Restaurants & Bars

Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

The latest trek to a Hidden Gem brings us to a quiet, unassuming family business which has been around for more than six decades.

Tim Jensen's profile picture
Tim Jensen, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
|
Henry's Pizzeria has been an institution on Route 5 in East Windsor since 1957.
Henry's Pizzeria has been an institution on Route 5 in East Windsor since 1957. (Tim Jensen/Patch)

EAST WINDSOR, CT — How is it possible that a restaurant which has been in business on a busy state route for 63 years can be considered a Hidden Gem? In the case of Henry's Pizzeria in East Windsor, there are no flashy signs, loud music or neon lights to draw attention. It could be quite easy to not even notice the unassuming brick building and drive right past, but doing that would deprive one of some incredible homemade delicacies.

Henry and Rosita Mas, immigrants from the Valenica region of Spain, bought the restaurant from Rudy Valero and changed its name in 1957, at the same location it currently occupies at 255 South Main Street, near the South Windsor town line. An advertisement from the 1960 Ellsworth High School yearbook, shown at the bottom of this story, simply lists "Ravioli, Spaghetti, Pizzas, Grinders" (note the old-style phone number: NAtional 3-7548). That basic menu is still predominant six decades later.

Henry and Rosita's sons, Henry Jr. and Vincent, took over operation of the business in 1976, and have remained a fixture ever since. Some insight into the high quality of the establishment is the amazing longevity of the staff - highly unusual in the restaurant industry. Laura, a waitress for 20 years, is still considered the rookie, as Dorothy has been there for 38 years. Two other women who have since passed away also enjoyed long tenures at Henry's: sassy Anna DiBattista was a waitress for nearly 50 years - until around age 90 - and Peg Hamilton was a cook for 46 years, retiring at 85.

Find out what's happening in Windsor Locks-East Windsorfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Long-standing family recipes have enabled the food at Henry's to maintain a consistency over the years. From traditional and specialty pizzas, to cold and hot oven grinders, to pasta and chicken entrees, Henry's has a great variety to accommodate the entire family. Many dishes, in fact, can be served family style, ensuring great value for a family's dining dollar in tough economic times.

The unique flavor of Henry's pizza cheese can be attributed to its unusual blend of five different varieties: provolone, mozzarella, Romano, parmesan and American. Many traditional and gourmet toppings are available.

Find out what's happening in Windsor Locks-East Windsorfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Owners Vincent and Henry Mas. Photo: Tim Jensen/Patch
An ad from the 1960 Ellsworth High School yearbook. Courtesy of East Windsor Historical Society

____

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:

To register for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Windsor Locks-East Windsor