Bars in Guilford

The flames at Prime American Grille have escaped the kitchen. Not only do they live inside the sizzling-hot grill, they also exist atop flickering candles and inside the dining room's roaring fireplace. Flame-kissed rib-eye and new york strip steaks arrive at tables coated in house-made peppercorn, gorgonzola, or mushroom-and-onion sauces. Chefs also bolster their menu with ocean-fresh seafood, pizzas, pastas, and sandwiches. Bottles of wine litter a massive rack inside the restaurant's dining room, which boasts a warm color palette, dark woods, and strategically placed mirrors that make the space feel airy and light, like a helium balloon filled with tossed salad. On the weekends, Prime American Grille pulses with live music from DJs and bands, and each night, diners can sit at the full bar to watch sports on seven flat-screen televisions.

Recently named the state’s best family dining restaurant by Connecticut Managzine, Chips’ Pub III fills the bellies of its guests with steaks, seafood, and other homestyle dishes. An impressive list of 15 hand-pressed burgers, each char-broiled over an open hearth, dominates the menu, which also features Chips’ specialties such as the Primo prime rib with housemade horseradish, and platters of scallops, shrimp, and calamari.

Although The Hitchin' Post Tavern is nestled in New England, cowboys and cowgirls flock to the southwestern bar and grill to feast on a menu of American favorites with a south-of-the-border twist. When they’re not eating, guests can dance while bands play rock classics and modern hits. During themed nights, such as the Hoedown, partygoers dressed in their finest cowboy hats and overalls can imbibe dozens of beers on tap, in a bottle or can, or loaded with other extras at the full bar. The bar also pours wine, shots, and martinis, such as the espresso and the Sugar Cookie, which can take the place of after-dinner coffee and dessert.

A combination corner bar and haute cuisine restaurant, Christopher Martin's Restaurant and Pub keeps it local with cheeses from Colchester, ice cream from Milford, beef from Barkhamsted, and beers poured right behind the bar. A neighborhood fixture for more than a quarter century, the eatery's seasonal menus reflect their commitment to freshness and their unflagging creativity. Whether splitting orders of butternut-squash ravioli or creamy goat-cheese medallions in the dining room or clinking glasses of local brews over seafood pot stickers in the pub area, guests get a flavorful taste of New England living.

Jokers Wild Comedy Club's stage showcases comics drawn from both the national touring circuit and the local scene as they hurl laugh-igniting jokes into the eager ears of audiences. Upcoming comics include Cal Verduchi (March 9–10), a Comedy Central veteran who specializes in uproariously raunchy impressions of celebrities ranging from Ozzy Osbourne to Kermit the Frog. Known for his appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and MTV's 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour, Joel Lindley (March 16–17) wields and old-school deadpan demeanor to deliver self-deprecating stories and curmudgeonly one-liners. Richie Byrne (March 23–24) melds his experience on VH1 and The Rosie O'Donnell show with a successful acting career—including stints on Sex and the City and The Sopranos —to dominate the stage, drawing audiences into exquisitely detailed stories with engaging physicality and sonic mimicry.

• For $15, you get $30 worth of casual American fare during dinner (5 p.m.–9 p.m. Sunday–Thursday, 5 p.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday). • For $10, you get $20 worth of casual American fare during lunch (11 a.m.–5 p.m.).