B. Tomas

The Scene
Little wooden tables (adorned with flowers by day, candles by night), and red walls decorated with kitschy oil paintings create B.Tomas' traditional bistro look. Cozy but unromantic, the small dining area and even smaller bar is ideal for a relaxed, low-key evening with friends. The staff's energy and enthusiasm remain unflaggingly bright-- impressive, since the room is sometimes less than half full.

The Food
The Ravioli soup, a zippy tomato broth bursting with juicy beef pasta, is a creative blend of two old favorites. The house salad, served with artichoke hearts, cannellini beans and onions, is fairly standard, but benefits from a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. When ordering the chicken sandwich, opt for cheese and bacon toppings to spice up a generally dry and boring dish. The standout choice is the yellowfin tuna, grilled to a perfect scarlet rareness, and complimented by thick, fluffy saffron risotto. Unfortunately, the "chocolate suicide" cake's cold presentation, along with excessively sweet fruit swirls along its plate, makes a disappointing capper. Also, skip the thin, watery espresso.