Eyebrows raised when Hop Häus hired former Alinea cook Andrew Brochu and sommelier Justin Leone to beef up its concept of burgers-and-beer pairings when it opened last spring. Since then, star chef Shawn McClain (Spring, Green Zebra) has headed up the New American small-plates menu at The Drawing Room at Le Passage (a "culinary cocktail lounge"), Pops for Champagne has brought in Brochu to refine its champagne-friendly New American fare and desserts, and now Chaise Lounge, not notorious as a dining destination, has teamed up with Cary Taylor, whose résumé includes Avenues and Blackbird. So that's three, which makes a trend – should we call it the arrival of the gastro-lounge?

– Alice Van Housen