Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Connecticut

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance 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!

Canggio Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (195)

$30 and under

Peruvian

Norwich

About the restaurant

Canggio Restaurant is a classy but casual dining atmosphere for guests to enjoy the unique offerings of Peruvian cuisine.

Some well-loved dishes are Trio de Ceviche, Pato, Seco de Lomo, and Arroz Chaufa.

Chef Julio Cancho is born and raised in Peru, but classically trained in French and Italian cookery. He adds a Peruvian twist to some American dishes also on the menu.

Peruvian cuisine, considered among the best in the world, inherited its innovation, mix and flavors from Peru’s history. Its culinary fusion developed over a long process of cultural exchange between the Spanish, Africans, Chinese, Japanese and Italians, among others. The dishes became more and more varied as races mixed and migrants landed at the port of Callao.

Top review

William

Dined on Nov 26, 2024

Eat here often because the food is so good. Would have given 5 star for food but last night the chaufa I ordered was a bit too salty. Ceviche and Trios apps incredibly good. Pisco Sour goes down easily:)

The Wine Bar & Bistro at The Griswold Inn

4.9

4.9 (83)

$30 and under

Wine Bar

Essex

About the restaurant

The Wine Bar at The Griswold Inn is an extraordinary space in which to enjoy a delicious experience in every respect. It features an innovative tapas menu, inspired "macro" plates, artisanal cheeses and handcrafted desserts. The menu changes periodically to take advantage of all that characterizes a particular season, though there are a few classics that remain on the menu throughout the year, like its very popular Grilled and Carved Bistro Steak, served with white truffle-laced pommes frites, arugula,
and red wine jus. A consistent winner of Wine Spectator's prestigious Award of Excellence, it offers numerous wines by the glass, wine flights, and a more extensive bottle list. A full-service bar is also available. A creative and accomplished chef and a knowledgeable and attentive service staff complete the experience.

Top review

Lisa

Dined 3 days ago

Festive and fun and delicious! Great food and ambience!

Millwright’s Tavern

4.5

4.5 (427)

$30 and under

American

Simsbury

About the restaurant

Welcome to Millwright's Tavern. Open Tueday - Sunday.

Top review

KeriVIP

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Always a perfect experience at Millwrights and this time in the tavern was no different. Thank you to the team!

Esh Modern Mediterranean - Fairfield

4.9

4.9 (615)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Fairfield

About the restaurant

Esh is a contemporary culinary experience that draws inspiration from the rich and diverse Middle Eastern culture, encompassing countries such as Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Morocco, and the Aegean region. Our mission is to bring the vibrant flavors, aromatic spices, and culinary traditions of the Mediterranean to your plate, reimagined with a modern twist. Through our cuisine, we aim to create an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates the beauty and depth of Middle Eastern gastronomy while showcasing the fusion of flavors that make this region truly unique.

Any number of party above 7 guest please reach out to the restaurant.

Top review

Lucy

Dined 3 days ago

The perfectly executed, melt-in-your-mouth Bronzino with a rich, was a culinary masterpiece, paired flawlessly with the recommended wine. The attentive service was impeccable, with our waiter anticipating our needs before we even had to ask. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and great music playing in the background creating a truly fine dining atmosphere. Every dish was a burst of flavor, showcasing fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared with incredible skill, making this a must-visit for any foodie.

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Experience

NYE Pre-Fixe

The Ridges Seafood & Steakhouse

4.8

4.8 (191)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Stamford

About the restaurant

Conveniently in the heart of High Ridge Rd off of exit 34/35 on the Merrit Pkwy, The Ridges is a traditional NYC styled Steakhouse offering the best quality USDA Prime Dry Aged Steaks such as our succulent Porterhouse, bold NY Sirloin, tender lean Filet Mignon as well as fresh daily line caught seafood, and homemade pasta to North Stamford.

We invite you into our vibrant dining room decorated with table cloths and flowers for birthdays, corporate meetings, date nights, or just a casual night out we are to ensure you have a memorable evening.

Top review

Gary

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

5 stars all around my Sirloin was cooked to perfection and the staff was first class.

