At this downtown supper club, hostesses wear floor-length gowns, jazz singers belt out sultry tunes, and the glasses are full of bubbly and brandy. The menu is is big and rich. If there’s one must-have, it’s the Moonshine Meatloaf made with foie gras and wrapped in—what else?—bacon. Praise the Lard is a trio of bourbon-braised pork cheeks, crispy pig’s ears, and pork belly on creamy grits. Beer-Can Chicken arrives on the can, and a fun sampling of macaroni and cheese dishes comes as a “flight” with such cheese board staples as nuts and honey. Vets of the Edison and Seven Grand designed the retro cocktails, which is to say, don’t skip them.

Best Restaurant Soundtrack, August 2010

At Terry Brewer and Parker Martin's new venture, First & Hope, the aural ambience seems as carefully chosen as the oversize ice cubes in the Pimm's Cup or the stargazer lilies that scent the air. Hold up your iPhone and Shazam it: Pink Martini, Edith Piaf, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Gotan Project. Retro and modern mix harmoniously, much like our hostess's style: a silk dress and tats.