Readers Reminisce About Long-Lost Enfield Eateries

ENFIELD, CT — Hotzy's. The Ringside. Pete's Pizza. Eugene's. Klug's Bakery. These are just five of over 50 names submitted by Enfield Patch readers who were asked via Facebook, "Name a restaurant from your childhood that isn't around anymore."

As of noon Monday, 229 comments had been placed in response to the post, with a wide variety of national chains, regional favorites and single-site mom and pop locations listed. This story highlights some of the most popular responses.

The clear-cut winner was Abdow's Big Boy, which at one time had two Enfield locations, at 34 Enfield Street and 9 Hazard Avenue. Among the comments readers said about Abdow's were:

• "Their strawberry pie was amazing!"
• "I miss that place, the one at the state line. Great (and plentiful) onion rings, iced coffee (when nobody else was serving it) and great service always."

A local institution, the Mountain Laurel Restaurant, and a national chain, Bonanza Steakhouse, tied for second among local readers.

The Mountain Laurel at 701 Enfield Street was the go-to spot for fine dining for decades. Reader comments included:

• "The Mountain Laurel...memories of very special occasions!"

Bonanza, founded in 1963 by Dan Blocker, who played Eric "Hoss" Cartwright on the long-running television show of the same name, was located at the northern end of the old State Line Plaza.

Among the other top vote-getters were:

• Ground Round
• Cimino's/Enfield Dairy Bar
• Bickford's
• China Jade
• Mr. Steak
• Chi Chi's
• Smyth's Dairy Bar
• Pumpernickel Pub
• Captain DW's
• Beefsteak Charlie's
• Tat's
• L'Expo
• Nino's
• Hazard Villa
• Ann Fields Country Pie Restaurant
• Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips

Find the full list of responses via the link below:

Photo courtesy of Enfield Historical Society

To sign up for free Enfield news alerts and more, click here.