Where To Eat This Weekend: A Prescription For Cocktails, Tacos and Dumplings

So this has been a helluva week, huh? Long, gray, dark and ugly–both psychologically and meteorologically. Know what I’m thinking? We all need to have a little fun this weekend. Get out there, face-to-face with the world. Have a meal, a couple drinks. Now I’m no doctor, but if I was, that would be my prescription. A couple hours to relax. To eat and drink among friends. And that’s why, if I were a doctor, I’d be everyone’s favorite doctor.

But anyway, if you’re looking for just the right place to go, I can help you there, too. I’ve got a list below of the five places and/or things you should be eating this weekend. Now everyone get out there and have some fun, ok? And don’t worry. Everything will still suck when you get home.

First, you gotta go to Royal Sushi And Izakaya: I know that I’m basically ruining this place for everyone by telling anyone who’ll listen that they need to go there and check it out. But hey, I’m ruining it for myself, too. I could barely get a seat at the izakaya before this week’s review came out. Now? Who knows. But if you’re lucky enough to slide in between waves, order the shumai, the sausages, the chicken wings and some gin. It’s good for what ails you, I promise.

Spruce tips and burdock root: This Sunday, Kensington Quarters is throwing the first in a series of cocktail pop-ups. We’re talking $10 cocktails named for phrases Ben Franklin used to make fun of drunks, plus small plates, and everything is based on the theme of “Evergreen.” You can check out all the details right here.

More Cocktails: You sensing a theme here? This time it’s Icelandic and Indian cocktails at Destination Dogs. Thing is, this one happens TONIGHT so, you know, make your plans accordingly.

Tacos, tacos and more tacos: Actually, a multi-taco tasting menu, now on the board at Mission Taqueria. Because who doesn’t love (more) tacos?

Getting all avant garde in your mouth: Marigold Kitchen has a new winter menu. They teased some of it this week. And I don’t know how you feel about chocolate and parsnips (together at last…) or warm gougeres with creamed chipped prosciutto, but the plates all look beautiful, and there is nothing else like them anywhere in the city. So if you’re looking to get your mind blown, this is the place.