This dark Lower Greenville bar from Goodfriend owners Matt Tobin and Josh Yingling and chef Oliver Sitrin is a carnivore's dream, especially if you like craft beer and/or whiskey. Get the ever-changing charcuterie plate and/or "big meat board" if it's available, which could include anything from five-animal terrine to bone marrow to osso buco. Housemade sausages are a must, particularly the rotating chicken version. Vegetables are worthwhile, too, particularly the very bacon-y Brussels sprouts.

If you're looking to impress a date or out-of-town visitors, Stephen Rogers and Allison Yoder's cozy, intimate Henderson Avenue restaurant is a natural choice. Thoughtfully executed dishes like crispy sweetbreads with grainy mustard or duck two ways with barley fried rice are complemented by warm and attentive service. Do not skip dessert by pastry chef Stephanie Childress. Major bonus: Gemma is open till 1 a.m. for night owls who want to eat well.

Attention carnivores: John Tesar's modern take on the steakhouse at the Hotel Palomar is where you want to be. Start off with a bacon tasting and ground-to-order steak tartare before moving on to a "new school" cut of prime Texas beef like the tri-tip, downright affordable at a mere $26; or simply grab a spot at the bar and order up a cocktail and the $12 Ozersky burger, which comes with a side of awesome onion rings or super-crispy salsa verde fries.

Indian food on Lower Greenville? It's practically a dream come true. Excellent pappadum, samosas and naan make the perfect precursor to entrees, whether you choose to play it super-safe with the old standby tikka masala or get a bit more adventurous. Biryanis are awesome, and vegetarians will be delighted with the many meatless options. Bonus: Unlike most of the city's Indian restaurants, Shiva's has a full bar.

So & So's is serving thoughtfully executed plates like confit pork belly with kimchi sauce, flawlessly cooked fish and a fantastic charcuterie plate in an unlikely location -- right in the midst of McKinney Avenue's bar scene. There are pizzas and wings, too, but it pays to be adventurous here. Cocktails are well-balanced and delivered quickly.

Former Bistro 31 general manager Victor Hugo and chef Eric Brandt clearly know their way around the hospitality industry. With a moderately priced menu (think $9 duck taquitos and $24 filet mignon), a welcoming atmosphere, and well-priced cocktails, they're certainly on the right track to succeeding where previous tenants have faltered.

Craft cocktails, wine on tap, and smoked proteins galore await at this newest addition to Lower Greenville's ever-expanding dining scene. Expect trendy items like avocado toast, bone marrow, and things in jars (e.g. smoked fish dip and pork rillettes) in a rustic-but-sleek, laid-back setting. Even "BBQ Snob" Daniel Vaughn was impressed by the smoked shrimp and Arctic char.

Fantastic cocktails from barman Alex Fletcher (including tasty draft options like the Vietnamese coffee-inspired 8AM) and a great patio make this Acme F&B replacement worth a visit. On the food side of things, expect housemade potato chips with creamy onion dip, oysters with pancetta and kimchi butter, and a burger dialed up with bone marrow from chef — and current Hell's Kitchen contestant — Roe DiLeo.

Industry vets Michael Cox and Kelly Hightower are dazzling diners with a modern spin on Mediterranean flavors in a chic, colorful dining room. A giant pork chop milanese gets fresh with an herbal salsa verde, bacon-wrapped dates are stuffed with spicy pork chorizo, and a luscious braised lamb shank rests on a bed of fluffy apricot-studded couscous.