"Ernest may be home to excellent seafood and seasonally changing entrées—but it’s also one of the most exciting dinner spots in the city, and one where we go for a Big Night Out. That big night usually includes the $99 chef’s pick menu, which comes with 10-ish courses that showcase the spot’s Asian-influenced dishes. For a more casual experience (read: one where you will not need a reservation), walk up to the bar where it’s first come, first served, and grab a glass of wine and the beef tartare topped with glistening orange ikura." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez