Bars With Surprisingly Delicious Food

Bars used to be dark, hole-in-the-wall affairs where people spent all night over the same cheap whisky. No more. Initiated by a rising demand for quality and variety, watering holes (having already discovered craft beer, rare vintages and exotic cocktails) are now creating food menus to rival the best restaurants.

Indeed, the term "gastropub" is quickly replacing "bar" in the current vernacular, reinforcing the idea that what you chew on is as important as what's in your glass. Welcome to a world where artisanal cheese tasting plates, teriyaki chicken wings, oyster and beer pairings and tuna tartare with an Asian twist have replaced bowls of soggy chips and pretzels. A whole new wave of culinary imagination is coming to the table, usually over a beer. Let's lift a glass (and a fork) to some of the noteworthy in this rapidly expanding universe.