At Max’s Oyster Bar (964 Farmington Ave., W. Hartford, 860/236-6299, www.maxrestaurantgroup.com, 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; 4 p.m.–11 p.m. Sat.; 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun.,, $25–30), interior design bigwig Peter Niemitz has created a room in muted ruby tones that perfectly complements the creative seafood menu. Offerings include rock shrimp nori rolls, pan-roasted lobster with sweet chili and fennel, and char-grilled salmon with lavender.

Arguably West Hartford’s favorite Asian restaurant, Butterfly (831 Farmington Ave., W. Hartford, 860/236-2816, www.butterflyrestaurantct.com, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun.–Thu.; open until 11 p.m. Fri.–Sat.) is a dimly lit, comely spot with a menu of fresh Szechuan and Cantonese specialties. The high-energy Prospect Cafe (345 Prospect Ave., W. Hartford, 860/523-8069, www.theprospectcafe.com, 11 a.m.–11:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat., noon–10 p.m. Sun., $15–22) has been a fixture in West Hartford since it opened in the 1960s. The eclectic cuisine (heavily peppered with Italian specialties) is always a hit (the rich sausage carbonara is utterly addictive), as is the wide al fresco patio.

The gleaming interior of Grant’s (977 Farmington Ave., W. Hartford, 860/236-1930, www.billygrant.com, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; open until 11 p.m. weekends, $16–23) is filled with 1920s lamps and tiled floors, while the exterior has a nice enclave for outdoor dining. In both, diners can dig into a menu of American dishes met with Mediterranean influences, such as the crab cakes with rouille and pistachio-crusted trout.