Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The latest trek to a Hidden Gem in Hartford and Tolland Counties takes us to the far western part of the region.

Pause to sniff ...

Yes ... that's the spicy sausage and potato cabbage soup at the Liberty Street Market & Deli in Southington.

Wait ... there's a chowder too ... And that eggplant ...

The restaurant, located at 159 Liberty St., specializes on good old home style cooking. There's always a soup simmering and always fresh specials.

Some of the local favorites include the eggplant parm and chicken cutlets (yes ... they are both hand-breaded) and a variety of salads and sandwiches.

Liberty Street Market and Deli serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It has a small amount of tables for those who venture from out of town or who want to dine at a cozy, causal spot. The staff especially knows how to take care of the grab-and-go customer.

See more about the restaurant on its Facebook page.

Oh ... here's a look at that soup sausage and potato cabbage soup:

Or how about the creamy corn chowder with bacon:

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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:

• 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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