"Go to Cotogna on a weekday, and the Italian spot will be full of people finding refuge from the Financial District over great pastas and small plates. But at night, the wood-fired oven, friendly staff, and exposed brick wall make this place perfect for dates. Make sure the giant raviolo filled with ricotta and perfectly runny egg yolk are on your table, along with a board of prosciutto and gnocco fritto. Reservations are released 30 days in advance on SevenRooms. Or you can walk up and try to go for a seat at the bar. If you want to avoid the dinner rush, come during lunch when it’s less busy—they serve mostly the same menu." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong