"There is something rebellious about having a hard liquor in a restaurant famed — nay, named — for wine. But truly, how is a diner supposed to whet one’s appetite and peruse a menu without a martini? Go classic: It’s served in a stubby, iced, wine glass — efficient, cute — and snack on green olives while pretending to decide what part of the menu to skip (before eating it all.) This restaurant in Highbury has big windows that always get steamed up, with a bustling, warm atmosphere that’s perfect for a cold, cold, stiff drink." - Anna Sulan Masing