Q: What are your recommendations for a date night Uptown. Looking for great food, fun vibes, and great cocktails.
Tom: For pre-dinner drinks and nibbles, my first stop would be The Punch Room at the Ritz-Carlton, open Thursday-Saturday. It’s cozy, intimate, and Kel Minton runs an outstanding bar program. Haymaker is also a great spot for cocktails, curated by nationally recognized mixologist Bob Peters, as well as superb Southern-inspired food by Chris Coleman. If you want a Monday date night, reserve a few seats for our next Meet the Chef dinner with Chef Chris on September 16. Coquette has quickly become one of my Uptown go-tos with its French bistro fare and impressive wine list. Fin & Fino is a great spot to scratch a seafood itch as is Sea Level — both with top-notch cocktail programs, led by Brittany Kellum and Azure Cassidy respectively. After dinner, head to Latta Arcade and The Cotton Room. It’s tight and tiny, but a fun vibe with an excellent cocktails curated by Steven Laws. You may want to think Uber Black for a night like this.

Q: I don’t want to cook Labor Day weekend. What are my takeout options?
Tom: As with most holiday takeout, I always look to barbecue first. Sweet Lew’s BBQ and Midwood Smokehouse always have nice takeout packages for every occasion (and game days). If you’re looking for fried chicken and fixin’s, look to Bossy Beulah’s which will be open regular hours on Labor Day as well as offering full catering package. The Crunkleton has put together a fun “Take and Bake” Oyster Roast package while its sister restaurant, Rosemont, has created a “Grab & Grill” package for you to treat your family and guests.

Q: Any idea on when Maneki will open? Seems like a lot of these new places have been missing their opening dates by a mile.
Tom: Unfortunately, restaurants rarely control their destiny on when they will open. Delays in city permitting and inspections, ABC red tape, as well as issues with contractors and other factors can push opening dates back, often significantly. However, I just spoke with Sam Hart who says he is looking forward to opening sometime in October. Fingers crossed.

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