• Moodus, Connecticut, is in Middlesex County, about 29 miles southeast of Hartford and 39 miles northeast of New Haven. For tourists, the Moodus area features attractions such as Banner Golf Course, Machimoodus State Park and the Amasa Day House Museum. Visitors to the Moodus area have a small number of dining options to choose from, including pizzerias, barbecue steakhouses and Italian restaurants.
  
  

Pizzeria DaVinci

• Pizzeria DaVinci is a family-owned, chain of 12 small pizza restaurants with a location on Falls Road in Moodus. The restaurant prepares its pizza dough fresh daily and bakes its pies on a hot stone. Sixteen specialty pizzas are available, each made thin crust and available in 12-inch, 16-inch and 18-inch sizes. The signature pie is the DaVinci, a vegetarian selection topped with mozzarella, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and feta cheese. Gluten-free pizza is available as well as salads and subs. Pizzeria DaVinci is open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations are not taken. Casual attire is the norm. Take-out is available.
  
  Pizzeria DaVinci
  
  25 Falls Road
  
  Moodus, CT 06469
  
  860-873-2299
  
  davincict.com
  
  

Hilltop Barbecue & Steakhouse

• Hilltop Barbecue & Steakhouse is on Ray Palmer Road and opened for business in February 2010. All of the restaurant's steaks are USDA choice or prime black angus beef and include cuts such as the 18-ounce bone-in ribeye and the 22-ounce porterhouse. The steakhouse is also known for its barbecued entrees such as the St. Louis-style ribs or the beef brisket. A full bar is available.
  
  Hilltop Barbecue & Steakhouse is open for lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are suggested, particularly for dinner. Casual attire is acceptable. The restaurant features a children's menu and has high chairs and booster seats available. Live music and dancing are featured nightly in the bar area. A large-screen television is in the bar area for watching sports events.
  
  Hilltop Barbecue & Steakhouse
  
  12 Ray Palmer Road
  
  Moodus, CT 06469
  
  860-873-1234
  
  hilltopbbqsteakhouse.com
  
  

La Vita Gustosa Ristorante Italiano

• La Vita Gustosa Ristorante Italiano is along Main Street in East Haddam, about four miles from Moodus (around seven minutes by automobile). The family-owned restaurant has previously won awards for its pizza in the Roma of Hartford Statewide Pizza Competition. The dinner menu includes pasta such as linguine in clam sauce, shrimp scampi, chicken cacciatore and lasagna. Vegetarian dishes are available. The restaurant offers a full bar.
  
  La Vita Gustosa Ristorante Italiano serves lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are highly recommended. In nice weather, ask for seating on the restaurant's stone patio. Business casual attire is the norm. Live entertainment is featured regularly. A children's menu is available for children aged 12 and younger.
  
  La Vita Gustosa Ristorante Italiano
  
  9 Main St.
  
  East Haddam, CT 06423
  
  860-873-8999
  
  lavitagustosa.com