Nat Hayden's Embroiled in Gift Certificate Controversy

Known for its home-cooked, Southern barbecue fare, Windsor-based is gaining some unfavorable attention these days.

According to The Hartford Courant, the Broad Street restaurant is currently embroiled in a controversy concerning Restaurant.com and the on-line discount company's gift certificates.

The Courant has reported that Nat Hayden's recently refused to honor gift certificates distributed by Restaurant.com, a website that provides consumers with discount dining experiences, and a company with whom Nat Hayden's had an agreement until August 2011.

According to the company's website, Restaurant.com "helps restaurant owners promote the new and unique aspects of their restaurants while providing diners with great value in a fun, new and cost effective way."

The company tries to accomplish this by selling gift certificates to consumers at discount prices (The Courant article cites deals such as the opportunity to purchase a $19.99 gift certificate for $4.99).

The problem for Nat's, however, according to The Courant, is that the gift certificates just aren't good for business.

Nat's has refused to honor past and future gift certificates per its agreement with Restaurant.com (which did end in August), the Courant reported, but "a gift certificate... is forever (by state law)."

Read the full story at Courant.com.

Nat Hayden's has been in Windsor for nearly two years.

Since its establishment, Nat's has become a staple of Windsor Center -- particularly during the warmer months when its patio on Broad Street is packed during lunch and dinner hours.

The eatery is named after Nathaniel Hayden, one of Windsor's first settlers, and his son, Capt. Nathaniel Hayden, one of many Connecticut men who joined the Revolution following the battle of Lexington.