Bexley's Monk   

Since its opening in the early 1980s, this popular eatery has drawn a steady crowd, particularly those of the fine wine and olive oil infused persuasion. Customers have two choices: the formal, wood-paneled dining room with its elevated levels and brass railings or the spacious bar with its checkerboard floor and bright ambiance. Either way, you'll be highly visible, so if you're with a new love or decide to participate in the open mic, you'll likely hear about it the next day. Those who come for the food have a wide range of selections. Salads alone range from Caesar to spinach, Mediterranean to mozzarella. The dinner menu is just as varried and selections include seared maple leaf duck breast, roasted chicken, filet of beef, blackened tuna, horseradish-encrusted sea scallops, among others. And there's lots of pasta, from marinara to pomodoro to fettuccine, while the pizzas are loaded with exotica such as an array of wild mushrooms and boursin cheese. Later on there's often a jazz band in the bar, a perfect end note to a one-stop interlude.