Any evening that begins at Il Gatto Nero is sure to soar. A College Street landmark in the heart of Little Italy, the Italian resto is a bridge between old-world charm and cozy modernism. Arguably as famous for its seemingly endless steaming cups of espresso and cappuccino as for its thin-crust pizzas topped with fresh basil, rosemary, sun-dried tomato, delicately cooked chicken and assorted mushrooms, the main dining room exudes rare warmth.

Any time of the year, a visit to Beer Bistro on King is a solid proposition. The venue's stated mission is to "change the way people think about beer." And brother, they do, both through the myriad suds on offer and the way in which beer is incorporated into the dishes. Mussels, for example, are uniformly (and deliciously) served in beer broth with sour dough bread. Mmmm, beer broth…