1. GusGus
Merriam Park/Union Park
The latest incarnation of this basement bar and restaurant isn’t afraid to have a little fun. Just check out the décor: donkey wallpaper, a blue ceiling and walls that make you feel like you’re underwater, and a mounted deer head observing it all. That sense of whimsy weaves through the cocktails, with sippers bearing monikers like the Tea Swift (gin and Licor 43) and Baby’s First Vacay (spicy Tequila, mezcal, and Chartreuse) — plus something you’ll be hearing a lot about: Jell-O shots. These get a little fancy with Tattersall bitter orange liqueur, Aperol, and bubbly. Food runs from snacks — corn nuts, fries, fried anchovies — to heartier fare such as a de rigueur cheeseburger, poutine with braised oxtail, sea bass served with a white bean ragu, and gnocchi with lemon and mascarpone cheese.