Big Jones

Boasting a refreshed interior and an open kitchen equipped with extra gadgets, this big kid on the block greets guests with barrel-aged punch selections, as well as an impressive list of Bourbon and whiskey. From its cookbook collection to brocade walls lined with portraits of life in the South, the place oozes warmth and is a guaranteed good time. Yes, it’s no front porch in Louisiana, but it’s certainly close.

The menu too is rooted in the South, but as often as the chef trots out his grandmother's heirloom recipes, he dishes out creative tweaks, many with Mexican influences. Cheddar-corn fritters with a chili pepper-vinegar dip and bread pudding are staples, while the hen and hominy presents a south-of-the-border slant on chicken and dumplings.