"Midtown’s Larakin feels like a cool wine bar in some beachy city. That’s not just because it’s an entirely outdoor setting. It’s because the string lights, breezes, and unhurried mood makes us feel like we’re far away from deadlines and agendas. Slowly grazing on tinned fish and charcuterie keeps the focus on conversations that linger on well past the last drop from your bottle of syrah. Come on a Wednesday for their three-pour wine tastings, when they rotate a few things from their robust wine collection that ranges from a $40 Tokaji to a $100-ish California red." - jacinta howard, juli horsford, nina reeder