was so important to me and it was a huge success by choosing Gruel Britannia!

I'm glad that I picked Gruel Britannia for breakfast. Gruel, which means, a food consisting of some type of cereal, such as ground oats, wheat, rye, or rice - heated or boiled in water or milk. The restaurant couldn't be better decorated with British items. Everywhere you turn, you'll see the Queen, King Charles, Lady Diana, and even British food items. They thought of everything....even the restrooms are nicely adorned. The service was incredible. From start to finish, we were treated with the attention, quick service, and delicious food. The orders were: Western Omelet, with multi grain bread & salad, egg white veggie frittata, with multi grain bread & salad, and French Toast, with bacon & peaches. Each item was delectable, fresh, and that French Toast brioche bread was the softest and sweetest I've ever tasted. After being dipped into the syrup, it became top three in my three year Yelp career...lol. You gotta try it! My 12 oz. Cafe Latte was just as good as the food and just capped off this delicious meal perfectly. If you find yourself in Fairfield, don't hesitate to stop into Gruel Britannia and enjoy a few moments surrounded by Britishy goodness.

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 ordered the British Breakfast Plate without dairy. The server helpfully recommended swapping in hash browns for the bubble and squeak. The food was hearty, as expected--there were options for lighter fare, too. The mismatched place settings/teapots/ teacups were beautiful, and the wooden tables and decor contributed to a cute and approachable ambiance. Unfortunately, when I started setting up my breast pump, a woman, presumably the owner, came and asked me to pump in the bathroom "because there are young children here." Once I pulled down my shirt, she said it would be ok to pump at the table, but "in the future, please set up in the bathroom. This is a restaurant." I did not make a scene, but I am pumping milk for a young child, the young children were probably eating from a boob a year ago, and breastmilk is food - which is very proper at a restaurant.

I loved this spot! It's a British themed restaurant that we stopped by for breakfast and I'm obsessed! The decor is super adorable from all the flowers on the table in teapots to the life sized cardboard cutout of the queen of England. I ordered a latte and it had the prettiest latte art I've seen in a while. For my meal, I had a special which consisted of a French toast with a fruit compote and bacon in the side. I liked that the syrup came in the side so that I could choose how sweet I wanted the dish. We also got the burger which was a good option as well. There's also various British snacks that one can purchase. The service was super quick and we were in and out in record timing which was perfect for this busy late morning. Definitely want to go back to try more food here for other meals too!

It may be that the pressures and challenges of opening her second location in Westport had stretched resources too thin? Let's revisit in a few months after they get the kinks ironed out and restore quality of service and food to the wonderful level of last year and before.

Wonderful! I highly recommend this place!I love England, and when you visit here, you're in England. I highly recommend the loaded scone, but today they were out by the time I arrived. Instead of having the Victoria sponge with tea, I had the fish and chips! They were excellent! Service was friendly and fast. The food was fresh. Perfect!

Very cute and quaint breakfast spot that is decked out with decorations for every season and British treats! I recommend coming early on the weekend because they fill up fast. The food is great. I highly recommend the bangers but they have wonderful vegetarian options too! They also make a great latte.

An amazing place!! Love it very much. The interior, the food, and the price. I would say is one of the best places for coffee, tea, breakfast, and brunch. Definitely recommend!

We ordered our food to go. We enjoyed everything! I do wish they provided salt, pepper and ketchup condiments. Staff was warm and very friendly. Ambiance is very cozy. They also sell British snacks. If you're missing England, this is the place to go.

Always fantastic. Excellent service & food! Helps get the British food, chocolates & cake cravings taken care of. I wish the sausage rolls were bigger though

Pleasant service and decent food although we were there early in the morning so our group of 10 did not have a problem being seated having made reservation ahead.

Special sandwich French dip was good; Reuben had dubious corned beef and fries looked gorgeous but were soggy. Four stars because it's usually great.

