Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in Connecticut

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining 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!

Breakwater

4.8

4.8 (417)

$30 and under

American

Stonington

About the restaurant

BREAKWATER at Stonington Harbor is a waterfront restaurant located on the Connecticut shoreline in the Stonington Borough. BREAKWATER features seafood & more, specialty cocktails, stunning sunsets & views of Stonington Harbor & Fishers Island Sound. We offer gorgeous all season sunsets & a roomy bar to keep you warm in the winter.

Top review

yumtum

Dined on Mar 2, 2025

Relaxed yet slightly upscale vibe overlooking the water in Stonington with a nice menu and good service. Menu prices are a little high but good kitchen and fresh selections.

Harbor Lights

4.7

4.7 (802)

$30 and under

Seafood

East Norwalk

About the restaurant

Harbor Lights is the premier seafood house located in East Norwalk, CT. Located on the Norwalk Harbor, it offers well-prepared, attractively presented and sophisticated fare. Open year round, the glassed-in terrace allows for a comfortably heated dining experience in the winter without losing the outside dining experience in the summer. Our long dock in front of the restaurant provides plenty of room for boaters to tie up for lunch or dinner, and the dining room affords fantastic sunset views. Harbor Lights has been bringing the fresh refined flavors of the Mediterranean to Diners in Fairfield County for over a decade. The Prime sunset seating and views of the Harbor, the breeze, the um-brella-bedecked outdoor patio, unparalleled service and incredible food make this waterfront spot hard to resist.

Please Note: We Do Not Guarantee Specific Tables. We Do Not Guarantee Waterfront, Window or Deck Seating.

Top review

Thomas

Dined on Feb 28, 2025

Our meal was perfect and our friends LOVED it!! Thank you so much!!

Discover more

Popular dish

CT Hot Lobster Roll

Popular dish

Main Cold Lobster Roll

Founders House Pub & Patio

4.7

4.7 (637)

$31 to $50

American

Milford

About the restaurant

WELCOME TO FOUNDERS HOUSE PUB AND PATIO ON THE HISTORIC MILFORD GREEN

Top review

Caryl

Dined on Mar 2, 2025

Our table was waiting for us at our appointed reservation time. We were cordially greeted by the hostess ansd our waitress. In general the service was excellent although there were a few things we requested that we had to remind our waitress about. A person who appeared to be the manager came to our table to ask several times if everything was OK and we appreciated that. Our waitress spilled grease on the shirt and coat of one of our group member and although she apologized there was no offer to pay for cleaning. She also almost poked him in the head with a bone, but fortunately I saw it about to happen and backed him off. In general the food and drinks were good (not great). We shared the fried polenta and fried calamari appetizers and they were both good. My husband and I had the Berkshire Pork Chop and it was excellent and served over a sweet potato hash with brussel sprouts. Two members of our group ordered the French Onion Soup and it was way too salty for anyone to eat. We ordered three desserts to share -- the Key Lime Pie which was good, the Carrot Cake Tower which was not as good as I had hoped (I am a Carrot Cake afficianado) and the Mudslide Pie which was the best of the three. All in all we had a great time, the atmosphere was nice, we were in a smaller room so once the large group left it quieted down a bit and the food was good, not excellent. Wouldn't run back for dinner but would probably go for lunch or a burger. It was a little pricey for what we got. $650 for a party of 6 with 2 appetizers, 3 desserts, drinks and a corkage fee for brining our own bottle of wine. Wish I could say it was great for that price!

Walrus Alley

4.7

4.7 (67)

$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.

da Capo - Litchfield

4.6

4.6 (360)

$30 and under

Italian

Litchfield

About the restaurant

Da Capo contemporary interpretations of Italian classics are always made to order from scratch. Our seasonal menu highlights the quality of the freshest ingredients from local farms and our New York Style thin crust pizza is already a favorite all over Litchfield County. The casual setting and inviting atmosphere created by the real tin ceilings, exposed brick, soft lighting and a taste from the past brought to you by the local historical photos makes da Capo a favorite destination for a delicious dining experience. In the summer months, relax in our outdoor patio and experience a little bit of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Da Capo brings to Connecticut a recipe found in Little Italy in the early 1900's: "Authentic New York Style Thin Crust Pizza". Almost a century later Da Capo proudly presents our famous " Old World" family recipe, along with classic family style dining.

Top review

Jane

Dined on Feb 22, 2025

Wonderful evening to celebrate my daughter's birthday!! Trevor was fabulous as always! He made the evening special for her- and me!

