A New Spot: The owners of several area restaurants bring new life to Groton's The Spot Cafe

The Spot’s new menu launched in October, and the grand opening of the Au-led The Spot was Nov. 20.

On its website, The Spot, which is located at 11 Buddington Road, bills itself as the “best American restaurant in Groton.” And while the menu has transformed since this new ownership took over, a modern American cuisine has remained the venue’s guiding principle.

At a recent lunchtime, Ricky Au sat at one of The Spot’s booths and talked about what has changed and what has stayed constant.

Au said the restaurant has kept some of the dishes from its former incarnation, but in general, it’s a new menu. Flatbreads are a fresh addition, with options such as fig and prosciutto, and Mexican street corn. New, too, are the mini tuna wonton nachos and the Point Judith calamari, and all the pastas and entrees.

“We make a lot of things fresh here, like our sauces, our soups, dressings. I would say almost everything is made in-house. Even our empanadas are made in-house (and the) clam chowder,” Au said.

They are also trying to make the enterprise more family-focused, with a kids menu and a Thursday night special where children eat free when their fellow diners order two entrees.

The interior structure of The Spot remains the same, including where the bar and tables are, but there have been cosmetic updates, with new furniture and paint; wood has been restained.

From Ricky Au: 

"The Spot has always been a special place in the community, and bringing my new vision to life — while still respecting what people already loved about it — has been energizing,” he said. “Seeing guests come in, feel the vibe, enjoy the food, and really connect with the space reminds me why I do this. It’s not just about opening a restaurant; it’s about creating a place where people want to gather, feel comfortable, and keep coming back. We’re just getting started, and that’s the most exciting part." 

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