Fish & the Knife, Houston

At first glance, Fish & the Knife seems to be a typical Japanese restaurant with sushi, udon noodles, and Kobe beef. But a closer look at the menu, past the popular volcano rolls and sushi steaks, reveals a number of Southern modern dishes, including a chicken-and-andouille pot pie, cream-cheese-stuffed crab cakes, and Louisiana barbecue shrimp. And not surprisingly, Fish & the Knife isn't even just a restaurant—it's also a bar and lounge where a well-dressed crowd dances the night away until 2 a.m. on the weekends.