Family-Friendly Steakhouses

The following less-pricey restaurants offer a casual, laid back atmosphere:

Dining at Dakota Steak House is a fun experience. Steaks, seafood, burgers, and tavern offerings are served up in a setting reminiscent of an old lodge in the mountains. There is an extensive salad bar. The kids menu includes Jr. Top Sirloin for little carnivores in the making as well as more typical kids fare. Another casual option is Chuck’s Steak House, which offers salad bar and burgers/sandwiches in addition to steaks. The kids menu includes sirloin, prime rib, and ribs in addition to chicken tenders and burgers. Chuck's has a large outdoor dining area with a firepit that is fun in the warm weather. Both of these restaurants are located on the Silas Deane Highway in Rocky Hill. 

Ted’s Montana Grill is an American restaurant that specializes in chops and burgers made of bison, although the menu includes several other kinds of meats. Kids will love the variety of ice cream shakes, malts, and floats (adults can order spiked versions). There are two locations: one on Front Street in Hartford and the other in the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk in South Windsor.

Outback Steakhouse offers fun, Aussie-inspired fare. Steaks can be seasoned and seared or prepared over the wood-fire grill; there are also plenty of burger/sandwich/salad options. (Outback is owned and operated by the same company that operates Fleming’s.) For a southwestern spin, check out Texas Roadhouse, specializing in hand-cut steaks, ribs, and margaritas. There is a large kids menu. Tuesday nights are Kids Nights: games, arts & crafts, an eating contest and other shenanigans are offered. Both of these restaurants are located in the Buckland shopping area of Manchester.

Sophisticated Steakhouses

Head into Hartford for two restaurants famed for their way with steaks: Capitol Grille, known for its dry, aged steaks, and Max Downtown, the signature restaurant of the famed Hartford area Max restaurant group. Each of these restaurants offers an extensive wine menu and various cuts of meat along with fresh seafood and poultry entrees. Side dishes are offered a la carte.

The best steakhouse East of the river (and some argue in the entire Hartford area) is J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks and Seafood in Glastonbury. Voted best steakhouse in the 2015 edition of Hartford Magazine, J. Gilbert’s serves up angus steak cooked over an open wood-fire grill, along fresh seafood and a selection of entrees that include vegetarian, poultry, and pasta options.

West of the river in West Hartford, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is a high-end chain serving up a variety of cuts of beef along with a la carte sides and upscale entrees. And next door in Newington is another high-end steakhouse chain, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, offering fresh meat and seafood delivered daily along with sides and specialty entrees.