El Vez Restaurant   

Whenever Stephen Starr opens a new restaurant, he pulls out all the stops. El Vez -- with a name inspired by the Mexican Elvis impersonator -- is no exception. Housed in the former Trust restaurant space in the heart of Tony Goldman's 'Blocks Below Broad,' Starr has completely redone the interior, from the bejeweled motorcycle rotating above the circular bar to the lavish banquettes to the brightly-striped color scheme, which all add up to a sophisticated yet fun vibe. The food is mostly gussied up Mexican that somehow stays true to its roots, like red snapper enchiladas, roasted corn soup and a Yucatan pork tamale. There are also several larger (and more expensive) entrees, like slow-roasted spiced lamb wrapped in banana leaves and skewered grilled shrimp. But many people will likely come here to drink margaritas, snack on a plate of 'macho nachos' or other tapas (like tortilla chips with a variety of salsas) and have sip of agua de horchata, a lightly-spiced almond milk.