Blue Ribbon Bakery has as much stock in its brick oven—found in 1995 when it was 135-years old—as an authentic pizza institution in Italy. And it’s with good reason. From the moment a basket of warm doughy bread arrives on your table, the first flavor to surface on your tongue is quality. The extensive menu offers ingredients in pure form, which makes eating here feel like going to a market and pilfering at the piles of food at will. But would you really think to pick up herring in cream, white roast garlic, and a steamed artichoke yourself? Probably not.

Main courses consist mostly of meats ranging from pigeon to rack of lamb to an excellent duck confit. Prices err on the high side, but the consistency and range of good food rarely disappoint. And never mind the upstairs seating—request a table downstairs so you can sit in a more intimate setting, the cavernous wine cellar, prized brick oven and all.