This soaring, sexy bi-level restaurant is sure to impress your out-of-town guests, but the Asian-inspired food is good enough to merit a visit on its own. Have a cocktail at the bar upstairs while you wait for your table, then descend the long staircase – perhaps to the huge communal table lit by dramatic chandeliers or a more intimate spot – and settle in for some family-style noshing.

Several blocks south from bustling Smith Street sits a quiet Japanese restaurant in Cobble Hill called Hibino. The restaurant is a collaborative effort between two chefs and a graphic designer.