La Vara

"“Spanish tapas does not get better. You can get excellent food with a really non-pretentious environment. The people are personable, the environment is relaxed. The highlight for me is always the ajo blanco. It’s a pine nut and almond white gazpacho with shrimp ceviche and cured kiwi, I think. It always changes. They also put basil oil and smoked salt or some shit—delicious. And I'm gluten-free, so to find something that's indulgent and creamy is almost impossible to do, especially at a restaurant. They had these puffed garbanzo beans, kind of like popcorn, but garbanzo beans with some seasoning—paprika? Those are really yummy.”" - brennan carley

"La Vara specializes in food inspired by the Jewish and Moorish cuisines of Southern Spain, and we love their mash-up dishes, like Cantabrian anchovies served in dukkah butter, and morros prensados, a beef jowl terrine with mustard-grape española and an herby pistachio salad. Come with someone who doesn't mind your anchovy breath: With lots of stuff to share and a long list of cocktails and Spanish and Portuguese wine, it’s a good de facto date night spot in Cobble Hill. " - will hartman, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim

"La Vara is a fantastic Spanish restaurant ideal for any situation when you want impressive food in an un-fussy environment. This Cobble Hill spot is from the same people who own Chelsea tapas spots El Quinto Pino and Txikito, as well as Saint Julivert Fisherie next door, but La Vara is still the most special of the group. Bring a date or your parents, and share tapas like crispy eggplant with honey and fried artichokes with anchovy aioli. It gets pretty packed here on weekends, but weekday reservations are easy to come by, and you can usually get a seat at the bar without too much of a wait." - bryan kim, hillary reinsberg

"La Vara is Cobble Hill’s best and most charming restaurant for a date night, and you can get a table without much planning. Our favorite dishes here combine classic Spanish proteins with Middle Eastern and Jewish cooking, like the fried artichoke hearts lying in hammocks of ibérico de bellota sausage (which is where our hearts would like to hang out, ideally). For a romantic outdoor setting, try the back patio." - bryan kim, will hartman, willa moore, sonal shah

"La Vara is the sort of place someone might take you if they were trying to convince you to move to Cobble Hill. The Basque restaurant has a long wine list and a bunch of small, beautiful plates—things like deviled eggs with green tahini, iberico ham with crispy artichokes and anchovy aioli, and slow roasted suckling pig with tximitxurri. The brick-walled dining room has a few big booths, so bring your parents here for a thank you dinner after they’ve helped you decorate your seventh new apartment in five years. Or come with a friend and sit out front—during the warmer months, it feels like attending a neighborhood block party." - willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim, neha talreja, will hartman