La Paella (CLOSED)

Patrons sit on wooden benches at intimate, wobbly tables; dried roses line the ceiling and Spanish tunes set the mood. (There’s an even cozier downstairs room.) On a date? Order the sangria with the platos mixtos, a tapas sampler that includes a potato omelette and cold octopus salad tossed with olive oil, tomatoes and parsley. Gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) are succulent, swimming in a broth begging to be soaked up by some dense bread. Traditional paella is also meant for sharing. Ignore the American entries on the dessert menu; go for the sweet, creamy flan.