Dropping into the Sycamore for a late lunch recently, we felt like we were fifteen again, sneaking behind mom's back to hang out in our impish, stoner cousin's mysterious basement. The jukebox was blaring The Mooney Suzuki's “Oh Sweet Susanna”; tousled, aimless characters populated the sparsely furnished barroom. Only difference is, our cousin served up lukewarm Stroh's and a torn bag of Fritos. The Sycamore treated us a whole lot classier.

Choosing what to drink is difficult. Owners Elizabeth and Tim Ryan (siblings not spouses) rotate a stellar beer selection through their eight taps. Recent favorites include a Dogfish 90 Minute IPA ($6), hoppy and bitter, and a Coney Island Albino Python ($5) that tasted something like grapefruit, perfect in the recent sweltering heat.

Choosing what to eat is easy: Get the roast beef sandwich ($8).