Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

MANCHESTER, CT — The latest installment of the Hidden Gems series takes us to a mouth-watering spot on one of the busiest state routes in central Connecticut, yet one that can be easily missed due to being set back quite a distance from the roadway, tucked behind a Mexican restaurant. Once you find it, however, you will be treated to one of the finest steakhouses in the state.

By its location and look, most people would assume the Dakota Restaurant in Rocky Hill is part of a giant chain, and in fact, it used to be. However, Silas Deane Highway is the single location in Connecticut, owned by David Melincoff and operated by general manager Joy Benzing. The setting takes diners into "an era of rich traditions with an intriguing mix of history — Adirondack mountain lodge, the Old West, the Rockies, and the Great Plains."

Dakota offers high-quality steaks, from filet mignon and prime rib to top sirloin and New York strip, but so much more to its hungry clientele. Appetizers like bacon-wrapped scallops (the best I've ever had) and the world's most amazing clam chowder (as sampled recently by ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, not to mention Barb) set the stage for a great variety of entrees, including tuna sashimi, rainbow trout, salmon and several chicken dishes.

Saturdays and Sundays feature one of the most extensive brunches in the area, and on a daily basis, the famous salad bar provides more options than any other in the region. Four separate rooms, each with its own stone fireplace, are available for large parties, with seating ranging from 24 to 73 guests. An outdoor patio dining area is also an option.

More information can be found on the restaurant's website.

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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. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other columns in this series:

• 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
• The Packing House
• 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