In May, we took a look at The Clarks and The Shell Chateau. But the Willimantic area was not at a loss for excellent places to eat. Several people in an online discussion forumalso mentioned that the Iron Horse in the Nathan Hale Hotel was one of Willimantic's top local places to eat. “We went there for their famous roast beef dinners. The Iron Horse billed itself as a “modern Colonial restaurant and lounge” and served classic American food like steaks, chops roast chicken, and apple pie and bread pudding for desserts. Edward Drew was the manager there for many years through the 1950s. “There was a French chef named Hugo, and his wife, Marianne, a very sweet lady, was a waitress.” Rotary Club members used to enjoy going there for the Rotary Club lunches each Tuesday at noon while other clubs, Kiwanis, Lions, Civitan, met there regularly as well. One contributor remembered, “It was an excellent restaurant. On Friday nights they had a first-class seafood buffet and on Saturday nights they offered a steamship roast beef buffet and I believe each was about $5 per person.” Just outside town, The  Altnaveigh Inn and Restaurant, in the Spring Hill area of Mansfield was also mentioned as a great restaurant. It was located in a colonial house built probably in 1734. In 1951, the house was purchased by Edith McComb, who named it Altnaveigh, Gaelic for “hill top.” She opened a tearoom and then the restaurant. It then went through two or three more owners. The Gaudette Family, the last owners, turned it into “an upscale restaurant”. People mentioned being impressed by the atmosphere, a four-sided fireplace in the center of the main dining area, lace curtains and maroon valances as well as “the plate of crackers, cottage cheese and pineapple chutney waiting at the table when you’re seated”. The Altnaveigh was remembered as “a special date place”. Back in Willimantic, one of the most enduring and endearing restaurants was Lindy’s. It drew praise from and appealed to people of all ages and incomes for several decades.  Lindy’s Cafeteria at 70 Union Street, opened in October, 1935 and was run by George A. Haddad. It is said that it was named after Charles Lindberg and this week’s photo appears to confirm it. The opening day ad said Lindy’s was a “Dine and Dance Salon” where the “choicest wines, liquors and ales” were available and drinks would be prepared by “an expert mixologist”. George Haddad died in 1948 and his wife, Rose, took over. It was said that she turned Lindy’s into “a second home to hundreds of ‘regulars’ and she treated every one of them as if they were family”. Diane Donovan said  “Rose Haddad was wonderful; I worked there when I was in High School, great bunch of people , and the tips were great back then, good memories”. We heard from a dozen former workers about their time at Lindys. “My mom and aunt worked there for many years, then when I turned 15, I started working there. Great place, loved Rose and spencer so much”.  “I was a waitress at Lindys in 1970. I loved that place.”
Lindy’s must have been packed on Sunday mornings because at least a dozen people mentioned that their families went there for breakfast after church. Some comments: “Went there every week for breakfast after church! It wasn't until a few years ago that I realized it got its name from Charles Lindberg. Guess the plane in the window was a clue!”. “We used to go every Sunday after church for lunch”; “We went on Sundays after church. I loved the blueberry muffins on the grill”. By the late 60s and early 70s, Lindy’s was the place for high schoolers to go after High Parties and Proms. It was interesting that Lindy’s inspired more memories of Rose Haddad and the great atmosphere there than the food. However, there were mentions of, “great deserts, all homemade. Made by Rose's relative from Storrs. Bill Remy was the main cook at the time, could that man hustle, he was amazing”. One person said he,” always ordered the 'hamburg deluxe'”. We’ll end with three final reminiscences: “The owners were so sweet. Awesome memories”. “I have very fond memories of Lindy's restaurant”. “Great family that ran it.” Lindy’s survived a major fire in 1953 but closed in 1973, another victim of Willimantic’s “Redevelopment”. After Lindy’s closed,Mrs. Haddad embarked on a second, 20 year career as a hostess at the Faculty Alumni Center of the University of Connecticut. Willimantic’s loss was UConn’s gain.