New Haven, CTMediterranean

A Mediterranean brasserie in the Taft Building from executive chef Vincent Chirico. CTbites describes a menu built in three moods: fresh, indulgent, and decadent. Order the hamachi tartare tower and the yellowfin tuna finished tableside with brown butter. The room leans polished and the cooking pulls from across the Mediterranean rather than one country, which is what separates it from the Greek and Turkish rooms elsewhere on this list.

Turkish cooking on Crown Street from the Donmez family, in the former Istanbul Cafe space. The New Haven Independent calls it modern Mediterranean alongside traditional Ottoman dishes. Order the hunkar begendi, the 'sultan's delight,' fire-smoked eggplant folded into a cream sauce under braised meat. The kitchen runs late, to 11 p.m. most nights and midnight on Saturdays, so it doubles as a sit-down option after the downtown theaters and bars.

Modern Greek from owner Peter Vouras, now at 2323 Whitney Avenue in Hamden, a short drive up from downtown. CTbites points to the souvlaki and the gyro pita with tzatziki, plus a bright avgolemono soup, the lemon-and-egg chicken broth. It is a straightforward counter-Greek spot built for the pita-and-skewer order. Note that the earlier New Haven storefront has closed; the Hamden location is the one still going.