"So you’ve been texting with your date for a while now, trying to decide where to eat, and as far as you can tell, she’s interested in something casual, fancy, low-key, and lively all at the same time. Well, this is off to a great start. Keep it on the safe side with Black Bottle. It works whether you’re still in work clothes or just in a nice pair of jeans, and you can get great small plates ranging from Korean fried chicken bites to a cheesy Dungeness crab dip with flatbread. If you want to start drinking early, try the excellent Old Fashioneds and guava palomas." - aimee rizzo