Seasonal, local, sustainable, contemporary American. It isn’t a Nobel prize-winning concept, but Gator pulls it off without being boring. In a tidy dining room with marble tables and gator-themed wallpaper, this Greenpoint restaurant serves fried chicken paillard, radicchio with spiced nuts, and glossy short ribs that dissolve over a pile of coconut grits. It’s not all 100% successful—the focaccia needs work, and some dishes get overambitious—but at least this place is doing something different. If your life is starting to feel monochromatic, bring a date, and get a cheeseburger topped with a tempura-fried mushroom on a brioche bun that acts like a sponge, soaking up all the juices. Just keep in mind, there were delays with the liquor license. Call ahead if you want to be assured that there’s booze.