"When the standard dinner-and-a-date feels played out, go to Baso in The Heights. You will get an incredible meal and a number of head-scratching brain teasers in the form of explosive flavors and textures. Thanks to subtle yet complex dishes—like an acid surprise in the red deer tartare or the wafer crunch under a tuna crudo—that will have you feeding one another all night in hopes of cracking Baso's code. All this while you sip funky Spanish wine while snuggling on tiny banquettes lit by glowing grill embers and exclaiming, “Wait, what the hell did we just eat?”. How to get in: Plenty of reservations are open at 5pm or 9pm, but for prime-time seating, you have to plan at least a week, if not two, in advance. It's easier to find a walk-in spot at the kitchen counter." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene, julie takahashi
