If you’re walking along Henry Street to Lucali, you might consider bailing on your plans and stopping in at Bocca Lupo instead. You won’t find much pizza here—and certainly not the beautifully blistered, oozing Neapolitan pies Lucali does so well. Still, if Italian small-plates and poppingly fresh-tasting cocktails will do the trick tonight—and you’re not in the mood for a long Lucali line and the generally tedious New York-in-2009-ness of it all—do yourself a favor and pull into Bocca Lupo. The short list of entrees changes daily (you might find asparagus risotto; bucatini with pork sausage; and an arugula-and-Iberico-ham pizza one night), and there’s always a slew of terrific panini and tramezzini sandwiches and bruschettas to kill anything from a hunger pang to an intense Italian jones. The fruity-sounding house cocktails like the blueberry mojito might be a little embarrassing to order, but do it anyway.
Bocca Lupo. 391 Henry St. at Warren St., Brooklyn Heights; (718) 243-2522.
Prices/Features: Cheap/Vegetarian-Friendly/Drink Destination