Gina’s On Congress

Gina’s is the type of pocket-sized neighborhood bistro you might expect to find in a quiet corner of a bustling downtown in a much older, larger city. The building feels like it holds some history in its walls, even if the tables and walls are sporting pristine white tablecloths and shiny new coats of paint. The menu leans classic Italian—with a handful of handmade pastas and larger entrees that help turn a visit here into a proper meal—but we like to just sit at the bar and order a bunch of snacks and drinks. Show up during nightly Happy Hour and you can even get all those snacks and cocktails for half the price (including seven Negroni variations). Pop in before catching a show at The Paramount up the street, especially if you’re all dressed up already.