République

A cathedral-ceilinged French brasserie inside a landmark Chaplin-era studio, where morning pastries give way to duck confit and bone marrow by night.

The arched windows and double-height ceilings do half the seducing before a single plate arrives, but the kitchen holds its own with a menu that moves fluidly from laminated dough at breakfast to classic French bistro fare by dinner. Expect a crowd that dresses for the room, a bar program that takes the wine list seriously, and service paced for lingering rather than turning tables.

Best for: Long lunches and special-occasion dinners under soaring skylights