Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Connecticut

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Connecticut? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Little Pub - Greenwich

4.8

4.8 (313)

$30 and under

American

Greenwich

About the restaurant

Great food, generous drinks, and a lively pub atmosphere you'll feel right at home in. A rustic neighborhood gathering place with a relentless focus on customer service, value, and fun.

Top review

CarlosVIP

Dined on Jan 6, 2025

Always perfect from cocktails, food, ambience and service. And Monday live music with Mark Zelenze is a must.

Walrus Alley

4.7

4.7 (68)

$31 to $50

Southern

Westport

About the restaurant

The Walrus story began in 2013 with the desire to offer a truly unique American experience from the mastery of southern-inspired smoking techniques to our hand-selected craft beers, wines and liquors. The original Walrus + Carpenter was serving the artistic community of Black Rock for 7 years. In 2020, Walrus moved to Westport, reopening our doors as Walrus Alley as a nod to the expansive alley on which we host guests and music all summer long.

Winner of best southern food and barbecue for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

True to the American experience, Walrus is an independent, family-owned and operated establishment.

Top review

SophiaVIP

Dined on Feb 28, 2025

We love this place! Great food, great service. Each item we’ve chosen never disappoints.

Milestone - Mystic

4.7

4.7 (105)

$30 and under

American

Mystic

About the restaurant

Milestone redefines the notion of a neighborhood gathering spot by combining simply prepared, boldly flavored fare made from scratch and classic cocktails done right with professional, understated service in a stylish yet warm and welcoming setting. Staying true to the best of classic comfort foods, while also offering a wide array of other foodie and healthy options, Milestone is always striving for the perfect bite.

Top review

CraigVIP

Dined on Mar 8, 2025

Very nice combination of foods and beverages available for lunch.

Camacho Garage

4.6

4.6 (1325)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Mexican

New Haven

About the restaurant

Camacho Garage brings acclaimed Executive Chef/co-owner Arturo Franco-Camacho's exciting and unique tastes of Mexican street food to the lively Westville neighborhood. Enjoy yourself in a sophisticated, fun environment with a vintage garage feel. Fully opening oversized garage doors yield an abundance of light, as well as provide a seamless experience from the indoor dining space to the outdoor patio dining featuring a fireplace and outdoor shipping container bar. The all-day food menu features an assortment of small plates of both traditional and Mexican inspired recipes made with fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients. Think, Mexican street food with a strong focus on tacos and ceviche, as well as tostadas, salads, raw bar, and made-to-order guacamole. The bar menu highlights an extensive and unique local beer selection, specialty cocktails, tequila, mezcal, and other Mexican inspired beverages.

Top review

TracyH

Dined 4 days ago

The food and drinks are always fresh and delicious! Our server was excellent - friendly and anticipated our needs seamlessly. The only issue was the sound level, it was hard to hear each other, but the playlist was a vibe so we went with it.

South Bay - Greenwich

4.6

4.6 (240)

$30 and under

Seafood

Greenwich

About the restaurant

The Siguenza Family welcomed the newest additions to the JS Restaurant Group with the openings of South Bay New Haven and South Bay Greenwich. These are the eighth and ninth restaurants for the Siguenzas as they continue to share their creativity, energy, and passion to provide an exquisitely warm and welcoming dining experience in the communities served

Step inside South Bay and feel swept up in the serenity of a calming sea. From the warm hues of the interior to the nautical ship lap walls, South Bay provides the ultimate coastline dining experience. The menu boasts a variety of Mediterranean inspired, elegant and savory dishes, all created using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Our extensive wine list you'll find second to none and our craft cocktails are refreshing and delicious!

With two locations, one in bustling downtown New Haven and the other in the heart of Greenwich on "The Avenue", South Bay is the ideal meeting place for friends and family. Bon Appetit!

Top review

CristianoVIP

Dined 5 days ago

All was good and quite, perfect for a Business lunch.

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Experience

Bottomless Sunday Brunch

Experience

weekly tuesday special half bottle of wine

Te Amo Tequila Bar & Tacos

4.5

4.5 (357)

$30 and under

Mexican

New Haven

About the restaurant

Te Amo Tequila Bar & Tacos ( translation: I Love Tequila) is a modern Mexican restaurant and tequila bar featuring delicious tequila cocktails, and a completely unique taco experience. Whether you are going out for happy hour, date night or late night partying, the sophisticated atmosphere combined with two fully stocked bars & open kitchen will have you loving Te Amo. Located adjacent to the New Haven green, across from the Omni Hotel and through the plaza from the Shubert Theater.

Noteworthy: Margaritas flights, flaming queso, one of a kind tacos, summer terrasse dining

Not finding your available time? Check out our sister locations Barracuda Bistro & Bar & 80 PROOF American Kitchen & Bar (also on open table)

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

The food and drinks 10/10!! I’m definitely going back! The service was impeccable and on point! I didn’t have to wait long for my food or drinks. The staff were attentive and friendly. The music was on fire! My friend and I really enjoyed ourselves. I made reservations and was seated on time! The place to go with your friends or alone. You can’t go wrong with Te Amo Tequila Bar & Tacos!

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4.5

4.5 (252)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Shelton

About the restaurant

We wanted the best possible quality meat program, seafood towers overflowing with oysters, clams, shrimp, and mussels, and the kind of cocktails that are impossible to get sick of, all in a beautifully designed, unique space. And we wanted it not in New York – we want it right here in Shelton, CT. Enter Chaplin.

Top review

Lisa

Dined 4 days ago

We go every Friday the food and service is great and Amanda is a great bartender

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Popular dish

Steak & Eggs

Mercato Italian Kitchen & Bar - Shelton

4.5

4.5 (134)

$30 and under

Italian

Shelton

About the restaurant

At Mercato, a new-school Italian restaurant, we embrace our motto: Mangia, Bevi, Ridi—Eat, Drink, Laugh. Enjoy delicious pasta, pizzas, salads, and authentic Italian dishes crafted with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.

Join us in our warm, inviting atmosphere for a casual dinner or a special night out. At Mercato, eating, drinking, and laughing are at the heart of everything we do.

Top review

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Great experience and great ambiance and great service

Black-Eyed Sally's

4.3

4.3 (1404)

$30 and under

Southern

Hartford

About the restaurant

Come sink your teeth into our award winning Bar-b-que and Southern cooking served in an Urban Juke Joint atmosphere. Sally’s Slo-smoked Ribs, Beef Brisket, Po-Boys, Southern Fried Chicken, Blackened Catfish, Jambalaya, Louisiana Gumbo and more. The cool, funky decor emanates New Orleans charm. We are open for lunch and dinner Wednesday- Sunday. At Sally's we feed your mouth and your soul!
We look forward to providing live entertainment in the near future.
See you soon

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

All the food was delicious!! Also loved the cocktail called “Huckleberry Lemonade.”

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3.9

3.9 (29)