"You don’t have to be loud or boisterous to be a big deal—just ask a baby bat, Jake from State Farm, or Kamonegi. A meal inside this soba-focused restaurant can be reserved for a special night out disguised as a tame one. There’s a relaxed mood that’s most appropriate for knocking things back like fresh sea urchin and marinated ikura on a delicately battered shiso leaf, their famed chewy buckwheat noodles, or terrific fried kabocha “wings” tossed in sticky duck demi-glace. There's also an elegant tasting menu for under $100 for those who want to expand beyond the basics." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, gabe guarente