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Update: Restaurateur Frank De Pasquale is turning News, a seven-year-old after-work hangout located at 150 Kneeland St. in the Leather District, into an upscale, over-25 hangout called Splash. The revamped hot spot is scheduled to reopen in May. Slotted to serve gourmet bar food ranging from burgers, appetizers and tapas, Splash will rival nearby South Street Diner as a late-night destination. De Pasquale plans to serve food until 5 a.m on Friday, Saturdays and the Sundays before holidays. Here's the lowdown on the former News: Popular amongst late night revelers looking for some on-the-way-home sustenance, News is open until 4AM Tuesday - Saturday. Their eclectic menu seems designed towards the late night munchies set, featuring pizzas, deli sandwiches, breakfast, and a plethora of appetizers, generally of the fried cheese and buffalo wing ilk. The prices aren't exactly cheap for grub of this nature, but when you need to eat late, you take what you can get and happily pay for it. They've got booze, too, and offer $3 draft beers and $5 house mixed drinks. Valet parking is available.

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Looking for a hip yet unpretentious lunch and dining experience? Sorriso's Italian Trattoria is the brainchild of celebrated restaurateur and chef, Ian Just. Sorriso Trattoria's décor, a deep walnut walkway coupled with weathered brick walls and chocolate-brown booths, showcases the Leather District's rustic ambiance. The South Street storefront building is a perfect fit for Sorriso's state-of-the-art brick oven enclosed by a four-person pizza bar for casual dining. For those looking for a private room, there's a charming wood-paneled private dining room complete with its own private bar. Sorriso Trattoria is a great spot for a business lunch boasting a spicy Rigatoni and Fennel Sausage smothered in pickled hot peppers ($13) and an amazing grilled salmon filet ($15).

Late-night sushi lovers flock to this hidden gem in Chinatown. The kimono-clad waitresses deliver some of the most inspired and fresh Japanese cuisine in Boston with creative dishes like spider maki, a fried soft-shelled crab juxtaposed with avocado, cucumber and flying roe fish wrapped in seaweed. For dessert, try Ginza Japanese Restaurant’s green-tea ice cream chockfull of antioxidants and a creamy flavor.

This hidden gem boasts unusual seafood dishes served with a Cantonese and Mandarin flair. New Jumbo Seafood showcases their fresh menu where they literally have their catches of the day on display in huge aquariums. Favorites include their tasty rice noodles, chicken with cashews and three to four kinds of fresh fish. New Jumbo Seafood's claim to fame for their exotic fusion of Eastern flavors coupled with a wide variety of herbal delicacies. They also boast Americanized takes on fried favorites like chicken wings and calamari. New Jumbo Seafood also has an extensive beer and wine list. Delivery through Dinning in only.

Populated by highly skilled chefs skilled in Shanghai-style cuisine, this new Chinatown hotspot opened in the Spring 2006. New Shanghai Restaurant’s entrees make the most of fresh seafood and spicy Szechuan-style meats. Their specialties include five-spice beef, Singapore noodle and a high-quality dim sum selection. Delivery starts 6:30 pm and reaches into the south end.

Dim sum is exciting for everyone, but speaking Chinese (or trying to) will help you fill your tummy with delicious trifles faster. Seriously, folks, drag your Chinese blockmate downtown to help you navigate your way through the mouthwatering offerings at China Pearl. Show up early (before 11:30am) on weekends to avoid a long wait in the glitzy mirror-lined staircase. Standard dim sum dishes, such as BBQ pork buns (cha siu bao), shrimp dumplings (har gau), and chicken feet run $2-7 a dish, but don't think about the cost—it's the rare visit that ends with a bill that's more than $10 per person. Save room for yummy, intriguingly textured desserts like the spoonable melon jellos and black bean buns. Dinner ($9-15) on weeknights is a whole other world; China Pearl feels like a deserted ballroom the night after the party.