"Lucian, most recently a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, changes its booklet of wine selections monthly and typically carries close to 250 wines by the bottle and 15 wines by the glass. Co-owner and sommelier Jordan Smelt keeps the deep wine list here approachable, grouping wines by easily recognizable varieties, like chardonnay, cabernet franc, or sauvignon blanc. Book titles on the shelves center on art, design, food, and culture, with a food menu including everything from an omelet with caviar and crispy polenta to ricotta gnudi and roast duck. Don’t skip the fries here, which come served with a special aioli for dipping. A new restaurant by the Lucian team is headed to Old Fourth Ward. Reservations highly encouraged." - Beth McKibben, Henna Bakshi