"All the stories have been told Of kings and days of old, But there's no England now." (The Kinks) Well, I'd say there are plenty of signs of England at Gruel Britannia - Union Jacks all over, full size stand ups of King Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth, English delicacies all across their menu, and even an iconic red British telephone booth by the front door. Three of us popped in for lunch on Thursday and we were lucky to get a table. It's a small dining room that seats around 30. Our lunch was Fish and Chips, a Winston Churchill sandwich, and Thai Chicken Meatballs. Those six meatballs were my choice, and it was one of the very best things I've had so far in 2023. They cost $20 and were served with Jasmine rice, sautéed spinach, and an amazing curry sauce. Tons of flavor, a hint of spiciness, and just plain delicious. The Fish & Chips ($22) were served with sides of mushy peas and tartar sauce. The Churchill Sandwich was $16 with grilled chicken, avocado, bacon, cheddar, tomato, herb aioli, lettuce, brioche roll, and a side salad. We loved our food and liked all the little British touches everywhere -from the fancy coffee and tea cus to the English grocery specialties on display for sale in the dining room. Word to the wise - their parking lot is teeny tiny and you'll probably have to park in the street.

If you haven't tried Gruel Britannia, you are missing a treat. Traditional British fare plus much more. Excellent service, great food, delicious desserts and pastries, unique groceries, outstanding coffee and so much more. Plus there's High Tea with King Charles and Queen Elizabeth II.

First, it is the best place to get a proper cup of tea. Second, their breakfast sandwiches are a great taste of England, especially with the HP sauce. Third, I love the English market. It's my own special way to be transported back to England Fairfield style.

Had my eyes on this place for a while with the intention to visit. Today I came dfor Breakfast, cause I was in the mood for some good old English breakfast. We came around 10:30 and the parking lot was empty and first I was afraid that they were closed. But I was glad to see people walk out, and so we pulled into a parking spot and made our way to the entrance. From the outside it almost looks like being in the UK, and as you walk in the decoration still gives you that idea that you just stepped into an establishment in Britain. It's small and cozy, and after we sat down other customers started to walk in. We had the Full Breakfast and I loved it! It reminded me growing up in Europe and visiting the UK or having breakfast in Germany at the army base were British soldiers were stationed. Loved it and will definitely come back to introduce others to Gruel Britannia!

I've been hesitant to try Gruel Brittania, mainly because I've been in that space before, when it was another restaurant, and a coffee shop, and it felt cramped & not conducive to a comfortable dining experience. Finally went to dinner with friends, and while it was small (& crammed full of UK memorabilia and products) I had a wonderful time! First.... THE TEA. Lately I've been ordering tea instead of cocktails/wine because, well, winter, and always I get served a lukewarm cup of water with a limp teabag. But here I got an TEAPOT full of DELICIOUSLY HOT TEA!!! They even have a TEA MENU! Should've known.... Brits are serious about tea. (My dinner mates got the Pimms Cup, which is an English version of sangria. A drinky good way to start the evening!) Next... THE FOOD. Scotch Eggs. Bangers and mash. Flat iron steak (perfectly medium). All delicious. I got the Fruit Crisp for dessert, which is a huge bowl more suitable for a filling breakfast than dessert, but so so good just the same. My date got the Chocolate Pot au Creme, which was just perfect. We are looking forward to going back--for lunch, for brunch, for dinner, for teatime, for the outdoor seating.

This place always hits the spot. The food is always amazing. Peter and I come for the full English. The staff is always efficient and courteous. The place is as cute as a button. Feels like a travel to an English tea house.

Ambiance is nice. Service was terrible and food not nearly as good as expected. The gluten free bread was horrible. Note to chef:really good gluten free bread has been available for years. Not once did our server check on us after the food delivered. My order was not correct but could not find him to correct until it was clear I should just eat my meal to not disrupt the time with a friend. When I asked for a fork to use for my dessert it was brought over but our plates, put to the side, were not cleared. The blueberry coffee cake was dry and not worth the calories. Highly disappointed as the menu looks interesting but the food and service sub par by far.

The food and service was excellent. The ambiance was very British! The only negative is the space is very tight which made the dining experience a little uncomfortable.

Best meal out I have had in a while. Restaurant is small but I went on a Tuesday night. Delicious! I had the bangers and mash.

