Restaurants in Verona

Plumes of fragrant steam swirl above bowls as waiters deliver hefty portions of paella to red-linen-topped tables inside Vivo Tapas Lounge. In the paella, clamshells, shrimp, mussel shells, and pearly scallops pop amid a heap of golden saffron rice. The eatery’s paella complements a list of hot and cold tapas, all of which exemplify the restaurant's Zagat rating of very good to excellent food. On small tapas plates, chefs arrange tiny patties of spanish tuna or mushrooms stuffed with onions, bacon, pine nuts, and mozzarella cheese. After meals, the crowd can get to their feet and dance the night away amid colorful beams of light and exposed-brick walls. Sheer curtains cordon off private seating with tufted, high-backed banquettes for VIP parties and laid-back tax audits.

Canteen Indian Bistro draws in customers with a lengthy menu of traditional dishes prepared with halal meats, from the chicken malai kebab to lamb chops. The restaurant's BYOB policy allows customers to dine in and supply their own beer or wine, and its carry-out service allows guests to enjoy a meal provided they supply their own home to eat it in.

El Conuco is named for an indigenous term that refers to the locus of the Dominican Republic's planting and harvest. The restaurant's chefs live up to the name's bountiful connotation and specialize in both seafood and steak, which they prepare seven different ways. Bowls of paella overflow with shellfish and sausage, and lobster or shrimp come augmented with creole and garlic sauces. The kitchen also serves mofongos, fried green plantains that are sculpted into a tower and filled with shrimp, spanish sausage, or fried cheese. On weekend nights, live music fills the air as diners tuck into their meals.