Atelier Florian Sea & Meat Raw Bar

This Belgian bistro is just a quick walk from the New Haven Green, and is ideal for just about any occasion. There’s a cute patio that’s perfect for people-watching and gossiping over Happy Hour drinks and bites, while the bright dining room is surprisingly big. The bossa nova covers of pop hits also help you feel like you’re in an estimation of a cool French bistro, rather than in Connecticut, and there are plenty of excellent $12 cocktails like the sweet peach smash and honey hibiscus margarita. The red curry moules frites is an excellent spin on the French classic, and the belgian fries are so good you won’t mind if it reminds your dining companion of the semester they spent abroad in Brussels.