Spina, New York

Many chefs spend their nights toiling in hot kitchens trying to get orders ready for busy dinner services. Pasta chef Blanca Rincon spends her hours in Spina’s sleek, peaceful dining room, where she forms saffron-infused gnocchetti and squid-ink fettuccine before diners’ eyes. Beyond the handmade pastas, guests enjoy trattoria-style small plates, such as meatballs made with a mixture of veal and pork, PEI mussels, and littleneck clams on the half shell, as well as fresh fish of the day and dry-aged steak entrees. General Manager Matthew Harrell curates a wine list with selections from traditional wine regions of Italy and Argentina, as well as bottles from wineries near the Finger Lakes, a region previously known only for its amphibious high-fives. Artwork and the eatery's exposed-brick walls around small, candlelit tables make for cozy dining experiences.