Vitae Restaurant, Huntington

At Vitae Restaurant & Wine Bar, executive chef Steve Del Lima puts a contemporary spin on continental fare from filet mignon to crab-crusted sole. Del Lima's appetizers in particular have an international flair—beef tenderloin medallions come with hand-stretched tandoori naan, and flash-fried calamari is glazed with sweet Thai pepper.

At Vitae's opening in 2011, a reviewer from the New York Times praised both the "tender baby back ribs," brushed with house-made black-coffee barbecue sauce, and the "elegant" ambiance, enhanced by the soft glow of recessed lighting and hanging lamps. Stored behind an onyx-amber bar and in a 1,400-bottle cellar, an extensive wine selection earned the Huntington eatery a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2014.