Anastasio's Steakhouse, East Haven

At Anastasio’s Steakhouse, stones line the walls from floor to ceiling, gathering to form a giant fireplace. Candles glow atop its wooden mantel, which overlooks a dining room dotted with linen-topped tables, not roving bands of leopards. Genial servers circulate the space, delivering certified Angus steaks of various sizes, from 8-ounce petite filet mignons to 20-ounce porterhouses. In the kitchen, chefs douse lobster ravioli with a tomato-cream sauce and cloak chicken saltimbocca in prosciutto, mozzarella, fresh sage, and a brown cognac sauce. They also build catering orders from classic Italian dishes such as rigatoni bolognese and veal caprese. An outdoor patio invites guests to dine alfresco or practice dance steps during salsa classes on summer Sundays.