"The Diplomat on Brady Street makes inventive twists on comfort food that feel exciting without entering Mad Lib territory. The menu seems to state the obvious with dish names—Pretzels, Trout, Scallops, etc.—until you actually taste them and think, “Wait, is that salt cod in the hashbrown?” We always start meals here with the pickled deviled eggs with dill salt, and then order something that uses some fancy cheese—we’ve had things like truffle grits that fold in Pleasant Ridge Reserve—as a makeshift side to their roast chicken. Wrap things up with banana bread like you’ve never had it before, made with butterscotch pudding and golden raisin emulsion. Try to sit near the window so you can look out at the neighborhood, which was founded by Italian immigrants and still has some street vendors selling cannoli. " - kristine hansen