"Friends and industry vets Stefanos Vouvoudakis, Tom Tsiplakos, and Joe Ragonese — all grandchildren of Greek immigrants — brought their idyllic country’s vacay and party-starting vibes to a once-sleepy Dupont corner in late 2023. It’s the place to be at midnight, when a lively napkin toss gets the whole restaurant involved alongside a DJ. The local celebrity magnet was the celebratory venue of choice for NHL star Alex Ovechkin after his record-breaking goal. Named after the gorgeous Greek lagoon, Balos honors its watery muse with a plentiful seafood selection, raw bar, and whole fish flown in daily. Weekend brunch is also a fun affair." - Claudia Rosenbaum