Arethusa al tavolo has become a popular hangout for locals and guests who appreciate the best of what Litchfield County has to offer. Chef Dan Magill looks forward to seeing you at their lively establishment of exquisite cuisine and refined service.

The adjectives "fresh", "local", and "seasonal" are frequently used in the restaurant sector. Arethusa al tavolo, whose dairy farm and garden are both less than 10 minutes up the street, fits all of those descriptions. Expect a showcase of butter, milk, cheese, and seasonal food, all cultivated and created by Arethusa at this fine-dining jewel. Everything else, such as cattle, lamb, poultry, and other meats, is sourced from surrounding purveyors who follow the same ecological principles. The menu changes frequently, so consider something light and cheerful in the summer and warm and comforting in the winter. A hot, honey-glazed Peking duck with five-spice spaetzle and a new-age version of a classic steakhouse combo, fork-tender, garlic-crusted strip loin with a spinach tart and a trio of blue cheese croquettes, were among the dishes served during a recent autumn visit.

Address: 828 Bantam Road Bantam, Connecticut 06750
Phone: (860) 567 - 0043
Hours:

• Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday: 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
• Friday and Saturday: 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
• Monday and Tuesday: Closed

Website: arethusaaltavolo.com

The Cottage is a warm and welcoming restaurant that embraces the local community and is greatly influenced by the artisan farmers and growers in its region. Chef Brian’s creative take on American cooking provides an exciting menu of hand-crafted dishes with inspiration from techniques and cultures from around the world.

Since opening his Westport flagship, The Cottage, in 2015, Brian Lewis has experienced a lot. The Cottage received an "excellent" review from The New York Times, which helped him advance to the semifinals of the James Beard Awards for Best Chef: Connecticut, and he even salyed Bobby Flay with a pasta dish on national television. Despite the fact that Lewis has expanded his culinary reach with two Japanese-inspired OKO restaurants in Westport and Rye, New York, it was The Cottage that launched him to fame.

Address: 256 Post Rd E, Westport, Connecticut 06880
Phone: (203) 557 - 3701
Hours:

• Tuesday - Saturday: 5:00 to close.
• Sundays Brunch: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, Dinner: 5:30 to close.

Website: thecottagewestport.com

Grano Arso has persevered and thrived to provide some of the most innovative and delectable Italian cuisines in a state where the category is crowded. The ancient turn-of-the-century bank building has a unique private dining room formed from the vault, which was recently utilized to showcase a drink created in collaboration with Highclere Castle Gin of Essex and the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. Before going on to their characteristic nutty, toasty orecchietta, you should snack on farinata (a chickpea mix between pizza and crêpe) from an iron griddle, topped with grilled eggplant, garlic, tahini, and balsamic vinegar.

Chef Joel Gargano's scratch kitchen utilizes local ingredients and takes a modern yet familiar approach to Italian cooking. Chef Joel grinds native New England grains in-house at Grano Arso to produce an old-world approach to his pasta and bread. Grano Arso is the neighborhood's go-to eatery for wholesome food, Italian wine, local beers, and creative cocktails, all served with warm and informed hospitality.

Address: 6 Main Street, Chester, Connecticut 06412
Phone:
Hours: (860) 322 - 3143

• Tuesday - Thursday: 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm
• Friday - Saturday: 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm
• Sunday and Monday: Closed

Website: granoct.com

House of Naan is a modern Indian kitchen with innovative and fresh takes on traditional Indian fare and inventive cocktails. This award-winning restaurant, located in the heart of New Haven, the Elm City, serves lunch, supper, takeout, and catering.

Chef Harinder Singh began his career at his family's New Haven restaurant, Sitar, with tried-and-true Indian classics, but has subsequently moved away from both at House of Naan. The House started in late 2016 with a few allusions to the traditional traditions, such as importing whole spices from India, crushing, roasting, and preparing them in-house, and then using the ingredients for craveable tikka fries, naanaco tacos, tandoors, and chaats with a twist.

Address: 65 Howe Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
Phone: (203) 562 - 6226
Hours: open 7 days a week

• Lunch: 11:30 am to 3:00 pm
• Dinner: 4:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Website: houseofnaan.com

Kawa Ni is the next name on the list. Chef Bill Taibe's tribute to a Japanese tavern is a one-of-a-kind pub, Kawa Ni, that has been a recurrent favorite on this and many other Connecticut top restaurant lists. Slow-cooked ramen broths are the centerpiece of the menu, but that is only the beginning of the gastronomic treats on offer. The pork and garlic ramen is a tonkotsu "pig bone" broth extravaganza with thick slabs of some of the greatest pork belly. The ramen is on par with New York City's world-famous ramen joints.

A Japanese drinking establishment that also serves food to go along with the drinks. They are laid-back hangouts for after-work drinks. By 1987, Izakaya had made its way into the English language. It is a combination of the words "I" (stay) and "Sakaya" (sake shop), implying that izakaya evolved from sake businesses that enabled customers to sit and drink on the premises.

