"Huda in East Williamsburg is a useful, yet still festive, place for an impromptu date at a last-minute two-top. It’s a neighborhood corner spot, with floor-to-ceiling picture windows, but inside it’s still dark and sexy enough to remind your partner of how attractive you are. A glass of arak with mint and an upbeat global playlist gets the evening going. Continue it with sharable plates of Levantine food, like a shredded carrot salad, some grilled squid with hummus, and a side of batata harra. And don’t miss the beef-stuffed shish barak dumplings." - bryan kim, will hartman, willa moore, sonal shah