Q:  Any birthday restaurant recommendations for a steak lover?
Tom: My go-to list for restaurant steaks always begins with Beef ‘n Bottle, no school like old school. They’ve been bringing the meaty hits since the 50s and in its current location on South Boulevard since 1978. To be honest, not much of a wine list or cocktail program, but if you want a basic classic martini or whiskey-rocks and a really good steak, you can’t do much better. The tomahawk at The Crunkleton in Elizabeth is typically a crowd-pleaser, and can feed two to four people easily depending on appetizers and sides. Bonus: if you celebrate the birthday on a Tuesday, the steak is half-price. The Delmonico ribeye are Dressler’s in Midtown is a true winner as is the wagyu strip at Supperland in Plaza Midwood, and the Stilton-crusted filet mignon at The Fig Tree on 7th Street.

Q: Having dinner at Chapter 6 on Monday and would like to have a nightcap afterwards. What South End bars do you recommend?
Tom: First, good call with Chapter 6. It’s one of my favorite spots in the city. I’ll also add Brittany Kellum runs a heckuva bar program there as well as all the other Rare Roots concepts. So hanging around for a final round is never a bad idea. A lot of places are closed on Mondays, however, if you are looking for change-of-vibe, you still have some options. You can take a ten-minute (ish) walk from Chapter 6 to The Vintage Whiskey and Cigar Bar which offers polished cocktail program in addition to its rich cigar offerings. Still in South End, but a little ways up (maybe a quick light rail ride if you don’t want to drive) are both Vinyl and Folia, the former a bit higher energy, the latter a bit more chill, and both with stellar cocktail programs. Cheers!