Watch the sailboats bob along the harbor from your table at the aptly named Paradise Bar & Grille (78 Southfield Ave., Bldg. 5, Stamford Landing, Stamford, 203/323-1116, noon–9 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun., $12–35). Dinners are less utopian than the setting, but are perfectly fine plates of fried cod, broiled chicken, and wrap sandwiches.

Carnivores and business travelers alike flock to the Stamford branch of Morton’s of Chicago (377 N. State St., Stamford, 203/324-3939, www.mortons.com, 5–10 p.m. Mon.–Thu.; 5–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat.; 5–10 p.m. Sun., $25–54). The clubby, upscale dining room brings out high-quality steakhouse staples such as double-cut filet mignon with béarnaise sauce, shrimp Alexander, and huge pieces of chocolate velvet cake.

In the happening South Norwalk area, Match (98 Washington St., Norwalk, 203/852-1088, www.matchsono.com, 5–10 p.m. Sun.–Thu.; 5–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat., $22–38) is a favorite for dinner and drinks. A steel bar spans the room’s entrance, and seems always full of twenty- and thirtysomethings swilling martinis and digging into menu offerings like wasabi-and-sesame-rubbed tuna.