There's no shortage of funky restaurants in refurbished houses in Dilworth, but this one stands out.

The Scene
On any given night, you'll find tables of straight couples, gay couples, Myers Park couples, even a couple of tables filled with blue-haired ladies. The servers are adorned in all black, but don't carry that cooler-than-thou air, though many of them are.

The Food
Penne with duck and lobster has an unexpected kick; Mongolian lamb chops come with a fried banana roll that you may want again for dessert. Mustard-basted brisket is nothing like the stuff your grandmother used to make. And then there's the Matilda Wong, the drink so strong they only let you have two. The recipe is a secret--you could watch the bartender make it, but just the sight of all that liquor might make you tipsy.