Trattoria Ora: Wine Bar, Queens, NYC

Meals often kick off with complimentary bites—such as chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano, olives, or eggplant—before moving into starters like beet salad, calamari, or sautéed portobellos. Alongside a wine bar, the kitchen turns out plates like spicy shrimp spaghetti and salmon fettuccine, rounded out by meat dishes and house-made ricotta cheesecake and tiramisu. It keeps an easygoing neighborhood pace, supported by attentive service and a dining room that can be surprisingly quiet.