We vet places many times over, and only these nine restaurants made the cut. Highlights include flaky meat pies, house-smoked pastrami, pinots soundtracked by J Dilla, and other tasty reasons to classify this year in dining as a net gain.
LessMadre Selva has a no-skips menu, a ceviche bar, and year-round summer energy. Go if you like seafood in a space that feels beachy, no matter the season.
Incredible Thai food in a setting where “subtle” might be a dirty word. Go if you need a green light to be hella extra—between all the plaids, pinks, and big balloons, no one’s eyes are on your table.
Anchovies get the headliner status they deserve. Go if you like people-watching and soulful boom bap playlists.
A throwback chicken spot with checkered tables and 16-piece buckets. Go if you like comfort food and ’80s flashbacks.
A soul music-fueled omakase experience that goes beyond the standard nigiri. Go if you like camera-ready dinners with a chill playlist.
Meat pies that’ll make you fall in love with meat pies. Go if you like rugby matches on every TV.
This spot has a DJ at 10am and the best vegan pancakes in town. Go if you need to boost your morning mood with super cheery service and a DJ spinning classic R&B.
Pizza and beer snobs, this one’s for you. Go if you like cheese pulls paired with Inner Voice beer (from the counter over).
Classic sandwiches get the house-smoked treatment. Go if you like eating sandwiches that you could never make at home in a place that feels sunny even when it’s raining outside.