Great Bars 2013: Food Wine & Co.

When the polished-wood bar at this restaurant debuted in 2010,
it was heralded for fried things—crisp calamari, hushpuppies, comically
gigantic tots. Those golden-brown snacks continue to impress, but it was
also designed for guests to sample new wines and beers. Pick three
three-ounce pours from a globe-spanning selection of reds and whites or
four four-ounce pours of high-quality brews such as Deviant Dale’s IPA and
De Koninck Belgian Pale Ale. Insider tip: The sprawling and rather staid
dining room lacks the bar area’s conviviality—a much more fun place for
either dinner or an after-work drink. Open daily.