Fodor's Expert Review Benzina

Named for the car-mechanic shop that once stood here, Benzina blends industrial-chic elements with splashes of color and excellent music (on vinyl, naturally) to create a hip but cozy Italian restaurant. The food, however, is center stage: the freshly made pasta is among the best in the city, and other must-eats include the melt-in-the-mouth eggplant parmigiana with Parmesan ice cream and the fritto misto of calamari, shrimp, and fresh anchovies with curry mayo.