Tolo

From the folks behind the wine bar and bottle shop Parcelle, Tolo is another spot on Canal Street where you can drink wine and eat delicious food. The tight menu has influences from Yangzhou, Hong Kong, and Sichuan, so go ahead and pair your fruity, funky German pinot noir with some string beans turbocharged with chiles, ginger, and crispy flakes of ground pork. For something larger, try the sweet and sour crispy fish. If you ever snuck extra fish sticks onto your plate as a kid, this might inspire some pleasant flashbacks as you eat, while sipping your adult grape juice. The red candles, metallic finishes, and blasting Lauryn Hill jams make Tolo’s small dining room a prime spot for a friendly catch-up.

photo credit: Will Hartman