Harvest Wine Bar and Restaurant - New Haven

4.6

4.6 (293)

$31 to $50

American

New Haven

About the restaurant

Delight in the taste of customary American cuisine with a twist at Harvest Wine Bar. Harvest's menu features dishes, such as grilled calamari and lobster macaroni and cheese. Some of its main entrées range between seared sea scallops, as well as filet mignon with truffle mashed potatoes and roasted brussels sprouts with red wine demi-glace. At Harvest, guests can also enjoy different drinks for every course of the meal. It is also a great place for date night.

$25 lunch 2 course pre fixe
Live Jazz every Thursday 7-9PM
Weekend Brunch Sat & Sun 11:30-3PM
Wine Specials Sunday & Wednesday

Top review

LeahVIP

Dined on Feb 17, 2025

Prix fixe lunch was amazing! Had the kale salad and the salmon and both were delicious!

Discover more

Experience

Happy Hour 3:30PM - 6PM

Experience

Weekend Brunch

Experience

Live Jazz Every Thursday

ROCKS 21

4.5

4.5 (882)

$30 and under

American

Mystic

About the restaurant

Rocks 21 features fresh, seasonal and local cuisine served in Mystic’s most spectacular setting at the Inn at Mystic. This iconic property is a treasured and historic place, and our restaurant reflects that magnetic ambiance amidst serene waterfront surroundings and hidden New England beauty.

Offering an eclectic mix of casually elegant cuisine mingled with the traditional seafood staples we know and love, Rocks 21 redefines the landscape of New England cuisine. Enjoy handmade wood-fired pizza from our brick oven, or delve into one of our delicious made-from-scratch entrees. To complement your dining experience, the Rocks 21 bar features 24 beers on tap along with an impressive list of signature cocktails made with only the freshest of ingredients.

Whatever appeals to your palette, Rocks 21 offers something for everyone in a relaxed and comfortable setting.

Top review

Amy

Dined on Mar 1, 2025

Food was amazing and our waitress was outstanding!

Barnwood Grill

4.5

4.5 (547)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Newtown

About the restaurant

Please visit website for our current take out and delivery offerings

The finest food, meeting place, great bar, absolutely beautiful decor, and family restaurant in Newtown, Connecticut.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 6 days ago

A wonderful restaurant tucked into a busy parking lot but once you enter you are instantly transported to a very classy and laid back environment. Food is excellent, specialty drinks and desserts delicious, I recommend making a reservation on line especially on a weekend the line was out the door when we were leaving. Bon appetite

Chapter One - Guilford

4.4

4.4 (501)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Guilford

About the restaurant

Chapter One on the Guilford green is proudly open during the Covid pandemic for outdoor dining on our large Patio, Artist Garden outdoor seating, and Curbside To-Go. We light our fire pits in the Artist Garden every evening where you can reserve a Adirondack chair or just enjoy the Ambience. Our kitchen is open daily featuring a variety of meals. Our menu offers a range of entrees including, Seafood, and American cuisines. Our bar serves the finest quality liquors, wines and we have 12 Draft beer lines featuring domestic and local Craft brews.

Top review

Luis

Dined on Feb 15, 2025

Beautiful location near the green. Well maintained. The waitress Aida was truly incredible, attentive and accommodating. Food presentation and taste was good.

Arezzo Ristorante

3.6

3.6 (937)

$31 to $50

Italian

Westport

About the restaurant

Arezzo Ristorante is a culinary gem that invites you to savor the essence of Italian sophistication. With an ambiance reminiscent of a Tuscan villa, our restaurant transports you to a world where rustic charm meets modern elegance. Amidst warm, earthy tones and soft candlelight, you'll embark on a sensory journey through Italy's diverse regions. Our menu is a symphony of flavors, each dish crafted with passion and precision. From the first bite of our handmade pasta to the last sip of a carefully selected wine, every moment at Arezzo is a celebration of culinary artistry. Our restaurant is perfect for romantic dinners or memorable gatherings with friends and family. Arezzo Ristorante is more than a restaurant; it's a culinary sanctuary where tradition and innovation converge, where every plate tells a story, and where every guest becomes part of our extended family. Come, experience the magic of Arezzo and let your senses wander through the flavors of Italy.

Top review

SteveVIP

Dined on Feb 27, 2025

Excellent Italian dinner. Zuppa de Peche, antipasto and branzino were delicious! friendly service. We will be back soon!

Discover more

Popular dish

Gnocchi Bolognese

Popular dish

Fettuccine con Funghi

Experience

Weekly Happy Hour - Tues to Sat 3-7PM

Explore Diners' Choice best of Connecticut