Old Friends and Homemade Pasta

We met some old friends this weekend in Groton, CT. Though not on most people's list of must see places, it has the benefit of being halfway between NYC and Boston. The major tourist attraction, the Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum, was also of interest to the military history buffs in our party.

A docent at the museum suggested we try Paul's Pasta Shop for lunch. Though Italian was not our first choice for lunch, Paul's deck overlooking the Thames River and the fact it served both beer and wine, convinced us to give it a try.

This small shop makes everything from scratch: the pasta, bread, and sauces. The menu was large and varied; hearty, not high brow, offering two sizes of most entrees. My husband's spaghetti pie was about four inches high, and filled with meatballs and sausages. My linguine with fresh chopped clams was delicious. The pasta had a little bite to it, and the clams were tender. All meals came with a basket of warm garlic bread. Though not worth a special trip, Paul's is definitely a must do if you're in the Groton area.