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Lelabar’s Rafael Hasid has two Middle Eastern eateries in Brooklyn, but you’ll still have to head to Park Slope for his delicious baba ghannouj—Hasid’s West Village outpost is a classic wine bar. The gorgeous, dark-wood wraparound counter that constitutes the nucleus of the place encourages communal banter and, even better, tutorials from ace sommeliers Nick Robinson and John Blechman, who’ll gladly curate a wine flight from the over 150-strong vintage list. Candles and smooth jazz scream “Yes, this is a wine bar,” but Lelabar makes up for it in restraint and size: It’s not too tiny, too crowded, nor too reliant on taxidermy décor. Panini sandwiches, cheese-and-charcuterie planks, and exotic Tumbador chocolates highlight the small-plates offerings. — Darren Frei