On the Grid : Extra Virgin

"EV, as it’s often called, is a more adventurous and affordable offshoot from James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Smith, whose eponymous fine dining restaurant is right next door. The broad, seasonally influenced menu ranges from pre-meal nibbles to full courses, with more unusual options like duck tongue tacos, rabbit gnocchi and BBQ pork belly buns riding alongside must-have perennials like empanadas, chicken thighs with chorizo and a killer house-made hummus. When it’s not winter, opt for dining in public on the broad patio. Pro tip: It’s especially inviting at lunch, when much of the menu is half-price and wine from their interesting list is discounted $2 a glass." - Brent Anderson