Nat Hayden’s Real Pit Barbecue

Good BBQ. Food is good but the atmosphere could be better. Love the specials they have. Their farm hand meal lasts for 2 days. They could get a better beer selection.
The place smells great when you walk in.

Idk what to really say. I’m disappointed in this place. I had a steak and cheese and it was overpowering, the Flavors were pretty bland and it was hard to eat. The sweet tea was disgusting. I really had high hopes and wanted to enjoy it. I took a few bites of the sandwich and threw it out. Go to bears or Lily’s if you want a good bbq that you can eat. This place as some things to work on.

This place has is delicious. Succulent. Excellent pit barbecue. Well flavored. Slightly smokey. Service is good. Price may be a bit much for the area but when you leave full and satisfied you can’t really argue with that. Nice beer selection as well. Some local brews.

One of the best BBQ restaurants I have been too. Their food is just fantastic. Service was very nice, quick and efficient. Clean and organized. Reasonable price.

Summary: five stars for service and food
We weren’t able to stop and eat, so we ordered carry-​out instead. We called them on the phone, and the person who answered was very helpful and nice. Everything was ready by the time we got there, which took around 10 – 15 minutes. We got the pulled pork and a half rack of ribs. The place was pretty full when we got there, so be sure to get there early to claim a seat! The had plenty of sides as well to choose from.
Be a little careful when you try to find them. We tried using a GPS and had some trouble. If you still can’t find them after wandering around a bit, call them! They would be happy to help. There was enough meat in our orders, but I would be a little happier if they included just a little more and less of the french fries. The macaroni salad as a side was great, as were the collard greens.
Be sure to stop by if you have the chance! A great little place that the locals seem to enjoy. The food was phenomenal as well, as was the service.

Went with the Farmhand combo (pulled pork, brisket, mac&cheese, rice&beans, coleslaw) for lunch today. Very generous portion of meat, so much so, that I skipped supper tonight. Pulled pork was moist, hint of smoke flavor. I had to use some vinegar sauce on the pork, but not too much. Sauce isn’t needed on great Bar-​B-​que, at all (same as ketchup on a awesome burger, no need for that).
Brisket was OK, I didn’t like it as much as the pulled pork. I thought the sides were decent — mac&cheese was just the way I like it, not too creamy. Rice&beans had a slight hint of spice (and that’s a good thing, wasn’t heavy-​handed). Slaw was mayo-​based. I prefer a vinegar-​based slaw, but most Q places have the mayo slaw.
Nat Hayden’s is on the level of some of the Q places I’ve eaten at down South. For New England, this is solid Bar-​B-​que. I’d certainly drop in again if I’m in the area.

I ordered take out when I arrived I was greeted by a very polite young lady. I made a few inquires and placed my order for a Pull pork sandwich and smashed garlic potatoes with extra corn bread. Everything was very delicious and wow on the cornbread. I will be back for more.
Thanks you do a great job.

Stopped for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. We went with the brisket and I had the pepperjack grits. We also tried a side of chicken. The brisket was good, not great. The chicken was very dry but the grits were amazing. I would go back and order 2 sides of those. Their sauces were good and the brisket although underseasoned had a good smoke flavor. Some people prefer that taste, I just like a little salt or pepper or something on the meat instead of just a smoke flavor. Would return but maybe not for the chicken or brisket.

I used to go there frequently, often for the Cuban sandwich. Sometimes, it was skimpy, though tasty, others, just fine. My turn off…85 for a cup of hot water with a slice of lemon. What the dickens? When questioned, the waitress just shrugged h shoulders. Upon calling it to the owner’s attention later and saying that would keep me from coming back, his response was ‘can’t fix it if you don’t’. Seriously? THAT’s the best you can do? No explanation, no ‘offer’…not returning.

What a Great Find! Not being from the area, wanted /​needed BBQ food and got a recommendation from here. This is a great place with great food and fabulous staff. Ann (our waitress) couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly, making suggestions and jokes at the same time. Lots of choices of beer to go along with the BBQ. Pork Ribs with collard greens and red beans and rice was my favorite… although also at the table was the Beef Rib. Both done to perfection. So many options for desert too! Will surely come back when in the area again. If you live nearby and haven’t tried it, you should!

Decent, but not as soul satisfying as I hoped. Their biscuits and mac-​n-​cheese are excellent. Everything else was OK. I did not care for either of their BBQ sauces. The sweet one was very heavily molasses flavored and the tangy was very vinegar flavored. Nothing right in the middle.
I will go back, but it’s not going to be a favorite stop.

