Dinner at Jean Louis Restaurant (61 Lewis St., 203/622-8450, www.restaurantjeanlouis.com, noon–2 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; 5:45–10 p.m. Mon.–Sat., $21–39, prix fixe: $59–69) is no mere dinner; it’s an event. Renowned and award-winning chef Jean-Louis Gerin masterminds delectables like rabbit with mild gingerbread spices, baked in a tagine—and a simply sumptuous boneless quail with potatoes, mushrooms, Armagnac, and bacon. Dress to impress.

The bustling, chandelier-studded dining room of L’Escale Restaurant (500 Steamboat Rd., 203/661-9800, www.lescalerestaurant.com, 7–10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Sun.; 5–10 p.m. Sun.–Thu.; 5–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat., $22–34) is a beautiful setting for magnificent French dishes such as skate with white bean ragu and duck with foie gras medallions. Lighter fare and cocktails are offered in the lounge (11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. daily), and the al fresco dining overlooks the harbor. Live music and DJs on weekends keeps things cool rather than stuffy.

Chef William Kulhanek oversees the kitchen at the seafood-centric Elm Street Oyster House (11 W. Elm St., 203/629-5795, www.elmstreetoysterhouse.com, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon.–Thu.; 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat.; 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Sat., $26–32). The white-walled dining room jumps with colorful paintings and reproductions, and plates arrive heaped with hickory-fried calamari, swordfish with tapenade, and lobster paella.