4 Best Restaurants in Hartford and the Connecticut River Valley, Connecticut

The post-and-beam buildings of Comstock Ferre & Co., the country's oldest continuously operating seed company (founded in 1820), is now home to a "seed-to-plate" natural foods café. It's open all day for wraps, toasts, soup, salad, juices, coffee, tea, and smoothies. You can also purchase heirloom seeds, groceries, and gardening supplies.

Located on Franklin Avenue in Hartford's Little Italy neighborhood, this shop serves delectable Italian pastries in the bakery and espresso, cappuccino, and gelato in The Caffé.

This glass-and-steel classic is the place to go for top-notch diner fare, including creative specialties like the omelet stuffed with roasted portobello mushrooms, Brie, and asparagus. Arrive early for lunch, as the line often files right out the door and the place closes at 1 pm!

Upbeat, hip, and casual, Trumbull Kitchen is the place to see and be seen. A loft-style dining area with leather-clad walls overlooks the action below where an eclectic menu features selections like seared Point Judith scallops, pan-seared salmon, brick-pressed chicken, and truffled onion burger, or a "stone pie" (pizza).