Was in the area for a hair appointment and asked where a good spot was for lunch and she recommended Gruel Britannia. A very small spot with only a few tables inside, but we were able to sit down immediately which was probably just luck. A decent size food menu with an additional menu for just specials. Surprisingly the tea menu was very small though. I ordered the bangers and mash and a grilled cheese. My friend ordered the special quesadillas (peach, goat cheese and prosciutto) and the British breakfast plate. They accidentally swapped my grilled cheese for another quesadilla, but was able to fix it pretty quickly. The bangers and mash was delicious, as was the grilled cheese. My friend really liked her 2 plates as well. I liked how the menu had a lot of different options, a little something for everyone. I would love to come back and try the afternoon tea menu

Just to follow up, my honey and I recently returned to this lovely spot, to celebrate a milestone; we had a really great time. Our waiter - Nabil (hope I spelled your name right, friend), was warm and hospitable...and we got to sit on the back patio this time. It was fantastic - do try it out, if you haven't already. : )

I joined a friend for lunch on a busy Friday afternoon. We were fortunate enough to snag a table as it was pretty busy when we arrived around 2 pm. I ordered a turkey club on multigrain toast and my friend ordered a cobb salad with chicken salad rather than grilled chicken. We were both pleased with our meals. I took 1/2 of my sandwich home as it was quite large and served with a fresh salad. Our server was very friendly and efficient. Our lunches were really good. After lunch we helped ourselves to some chocolate Easter egg shopping while we were at it! I heard that the scones are delicious but I was too full to try one. Maybe next time.

British base coffee house and pub in of all places Connecticut. Got to say this place is pretty freaking authentic. Aside from all the menu items, they have a wide assortment of candies and snacks from Great Britain. Parking is a bit tight, but if you look across the street you'll notice that they have parking in a separate lot. Plus, there is parking along the street alongside the property. The quality of the coffee products and the food is pretty much off the hook. For a first time goer this place was a pleasant surprise.

The only way I could do that was if you wanted me too I could come and pick it out and then I can go pick up it from your place or you could just pick me out of there or you could pick me out and I could just go pick up my truck or you can just come pick me out of my truck or you could come pick it out of the garage or you could go to my place or you can come to the car if that's what you're doing I just want you know

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!

Food is exceptional. Great place to get some UK comfort food. Can't wait to try the other items. This came highly recommended from a close friend. They did not disappoint.

Another fresh, quality meal with superb service. Curios about trying a Scotch egg ( was a breakfast special) our waitress happily explained that this was an egg wrapped in sausage and then fried. Dying to try one, our waitress went above and beyond to grab the last 2 avaiable, giving us the heads up that these sell out fast! So fun to try it and it was really good. The English breakfast was fantastic; fish and chips were delicious with moist, flaky fish perfectly battered and fried! Yum! The Bacon Butty sandwich which we got to go was such a hit at first bite that we will sure to be back very soon for this and more!

Went there for the first time two weeks ago with my son. I'm very upset that this was my first time...lol. Small place tight quarters but felt like I was in a shop in London. The food and service was fantastic! I had a full English breakfast that was just as good as the one I had in London last year. My son did the bubble and squeak. He was very happy with it. I will be back as I have to run through the whole menu it was that good.

Sunday evening and our first try of GB. They have a prime rib special tonight and all three of us got it so I'm afraid we won't be reviewing a lot of their menu. The bar was not huge but had everything we needed. Gin martini and a glass of wine. The prime rib was a really nice sized slice and came cooked perfectly medium rare as we requested. The plate was large and full. Sides were a cauliflower and broccoli casserole, potato and green beans and a Yorkshire pudding. Not that was room for dessert but we figured we needed to give you more information. The sticky toffee and bread puddings were both warm, very sweet and good. The chocolate pot was great. The coffee and tea to end the dinner were great. Can't end this without mentioning the staff. A really nice crew, everyone was great and very helpful.

Small, noisy but fun restaurant, cafe, store. Happily the menu is bigger than you might expect. Went for brunch on a weekday and caught the last table for four. Coffee was terrible and wrong as waiter said it was Mexican -- in a British place! On the other hand, all of us enjoyed our entrees a lot. The bangers were tasty and properly cooked. Service was fine, unexceptional. Parking can be a challenge as the lot is small. There is another small overflow lot nearby. Overall an eccentric and funky find

This is my second time visiting Gruel when I'm in the mood for a hearty breakfast, and they didn't disappoint! I ordered the egg white vegetable frittatas, which came with fresh salsa, greens, and two slices of perfectly melty buttered toast. Though you would associate a true British experience with tea, I needed something far stronger, and settled on the latte, which was huge. My only criticism of the restaurant is that the tables are squeezed in a bit tightly, but staff seemed sensitive to that and tried to separate them as much as possible in a small space.

