First things first: The Way Back is not just a cocktail bar. Coming here and failing to try something from the menu of innovative dishes, all prepared in a food-truck kitchen, is to miss out on at least half of what this establishment has to offer. But you'll be forgiven if you didn't know that, because the food, formidable as it is, has been overshadowed by the Way Back's bar — a very glorious bar. Built with the same seasonal ethos as the kitchen, steeled by the bartending chops of the owners and staff, and dashed with considerable whimsy, the cocktail list veers wildly through smart variations on classics, utterly unusual concoctions and drinks that are just plain fun (frozen banana daiquiri, anyone?). Don't see anything you like? The bar will tailor a drink just for you, an enticing prospect when you're in the hands of this capable crew. And if you're not a spirits hound, the wine list is nothing to sneeze at, either.
Readers' Choice: Nocturne