(From April 2009) Robert Gadsby’s new, Mediterranean/Asian enterprise (following his fling with Orient-oriented dining at Soma) rates high on the imagination scale. Witness a so-called wild mushroom risotto—made with Texmati rice—with wafer-thin slices of grape and a Thai red curry sauce. Or the lamb osso buco, a huge chunk of quite tender meat, with caramelized “melting” onions, braised fennel, and a pomegranate seed garnish. Or a butternut squash “cappuccino” soup topped with a little salad of celery, apple, and granola. If you’re sensitive to noise, ask for a table away from the bar crowd. The artful, contemporary space, with tall plate-glass windows, is quite “live.” The “chef’s table,” the bar in front of the open kitchen, is much less intimidating than most such venues. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From September 2009) Sleek decor, an outdoor patio, and a slew of beautiful people add up to a must-try spot. First place on our visit went to an appetizer of roasted wild mushrooms with generous shavings of Parmesan. A close second was pappardelle lavishly sauced with veal bolognese and graced with a plump orb of ricotta. On the other hand, lackluster is how we’d describe the citrusy shrimp salad with heirloom tomatoes and smoked mozzarella—the cheese dominated the plate. Lemon ricotta cheesecake made amends: fabulous. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From February 2010) We bypassed the tried-and-true menu at this upscale spot and ventured into nightly-specials territory. Salmon came delicately crusted with almonds and accompanied by a lovely mustard sauce, while trout was stuffed with crab and shrimp and served with a light marinara cream sauce. Friendly and attentive service capped off a perfect evening. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From December 2009) Informal enough to be a neighborhood spot but classed up with French tableware and pastel linens, Louise Lamensdorf’s charming venue is just the right home for her ever-changing menu. On a recent visit we had a delicious carrot-cumin soup, followed by savory pan-seared scallops served with savoy cabbage, fingerling potatoes, and a rich caviar beurre blanc. Buttermilk chocolate cake went per-fectly with the house-made cinnamon ice cream. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From July 2009) Vast crowds could fit comfortably into this capacious Mediterranean dining room, whose tables and booths face a stage where entertainers shimmy and shake on weekends. On a slow weeknight, however, we were riveted by one well-prepared dish after another. Starter plates of baba ganouj and hummus, along with batinjan el-rahib (eggplant with lemon and garlic) and grilled halloumi (a mild goat or sheep cheese), were wiped clean before we faced equally fine kebab platters: marinated beef; minced lamb with parsley, onion, and pine nuts; and lamb in a spicy tomato sauce. A belly dancer would only have been a distraction. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From April 2010) This hugely popular, high-energy space shows no signs of slowing down. Our small group enjoyed shareables like foie gras bonbons, little mouthfuls of decadence; calamari with a knockout jalapeño-lime dressing; a duck confit papusa; and tasty pork fritters. Standout entrées included seared flounder atop corn-and-bacon chowder (the kitchen appears to have gone whole hog, as pork is a star in many menu items); grilled shrimp with goat-cheese-and-bacon grits; and succulent roasted chicken with thyme-spiked mashed potatoes. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From April 2010) Turquoise accents and dark woods make a pleasant venue for plenty of good and good-for-you Mediterranean dishes. The samplers looked so appetizing we decided to order two. The salad platter consisted of fresh green tabouleh chunky with tomatoes, couscous studded with carrots, red and green peppers, and creamy baba ganouj. The vegetable platter really won our hearts, though, with its lovely roasted eggplant, dolmas, basmati rice pilaf, and fresh garden greens with cucumber and artichokes. (Don’t worry— there are plenty of meaty entrées too). For dessert have Turkish coffee and a small diamond of baklava. BYOB.

Leave a Review

(From November 2008) We applaud the new menu additions at this cosmopolitan place, with its lovely covered patio and saffron-hued dining room. Paella lovers will rejoice to find the classic Valencian rice dish offered for the first time; it can be ordered vegetarian or with chicken or shrimp (or both). A must-do appetizer is the signature shot glass of gazpacho puréed to a fare-thee-well. The crema catalana reminded us of a light crème brûlée kissed with citrus. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From November 2009) This gem, behind the Havana Riverwalk Inn, serves mostly Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. A splendid “fish kebab” featured broiled cubes of salmon adroitly flavored with saffron and lemon, while a beef pot roast with tomato sauce, more nearly a stew, had vigorous, deep flavors. Among the apps, we liked the tangy tabouleh salad and mirza ghasemi, a cold Persian eggplant and tomato combo. Informal yet digni-fied, Cool Café has vast river-view windows. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From February 2009) Housed in a newly renovated downtown building, this chic place offers empanadas and tapas in the evening and delicious salads and sandwiches during the day. We loved the crepe with roasted chicken, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and Gruyère and the smoked-salmon sandwich served on herb flatbread with cream cheese, spinach, tomato, and balsamic. Reserve the chocolate soufflé cake when you place your order. Beer & wine.

Leave a Review