Inwood Cocktails and Chicken Mofonguitos

Make room on the table for the appetizers at Tabu. This tropical themed restaurant at 229B Dyckman St in Manhattan serves American eats, including chicken mofonguitos and chicken nachos. The portions can stand in for a full meal, making the starter section a place to build dinner rather than simply fill the gap before it.

Cocktails and hookahs sit alongside the food, and the setting includes a cozy covered patio as well as indoor space. Bring a few people and share an order, or keep the focus on a drink and a plate. There is room here for a meal to become an evening out without changing venues.

Tabu opens at half past one PM Monday through Friday, 3 PM Saturday, and 1 PM Sunday, and stays open until 2 AM every day. That closing time leaves room for a later gathering, whether your table starts with dinner or gets together after an earlier stop.