Few eateries suffered more in 2020 than the fancy kind, where ambiance matters (and if you need proof of that statement, try eating a petit filet with a lobster tail in front of Wheel of Fortune with all the lights on). Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse (4751 Owen Ayres Court, Eau Claire) was the upscale location many of us missed most this year, followed by two Eau Claire mainstays: Mona Lisa’s (428 Water St.) and Houligan’s Steak & Seafood Pub (415 S. Barstow St.), both in downtown Eau Claire. Here’s hoping these spots can dim the lights for us soon in 2021. –Eric Rasmussen