1. Hen House Bbq
City: Southington, CT
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (860) 276-0798
Address: 192 Main St.
Description: Founded in 1988 by Ronald Amorando, this Southington restaurant started out with just a few items, but as they quickly became popular, they began to offer more and more. Today you can get everything from a bison burger to fried flounder. The Philly cheesesteaks are quite good here, a rarity in Connecticut, so if you’re from Pennsylvania and long for home, this is a great place to stop. However, what keeps people coming back is, obviously, the barbecue, both ribs and wings. The moist and delicious barbecue chicken is what you should order here, for a ridiculously cheap price. There are other places to get great ribs in Connecticut, but few do chicken so well. If you have lived your life on just dry white breast meat, try a whole barbecued chicken for less than $10 (!), and understand at last the appeal of a perfectly cooked bird.
2. Saint’S
City: Southington, CT
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (860) 747-0566
Address: 1248 Queen St.
Description: Don’t mess with success. Since 1967 this hot dog joint in Southington has produced some of the tastiest dogs in the state. More particularly, they specialize in chili dogs, and since they opened they have used the same mustard, relish, and chili sauce (a sweet but not meaty version). All three are excellent, so why change? It’s really the chili sauce that has put Saint’s on the map, though. What, you’ve never had a chili dog? Well, then perhaps you don’t want to get one here, because every other version of these delicious creations will taste less impressive compared to Saint’s. To drink, get one of their extra-thick milk shakes. This is a local hangout and a road-food destination, and under the red sign with its tilting halo you’ll find everyone behaving, if not like saints, at least like friends.
3. Apple Harvest Festival
City: Southington, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (860) 276-8461
Description: Every October since 1968, 100,000 people have descended on Southington for this annual festival. It lasts a week, beginning with it a parade and proceeding through arts and crafts shows, a carnival, a road race, a talent show, fireworks, music, and dancing. Of course, the mighty apple is featured heavily, with all sorts of apple-based foods to eat (as well as other delicacies like fried dough and lobster pies). You can try your luck at apple pie–eating contests, bed races, and singing competitions. The nearby orchards get into the fun, with wagon rides and apple picking. Parking and admission are free, and so is the live music and entertainment.
4. Cadillac Ranch
City: Southington, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (860) 621-8805
Address: 45 Jude Ln.
Description: Got a little country in you? Then you probably want to come to the Cadillac Ranch for line dancing or to ride the mechanical bull. Don’t know how to line dance? They have lessons some nights for a very small fee, or free with cover charge, to try a little East Coast swing. The restaurant serves classic American food with a few country specialties. Sun, Wed, and Thurs the Ranch has karaoke, so you can put your pipes up against the best country stars. This is a great place to meet and greet other country music fans. In fact, my brother-in-law met his future wife here. Maybe true love is waiting for you at Cadillac Ranch as well.