Stepping into the laid-back Taverna is like combining all of your favorite places to be (as long as Greece is one of those places).

Count on greasetastic pan-fried Manchengo cheese to warm you up on a cold night and fill the arteries as well at Angelo’s Taverna in Old Town. The restaurant/bar features many wooden tables as well as a long bar with some stained-glass artwork and a mirror that makes the place feel bigger than it is. There’s also a patio for summer sprawling.

The menu boasts a lot of Greek food. Favorites like saganaki, spanakopita, Grecian style New York steak and pasta with olive oil, feta cheese and garlic highlight the food offerings. Mousaka, lamb chops, salads and soup also round out the menu. You can get comfy, too, because at the cozy place you might watch NFL football games or hear reggae music percolating lightly through the stereo system.

You'll get the best bang for your buck on Thursdays when a live blues band plays. Monday nights are date nights; $50 buys you a bottle of wine and dinner for two. Wednesdays feature two-for-one tapas.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Mary Susan Littlepage