Fresh, cheap, and endlessly pleasant, A Toda Madre would be your go-to Mexican spot by now if it weren’t a half a tank of gas away in Geneva. The sunny little space’s 12 wood tables groan with shareable plates of grilled pollo adobado, chiles rellenos with huitlacoche and cream, and tamarind-glazed shrimp skewers.

Tequila-sipping customers get crammed even tighter—so tight that the hostess gets an iPad instead of a stand. It’s loud and beautiful chaos, wherein the general goodwill of the staff and diners produces a vibe less claustrophobic than communal. And, of course, steaming-hot churros with cinnamon sugar and passion fruit curd don’t hurt.