5 Best Restaurants in Hartford and the Connecticut River Valley, Connecticut

Crystal sparkles, silver shines, and candles glow in Copper Beech Inn's main dining room—or you can dine more casually at the bar. Notable dishes have included a starter of jumbo lump crab cakes with remoulade dressing and entrées ranging from steak frites and honey-grilled chicken to grilled swordfish and blackened salmon.

This mainstay of Hartford's restaurant scene (beginning in 1898) presents contemporary "farm-to-chef" Italian cuisine in a lively but cozy setting. Enjoy homemade potato gnocchi, ravioli al'arancia (orange), slow-roasted osso buco, or a simply grilled veal chop—but save room for the warm Valrhona chocolate cake or homemade gelato or sorbet.

This sleek, sophisticated tavern in the heart of Chester functions both as a cheery neighborhood restaurant and as a bona fide destination for fans of first-rate farm-to-table cuisine. Your main course might include sautéed mussels, Mexican-style chilaquiles (chicken and tortilla casserole), seafood stew, or a burger made with local beef.

Packed every night, Salute is the downtown spot for consistently delicious Italian fare and pleasant service. The kitchen serves up grilled steaks, seafood, and a long list of pasta dishes—try the chicken gnocchi with pesto cream, perfectly executed shrimp piccata, or classic ragu Bolognese—and traditional Italian desserts like tiramisu and gelato.

Upbeat, hip, and casual, Trumbull Kitchen is the place to see and be seen. A loft-style dining area with leather-clad walls overlooks the action below where an eclectic menu features selections like seared Point Judith scallops, pan-seared salmon, brick-pressed chicken, and truffled onion burger, or a "stone pie" (pizza).