Birches to me is the quintessential neighborhood restaurant. They remember you when you go in there, even if it has been a few weeks since your last visit, and they do fun things like having recipe contests that customers can participate in (props to my wife for winning their latest comfort food contest). Also, the food is great; ambitious but not so crazy that you don't want to make it a regular spot. The baby spinach salad is great (topped with a wierd but good Haloumi cheese) as is the wood grilled filet (kind of like a buffalo-wing flavored steak). Can't wait to go back on a Thursday to try burrito night!