14 Must-Try Restaurants in Hartford, Connecticut

Enjoy South American and Caribbean cuisine at 50 Elm Cafe & Spirits

50 Elm Cafe & Spirits highlight the diverse tastes of the city with a creative menu that boasts an eclectic blend of South American and Caribbean cuisine and tropical-inspired cocktails. Based in the South Downtown (SoDo) neighborhood, the new addition to Hartford's dining scene specializes in small plates and tapas-style dishes like Colombian empanadas, Puerto Rican shrimp mofongo, Cuban black bean soup, Jamaican callaloo, and Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa. Signature dishes include Jamaican braised oxtail stew and Peruvian ceviche and jalea mixta, and the food is paired with a wide range of spirits, and vacation-reminiscent drinks and exotic cocktails ranging from Peruvian pisco sours to mojitos and caipirinhas with Brazilian cachaca.

Address: 50 Elm St, Hartford, CT 06106, Phone: 860-206-3322

Best Family Restaurant in Hartford: Artisan Restaurant, Tavern, and Garden

Seamlessly blending 18th-century classic Scandinavian design with New England-inspired farm-to-table seasonal cuisine, Artisan Restaurant, Tavern, and Garden is an award-winning restaurant in Southport and Newfane that offers an unforgettable dining experience. Located in the heart of Blue Back Square at the Delamar Hotel, the restaurant is beautifully decorated with light wide-plank pine flooring, muted Gustavian Swedish furniture, and bookcases with a collection of eighteenth-century Swedish books, and glassware. A vast 1,500 square foot outdoor garden with a shaded pergola offers starlight dining with romantic hanging lantern globes and soft music. Artisan Restaurant, Tavern, and Garden is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Address: 1 Memorial Rd, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107, Phone: 860-937-2525

Order classic Mediterranean fare at Arugula Bistro

Arugula Bistro is an intimate, contemporary eatery that serves classic Mediterranean fare with innovative twists. Opened in 1996 in West Hartford, Arugula Bistro has been serving the bustling neighborhood for more than two decades with a market-driven menu of Mediterranean-inspired dishes with Middle Eastern, Northern Italian, and rich French flavors. Using locally sourced ingredients, all dishes are prepared in house and from scratch, including charcuterie and cheese platters, flatbreads and dips, mezze of artichokes and olives, and hearty entrées of fresh seafood, prime meats, and organic vegetables. The full-service bar offers a wide range of libations, including global wines, craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and handcrafted cocktails. Arugula Bistro is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Saturday.

Address: 953 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT 06107, Phone: 860-561-4888

Sample Italian dishes at Carbone's Restaurant

Carbone's Restaurant is a family-owned and operated restaurant that has been serving authentic Italian cuisine since 1938. Carbone’s provides an unforgettable dining experience with three spacious dining rooms to suit all occasions, a lively bar area with televisions for casual drinks, and an intimate Old World ambiance. The casual Italian eatery serves a market-driven menu of contemporary farm-to-table fare with dishes such as antipasto platters, homemade soups, fresh salads, housemade pasta and lasagna, wood-fired pizzas, veal, beef, and fresh seafood plates. The full-service bar offers a wide range of libations, including global wines, craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and handcrafted cocktails.

Address: 588 Franklin Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114

Try Peruvian cuisine at Cora Cora Restaurant

Located in Shield Street Plaza Shopping Center, Cora Cora Restaurant is one of the city’s best for authentic Peruvian cuisine. The casual eatery has a warm and welcoming ambiance with contemporary décor and soft lighting, creating an intimate and romantic atmosphere for a special dinner or celebration. The menu features traditional Peruvian eats, including Saltado de Pollo, Empanadas, Cora Tamal Criollo, Chaufa de Pollo, and Cora Yuca Rellena, along with a wide variety of libations from global wines and imported craft beers to top-shelf spirits, and handcrafted cocktails. The menu also offers several vegetarian options, and many of the dishes can be altered to cater for specific dietary requirements. Cora Cora Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

Address: 162 Shield St, West Hartford, CT 06110, Phone: 860-953-2672

Have a romantic dinner at Feng Chophouse

Located in Downtown Hartford, Feng Chophouse is one of the city’s top spots for fine dining. Previously known as Feng Asian Bistro, the newly renovated space is decorated with a modern flair with stylish décor, an expensive bar and cocktail area, a wine room filled with vintages from around the world, private dining space for special occasions, and large windows with street views. The restaurant specializes in Southeast Asian-Fusion cuisine with Japanese dishes like edamame, nigiri, and omakase sushi, as well as New American dishes of dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood and more. The full-service bar offers a wide range of libations, including global wines, craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and handcrafted cocktails. Feng Chophouse is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday and dinner only on Saturdays.

Address: 93 Asylum St, Hartford, CT 06103, Phone: 860-549-3364

Relax on the outdoor patio at Lucky Lou’s Bar and Grill

Set in a beautifully restored vintage house known as the Deming-Standish House at the historic crossroads of Main and Marsh Streets, Lucky Lou’s Bar and Grill is a pet-friendly grill with a seasonal outdoor patio that serves classic American and Italian fare. The restaurant features several raised-panel dining rooms for intimate experiences, a pub-style bar with a buzzing vibe, and an outdoor patio which seats over 100 people and hosts live entertainment and music throughout the week. Owner and executive chef Lucas Kyriakos uses ingredients native to the area to create delicious farm-to-table offerings such as Rosemary Chicken Lollipops, Famous Lobster Mac and Cheese, Grass Fed Steak Medallions, New Zealand Baby Lamb Chops, and Norwegian Salmon. The full-service bar offers a wide range of libations, including global wines, craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and handcrafted cocktails. Lucky Lou’s Bar and Grill is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

Address: 222 Main St, Wethersfield, CT 06109, Phone: 860-257-0700

Check out Max Downtown

Max Downtown is a trendsetting restaurant in the heart of Hartford’s downtown business center that has been serving award-winning food and hospitality to customers for more than 20 years. Owners Richard Rosenthal and Steve Abrams focus on serving a classic fine dining menu in an elegant, stylish setting with soft lighting and a romantic ambiance. The flagship restaurant offers internationally-inspired dishes and regional fare with signature dishes of prime cut steaks and chops, fresh seafood, housemade pasta, and from-scratch sauces, and fresh salads and vegetable plates. The full-service bar offers a wide range of libations, including global wines, craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and handcrafted cocktails. Max Downtown is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday and dinner only on Saturdays and Sundays.

