As unlikely as they are to admit it, most New Yorkers rarely stray from their favorite restaurants. It’s not too surprising, given that many people in the crazy city long for stability, reliability, and, if they’re really lucky, affordability. It’s understandable, then, how exciting it feels to find a place like Roman’s, one you’ll want to add to your list of regulars after just one visit. At this Fort Greene classic, opened in 2009 by Andrew Tarlow of Diner and Marlow & Sons, families sit down for Friday dinner, seated beside a group of friends, while a couple on their third date sits just behind them at the bar. The menu is filled with comforting yet modern Italian dishes that change with the seasons. I always start with the daily bitter or sour drink and the fava bean purée, which comes with slices of She Wolf bread. —Jeanne Malle

Jeanne Malle is a Junior Editor at AIR MAIL