Verve Bistro and Cellar

Before diving into Verve’s extensive wine list, grape groupies can rev up their tasting engines with a menu of gourmet small plates and entrees. Slap some sense into your hysterical palate with starters such as butterscotch pear and goat cheese salad ($9) or a smaller plate like the blasted brussel sprouts ($9) or the cornbread-coated veal sweetbreads ($9). Diners who’ve worked up a heartier appetite after a long day arm-wrestling rhinos will achieve sophisticated satiation with entrees such as beef bourguignon with bacon and mushrooms ($12) and lobster risotto with fennel ($15).