Pasta Fresca & Piadina features a delicious menu of Italian deli meats, cheeses and grinders. Enjoy salami, ham, capicola, pepperoni and more on crunchy New York-style Italian breads, either served hot or cold. The extensive take-out menu also includes soups and salads. The quaint, traditional-style deli is cash only so be sure to carry enough. Prices are reasonable and won't burn a hole in your pocket. A local favorite, Pasta Fresca & Piadina is one of the best places to stop by for a quick bite to go.

Avanti's in Mystic makes delicious pizzas from their secret recipe with a wide variety of yummy toppings. The menu includes not just Italian favorites, but also plenty of fried local seafood, like clams, calamari, cod and scallops. For the grinder fans out there, there is an impressive selection of hot and cold sandwiches made with only the finest ingredients. There are also plenty of vegetarian options available with special pies and meatless grinders. Come in before dinner to take advantage of the Early Bird Menu and seniors are welcome to a discount on Mondays and Tuesdays during lunchtime.

Kitchen Little is your typical New England-style hangout where you can get your breakfast favorites every day as well as traditional seafood bites, like hot lobster rolls, burgers, clam strips and scallop rolls. Where else can you dine for cheap with such a fantastic view of the water? On weekends, only breakfast is served until 1p.

Located in Downtown New London, the Dutch Tavern on Green Street is a comfortable local sports bar that serves some serious retro beers. It's an old bar that has been open since 1933 and was a watering hole of playwright Eugene O'Neill. There are plenty of beers on tap, like Cottrell Old Yankee Ale, Brooklyn Lager, Guinness and Harpoon IPA. You can even get Schaefer in cans if you want to get that early 20th-century feel. The lunch menu is small, but heart with burgers (including veggie burgers!), soups, hot dogs and sandwiches. As noted on their website, "Baseball takes precedence" at this joint, but you can always expect the best games on the tube.

Mr. G's in New London is a throwback to classic, dive sports bars of yore. This is a neighborhood bar where you can get a great meal, toss back a few beers and watch the Patriots. The menu is enormous and encompasses everyone's favorite cuisines such as Greek, Italian and American. Most come for the plentiful grinders filled with Italian deli meats and huge pizzas. Everything is well-priced, making this s great place to go on a shoestring.