"Sailor’s striped awning and paintings of seafaring vessels will put you in the mood to eat something that used to live in salt water. This nautical-themed bistro from the folks behind Joseph Leonard and the former Breslin chef serves a lot of seafood, like skate cheek and peas in parsley sauce. The white tablecloths and flickering lamps make the space feel fancier than your average neighborhood spot, but lots of dishes hover around $20 or less. Use any surplus funds on wine and profiteroles." - willa moore, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick