Herman’s Diner

The staff are friendly and welcoming. This place is your typical diner, but some offerings are rare! For example, the Rhode Island clam chowder. It was so good, but I rarely see it in restaurants. The potato salad was also TO DIE FOR. The space gets a little drafty and cold, however, so dress warm.

Well, it’s a diner. And the servers are friendly and the potatoes are boiled then cooked right there in front of you.
Has the makings of a great place, right?
Not quite. It’s a hole in the wall that didn’t look like much from the outside. And truth be told, the inside isn’t that big either.
But there I was — looking for a breakfast besides Dunkin Donuts.
So, I ordered the eggs, bacon & potatoes. The eggs were done right — really hard to screw that up. The bacon was a little fattier than I would prefer and the potatoes were actually kind of bland. They weren’t bad, but needed seasoning and salt and could be a little crisper. Kind of came out like nearly mashed potatoes.
And then there’s the toast. It was burnt. No way around it. With a huge slab of butter. That was brought out 5 minutes after everything else. Burnt toast is just unacceptable.
So, don’t think I’ll return. Wish it was better than it was.

A new favorite! This diner is a homey down-​home place to get some good hearty food. I got the biscuits and gravy — very good! The homefries also were well done. Good thing it’s not close to home, or i’d come here every day!

This was one of the worst meals I have ever had! I ordered the omelet with bacon and corned beef hash. The omelet was greasy and undercooked. The bacon was dripping in grease and the corned beef hash was luke warm at best, and looked as though it had been scooped directly from a can. There was no taste to the food and nothing had actually been prepared, just warmed from a can or package. They don’t have drinks, just some cans of drinks which they charge double what you would pay anywhere else. What topped off the bad experience is that they only take cash, no credit, though they have NO signs indicating they are a cash only establishment. When I asked the waitress about it, she said they thought about having signs but didn’t want to pay to make any up. She forced me to leave my cell phone there until I went up the street to an ATM and came back. The food wasn’t worth the price they charge. There are MUCH better diners just up and down the street where you can get much better food for the price.

Small town diner. Really great food! The diner is very small with limited seating, HOWEVER it is totally worth the wait! The staff is very friendly and the food is delicious. They also have pairings that I haven’t seen anywhere else (ie. an omelet with cheese and kielbasa!) The prices are incredibly reasonable and the portions are just right.
**note** they only accept CASH.

Great place for breakfast!
Had the eggs with corn beef hash, home fries, rye toast. and coffee, all for less than $ 8.50, not bad.
I drove by this place several times before I realized it was a diner. It had the look of a antique store or something, but definitely not diner looking. Suggest they put a giant sign out front, so no one is confused.
This is an old style diner. The counter looks like it sits more than the few tables scattered about. Love sitting at the counter, always have great service and a full cup of coffee.

Herman’s is the best breakfast place in Colchester area. The serving sizes are very generous the service is fast and courteous, it’s always a pleasure to eat there. My wife and I went very recently and she ordered the vegetable omelette, while I ordered the mushroom omelette, and we’re both very pleased. Unlike some of the other restaurants in Colchester, you get a very generous serving of home fries, and there is never a wait to get your coffee refilled. Our waitress Christine was exceptional, and I can’t wait to go back.

Can’t say anything about lunch, but breakfast is very good. Service is fast and the food is yummy. I often order the belgian waffle with strawberries. The strawberries are always the best part!

I had not been to Herman’s in a long time after moving to VA, but I’m glad I was home to visit! They have added a lot of specials to the menu which is great. I had the western omelet, which I enjoyed. The home fries are great. All of the wait staff was really friendly and I love how everyone who comes in knows each other. Herman’s is a great mom and pop type place.

I have never been disappointed here. It is always fresh food, cooked perfect and served with a smile. Why go anywhere else.

In a word, «amazing.» Yes it is a greasy spoon but in the best possible way. The grill is filled with potatoes just peeled and sizzling bacon. Trays of fresh biscuits and muffins adorn the counter and the coffee is perfect and the place is clean clean clean. I will be returning here as much as humanly possible.

