Restaurants in Bristol

Within the stately Litchfield Inn, Bantam Bistro's executive chef Jonathan Gyles lends Italian flair to gourmet American dishes crafted from local and organic ingredients, such as mushrooms from Mountaintop Mushrooms and cheese from Cato Corner Farm. The expansive menu includes dazzling charcuterie platters, fillets of Atlantic salmon and tails of Maine lobster, and pastas such as bucatini and agnolotti. Barkeeps pour sips of more than 118 wines and muddle peaches into Bantam's signature take on the classic old fashioned, whose amber tones glow in the flickering light of tabletop candles in leaf-etched votives. The dining room’s brick-lined fireplace gives chefs a cozy place to store canapés shaped like Christmas stockings, and sparkling chandeliers twinkle above Sunday brunch dishes nestled inside pristine silver chafing dishes.

Robin and Steve Andrikis can attest that sometimes a wrong turn can send you in the right direction. Just 28 days after accidentally stumbling upon 81 Whiting Street—the future site of Big Steve's Grill—the pair began planning a business that would change their lives forever. After operating their own grocery store for 18 years, Robin and Steve opened Big Steve's Grill in August 2009, and have been satiating stomachs with fresh, made-to-order casual eats, from hand-pressed Angus burgers and bowls of house-made chili to deep-fried Twinkies drizzled in chocolate, ever since. Vivid orange and yellow walls ensconce guests in the dining room, which offers views of the patio dotted with picnic tables, where diners can enjoy an idyllic dinner beneath the bright blue sky and looming Godzilla shadows.

Pumpkin-orange walls radiate cozy, autumnal vibes at Fiore’s IV Italian Restaurant as servers deliver warm bowls of mussels and comforting slices of lasagna. As crisp as a freshly ironed lettuce leaf, white linens lend tables an air of elegance, which extends to signature dishes such as lobster ravioli with sun-dried tomatoes and pink vodka sauce. Salads and house-baked rolls accompany each entree, accenting chicken, veal, and sole with verdant hues and crunchy textures.

Within Hana Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar, groups can watch hibachi chefs add dollops of teriyaki sauce to chicken and veggies on the grill in front of them. As flames rise over the tableside grill, the air fills with meaty aromas and applause from diners watching chefs’ virtuoso performances. Dishes include crispy duck with chili sauce, traditional udon noodles, and 11 house-specialty rolls filled with eel, lobster, and other ingredients sourced from the ocean's teriyaki-filled depths.

Culling its name from a miniature statue that was at the center of a bygone prank played by one of the owners, The Iron Frog Tavern is home to a menu of upscale pub fare—90% of which is prepared in-house daily. Decadent stacks of short ribs accent classic grilled cheese sandwiches, while signature "Nooks and Crannies" burgers beautifully boogle palates with a mix of beef, cheddar cheese, and crowning fried egg. Toe-tapping tuneage often echoes across The Iron Frog’s idyllic outdoor patio, treating ears to aural feasts as friendly servers package leftovers in eco-friendly containers and soybean takeout cups. Guests take in weekly entertainment, including trivia on Wednesdays, open mic night on Thursdays, and table-side magic shows on Saturdays. Those eager to assault early-rising appetites may partake in brunch served every Sunday.

The menus at Sakimura's two locations change regularly in order to incorporate the freshest seasonal ingredients and the chefs’ newest culinary muses. The Simsbury location is known to intermingle traditional Japanese flavors with contemporary flourishes, with specials taking forms such as foie gras with sweet miso sauce. Both locales’ sushi chefs also invent their own creative rolls, such as a deep-fried Godzilla roll and an Out of Control roll filled with shrimp tempura and topped with seared pepper tuna.

Diners seeking a hot dinner can gather around hibachi grills and watch as chefs sear their choice of shrimp, chicken, scallops, filet mignon, or any number of other gourmet ingredients. The hibachi rooms' smokeless grills and modern yet warm decor combine to create a pleasant dining experience.