When Sarina and Gwen McGugan entered the restaurant business
10 years ago, the first thing they did was write down
everything they disliked about restaurants - surly wait staff,
processed foods, static menus, etc. - and vowed never to allow
any of those elements into the new establishment. They
immediately realized that this list was the exact opposite
of all the things they enjoyed about dining with
friends - laughter, a relaxed atmosphere and great food. In
that initial session, they had agreed upon the approach they
would take:
"Treat patrons like they are guests in our house."
That philosophy was the basis for their first restaurant,
Somewhere In Time, in Mystic,
and is evident throughout their latest endeavor: When
Pigs Fly, in Waterford. In both cases, the restaurant
becomes somewhat of an extension of Sarina's and Gwen's home.
That goes for both the treatment of customers and the
preparation of the food. Friendly and accommodating, you'll
feel right at home the moment you step into, When Pigs Fly.
Take a seat and you are greeted with a smile, a truly creative
menu and an inviting ambiance that quickly transforms casual
customers into regulars. Some of these individuals even have
sandwiches and dishes named after them. Others have brought
in pictures, statues and all sorts of incarnations of pigs.
Look around the restaurant - they're everywhere, adding a
whimsical touch to the surroundings. One other element that
catches a lot of customers' eyes is the Christmas tree
ornaments hanging from the ceiling. They went up during the
first week of operation, when staff had few customers to
serve and plenty of time on their hands. It was just one of
those things that seemed like a good idea at the time. Things
got busier soon after that, and nobody has the time - or the
inclination - to take them down. They're now a permanent
part of the décor.
About the only thing that can match the welcoming atmosphere
is the food. Nothing is processed or pre-cooked. This is true,
home cooking, where all dishes are prepared from scratch...yup,
even the soups. Sarina and Gwen take a relatively simple
approach: They serve foods they and their friends like to
eat, and prepare them similar to what they would do in their
own kitchen.
This method results in a lot of experimentation before any
item makes it onto the menu. Specials on that menu change
weekly and seasonally. You can be sure that any of the scents
and tastes that make each season special will be found at When
Pigs Fly. Regulars have come to expect delicacies, like peach
cobbler in summer, pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin bread French
toast in fall, and Christmas French toast made from eggnog
in winter. Some other French toast breads include: Banana
bread, strawberry bread, blueberry cream cheese bread, corn
bread and apple cobbler bread. Avocados have been finding their
way into several new dishes, and there is an ever-growing list
of items with whole grains, along with more vegetarian and
gluten free dishes.
Catering to customer tastes and requests, the offerings,
combinations and specials are constantly changing. Three things
that will never change are the friendly service, inviting
atmosphere and creative selections that have made When Pigs
Fly, Waterford's favorite neighborhood cafe.
Address
When Pigs Fly Cafe
97 Rope Ferry Road
Waterford, CT 06385
Hours
We offer convenient indoor
and outdoor seating options
Easy take out and
online ordering available
Open Daily (except Wednesdays)
Hours: 7am to 2pm