Proof

One of the most acclaimed new wine bar/small plates restaurants in the city, Proof has become one of the poshest culinary stars in the Downtown firmament of late. Everything is excellent – the duck and pork confit in cassoulet is a smoky marriage made in heaven – but if you want to keep costs down and still eat well, opt for the excellent cheese and charcuterie dishes, which are likely the best compliments to the epic wine menu. The four-course $56 tasting menu is also a winner that gives you a good idea of what the kitchen is capable of, but if you’re in a group, try to mix and match off sexy small plates like cozy flatbread under creamy ricotta and lightly fried soft-shell crab complimented by a dandelion salad that makes your heart grin.