A cook in a t-​shirt and sweat pants talking story from across the restaurant.
Another cook in a pink cotton track suit… AND sweatband. I’m sold! Let’s go.
Cliffnotes:
~They have a pretty large lot right outside the diner. There aren’t any parking lines so you just sort of make it up. Fall in line based on the guy next to you is a good plan.
~We were greeted upon entrance and told to sit anywhere. Menus are tucked away on each table along with their Specials menu.
~Good prices. for the two of us: $ 18 = 2 meals + 1 coffee. Cash Only.
~The food is simple home cooking. Nothing fancy just comforting. Greasy & buttery (a bit much for me in certain things)
~The restaurant is shaped around the bar area. So when you enter, it flows to the left.
~They’re hours M-​W-​Thu-​F= 6am-​3pm Sat 6am-​11am Sun 7am-​11am.
Would we go back? Sure will!
Breakdown:
There really isn’t much to say in this version because like I said the place is simple. Runs simple and efficient. Easy to understand menu. Quick service.
I got the 2 eggs, home fries & toast ($ 3.5) + a side of their corn beef hash ($ 2.95). The hash was good, eggs just how I like them, toast… well…that seem more like bread with (tons of) butter than it was toast. The potatoes needed a dash of salt, but that was it.
Other half got the homemade biscuit and gravy with 2 eggs; over easy and home fries ($ 8.99). Accompanied by a hot coffee ($ 1.5) From what I saw, he enjoyed it. Scrapping off whatever gravy was left on the dish with the last remaining potatoes. haha!
For those you back home:
Their atmosphere reminds me of Liliha Bakery. You don’t go there because you’re looking for something healthy, or something gluten free. You go because it’s simple, easy, comfort food at a good fair price. Sometimes when you miss your hometown. Comfort is all you’re looking for.

This place was the bomb! Went here on a breakfast date, after a ride through the beautiful CT rolling hills and country roads. It was awesome to stumble on this place. IT looked very packed, but upon going inside there was just enough room for the two of us. It was very cute and homey. The place was clean and the cornbeef hash was terrific. The coffee was only average but the quality of the eggs and cornbeef was excellent. I would return to this place again.
It’s a hidden gem.

Came here on a sunday morning after staying at the lake. Everything was pretty good, cooked fast. They have a remarkably open kitchen. When you have a kitchen that open to customers, you would think you’d want to be neat, tidy and clean. The big turn off was when the cook reached into her purse for money and went right back to cooking with her bare hands without washing them… ewww. Thank god I could see it and it wasnt my order.

One of my friends called me in early December, 2010 and asked if I wanted to go to New London to photograph a parade. I suggested an early start, so we decided to meet for breakfast at Herman’s in Colchester, since she had heard of it but never been there, and I had been away far too long. The parking lot looked full on the first pass, so we went on by and turned around. It actually took almost ten minutes to find a space. That alone should tell you something.
When we finally got inside, the smell was intoxicating. There is nothing like the aroma of good food cooking on a cold morning. I ordered an omelet with kielbasa and my friend had pancakes and eggs. If anything, it was better than I remembered from the twenty years before. When we finished, I asked my friend how she liked her breakfast. She drew a breath, and said thoughtfully, «That was bad for me. But it was SO GOOD!» I had to agree.
Herman’s has a generic diner menu, but execution is excellent. They start their home fries by dumping a container of steamed potatoes on the grill and melting a stick of butter over the top of the heap. From there, it only gets better. The food is fresh and of the best quality. The help, from the waitress to the owner, are fast and friendly. Prices are perfectly reasonable — Eastern Connecticut was in the grip of the Great Recession, but breakfast at Herman’s was not going to break the bank. Also, if like me, you are counting calories, carbs or cholesterol, you might want to make this a special treat, but special it is and it’s always a treat. Sacrifice before or after, but go to Herman’s!

Great little place that you’d hardly know was there. Don’t expect anything fancy, but if you’re looking for good greasy spoon diner food in this area, this is the place to go. Best breakfast in Colchester.