Great food and service. I had the English breakfast and chai tea latte. Dessert is absolutely delicious as well- scones and Victoria sponge were out of this world. I've been back at least three times and well worth the trip! Planning on returning for the afternoon tea soon

A new favorite. Everything we've had has been great. The space is small, but casual and comfortable. They also sell some English items like candy and tea. Highly recommended.

Such a gem! We love going to have a meal and used them to cater a tea we hosted at home. The best!

We came for lunch a few weeks ago. What a treat! Great drinks ( alcoholic and non) and super sandwiches and scones. Yum! We noticed they had fish and chips. We are originally from the Buffalo area, but missed our fish fry while living in Texas for 18 years. So, we got my husband and came for dinner tonight (Friday). My husband had the MOST yummy, authentic fish and chips. With smashed English peas. We also had Chicken Madeira which was the BEST we have ever had! Perfectly cooked chicken, pappardelle noodles, mushrooms and veggies. A great sauce topped it off. It was our winner. We also had the wild mushroom ravioli in a delicious cream sauce. Topped the super meal off with a cuppa and sticky toffee pudding and peach and rhubarb cobbler. We were stuffed but this topped it off. We can't recommend trying this quaint place for dinner ( also lunch and breakfast) enough! Try it, you won't be sorry. Great service also. Thanks, John. Drinks are wonderful, also. The picture was taken after we ate a good part of our meals.

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.

The best of British comes to Fairfield and we're very grateful! My wife craved this food when she was pregnant and so our boy got to benefit from the wholesome fare before he was even born! The owner is a skilled perfectionist and her staff are fantastic. We love this place, and the food and goodies!

Gruel Britannia is always a good choice. From the quaint ambiance, excellent service to the delicious food, it never disappoints. Went with my daughter for breakfast and to share a pot of tea. My daughter enjoyed the traditional British breakfast plate and I had a wonderful spinach, mushroom and Chèvre omelette. We have been a few times for breakfast and brunch but would love to try dinner there in the future.

Woke up hungry today and decided to treat ourselves to a delicious breakfast! The matcha latte was a great start of the meal. Not sweet and very creamy with oat milk. The smoked salmon was very fulfilling and topped over mashed avocado. The Better Bacon Butty was a big serving that it will put you to sleep! Everything was delicious and service was lovely.

The food at Gruel Britannia is great. We've been here a number of times and we've always enjoyed the unique and tasty dishes. Would be 4 stars if it was only about the food. But on three occasions, they have either charged us for items we didn't order or gave us the check for a different party. My suggestion, scrutinize the receipt before paying Service is okay. Ambiance is nice. Interesting decor

Generally somewhat disappointing. A rather strange concept of British food, priced higher than it should be in a rather crude setup. Nothing bad, but I found it a far from comfortable place to eat.

Gruel Britannia is a great surprise. Their English offerings are authentic and the place oozes charm. But I have to admit I didn't dive right in and engage a full English breakfast on this turn, instead I went hit the buttermilk pancakes. The pancakes were delicate and delicious. They arrived crowned with a pat of butter and neighbor of crispy bacon. I had to wash it down with a cappuccino. Next time I will be ordering the full English breakfast for sure. Be prepared to sit at a large table with fellow diners if that is the only room that permits. This place probably has a long wait in the spring and summer months.

Yes yes yes I loved this place! Parking was super easy and the restaurant is not hard to find, however is on the smaller side so be prepared to have to waIt to squeeze in. I assure you its all worth it! Being from California I ordered the avocado toast, which came with a small side salad. Let me tell you that salad was delicious, the dressing was simple yet had a lot of flavor. The avocado toast, they did not skimp with the avocado... I loved the bread that they used, and I loved the spice that was on top, a little spicy and a little lime flavor. I ordered a regular coffee and for those who are not familiar with East Coast restaurants, refills are no no unless you're paying for the extra coffee. My cousin ordered a cappuccino and I love that it came with seltzer water. The pricing is awesome I don't think you can get a better breakfast at the cost. Finally, the staff is so friendly and welcoming it made the whole experience even better. Give this little gem a try, you won't regret it.

Love them but can't call to make a reservation. After ring about 20 times it asks you to enter "your s access code." The website suggests they're open to 8 PM on Tuesdays (today) and their Yelp profile says 6:00 pm. It's now 2:15 PM and I've called 5 times. We really wanted to go there for dinner tonight but I guess not.