Magnolia Café (CLOSED)

Exposed brick walls and black-and-white photography give this casual, contemporary café the feeling of an unpretentious gallery. The straightforward approach carries through to the food, where a range of flavors are done well. Menu items change based on what’s in season, but this neighborhood eatery always gets it right with possibilities like grilled shrimp over lemon-chive-sweet-pea risotto and miso black cod with a zippy lemongrass-ginger reduction. Don’t worry about hailing a cab home—the staff will call you one, and shake a mean nightcap for you while you wait.