New York · West Village
Via Carota
Insalata verde and svizzerina
The green salad alone is worth the wait. Walk in early, sit at the bar, order the burger.
Neighborhood favorite· Date· With Friends· With Mother
Restaurants
Where we'd actually go.
A short list of restaurants across the US that we love — places that are good for a date, a girls' night, lunch with your mom, or just dinner that doesn't require a month of planning.
City
St. Petersburg here means St. Pete, Florida — your Tampa Bay home base, not the one in Russia. Type "Tampa" and it'll work too.
New York · Williamsburg
Lilia
Mafaldini with pink peppercorns
Missy Robbins' handmade pasta in a converted auto-body shop. Book the second reservations drop on Resy.
Lively· Date· Celebration· With Friends
Los Angeles · Fairfax
Jon & Vinny's
LA Woman pizza, fusilli with tomato
The Italian-American comfort food everyone in LA texts about. Easy lunch, easier dinner.
Lively· With Friends· Solo· With Mother
Los Angeles · Venice
Gjelina
Roasted vegetables, wood-fired pizza
The Abbot Kinney patio is the move. Order half the vegetable section and a pizza to share.
Patio· Date· With Friends· With Mother
Los Angeles · Arts District
Bestia
Cavatelli alla Norcina, agnolotti
Loud, dark, romantic in that LA way. Reservations are still hard — that's the only complaint.
Lively· Date· Celebration· With Friends
Chicago · West Loop
Avec
Chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates
Communal cedar bench, Mediterranean small plates, one of the best wine-by-the-glass lists in the Midwest.
Cozy· Date· With Friends· Business
Chicago · West Loop
Au Cheval
The cheeseburger (add an egg)
Often called the best burger in America. Put your name in early and have a drink across the street.
Lively· With Friends· Solo· Business
Chicago · Logan Square
Lula Cafe
Farm Dinner Mondays, brunch any day
The Logan Square restaurant that taught Chicago what farm-to-table actually means.
Neighborhood favorite· With Mother· With Friends· Solo
Austin · East Austin
Suerte
Suadero tacos with black magic oil
Heirloom-corn tortillas pressed in-house and a mezcal list worth reading slowly.
Lively· Date· With Friends· Celebration
Nashville · Germantown
Henrietta Red
Raw bar and wood-fired flatbreads
An airy, white-tiled room that feels like a calm exhale. The oysters are the move.
Neighborhood favorite· Date· With Mother· With Friends
Nashville · Germantown
Rolf and Daughters
Squid ink chitarra, sourdough with cultured butter
Communal tables, low light, and the pasta program that anchored modern Nashville dining.
Cozy· Date· With Friends· Business
Nashville · East Nashville
Folk
Wood-fired sourdough pizzas
From the Rolf and Daughters team — casual, vegetable-heavy, and the kind of place you bring everyone.
Neighborhood favorite· With Friends· Date· Solo
New Orleans · Warehouse District
Cochon Butcher
Muffuletta and house-cured charcuterie
A counter-service sandwich shop from Donald Link's team — exactly as good as everyone says.
Neighborhood favorite· Solo· With Friends· Business
New Orleans · Irish Channel
Turkey and the Wolf
Collard green melt, fried bologna
A scrappy lunch counter that won Bon Appétit's Best New Restaurant — and somehow stayed exactly itself.
Neighborhood favorite· With Friends· Solo
St. Petersburg, FL · Downtown St. Pete (Tampa Bay)
Annata Wine Bar
Cheese & charcuterie board, by-the-glass flights
A small, warm room downtown for a glass before dinner or instead of it.
Cozy· Date· With Friends· Solo
St. Petersburg, FL · Downtown St. Pete (Tampa Bay)
The Mill
Crispy brussels sprouts, shrimp & grits
Reliable, generous, easy to bring anyone — a true downtown St. Pete go-to.
Lively· With Friends· With Mother· Business
St. Petersburg, FL · Edge District (Tampa Bay)
Brick & Mortar Kitchen
House-made pastas, chef's tasting
The small, chef-driven dinner spot St. Pete locals send their visiting friends to first.
Cozy· Date· With Friends· Celebration
St. Petersburg, FL · Edge District (Tampa Bay)
Olivia
Wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas
Big, beautiful Italian — the room everyone wants a reservation at on a Friday.
Lively· Date· With Mother· With Friends
St. Petersburg, FL · Edge District (Tampa Bay)
Ichicoro Imoto
Tonkotsu ramen, crispy chicken bao
The ramen counter that proved St. Pete could do casual, serious Japanese food.
Neighborhood favorite· Solo· With Friends· Date