Char No. 4

Delicious bourbon, brownest of the brown liquors. In case you're dense to the theme, bar's back is covered with bottle after bottle of sour mash whiskey. Curious tongues seek out single-ounce sample pours from favorite inbred southern states. Food stays on message, addictive fried cheese curds and house-smoked pork belly BLT. (Said house smoker gives the place a campfire quality, so steer clear if you aren't jonesing for char.) Despite the BBQ tariff, space is sleek and modern, with a bank of hanging lights over the front bar and clubby booths in back.