Firebox Restaurant
Firebox Restaurant's high ceilings, brick walls and cozy fireplace make this restaurant a great place to eat after a long day in the outdoors. Firebox Restaurant serves superb contemporary American cuisine and is known for its use of locally produced food and a menu that changes with the season. At lunchtime, try the Duck Confit Salad or a Four Mile River Farm Burger. The sandwiches are amazing, too, as all the bread is hand-baked on the premises so it arrives at your table warm and soft. For dinner, the Butternut Squash Soup is a must and the Maple Roasted Chicken is delicious. The Firebox also has a raw bar, which is a bit pricey, but the seafood is incredibly fresh. For an upscale meal in lovely surroundings, you can't beat the Firebox Restaurant in Hartford. Just make sure you're prepared for the upscale prices.
539 Broad St.
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 246 1222
fireboxrestaurant.com
City Steam Brewery Cafe
The largest restaurant in Hartford, the City Steam Brewery Cafe is located in an historic building that used to be a department store. Converted into a microbrewery and restaurant, it has seating on nine floors, and is all brick walls and hardwood. This hip, trendy and very cool restaurant has an enormous traditional American brew pub-style menu, with nachos, sandwiches, charbroiled burgers, wraps, stone-baked pizzas and a whole slew of entrees. Locals and visitors come to City Steam Brewery Cafe for its fun atmosphere, awesome food and on-tap beer. Try a City Steam dark ale or, if you're with friends, have a 3-liter beer bong at your table. Come on a night when the BrewHaHa in the rathskeller is featuring one of its live comedy nights because City Steam Brewery Cafe is not only the largest cafe in Hartford, it's also the most fun.
942 Main St.
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 525 1600
citysteambrewerycafe.com
O'Porto
For a trendy place for ethnic food in Hartford, O'Porto Portuguese restaurant is the place to try. Locals rave about the atmosphere, with its industrial-themed brightly colored decor, in the basement of an old converted bicycle factory. The food is exceptional at O'Porto but is particularly talked about because of the seafood. Unbelievably fresh and succulent, you must try the shrimp, the octopus salad or the grouper in a vinaigrette sauce. Paelha (the Portuguese version of the better known Spanish paella) is O'Porto's signature dish and comes in six different styles and flavors. It also has a wonderful Sunday lunch fixed-price meal, with an option of with or without wine, that makes choosing from the otherwise large menu easier. O'Porto's atmosphere, food, wine and pleasant staff are sure to hit the spot.
O'Porto
2074 Park St.
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 233 3184
oportohartford.com
