Sakura Garden, Milford

Located inside the CT Post Mall, Sakura Garden seats over 400 people, plus space for another 80 in their private party room, and uses warm lighting and exposed-brick walls to surround a decorative indoor tree that plays host to cherry blossoms and the occasional Cheshire cat. Experienced chefs decorate dishes with colorful pieces of sushi and hot hibachi entrees, and the sleekly sneezeguarded buffet arranges a long line of dishes brimming with a rotating selection of nearly 100 different sushi and traditional entrees. At the full-service liquor bar, which is highlighted by blue and purple lighting, customers can occupy their hands with martinis, sake, and beer while keeping an eye on the flat-screen TVs in case a public-service announcement comes on while enjoying happy hours every Monday through Friday.