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Alta is the anti-tapas bar. Yes, its menu consists entirely of small plates, priced from $3 to $15, and yes, many of them—like salty serrano and roasted pineapple—taste and sound Spanish enough. But chef Harrison Mosher’s elegant, offbeat presentations come off more haute tasting menu than run-of-the-mill Madrid. Neighbors drop by the long, welcoming bar for extemporaneous goat-cheese fritters and lavender honey, or a glass of wine from a carefully curated old-world list. The rustic double-height dining room feels like a South American hacienda, and there’s an intimate upstairs alcove that you reach by walking through the kitchen. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

On Friday and Saturday nights, when Alta is open until 1 a.m., they offer a late-night menu.

Caramelized cauliflower with clams, chorizo and golden raisins, $9.50

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