The year's best-of accolades at Chef Omar Rodriquez and his wife's original venture, Think, always rode some awkward, BYOB charm between the cornerstones of Italian cuisine and the eclectic American x-factor it tried to push. It would kill first impressions with a throwaway crab cake app and an apathetic waitstaff, only to turn around and ace an organic, rosemary buttered Tuscan veal chop delivered by Omar himself.

Enter Knew, which takes Think and makes it a little more refined. The place's facelift, decorated by Omar's wife, follows the same stride, distancing itself a tad bit further from Rodriquez's decade stint at the Carlucci Restaurant group with a worldly, organic and free range based menu, blanketing walls in powder blue and minimalist café sheen, but opening the door with this sheepish quirk.

Maybe the waiter won't know what's in the butter (sun-dried tomatoes, white and black truffles and a tweak of garlic). Or the lobster-stuffed Belgian endive will be overtaken with way too much feta. And then in swoops Omar or his wife with a peppercorn-crusted buffalo filet that'll make you break-up with beef for good.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Gavin Paul