Vinum

As its name would suggest, this bijou on Bay Street is centered around wines, with many offered by the glass. Inside, where wooden wine crates double as decor, the place feels like an osteria straight out of Italy.
The menu is designed for sharing. “The Meatball Bar” is a treat, with unlikely twists on tired offerings—think truffled veal or lamb. Hearty mains, like a pan-roasted Berkshire pork chop with rosemary, garlic and balsamic vinegar, or a smoky puttanesca pasta are never a bad idea. Chef Massimo Felici’s passion for baking and pastries is clear in the house-made breads, and carries through to desserts that are worth getting excited over.