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Set on an odd corner—industrial grit and barred windows on one side, neat clapboard houses on the other—Adobe Blues brings live music and a Southwestern-themed menu to Staten Island. The bar plays host to a thriving jazz and blues scene, and the dining room, accented with chili-pepper lights, terra-cotta sconces and images of the Old West, looks upbeat, too—until the food hits the table. Pedestrian salsa accompanies a basket of chips, and salads are dressed in a blend of BBQ sauce, sour cream and mayo that's thick enough to stand up a fork. Mini-tacos will satisfy deep-fried meat lovers while enchiladas are geared towards those mad for cheese. — Helen Zelon

The food tastes a lot better with some liquid support. The beer bonanza spans 200 brews from 29 countries, and margaritas come in 10 varieties.