Address: 185 Asylum St, Hartford, CT 06103, Phone: 860-522-2530

Order a pizza at Peppercorn's Grill

Owned and operated by the Cialfi siblings, Sal and Dino, Peppercorn's Grill is a classic Italian restaurant that has been serving traditional Mediterranean fare since 1989. Renowned for their huge portions and welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, the restaurant produces and serves award-winning cuisine with a menu of favorites such as thick and thin-based pizzas with a variety of toppings, homemade baked and creative pasta dishes with creamy sauces, freshly prepared salads and soups, casseroles, and fresh seafood platters. The full-service bar offers a wide range of libations, including global wines, craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and handcrafted cocktails. Peppercorn’s Grill is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and dinner only on Saturdays.

Address: 357 Main St, Hartford, CT 06106, Phone: 860-547-1714

Enjoy organic foods at the Pond House Cafe

Nestled on the pond in the historic Elizabeth Park in West Hartford and surrounded by magnificently manicured gardens and grounds, the Pond House Cafe offers a romantic dining experience in all four seasons. The café focuses on using local, fresh and organic ingredients sourced from the onsite herb and vegetable garden to create a seasonal menu of fresh salads, organic vegetable dishes, gourmet sandwiches and wraps, hearty chicken and meat entrées and delicious desserts. The café also serves an award-winning Sunday Brunch which can be enjoyed in the cozy dining room with a fireplace or on the charming patio overlooking the gardens. The Pond House Café is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Friday and breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays.

Address: 1555 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117, Phone: 860-231-8823

Have lunch at Salute

Located in downtown Hartford, Salute is a casual restaurant with contemporary décor that serves classic and modern takes on Italian cuisine. Owned by Jimmy Cosgrove, Andy Rizzo, and Dave Caudill, the restaurant boasts a relaxed, laid-back vibe with delicious cuisine, fine wines from around the world, and friendly wait staff who provide exceptional service. Salute has an expansive bar and comfortable lounge area, as well as an outdoor patio for alfresco summer dining. The menu features appetizers, antipasto platters of charcuterie and cheeses, fresh salads, housemade pasta and from-scratch sauces, wood-fired pizzas, fresh seafood, prime beef, chicken and veal dishes, and decadent desserts. The full-service bar offers a wide range of libations, including global wines, craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and handcrafted cocktails. Salute is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and dinner only on Sunday.

Address: 100 Trumbull St, Hartford, CT 06103, Phone: 860-899-1350

Order a dry-aged steak at The Capital Grille

The Capital Grille is an upscale steakhouse chain that serves classic American fare of prime steaks, fresh seafood and signature cocktails in an elegant, clubby setting. Renowned for its relaxed, yet refined setting and exceptional cuisine, the Capital Grille serves an impressive menu of famous dry-aged steaks, succulent seafood, and handmade pasta, along with an award-winning wine list of over 5,000 bottles from around the world. Signature dishes include classic Filet Mignon with Cipollini Onions and Wild Mushrooms, Dry-Aged New York Strip Steak with Shallot Butter, Seared Sirloin with Poached Lobster Tails, and Bone-in Ribeye with 15-year-old aged Balsamic Vinegar. The Capital Grille is open for lunch and dinner during the week, and dinner only on Saturdays and Sundays.

Address: 44 Front St, Hartford, CT 06103, Phone: 860-244-0075

Have a date at Trumbull Kitchen

Located in one of Hartford's premier locations, Trumbull Kitchen is a contemporary, relaxed, and inventive eatery owned by Richard Rosenthal and Executive Chef and partner Chris Torla that serves a globally eclectic menu that focuses on local ingredients and regional flavors. The menu features a collection of innovative cross-cultural dishes such as small plates and tapas, hearty entrées of fresh seafood and prime meats and chicken, fresh salads and vegetarian dishes and decadent desserts. The casual, industrial-chic eatery has a lively bar scene and offers a wide range of libations, including global wines, craft beers, top-shelf spirits, and handcrafted cocktails. Trumbull Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner during the week, and dinner only on Saturdays and Sundays.

Address: 150 Trumbull St, Hartford, CT 06103, Phone: 860-493-7412

Savor Italian dishes at VIVO Seasonal Trattoria

Located on the ground floor of the Hartford Marriott Downtown just steps away from Front Street, VIVO Seasonal Trattoria is an upscale Italian trattoria with an elegant and charming Mediterranean ambiance. Focusing on using fresh locally-sourced and market-driven ingredients such as day-boat seafood, select meats, and cheeses, field ripened produce, and imported olive oils and vinegar; the award-winning restaurant serves a menu of refreshingly creative fare with a modern Napa Valley twist. Perfect for a romantic rendezvous before a theater show or post-work drinks, VIVO Seasonal Trattoria is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.

Address: 200 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103, Phone: 860-760-2333