The Tea Kettle offers tasty (Paleo and non-Paleo) dishes

February 24, 2016 11:01 pm • Last Updated: February 24, 2016 11:05 pm

If good old Australopithecus, by way of some unforeseen trip through time, found himself wandering the present-day Connecticut shoreline in search of sustenance, he'd feel quite at home stumbling upon The Tea Kettle Restaurant in Old Saybrook, the 2-year-old breakfast and lunch spot specializing in foods of the Paleolithic diet.

(Apologies to all the archaeologists out there, appalled by my complete lack of understanding of human evolution.)

It appears to be little more than your average diner on Boston Post Road — tucked inconspicuously into a strip mall next to a tobacco shop and adorned on the inside with simple tables, chairs and maroon carpeting.

But a glance at the menu tells a different story: the Paleo benedict made with Canadian bacon, eggs and Paleo bread ($12.95), Paleo pancakes ($5.50 for one; $8.50 for two), Paleo French toast ($5.25 and $7.25), and Paleo Belgian waffles ($6.95 and $10.95).

You may ask: So what makes Paleo baked goods Paleo? Well, it's a little bit of gluten-free almond flour and a lot bit of Paleo magic.

For starters, I tried the Paleo pancakes topped with sliced strawberries and real maple syrup, and served with fluffy eggs and a pair of house-made, all natural sausage links on the side. A side of sweet potato bacon hash completed this meal for $3.95 extra.

Far from tearing into raw mastodon meat with your bare hands and teeth, these were no Homo erectus griddlecakes. The pancakes were airy, flavorful, and virtually indistinguishable from those consumed by later iterations of the Homo genus, such as the present day breakfast eater.

For the modern man and woman, there are also plenty of other, non-Paelo options. Among them: the Kettle Burger with roasted red pepper, Applewood smoked bacon, melted cheddar and fried egg on a hard roll ($11.95); the Randy Rhodes hot dog made with an Applewood smoked bacon-wrapped Hummel foot long deep fried and topped with yellow mustard and cheddar cheese ($7.95); and the grilled corned beef Reuben served on rye with house made thousand islands dressing and sauerkraut ($8.95).

I tried a simple over-hard egg and cheese sandwich (a steal at $2.95) that was notable for its total lack of the standard diner greasiness — fresh and delicious. Next was a rather clever pancake, the carrot cake, which came sweet and with thin shreds of carrot that added unique texture and paired nicely with my maple syrup.

And for my final meal I went completely off the Paleo Wagon with the roast beef melt ($9.95) served on rye with thickly sliced, juicy beef, savory caramelized onions, Swiss, and some horseradish mayo that provided just the right amount of kick.

For those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the Paleo diet, the wait staff is more than happy to answer questions. For instance, I found out: sweet potato hash — Paleo; regular hash — not Paleo; artificial maple syrup — not Paleo; real maple syrup — as Paleo as Paleo comes, folks! They even mentioned they occasionally host guest speakers who guide audiences on how to incorporate Paleo into their regular diet.

As for me, I like my cheeses and breads a bit too much for that. But, like many, I enjoy a tasty change of pace from time to time. And I certainly enjoyed a little walk on the Paleo side.