For five years, Stephen Watson had Thursday morning breakfast with his friends at the same shoreline eatery until it closed in October 2025.
So when it reopened under new ownership, he was the first in line, but not first in the door.
βI held the door for the guy that was behind me,β said the Clinton resident and local Sunday Farm Tai Chi instructor.
The recent opening day for the Hangry Goose, 27 East Main St., Clinton was at the former location of the Coffee Break.
βWe thought they deserved to have the town show up and turn out, in support,β Watson said. βThey seemed prepared, which you canβt always take for granted.β
Owners Donna and Fran Uricchio operated the Coffee Break for some 30 years before selling the 4,817 square-foot building in November 2025 for $850,000 to Theodore and Genna Kanaras. The space includes next door neighbor, Fringe Modern and Vintage store.
After months of renovations, the Kanarases opened the 2,400 square-foot Clinton restaurant in April and are serving breakfast and lunch.
The dining room seats 80 and the outside patio, open seasonably, will seat 30 diners.
The black and white theme that runs throughout the restaurant was designed by Genna Kanaras.
βAs a mom you kind of lose yourself, with three kids,β the 34-year-old said. βBeing able to have this and then come in and hear how much people like it, itβs incredible.β
βItβs really an accomplished feeling for me,β she said.
For this family of five, including Alessia, 8; Theo, 7 and Olivia, 2 1/2, the Hangry Goose is a family affair.
βThe kids love it,β Genna Kanaras said. βThey love playing restaurant at home.β
Teddy and Genna Kanaras at their their newly opening Clinton restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Sarah Kyrcz)
βMy kids will come in if thereβs a half day or no school one day, even on a Saturday, Teddy will take one of them,β she said. βTheyβll have the T-shirt on and the apron and they go around with the waitress.β
With menu items including the avocado scrambler, three eggs scrambled with avocado, tomato and onion, served with home fries and toast or cornbread; eggs benedict, two poached eggs on an English muffin with Canadian bacon, topped with Hollandaise sauce and served with home fries; pancakes with a choice of blueberry, strawberry, banana or chocolate chip toppings; hangry salad, mixed greens, cranberries, Mandarin oranges, candied walnuts and cucumbers, served with honey balsamic dressing; burgers and spartan chicken wrap, grilled chicken, spinach, tomato, feta cheese and Tzaziki sauce, the restaurant is drawing hungry, or better yet, hangry diners in.
βSo far, so good,β said Teddy Kanaras, a week after opening the doors.
βWeβve been really happy with the response,β he said. βThe townβs been great and welcoming.β
βWe had a really overwhelming response,β said Genna Kanaras. βThere were people waiting outside the door when we unlocked it for the first time.β
Town manager Michelle Benivegna posted on social media after visiting on day one.
βI enjoyed a delicious lunch today at The Hangry Goose during their soft opening!,β she said. βThe dining room is beautifully renovated, the service was great, and it was wonderful to see so many tables filled.β
Clintonβs newest downtown restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Courtesy)
French toast with fruit & whip Is served at the Clinton restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Courtesy)
Pulled pork sandwich with Asian coleslaw & sweet potato fries Is served at the Clinton Hangry Goose. (Courtesy)
Teddy and Genna Kanaras outside their newly opening Clinton restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Sarah Kyrcz)
Homemade bread is a staple at Clintonβs newest downtown restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Courtesy)
Clintonβs newest downtown restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Courtesy)
Teddy and Genna Kanaras at their newly opening Clinton restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Sarah Kyrcz)
Teddy and Genna Kanaras at their their newly opening Clinton restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Sarah Kyrcz)
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Clintonβs newest downtown restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Courtesy)
βSo happy they chose Clinton as their home and even more thrilled to see our community come out in full support,β she said. βWishing them much success!β
The original Hangry Goose is located at 11 Halls Road in Old Lyme on the Lieutenant River.
It was Genna Kanaras who came up with the name.
βWe were right on the river, there were always geese in the back,β Teddy Kanaras said.
Then, one day they saw a Stop & Shop truck emblazoned with βHonk if youβre hangry,β and Genna Kanaras said to her husband, βThe Hangry Goose?β
βIt stuck and it worked and people loved it,β her husband said.
Teddy Kanaras is at the Clinton location seven days a week and prides himself on serving fresh, homemade meals.
βOur secretβs not a secret,β the 33-year-old said. βWe serve fresh food.β
βAnd we take pride in it,β said Genna Kanaras.
This sets them apart, they both agree.
Pulled pork sandwich with Asian coleslaw & sweet potato fries Is served at the Clinton Hangry Goose. (Courtesy)
βWe make our own turkey breast,β said Genna Kanaras. βWe slow roast it and slice it for our sandwiches.β
βWe donβt use deli meat,β she said.
Her husband expounded on their homemade items.
βWe make our own roast beef, we make our own bread for the French toast, the corn beef hash from scratch,β he said.
Homemade bread is a staple at Clintonβs newest downtown restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Courtesy)
βCinnamon French toast and regular French toast, we roll it ourselves,β he said. βI make our own cornbread, muffins.β
βWe make everything we can from scratch,β he said.
Teddy Kanaras is a fixture in the kitchen.
βHe cooks, so heβs behind the line,β said Genna Kanaras. βHe wants to make sure that everything comes out perfectly.β
βI cook all the eggs,β chimed in Teddy Kanaras.
βIn Old Lyme I didnβt let anyone cook an egg for the first year and a half,β he said. βI like everything to come out perfect. Iβm very prideful of the food coming out.β
He will toss dishes if they donβt come out to his liking.
βIf it doesnβt come out nice and it doesnβt look appetizing, then itβs not going to be good,β he said.
Even the chicken stock is homemade.
βI can buy the chicken, clean it myself and I still have scraps so that I can make soups and make stocks and sauces,β Teddy Kanaras said.
He comes from a family of restaurateurs.
βI grew up in it,β he said. βWeβre Greeks, thatβs what we do, we do restaurants.β
He loves the βaction, I love all the tickets at once, all of the chaos,β he said.
βJust something about the chaos,β he said.
Teddy and Genna Kanaras outside their newly opening Clinton restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Sarah Kyrcz)
His father owned restaurants in Montreal, Granby, Higganum and Old Saybrook before retiring.
Teddy Kanaras attended Johnson & Wales University and operated Old Saybrookβs TJβs Restaurant & Pizza for nine years with his father.
The pizzeria is now owned by his brother, Nick Kanaras.
Teddy Kanaras said he inherited his attention to detail from his father.
βMy dad beat it into me,β he said. βFresh food or no food.β
Watson is looking forward to supporting Hangry Goose.
On opening day, he ordered corned beef hash and eggs and coffee.
βI kept ordering coffee over and over,β he said. βSo thatβs probably the most important thing to a greasy spoon, local breakfast joint is good coffee. I probably refilled my coffee seven times when I was there so thatβs a really good sign.
His use of βgreasy spoonβ for Hangry Goose was a term of endearment, he said.
βGreasy spoon is a sort of blue collar, not trying to be fancy, homey breakfast and lunch place,β he said.
For Teddy Kanaras, he will continue to try and make every diner a satisfied diner.
βWeβre here to make the customer happy,β he said.
Clintonβs newest downtown restaurant, Hangry Goose. (Courtesy)
If there is something a diner wants that isnβt on the menu, he will try to accommodate the request.
βIf we have it thereβs no reason I wonβt make it for you,β he said.
Hangry Goose, 27 East Main St., Clinton; 860-669-1108; hangrygoose.com; teddyk91@gmail.com; Facebook The Hangry Goose; Instagram thehangrygoose
