Companion

Part natural wine bar, part restaurant, Companion is the stylish all-day hangout spot that Venice never knew it needed. Run by neighborhood residents Nick and Dakota Monica, the narrow, well-designed space serves pastries daily and sandwiches on housemade focaccia bread (the latter only 11am–3pm, Wed–Sun) before switching to a tightly curated Cal-Italian menu during dinner hours. In the evening, Quarter Sheets alum Jack Goode serves impeccable pizzas made with crispy, New Haven-inspired dough, plus seasonal delights like Caesar-style romano beans and olive oil cake topped with blackberry-peach compote. A well-heeled locals’ crowd and the lure of vinyl spinning after nightfall have already made Companion a total scene (pejorative), but I’ll hold my nose for Goode’s delicious, painstakingly sourced cuisine.