tasting
Hop to It
When most people think of Mexican beer, they usually think of a bland and watery bottle of Corona with a sad little lime wedge stuffed into the lip. Especialidades Cerveceras, a small-batch brewery that produces an eclectic line of ales called Casta (Spanish for "purity") may change all that. Lately, the ales have been appearing at upscale Mexican restaurants around town like Maya, Zarela, Salón México, and Mi Cocina, and at specialty stores like Gourmet Garage and Park Slope's beer-drinker's paradise, Bierkraft. The only thing Casta has in common with Corona is that it's made in an old Corona brewery in Monterrey, Mexico. Casta Triguera, a well-balanced bittersweet wheat ale, tastes fresh and bright; it's less cloudy than most wheats, with pronounced citrus notes like a Belgian-style wheat rather than a clovey German one. Casta Dorada, a golden ale with a nice fruity, floral aroma, makes the typical mass-produced Mexican lager seem like it needs a flavor transfusion; it practically cries out for a bowl of freshly smashed guacamole. Casta Bruna is an English-style, copper-colored pale ale with a complex malty character, and best of all is the Casta Morena, a deliciously hoppy dark ale with a lot of caramel, toffee, and chocolate flavor; it's smooth and rich enough to accompany dessert. Even if you're not into microbrews and choose your beer the way some wine drinkers choose their wine, Casta might win you over: Each style of ale has a beautiful label designed by a well-known Mexican artist. —ROB PATRONITE

reopening
Lightening Strikes
When Savoy opened in Soho twelve years ago, complete with glowing fireplace and seasonal Mediterranean-inspired menu, the restaurant fairly defined warm and cozy. But now, with local competition intensifying along with the public's desire for what chef-owner Peter Hoffman perceives as "more options for how and when to eat," he and his wife, Susan Rosenfeld, have overhauled Savoy's menu and milieu. The new large storefront windows open to the street, and they've moved the bar from its semi-secret upstairs location to the ground floor, where it's become the Italian-limestone-clad centerpiece of the room. This is where they'll offer an all-day menu of small plates like bruschetta, charcuterie, vegetable antipasto, and a house-ground burger, priced between $6 and $12. Upstairs, in what has become the main dining room, they've laid a new ash floor, soundproofed the ceiling, and turned one of the fireplaces into a regal stone-framed recessed seat. Not as warm, perhaps, but just as cozy.
Savoy
70 Prince Street
212-219-8570