Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro

California's wine country doesn't feel so far away when you're dining at Mindy VanHellemont's small, beautifully understated Tallulah. With its airy look, linen-covered tables, serenely white décor and show-stopping bar, it was an instant hit when it opened in February. The enticing wine list and combination retail shop and tasting room next door are supposed to make wine the center of attention, but chef Jake Abraham's simple, sophisticated menu more than holds its own. -- Sylvia Rector

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