The Dakota Bar

The Dakota Bar Restaurant Review:

While seating includes a few high-topped tables and padded stools, the huge U-shaped bar, the centerpiece of this throwback social-club space, is where you'll be most comfortable. Standard cocktails are solid: start with a Manhattan. The wine list is accessible, if not über-inventive, with all the expected French and Italian crowd-pleasers (a Chianti here, a Côte du Rhône there). The menu comprises crowd-pleasers as well, with no real theme: empanadas, sliders, chicken wings, shrimp bruschetta. But the execution is better than you'd expect (this is elevated bar food). Thin, crispy pizzas are surprisingly good. Cobb salad comes piled high, heavy on the bacon. Desserts are always changing. Ordering a tailor-made cheese plate to accompany a glass of wine or a beer seems like a fine finish.