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Millwright's Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (3737)

$31 to $50

American

Simsbury

About the restaurant

With its unique setting perched atop a waterfall in Simsbury, Connecticut, Millwright’s invites guests to dine in the 17th century mill with acclaimed, James Beard nominated Chef Tyler Anderson and his team. Featuring daily-chosen farm ingredients, the freshest and most select product, proprietary cocktails, and exciting wine menu, Millwright’s offers a new experience to the Farmington Valley farm-to-table dining scene. The culinary team understands the impact of the highest-quality fresh ingredients. Millwright’s kitchen thrives on local ingredients – grown, raised, produced, foraged and prepared – whenever possible. They also take the farm-to-table concept one step further. Millwright’s has partnered with a farm that will grow most of its organic produce. The “Inspired New England” cuisine at Millwright’s pays homage to the land, to the flavor-rich quality of local, fresh ingredients and to the time-honored cooking techniques that enhance the natural goodness of those ingredients.

Top review

Marin

Dined 2 days ago

A fantastic, romantic restaurant! We drove down from MA and had the best dinner. Our server Scott was great. We sat on the bridge and it was the perfect winter night!

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German Chocolate Cake

Nouveau Monde

4.8

4.8 (677)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Newtown

About the restaurant

Meaning "New World" in French, Nouveau Monde serves new American cuisine in a cozy and stylish atmosphere. Our menu celebrates seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients, incorporating inspirations from a variety of global flavors. With multiple awards from Connecticut Magazine and Best of Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator, our award-winning wine list has more than 900 by the bottle. We feature a curated list of craft beer and spirits that pair well with our delicious food and convivial, approachable ambiance. Fine dining, relaxed atmosphere.

Top review

M JVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Wonderful evening with our friends. The meal was excellent, as was the wait staff. Staff recommendations were helpful, meal options were diverse, so we were all very happy with our selections. Our friends had never been to the restaurant before, they loved the meal and look forward to returning. We have been several times and have always enjoyed the food and service and will be back again.

Baldanza at the Schoolhouse

4.9

4.9 (879)

$31 to $50

American

Wilton

About the restaurant

Join us at BALDANZA at the Schoolhouse, 34 Cannon Road, Wilton CT for an amazing meal where where every item on our menu is freshly hand crafted every day using only the highest quality clean ingredients! We are Located at historic Cannondale Village next to the Train Station at Cannondale (Wilton), CT. 203.309.5777

Top review

Roberta

Dined 2 days ago

Picturesque setting quaint, New England, delicious food, and specialty cocktails. Beautiful presentation excellent service.

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Popular dish

Beet Salad

Popular dish

Pappardelle Bolognese

Popular dish

Tagliatelle Caprese

Good Eats Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (236)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

New Milford

About the restaurant

Located along the historic Housatonic River in New Milford, Connecticut next to Boardman's bridge, Good Eats Restaurant & Bar features modern American cuisine and traditional favorites for today’s discerning tastes. Featuring locally sourced ingredients and flavors from our meat and fish, our chimichurri and tomato jalapeno jam down to our fresh juices and homemade purées. Our craft beers on draft hail exclusively from Connecticut Breweries with a curated wine selection from around the world. While our food and beverage are thoughtfully prepared, the relaxing and serene environment is complemented by superior service that keeps you coming back for Lunch, Dinner, and Sunday Brunch

Top review

PaulVIP

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Fabulous lunch! Everything was great. A fun afternoon in New Milford, Ct.

Steakhouse at Millpond Gathering

4.5

4.5 (396)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

North Haven

About the restaurant

At Millpond Gatherings, we are an all encompassing hospitality center where you can eat, celebrate, shop, and stay with us here in the quaint town of Northford, Connecticut. The Millpond Steakhouse, run by Executive Chef Pedro Avila, is a farm-to-table modern American steakhouse with a fine dining flare. Our dry-aged grass fed beef is sourced from our own cattle farm just 2 miles up the road, and accompanied with local produce from our surrounding farmers. Downstairs in the Tavern we encompass the spirit of historic New England with a cozy laid back atmosphere and weekly live music on Thursdays and Sundays.

Millpond Events is our venue hall located adjacent to the restaurant. This rustic charming space will harvest many special memories and celebrations.

Top review

Esther

Dined 7 days ago

We celebrated my husband's birthday with dinner, where he enjoyed the ribeye steak, lobster tail, and shrimp scampi while I savored the New York steak. We started with the short rib dumplings. The food was exceptional, and the restaurant offered a beautiful, cozy, and comfortable ambiance with outstanding service.

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Popular dish

Burrata Salad

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