Dalí

It's one thing to reproduce a genuine Spanish dish; it's quite another to replicate genuine Spanish passion. Somerville's Iberian outpost does both, which is why it comes in as our winner year after year. Like the artist for whom it's named, Dalí embraces romantic surrealism—in this case, a break from daily banality via eccentric, sexy décor, a sultry high-energy atmosphere, and full-flavored foods. There's nothing shy about the heady garlic soup or tapas like the rich venison sausage with pomegranate sauce. And after a few glasses of the potent sangria, there's not much shy about the clientele, either: Couples dance and make merry at the bar with an infectious abandon that could only be described as . . . Spanish.