Scampi is like going to your best friend's dinner party

• The BYOB's first menu, running through the end of the year, is heavy on some Couch Cafe favorites, like hand-rolled pasta alla bomba and, naturally, shrimp scampi.
• Y2K-era pop soundtracked the night during Scampi's first weekend, and Grothe popped out of the kitchen on a few occasions to tell the story of the menu and her inspirations.

The backdrop: Grothe's pasta skills should come as no surprise given that she was previously a sous chef at Marc Vetri's carb temple Fiorella. (Sadly, all the seats are already booked up for Scampi's pre-Christmas Feast of the Seven Pastas.)

If you go: The Caesar toast topped with boquerones starts things off with a bang. Just don't expect any greens.

• 617 S. 3rd St., $115 per person (includes tax and tip), open Wednesday-Saturday with seatings at 5:30pm and 8pm