Listings:

An intimate, casual little bistro from Craig Willis. Looks like an apartment, cooks simple, tasty dishes like the friend who's always showing up everyone else at the dinner party. Willis has been the longtime chef for the Wagas group; this restaurant marks his settling down.

Des Lys is a casual restaurant whose raison d'etre is standard French bistro fare with Provencal influences, think more Mediterranean flavors like Salade Nicoise and the like.

el Coctel is a dark and intimate lounge from the people behind el Willy. The snacks menu is Spanish, but that's about it. The rest is a lovingly crafted tribute to the cocktail's Golden Era, in the early twentieth century, and Japan's fanatical obsession to the details of the drink. Japanese bartender, extensive cocktail list, sophisticated vibe.

This cafe/restaurant/wine bar serves light American fare such as sauteed fish and pasta dishes. Upstairs the ambiance is cozy, with an inviting fireplace as the centerpiece and soft couches to lounge on if you're there for a beverage.

Gourmet Cafe offers inventive gourmet hamburgers in a modern cafe environment. Over 30 different variations, such as the 'Crakajak' with premium beef, cracked black peppercorns and melted cheddar cheese or the 'L'Avorella' with prime beef, buffalo mozzarella, ripe avocado and sun dried tomatoes, Gourmet Cafe serves up a unique burger meal. They've also got a selection of summer salads and a list...

This is the "old" Jesse restaurant, the shabby but clean cornerstone restaurant of Shanghainese cooking that has since spawned a chain of "new" Jesse restaurants -- Xin Jishi -- in all corners of Shanghai. The original is still the best by far, with unfussy but delicious Shanghai staples like hongshao rou, braised pork shoulder, a braised fish head covered in fried spring onions, and plenty of...

One of Eduardo Vargas’s more successful projects, the original Casa 13 was a popular Mediterranean restaurant with a lovely terrace -- and licensing issues. Eventually, the latter forced its relocation, so Casa 13 packed up its toys and moved into the one-time Balthazar lane house. Dining, drinking and lounging happen across three and a half floors, with a little outdoor courtyard and a roof...

Wildly popular and eminently affordable, this izakaya does a brisk business in crispy gyoza, yakitori, and other snacks that make you want to guzzle down lots of beer, sake, and shochu. Their beef tongue comes highly recommended.

The Chalet (design is reminiscent of a Swiss lodge) is a cozy little retreat lounge / pub, popular with a maturer expat clientele, seeking a relaxed, low key, affordable setting. Good happy hour deal -- good for relaxed conversations, low key dates, group of friends.

One of the few Moroccan-style restaurants in the city, El Wajh is heavier on the decor than the authentic dishes. Still, you will find a suitable tangine here. Seating is only on the second level and accommodates no more than 25 or so, lending to the cozy atmosphere.