Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

COVENTRY, CT — For 200 years, the tavern at 1260 Main Street in Coventry has been a local — and regional — gathering spot for food, drink, oration and village charm. It's also a true Hidden Gem because, though it sits on the main drag, its spot a curve and a hill tend to make the location a bit off the sight lines of the passing motorist.

Welcome to the famed Bidwell Tavern, home of award-winning wings and a step back in time to when the stagecoach dropped off tired passengers for refreshment and horses lined the sides of the road.

Though the Bidwell is famous for its chicken wings (there are about 30 different sauces and eight dry rubs to choose from), it also offers a full menu.

The atmosphere is fit for the quiet one-on-one dinner, a group social gathering or even a meeting.

Click here for hours and directions.

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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 Hartford and Tolland counties. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to Chris.dehnel@patch.com.

Other Gems in this series:

2022

• Tree Farms In Hartford/Tolland Counties
• Henry Park Holiday Lights
• The Vintage Shops
• The Schofield Spring Water Dispenser
• Harry Lugg Memorial Field
• Alfred E Pope Horse Trough and Fountain
• The CT Heavy Artillery Regiment Mortar
• The Ancient Burying Ground
• The Wolf Pack Bobblehead
• The Tolland Inn
• The Gathering Ground Restaurant
• Poke Don Hawaiian Restaurant
• The Husky Olympic Monument
• The Mazz Pizza Company Truck
• The "Keyhole" Tunnel
• ANTIQ'S
• Broad Brook Opera House
• Bart's Luncheonette
• McCann Family Farm
• Banquet Hall at Grassmere Country Club
• Willington Common Bell
• Chez Ben Canadian Diner
• Farmington Canal Aqueduct
• Grave of Gettysburg Casualty William Whitney Goodell
• Riverfront Park Boathouse
• Connecticut Freedom Trail
• The David Smith Bridge
• Wadsworth Antheneum
• Southwest Cemetery
• The Polish Plate
• Ferry Grill & Chill
• The Print Hub
• Lacrosse Unlimited
• Ellington Agway
• Jefferson Fry Co.
• Hartford History Center Suffragist Sculpture
• Windsor Locks Canal Irish Workers Monument
• Utsav Indian Cuisine
• Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
• Madeline Regan Preserve
• Frontier Airlines at Bradley
• Munson's Chocolates Factory Shoppe
• Connecticut River Valley Wildlife Museum
• Lobster Craft
• Center Springs Park
• MLK Monuments
• The Connecticut Historical Society

2021 and earlier:

• The Bridge At Bolton Notch
• 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
• Bottle and Can Redemption Centers
• The Dodd Center for Human Rights at UConn
• Manchester Ropes Challenge Course
• 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm
• Fuego Picante Food Truck
• The Amistad
• The 9/11 memorials
• Club Champion Golf Fitters
• Golden Irene Restaurant
• Avery's Soda
• Petersen Flower Farm
• R Dee Winery
• Golden Gavel Auction House
• The Cogswell Temperance Fountain
• The Old State House
• BouNom Bakery
• Union Pond Park/Jay Howroyd Fitness Trail
• Cedar Knob Restaurant & Banquets
• UConn Dairy Bar
• Topstone Golf Course
• Backwoods Smokin' BBQ
• The Ranch House
• Foster Hill Farm
• Emma Hart Willard Birthplace
• Connecticut Parachutists Skydiving Club
• Just Be Salon
• Tail Winds Ice Cream Shop
• The MLK Mural
• The Hilltop Restaurant and Bar
• Francesco's Ristorante
• The Modern Milkman
• Cotton Hollow Kitchen
• Fearless Cards, Toys and Collectibles
• Fork & Fire
• Lena's Italian Kitchen
• Southwood Antiques & Marketplace
• Swank Pearce
• Vernon Depot Historic Park
• Farr's Sporting Goods
• Robs Drivin Diner
• Powder Mill Barn
• At the Dam
• Lena's Restaurant
• The Genius of Connecticut
• The Notch
• LuAnn's Bakery
• Ecker Hill Disc Golf Course
• The Kona Ice Truck
• Olympia Diner
• Mountain Dairy
• Anthony Jacks Wood-Fired Grill
• Pabs African Restaurant
• Henry's Pizzeria
• South Windsor Wildlife Sanctuary
• The Country Butcher
• Aby's Bakery
• Liberty Street Market & Deli
• Wilderness Lake Campground and Resort
• Time Machine toy and hobby store
• Paul Gregory's Bistro Cafe
• The Scoop
• Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark District
• Faddy's Donuts and Ice Cream
• Riverfront Miniature Golf & Ice Cream
• The Historic Babcock Tavern
• High Grade Finishing
• Craig's Kitchen
• Sikorsky S-16 Bi-Plane Fighter
• Navy ZNP-K Airship Control Car
• Rosedale Farms & Vineyards
• Nathan Hale Homestead
• Burke Ridge Farms
• Necker's Toyland
• Civil War Monument at Mt. Hope Cemetery
• Gene Pitney Memorial Benches
• Joe McCluskey/Manchester Road Race Statue
• Samuel Field Knight Historic Marker
• Carol's Lunchbox
• Country Casuals
• Country Cobbler
• Beau's Burger Shack
• Daniel Glazier Tavern
• Mount Southington Ski School
• Awards & More
• Marquis de Lafayette Monument
• The Little Red Store
• River Bend Bookshop
• Gerry's Donuts
• Traveler Restaurant
• First Decorated Christmas Tree
• The Stanley-Whitman House
• Vernon's Santa House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• Old Country Banquet Hall
• Brazilian Gula Grill
• Thomas' Smokey Pit Stop
• Congregational Church of Burlington labyrinth
• Noah Webster House
• The Bushnell's Green Room Wall
• Belding Wildlife Management Area
• The Aborn Castle
• Heublein Tower
• Birthplace of Jonathan Edwards
• Grave of Revolutionary War Soldier Heman Baker
• Jessica's Garden, Lobster and Ice Cream Shack
• Shade Swamp Sanctuary
• Ken's Corner Breakfast & Lunch
• Tolland Red and White
• Cold Harbor Seafood
• Nye Holman State Forest/Heron Cove Park
• Hosmer Mountain Soda Shack
• Connecticut Trolley Museum
• Matterhorn Mini Golf
• Wood Memorial Library & Museum
• Hastings Farm
• Liquid Nirvana
• Iwo Jima Survivors Memorial Park
• Academy Hall
• Southington Drive-In
• Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall
• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant