Merchants

(from blackboardeats.com) Although Bobo, a lively social club of a restaurant in a beautiful Federal-style town house in the West Village, is named for the chic phrase that combines bohemian and bourgeoisie, you don’t have to be either to enjoy it. Instead the creativity and comfortable nonchalance implied by the hot spot’s name is channeled into an accessible and perfectly curated dining room, amazing backyard deck, and wonderfully hip garden-floor bar. Adorned by trinkets and tomes carefully scattered on mantels and bookcases, the restaurant features small plates and market-fresh entrées that somehow manage to be subtle and over-the-top at the same time—how about some duck breast, perfectly seared, with date puree, hazelnuts, parsnip and chorizo? Conspicuous consumption never tasted so good.