Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

BROAD BROOK, CT — Technically, today's Hidden Gem is located on a state road, Route 191. However, that designation is a mere formality, as a wonderful little eatery called At the Dam is in the heart of the quaint village of Broad Brook, a section of East Windsor so set unto itself, it even has its own ZIP code.

At the Dam is a breakfast and lunch spot at 100 Main Street. It is appropriately named, located directly across the street from the dam which connects Mill Pond with Broad Brook. It is based in an historic building, constructed in 1850, which housed the original Broad Brook Post Office, and was home for many years to Pigeon's Pharmacy.

For 10 years beginning in the late 1990s, the eatery was known as Alfred's, owned by Kathy Jorgensen. From 2010 through last November, the renamed At the Dam was owned by Donna Cunningham. Susan Chadbourne bought the restaurant in December, and together with her son, chef/cook Paul Merker, she began cleaning and renovating the facility.

By the time the restaurant was ready to re-open, the coronavirus pandemic began, delaying the opening for several months. At the Dam finally re-opened for two days of take-out only on June 17, and the dining room opened two days later, at 50 percent capacity due to government restrictions.

The walls of the cozy dining area are adorned with photos of the building in its many incarnations over the years. The newest addition is a painting of the interior, featuring Chadbourne and Merker, done by local artist Joe Burger.

At the Dam is open Tuesday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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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 tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other columns in this series:

• 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
• Dakota Restaurant
• 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

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