Hi Norm, my Husband, Mark and Myself have been followers, since your former location opened: D Thanks for responding! My only wish is that the fried chicken was available more often, lol. Thank you for consistently great food!
Claudine

I’m glad we decided to stop in for a quick bite! We were already pretty full from having stopped for coffee and cookies beforehand, so I decided to stick with some gumbo and sides.
Loved the gumbo… I will order anything with andouille in it! It’s so hard to find gumbo in this area, that I always jump at the chance when it’s on the menu! The pepperjack grits and baked beans were tasty. I also stole some brisket from my boyfriend’s sandwich, and it hit the spot. No need for sauce! The brisket’s smokey flavor was perfect on its own.
Speaking of sauce, I’m not a big fan of very vinegary BBQ sauces, so I wasn’t a fan of Nat Hayden’s 2 optional sauces. I prefer the thicker, tomato-​ier, sweet-​yet-​slightly-​tangy variety. But please don’t let that deter you! I will absolutely be back soon to try their Windsor Cheese Steak and Pulled Pork Nachos! This time, I’ll be sure to visit on an empty stomach. ;)

This place seem to have gone down hill. WAY down hill. The food has become bland, and the burnt ends are really greasy. The ship itself is nice, as is the staff. But the food… not so much anymore.

Had the brisket burger. Came out perfect. The bun was warm and fresh. Plenty of brisket which was perfect. Would definitely come back.

My word, where to begin with this place? Their sweet tea was like being back in Georgia again. Crazy sweet and so good!
Then I tried my friend’s pulled pork nachos. You know, I’ve never been a fan of pulled pork, but the meat on these nachos was so tender and flavorful! Best nachos I’ve ever had.
For an appetizer, I had a fantastic butternut squash bisque. The spice in it surprised me a bit but it made the soup that much more incredible.
First the main meal, I ordered the quarter chicken meal with pepper jack cheese grits, red beans and rice, and corn bread. The chicken was cooked just right, very moist on the inside and just a little bit of their sweet BBQ sauce on the outside. The grits were so darn good, a delightful combination of cheesy and slightly spicy.
My friend ordered the catfish po boy sandwich and really enjoyed it. I tried a bite of the fish, great flavor and cooked just right.
Although I didn’t order any on this particular outing, they had a great selection of local beers as well as other tasty craft beers from around the country.
And last, but not least, I ordered a piece of pumpkin cheesecake to go which I’m sure will be really good as well.
I’m planning on coming back in a few days on my way out of town. By far the best barbecue I’ve ever had (this coming from a Texan, and we know our BBQ), and possibly one of the best restaurants period.
Almost forgot… the service was great too! We tipped well because the blond gal that served us did a great job!

As someone who lived in Texas for several years, let me tell you this is just as good! I know as soon as I walked in and smelled the meat cooking that this place was gonna be the real deal! Food was delicious and portions were generous. Husband ordered the Brisket Cheesesteak with fries and I had the Pulled Brisket sandwich with macaroni and cheese. Neither of us finished our meals and had plenty of leftovers to enjoy later. Meat was tender as it should be the the BBQ sauce they offered was very good. Macaroni and cheese was definitely homemade and satisfying. Wait service was attentive and friendly, and our waitress was very sweet. (I can’t remember her name exactly, but I want to say maybe Ann?). Also, the soda was good because it wasn’t your typical Coca Cola or Pepsi! Husband was excited to get a cream soda. Desserts looked great (Pumpkin cheesecake! Nutella pie!) but we were too stuffed to get one. Next time we will take our waitress’ suggestion and order dessert first! Overall, a pleasant experience with very tasty BBQ. Will be back when we are in the area!
Oh, and the price was very reasonable! Our whole meal was $ 20. I was shocked (pleasantly!). That’s just a few dollars more than two fast food meals and three times the taste and value. Not very often you get good food at a reasonable price! Even chain restaurants are much more.

Really great brisket in Windsor. Try the brisket cheese steak. Loads of tender, juicy meet on a hoagie roll. Really good. Worth going out of your way for…
The St. Louis ribs are meaty and fall off the bone good.
One downer can be the iced tea. Though it’s freshly brewed, sometimes it has an off flavor.
Service is casual and good, and the owner coming out and helping the front of the house is a great way to keep service good and customers happy.
At the time of this review Unilocal has Nat’s at 3.5 stars. I disagree. Nat’s is certainly worthy of 4 stars for BBQ in Windsor. Fix the tea for a true southern BBQ experience…

Really really good. You won’t be disappointed! Try the cheeseburger made with brisket! Amazing!!!

