"This casual Mediterranean-ish spot has been making us feel at home and filling us up with homemade pastas, hearty meatloaf—and the best fried chicken in town—for the last two decades. The space resembles a cottage more than an actual restaurant, with dimly lit dining rooms outfitted with chandeliers, and eclectic paintings in mismatched frames of cars, boats, and people. And the patio, filled with twinkle lights, bricks, and flowering trees, is so cozy and quaint, we half-expect to run into a family of anthropomorphic cartoon farmer bears out there. Come to Blue Plate for date nights, big group dinners, pinot noir-soaked meals with someone you used to hunt mushrooms with, or whenever you want the weight of the day to dissipate." - lani conway, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez
