Hidden Gems of Connecticut

VERNON/WETHERSFIELD, CT — We have two Hidden Gems under one banner in Connecticut this week — one in Tolland County and one In Hartford County.

Welcome to Utsav, restaurants that serve authentic Indian cuisine in two locations — at 575 Talcottville Road in Vernon and at 1115 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield.

Utsav means festival in Sanskrit and, according to the restaurant owners, "India is one of the few countries in the world that can boast of having people from different backgrounds and different religions who do not only live together, but also enjoy and celebrate these festivals of each other with the same enthusiasm as they celebrate those of their own."

The food at Utsav honors the food at the festivals.

"Each and every festival brings with it the joy of the festival and ceremonious food that is awaited for all year long," the owners like to say. "These special recipes retain the historical jewelry of Indian food culture. Come and enjoy the food to the fullest."

Utsav has been recognized by several major food publications as having some of the best Indian food — if not THE best — around.

See more on the restaurants here.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Connecticut. Columns in this series in 2022 include:

• The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
• The Rein's Reuben
• Frontier Airlines at Bradley
• Munson's Chocolates
• Connecticut River Valley Wildlife Museum
• LobsterCraft
• Center Springs Park
• MLK Monuments
• The Connecticut Historical Society

Columns in this series from 2021 include:

• The First Decorated Christmas Tree
• Bolton Notch Trail Bridge
• Civil War Drum
• Civil War Powder Keg
• Mile 4, Manchester Road Race
• The West Hartford Armory
• The Capitol's Nooks and Crannies
• Wickham Park Aviary
• 55 West Main, New Britain
• Fox Hopyard Golf Course
• The Dodd Center For Human Rights at UConn
• Manchester Ropes Challenge Course
• 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm
• Fuego Picante Food Truck
• The Amistad
• 9/11 memorials
• Club Champion Golf Fitters
• New England Civil War Museum and Research Center
• Avery's Soda
• Salt 2.0 Restaurant
• The Grave of Jonathan, The Original Husky
• Golden Gavel Auction House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• The Cogswell Temperance Fountain
• The Old State House
• BouNom Bakery
• Union Pond Park/Jay Howroyd Fitness Trail
• The Submarine Force Museum/USS Nautilus
• The UConn Dairy Bar
• Grove Hill Cemetery, Vernon
• Backwoods Smokin' BBQ
• The Ranch House
• Connecticut State Police Museum
• Berlin Historic District
• Connecticut Parachutists Skydiving Club
• Tail Winds Ice Cream Shop
• The MLK Mural
• The Hilltop Restaurant and Bar
• Fork & Fire
• Lena's Italian Kitchen
• The Benedict Arnold Trail
• Swank Pearce
• Vernon Depot Historic Park
• Farr's Sporting Goods
• Robs Drivin Diner