I’m lucky enough to live between two amazing BBQ restaurants. Each with a unique flavor profile. I love the catfish which is unique for our town. The sides are delicious and they always have a special one for the day. Mexi corn is amazing if you love heat :)

Cool décor, great staff and I must say the clientele was cool too. It is located next to a liquor store — I am not complaining! There are so many choices with great names to boot. You get a lot of food for your money and the prices are decent. I really wanted to try the pepper jack cheese grits but they were out so it must be a favorite! I had the bbq chicken with baked beans and Mac and cheese. My mother had «the whole hog». My food was just ok and my mother loved her food. The reason I am giving 4 stars is because I had their food during the holidays and really liked it — so I am giving them the benefit of the doubt that the cook might have been off his game this day. It happens to all of us!

My friends and I came during an off-​hour and were some of the only patrons around 2:30pm. The menu is super enticing and includes many different types of combos so you can try different meats or keep it small.
I had a pulled pork sandwich, which left me satisfied. The combo plates were generous, but the BBQ was a little drier than anyone anticipated. Ribs had a nice flavor, but the tenderness that I like was not quite there.
I dug the grits, but collards seemed a little soggy.
Our waitress was super sweet, though, and kept our free soda refills coming. I’d love to come again and have more pulled pork and one of their beers, as their beer list, while short, was better than average and showcased some local beers.

Maybe I’ve become spoiled. Or maybe I have just developed a taste for good BBQ, what with other VERY reputable BBQ spots in the area. But, altogether Nat Hayden’s didn’t quite make the mark for a number of reasons.
After a number of visits to their newer location, Nat’s comes up short in the service department. We’ve had different waitresses each time. Whether it be the hovering-​helicopter-​waiter or lack of professionalism, service has been very spotty and amateur at best.
The same inconsistency can be said about the food. We’ve never sampled the sandwiches, only the combo plates. Ribs have been dry and lacked flavor. Oftentimes, the sauce is smeared on in such a way that left us wondering, how long has the meat been sitting. Pulled pork isn’t bad but the beef tips are more fat and gristle than meat. Opt for the collard greens, baked beans, or mac n’ cheese when deciding on sides. Cornbread has always been super dry and borderline inedible. The rice and beans have shared the same unfortunate fate too — DRY.
Decent list of local beers offered and local favorite, Hosmer’s soda is available. Although the space itself is bright and inviting, for my time and money — I have had better food and service elsewhere.

VERY good food, good prices. Low-​key neighborhood place. Got the Carolina pork hoagie with pepper jack cheese grits. YUM! Must go back!

Best BBQ in Windsor, and maybe even CT. I was up in Windsor, stumbled into this little place and was absolutely thrilled with the results.
PRO:
Windsor Cheese Steak (brisket, sautéed onions, peppers, pepper jack cheese, Creole steak sauce). was delicious.
Best brisket I’ve had in years. The smoke on the brisket was a thing of beauty and fell apart perfectly.
Mac and cheese was hands down the best Mac I’ve had at any BBQ in place in CT. (keep in mind I try Mac at every place I go).
CON:
Iced tea (unsweetened) was disgusting. Actually threw it out.

Well La Dee Dah!
Guess who moved uptown into a bigger, nicer space with a bigger more ambitious menu? Natty H –that’s who.
Let’s be honest, even though the food was always great at Nat Hayden’s, the «ambience» of the old place wasn’t going to win any awards. It was small. It was cramped. It was dumpy. You ordered at the service counter cafeteria style and either ate at one of the few inside tables or outside if the weather was decent. It didn’t get many style points. C’mon be honest…
Well the new place is one quantum leap up the scale. Distance wise it’s not much of a move, maybe ¼ mile up the street into the corner plaza where Broad Street, Palisado Avenue, and Poquonock Street all converge.
When you walk in you are greeted by a hostess at a hostess station, If you want to eat your food there, you are seated and order from a server. If you want food to take out, you proceed straight to the service counter.
Three of us had lunch there today. The menu has definitely been expanded, even though the restaurant website doesn’t have the new items. They have daily lunch specials they publicize on Twitter.
All three of us had a cup of the Five Alarm Chili and I’ll give it one star for each of the 5 alarms. It was stellar, Wonderful taste, good bean to meat ratio, and plenty of zip.
I had a Cuban sandwich — a delicious concoction of ham, pulled pork, cheese, pickles, lettuce and tomato on grilled bread.
They have a full beer selection featuring Back East products too.
Nat H has definitely carved out a distinctive niche in the Windsor BBQ world where they compete with Bears, Lilly’s, and Dorothy and Leroy’s.
Movin’ on up indeed !!