Fusion food gets a bad rap, but spots such as Belly make the case for how different cuisines can be thoughtfully paired and riffed on, with delicious results. At its core, Belly draws on flavors from southeast Asia, with dishes including crispy spring rolls served with herbs and lettuce, claypots and bao. The Melrose location, which opened in 2020, is sleek, dark and cozy — apropos for a casual date night dinner, thanks to ever-changing specials crafted by the kitchen, along with playful cocktails, natural wine, soju and sake. The bar is noteworthy, not only for its drinks but also for Belly’s reverse happy hour, which is offered from 10 p.m. to midnight, with cheap drinks and craveable late-night eats, such as Korean corn dogs, wings and vegan tofu “fish” and chips. While the Phoenix location is an evening affair, its second location in Epicenter at Agritopia in Gilbert offers earlier hours, giving diners more options with lunch and brunch.