La Boca

For years, chef-owner James Campbell Caruso’s Spanish tapas restaurant has been a destination for locals and tourists alike. Occupying a small, bright space on Marcy Street, La Boca simultaneously evokes both intimacy—it’s not unlikely to strike up a conversation with the diners at the next table—and expansiveness (both the menu and the wine/sherry list display a predilection for variety and experimentation). While some Spanish dishes can be buttery-rich, La Boca’s menu manages to avoid the heaviness without skimping on the Manchego, serving up both time-honored classics and some of Campbell Caruso’s new inventions. Insider’s tip: From 3-5 pm daily, La Boca hosts “tapas de la tarde,” offering a slightly more limited list of dishes at half price.