Address: 19A Bridge Square, Westport, Connecticut
Phone: 203 - 557 - 8775; 203 - 557 - 8776
Hours:

• Dinner: Wednesday - Sunday: 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Lunch: Wednesday - Saturday: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Website: kawaniwestport.com

Max Downtown is the next name on the list of the best restaurants in Connecticut. At the flagship restaurant in the heart of Hartford, they have been serving award-winning food and hospitality for over 20 years. They have grown alongside this vibrant city, and they are continuing to do so as well.

When you come through their doors, you will find a modern, relaxed setting with a classic fine dining menu. While steak reigns supreme, there are many good alternatives, including duck, chicken, salmon, and scallops. Traditional desserts like chocolate soufflé and baked Alaska are available. Every aspect of an evening in Max Downtown is excellent.

Address: City Place, 185 Asylum St., Hartford, Connecticut 06103
Phone: 860 - 522 - 2530
Hours:

• Lunch:
  • Monday - Friday: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
• Dinner:
  • Monday - Thursday: 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
  • Friday: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
  • Saturday: 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
  • Sunday: Closed

Website: maxdowntown.com

Metro Bis is located at 690 Hopmeadow Street, within the Joseph Ensign House. The main dining room and event area are located in the 1960s addition built by the Congregational Church, while the rest of the historic home is available for private gatherings. Metro Bis can accommodate a wide range of private events, such as rehearsal dinners, business meetings, anniversaries, retirements, showers, birthdays, marriages, holiday parties, and more.

An amazing view overlooking the broad front lawn and a solitary hotel room are also available at the restaurant. Chris is the chef and owner of Metro Bis in Simsbury, Connecticut, as well as a Hartford Courant recipe columnist, an international cooking instructor from Mexico to Italy, a weekly chef on NBC 30, television host of "New England Cuisine," and a weekly senior contributor on WNPR's "The Faith Middleton Food Schmooze".

Address: 690 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, Connecticut 06070
Phone: 860.651.1908
Hours:

• Lunch: Wednesday - Saturday: 12:00 to 2:30 pm
• Dinner: Wednesday - Saturday: 5:30 to 8:30 pm

Website: metrobis.com

Millwright’s is the next name on the list of the best restaurants in Connecticut that Toplist has compiled for you. The philosophy at Millwright's is simple: to provide a welcoming environment for their guests and coworkers.

Millwright’s food is sourced as locally as possible, and their culinary mantra is to purchase high-quality items and treat them with care. Their service model reflects this mantra as well. They are not a stuffy "fine dining" establishment, and they want all of their guests to feel at ease and pampered when they visit Millwright’s restaurant. The Millwright's crew is made up of people who like making other people happy. Besides, this winter in the loft, they will be debuting The Workshop, their version of a dinner party presented by Chef Tyler Anderson and some of his amazing friends every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Address: 77 West Street, Simsbury, Connecticut
Phone: 860 - 651 - 5500
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: Open at 5:00 pm
Website: millwrightsrestaurant.com

The Oyster Club is the next name on our list today. The goal of Oyster Club is to share the story of their food, from seed to harvest, while introducing you to the people, places, and practices involved.

The Connecticut Restaurant Association rated Oyster Club the greatest restaurant in eastern Connecticut, Travel + Leisure called it one of America's top 25 best oyster bars, and it has been conveying the narrative of Connecticut food to delighted guests for over a decade. Their full and every day a la carte menus feature local fish, shellfish, on-site pasta, and meat from their partner craft butchery, Grass & Bone, with a special four-course tasting menu, "Dinner Party" provided four evenings each week.

Address: 13 Water Street, Mystic, Connecticut, 06355
Phone: 860 - 415 - 9266
Hours:

• Wednesday - Sunday: 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Happy Hour: 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Weekend Brunch: Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 am to 2:30 pm
• Monday and Tuesday: closed

Website: oysterclubct.com

Taproot finishes our list of the best restaurants in Connecticut. Owners Jeff Taibe and Steph Sweeney have built something special in a modest dining room next to the now-defunct Bethel Cinema. While many restaurants claim to have farm-to-table food, Taibe and Sweeney co-own and operate nearby Holbrook Farm with other restaurant owners, and their menu reflects the changing seasons.

Taibe was previously the Executive Chef of Kawa Ni (Westport), a Japanese izakaya serving globally influenced small plates and ramen, as well as Oak and Almond (Norwalk), a New American restaurant providing farm-to-table wood-fired cooking. Before introducing his basic and fresh cooking approach to Connecticut's developing restaurant sector, Taibe earned his stripes all around the world. His resume includes stints at Abigail Kirsch and Union Square Cafe in New York, as well as roles in Thailand, St. Pierre (Singapore), and Beaches (Turk & Caicos).

Address: 269 Greenwood Ave., Bethel, Connecticut 06801
Phone: 475 - 329 - 5395
Hours:

• Thursday: 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
• Friday and Saturday: 4:30 pm to 9 pm
• Sunday: 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• Monday to Wednesday: closed

Website: taprootct.com