City: Hartford, CT

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (860) 522-2530

Address: 185 Asylum St.

Description: Across from the civic center, this downtown place for the elite to meet brings global cuisine to a fine point. In the tasteful and classy restaurant, you’ll be offered wild coho salmon and Max’s “world-famous” strip steak. You can get table tastings, like one for mozzarella that will have everyone salivating for the main course. If you don’t want one of their red meat specialties, get the pork chop on the bone, and don’t forget to try one of their creative (and very strong) martinis. Your biggest choice may come between the truffled french fries and the blue cheese cottage fries. Always on the cutting edge, they offer a gluten-free menu as well. There are 7 Max restaurants in the Hartford area, all owned by Richard Rosenthal, but they are not a chain. Each has its own character and menu. Max Downtown is the flagship, and it is sailing on smooth seas.