At Becco, the pasta keeps coming, the tables keep closing in, and somehow it all works. A pre-theater staple where unlimited pasta meets a dining room full of strangers who may or may not become part of your night.

A Scandinavian cabin in the middle of SoHo. Kabin, Alexandra Tangen’s cocktail bar, brings Nordic design, inventive drinks, and a surprisingly cozy energy to downtown NYC.

At La Pecora Bianca, the food is balanced, the crowd is chaotic, and the sourdough toast might take a tooth. A reliably good Upper West Side spot with just enough edge to keep it interesting.