BEST PLACE TO BE CHARMED
Vicini Pastaria
When chef and owner Dawn Wilson went to Tuscany to study Italian cooking, she fell in love not only with the food but also with the country's slow-paced, communal approach to eating. Her tiny Lafayette Square charmer is the embodiment of that ethos. vicinipastaria.com.
BEST NEW LISTENING SPOT
The Saturn Lounge
Named after the Saturn-like rings that run around a vinyl record, The Saturn Lounge is stocked with cold drinks and vinyl records. With more than three decades of DJ experience at KDHX, Doug Morgan (aka Doug Love) programs the evening's soundtrack, drawing from the more than 20,000 records that make up his personal collection. thesaturnlounge.com.
BEST PIZZA PAIRING
1929 Pizza & Wine
Sure, pizza and wine are a quintessential pair, but the real match at 1929 Pizza & Wine is husband-and-wife team Matt and Amy Herren, who have married their respective baking and chef backgrounds to create a lovely Neapolitan pizzeria in downtown Wood River, Illinois. 1929pizzaandwine.com.
BEST FOOD & MOOD
Rock Star Tacos
With its neon-lit, rock-star-themed interior, Rock Star Tacos at The Gaslight has created the perfect atmosphere to enjoy its eccentrically tasty fare. Created and cooked by ex-rocker Wil Pelly, the tacos further declare the vibe of the joint with such monikers as the Amy Swinehouse and the Shrimp Bizkit. rockstartacos.com.
BEST BOTTLE SHOP & MORE
Grand Spirits Bottle Co.
Passersby might see Grand Spirits as a lovely boutique wine shop at first blush—and it is. But walk through its doors, and you see that Grand Spirits is so much more. Mezcal tastings, delectable sandwich counter Grand Sammies & Sides, and experimental cocktail bar New Society pack so much firepower under one roof, you wonder how it's even possible. grandspiritsco.com.
BEST SUCCESSOR
Salve Osteria
Natasha Bahrami could have simply carried on her family's legacy at the erstwhile Café Natasha's, but instead—with husband Michael Fricker and chef Matt Wynn by her side—she forged her own with this excellent Italian-inflected restaurant. salveosteria.com.
BEST PRE - MATCH MEAL
Kain Tayo
The offerings inside CITYPARK may be impressive, but they can't outshine the outstanding food just down the road at Kain Tayo, where co-owner Sally Arcega's fiercely traditional dishes, such as sisig, chicken adobo, and lumpia, offer a transportive, delicious window into Filipino cuisine. kaintayostl.com.
BEST NEW STREET FOOD
Salsa Rosada
Groove to the Latin flavors at Salsa Rosada, Mandy Estrella and Bradley Payne's lunch-only, VenezuelanColombian, Midtown follow-up to Mayo Ketchup. Check out tequeños, cheesefilled pastries often paired with sweet guava paste. Try Venezuelan arepas or pastelitos, second cousins to empanadas, packed with meats and cheeses. And for a sweet ending, little doughnuts with sweet fillings called bombas from Pan Pa’ Ti Artisan Bakery really are da bomb. plantaingirl.com.
BEST SPINOFF
Maryland House
Kevin Brennan wanted to build Maryland House as an extension of the current Brennan's. What he ended up creating is a stunning restaurant, lounge, and majestic terrace that feels like it captures the Central West End in all of its stylish, cosmopolitan glory. themarylandhouse.com.
BEST TARTINES
Ivy
For those who prefer more than peanut butter on.
