So named for the Choptank River, which flows into the Chesapeake, Choptank is restaurateur Bobby Werhane’s latest venture.  Werhane, who owns other West Village delights Dell’ Anima and L’Artusi, has infused the restaurant’s menu with staples from his native Maryland and has created a decidedly nautical aesthetic. Start with oysters from the Choptank River itself, then move on to the Virginia ham, served with fluffy biscuits and not-too-sweet honey butter.  As crab cakes go, Choptank’s almost lives up to its Maryland counterparts: it’s dense with meat and isn’t ruined by too much breading. The winter greens sauteed in olive oil provide the perfect, slightly bitter contrast to rich, buttery flavors.

As far as cocktails go, Choptank doesn’t depart from its seafaring inspiration. The Light & Mildly Inclement combines Appleton Estate Reserve rum, ginger beer, and a splash of lime to evoke distant tropical shores, while the Sunday Morning Call mixes Hendrick’s Gin, St. Germain, and Dolin Extra Dry Vermouth with grapefruit bitters. Come without a reservation and you may have quite a wait, but plenty of opportunity to appreciate the framed antique nautical documents, planked dockwood, and heated back patio.

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Nestled above once-clandestine hipster haven Cabin Down Below, Black Market is a former pizza shop that has undergone a serious makeover.  This mysterious new spot is the brainchild of Jesse Malin, owner of Bowery Electric.  With names like “Ring of Fire”, the cocktail list is a little intimidating, and so is the service: don’t expect friendly “hellos” at the door or charming smiles behind the bar.  As its name implies, the place can be unnerving, but definitely offers a taste of edgy cool.

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New LES hotspot Cheeky Sandwiches brings a bit of the Big Easy to the Big Apple with offerings of oyster po boys, fried chicken biscuits and other delicious Southern goodies.  The cozy dining room is tattooed with murals by transplanted English artist Blue Logan, and the phrase “A toast to the ducks that live in the swamp” is scrawled on the wall in blue paint.  Patrons can munch on their good ‘ole Creole eats while bopping to an eclectic mix of music of tunes.  Cheeky’s also offers a taste of Cajun sweets like powdered sugar-sprinkled mini beignets, served piping hot and fluffy with the perfect amount of crisp.  The final N’Awlins touches include Zapp’s Potato Chips and chicory coffee courtesy of Cafe du Monde.

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Recette, French for “recipe,” is a new West Village restaurant that boasts flavorful and daring fare.  Seasonal menus are broken into snacks and plates, which makes dining a shared experience that allows everyone at the table to taste a bit of everything.  The dishes, carefully crafted by Chef Jesse Schenker, are inventive yet traditional, and accentuate the freshness of local ingredients.  The presentation is sleek and modern without skimping on substance.  The 46-seat dining room is cozy but comfortable, partly due to the interior designer, who happens to be the mother of the Chef.  Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Recette experience comes at the finish: Pastry Chef Christina Lee (formerly of Per Se and Gordon Ramsay) uses her expertise and creativity to whip up delights like deconstructed S’mores and Raspberry Apple Napoleon, making the meal a piece of art from savory start to sweet finish.