Maybe you can't be all things to all people. But these multitasking restaurants—which double as everything from a gallery to a car wash—prove that there are two sides to every setting.
—francine maroukian
| THE PLACE | THE DEAL | THE DISH | THE TAKE-AWAY |
| Butcher Shop 552 Tremont St., Boston; 617/423-4800; dinner for two $55 |
Meat hooks and floor-to-ceiling lockers give way to an intimate candlelit wine bar. | Roasted Giannone Farm chicken paired with artisanal wines. | Stop in for all-natural chops from the butcher and stay for a glass of Pinot d'Avnis. |
| Plate NYC 264 Elizabeth St., New York; 212/219-9212; dinner for two $60 |
Gallery and clothing boutique by day, Asian-Latin culinary hot spot by night. | Lamb skewers with chipotle and brown sugar; infused sake cocktails. | Pick up a Warhol print and roll out on a customized vinyl skateboard. |
| H&H Car Wash 701 E. Yandell Dr., El Paso, Tex.; 915/533-1144; lunch for two $13 |
There's always a wait for a counter stool at this 46-year-old café and car wash. | Carne picada (diced sirloin with tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños). | Eating on the go has never been this easy. Chile rellenos with your wash and wax? |
| La Dolce Vita 9785 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; 310/278-1845; dinner for two $80 |
A former Rat Pack haunt (an Old Blue Eyes favorite) that now moonlights as a film production office. | Linguini tutto mare, loaded with shrimp, calamari, clams, and lobster tail. | The chance to sell your screenplay—in Hollywood, there's just no end to the wheeling and dealing. |
