Altnaveigh, Iron Horse, Lindy's by Pete Zizka 8-12-2021 |
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.” Click on photos for larger version |
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