Cozy Eateries: Hot Spots

	San Francisco: Q Restaurant Q Restaurant is the Richmond district hangout that satisfies your palette, both culinary and artistic. You can sit back and enjoy the fanciful art that covers the walls (and some of the tables), along with your favorite comfort food, which Q is sure to have hot and ready no matter what your favorite happens to be. Meat loaf, Fried Chicken, garlic fries, you name it! It all comes out good and fast, with a little funky home style flair. Mac and cheese is topped with crumbled tater tots and corn on the cob is accompanied by a succulent jalapeno-lime butter. What's not to like? Two diners can easily get out of here with happy tummies for less than thirty bucks. If you have a craving for a pancake meal, Q will serve them up hot and fluffy seven days a week. 225 Clement Street |San Francisco, CA 94118 Between 3rd and 4th Ave. 415.752.2298

	Los Angeles: Jack Sprat's Grille Tucked away in a little spot where LA's Century City, Culver City and Westwood collide, lies Jack Sprat's Grille. As the old nursery rhyme goes, "Jack Sprat could eat no fat. His wife could eat no lean". So what you find on this menu is a veritable smorgasbord of the "designer" low fat, low cal choices contrasted with decadent and absolutely delicious side dishes and desserts. For dinner try the Chicken Milano plate- a grilled breast of chicken smothered in tomatoes, capers, mushrooms, and garlic with steamed broccoli (and be sure to add a side of baked 'air fries' or better yet sweet potato fries) and then reward yourself with a humungous portion of one Sprat's bundt cakes (lemon or dutch chocolate) or homemade pies (raspberry peach pie is a surefire winner). We hope you bring a friend . . . or three. Plates are quite sizable, salads are piled high to the sky, and one slice of pie serves two to four people. To top it all off, Sprat's starts every table off with soft baked pretzels and hot spicy mustard for dipping. Two words: crowd pleaser. 2459 18th Street NW | Washington, DC 20009 10668 W. Pico Blvd. | Los Angeles 90064 310.837.6662. www.jackspratsgrille.com

	Chicago: Think Café If you're looking to impress without breaking the bank, Think Café is quite possibly the best first date spot in the city. Classy, sophisticated and stylish, Think Café is preparing classic dishes with ease and new twists on old favorites. Start your meal with the traditional appetizer like the 'Think salad', a mix of lettuce, walnuts, bleu cheese, and pears or get a little adventurous with calamari with Asian barbecue sauce and sea scallops. House entrees range from lemon linguini with grilled chicken, to roasted pork loin with garlic mashed potatoes and chipotle apple sauce. For Dessert, forget the cappuccino and take a bite of their espresso flan to perk you up for a night on the town. Sunday - Thursday 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. 2235 N. Western Ave. | Chicago, IL 60647 Phone: 773.394.0537 Fax 773.394.4093 info@think-cafe.com

	Nightlife: Hot Spots

	Los Angeles: The Room Certainly not out of the way, but just a little hard to find (which is the best combination), The Room doesn't show itself off because it doesn't need to. The low, deep red lighting that matches the big red booths lining the wall across from the bar, the music line-up that spans at least 30 years, and drinks that are strong and sassy are bringing in a steady and dance-readycrowd Wed. through Sat. If you can get there before they run out, the mojitos are tough to beat. 1325 Santa Monica Blvd. | Santa Monica, CA 90404 310.458.0707 $5 cover

	DC: Tryst Somewhere in between coffee lounge, Italian cafe, upscale bar, and artists' performance space, Tryst touts itself as an everyman hangout. You can sink into their comfy couches with a delectable cappuccino, a gourmet salad or panini, or "tryst-arita" (or four). If it's business you've come for, you can even check your email with free wifi access. Plus, Tryst's website—which features a full menu guide, newsletter, info about "Tryst-ian" philosophy, among other goodies—sports a missed-connections forum á la Craigslist for reconnecting with that Tryst-goer who got away. Tryst is open Monday through Thursday until 2AM, Friday and Saturday until 3 AM. 2459 18th Street NW | Washington, DC 20009 202.232.5500

	NYC: Luv 24/7 Although it's located on the impossibly hipsterized lower east side, Luv 24/7 feels like it lives just outside the fray. The exterior doesn?t promise much, with just a small red sign in the window, but once inside you'll find laid back patrons sipping cocktails served by a pleasantly attractive wait staff. The vibe is friendly and unpretentious, making you feel comfortable, yet cool at the same time. The DJ is accommodating, but come Saturdays after midnight and you'll be listening to house music no matter what. The small space never feels claustrophobic, but rather cozy with dim lighting and banquets lining the walls, which create nice inlets for group gatherings and posh parties. 247 Eldridge St (between Stanton and Houston) | New York, NY 10002 212.505.7600