I usually opt out of small plates (mainly for my midwestern appetite and in fear of the elevated bill) -- but Cortez is an exception. The variety of really creative and consistently delicious dishes that you can try in one meal makes it a great value for a fine dining experience.
I'll never forget the scallops or how perfectly the meat dishes were cooked. not to mention the soup shots, which were so rich and flavorful that you didn't need more than a shot. the wine list was great -- and they had great coffee to boot, which is a critical end to any feast.
on top of all this, the place isn't so noisy that you have to yell sweet nothings across the table.
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