"Nopa is a restaurant to save for an intimate birthday dinner with one to three people who are in the running to be your emergency contacts. The seasonal American spot oozes with charm, and fits the bill for any celebration with lots of wine, negronis, and perfectly cooked pork chops. Request one of the cozy booths, order extra fries for the table, and consider sticking a candle in some wood-baked beans." - julia chen 1, patrick wong, ricky rodriguez