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NEW IN TOWN

Johnny V - South Beach Called the "Caribbean Cowboy," this popular area chef introduces his Nuevo American creative menu relying on fresh, seasonal ingredients. Entrees: $22 - $34

Hotel Astor
956 Washington Ave.
(305) 672-9998
www.hotelastor.com

Social Miami The chic lobby hot spot serves a variety of small plates from around the world for mixing and matching with a great wine list. Entrees: $12 - $20

Sagamore Hotel
1671 Collins Ave.
(786) 594-3344

www.chinagrillmgt.com

Azul, the signature restaurant in Miami's Mandarin Oriental and repeated recipient of dining accolades including four AAA Five-Diamond Awards, blends Mediterranean flavors and Asian influences with fabulous outcomes. Favorites would include appetizers of seared scallop and foie gras, rainbow of oysters wrapped in beef or tuna and salmon carpaccios along with entrees of grilled chop and loin of lamb with harrisa, eggplant and feta or halibut with corn. Choose the vanilla souffle with chocolate, creme Anglaise or raspberry sauce for dessert. The award-winning wine list, waterside setting and decor are all outstanding.

Rated #1 for food by the Zagat guide, Chef Allen's attracts lovers of creative fine cuisine to its unusual location. This sleek restaurant in a strip mall offers one of the best meals to be found anywhere. Allen Susser wrote the book on New World style cuisine and creates Caribbean and Latin-infused dishes that showcase his skill in executing the most complicated recipes. Start with the tuna tartare or the terrific ceviche taster, then follow with an entrée from such selections as pistachio crusted black grouper, pan roasted lobster paella, or charred yellowtail snapper with mango-papaya salsa and sweet potato fritters. Entrees are priced from $28.95. For a truly memorable dining experience, make a date at the Chef's Table, which features grand tasting menus matched with wines as well as a personalized lead-in from the chef himself!

China Grill, the trendy sister of the New York restaurant of the same name, helped pioneer the popularity of fusing Asian methods and ingredients with continental favorites. Asian decor blends well with artfully presented cuisine wrought of immense portions meant to be shared family-style or for group dining. Meander over to "The Dragon," their symbolic copper-topped sushi bar for a preliminary to the main course. Their "World in a Plate" entrees can be had for $26 to $59 and may consist of sizzling whole fish with Chinese black bean sauce, lobster pancakes stir-fried with red chili, coconut milk and scallions, grilled garlic shrimp with black fettucine and red curry coconut sauce, or barbecued salmon. Desserts include ying-yang of chocolates, chocolate seduction and their coconut rum flan. This menu is an instant cure for jaded palates.

Well-respected chef Robin Haas, in his wonderful new restaurant, Chispa, turns out world-class Latin contemporary dishes. Haas' exciting choices include mahi mahi and tuna ceviches, pulled Lechon pork or roasted shrimp flatbreads, appetizers of roasted sweet peppers and goat cheese, chicharones of conch, and yuca and lamb picadillo relleno. Main courses might be tenderloin churrasco with mushroom mash and avocado salsa, roasted guaujillo and soy-glazed short ribs and grilled tuna with black bean vinaigrette.

Emeril's Miami Beach brings a Cajun-style kick to Miami's South Beach, successfully stamping itself as another area hot spot. The sleek design of the interior showcases a chef's counter, demonstration area and elegant glass-sided wine storage cubes. The menu is a combination of Emeril Lagasse's signature Creole dishes and creative items reflecting local ingredients. Appetizers include homemade andouille sausage, blue cheese crusted oysters and the surprising lobster cheesecake, while entrees might consist of Creole bouillabaisse, garlic and cilantro poached grouper, oyster-dressed quail, or roasted veal chop. While desserts include New Orleans specialties like bread pudding and deep-dish pecan pie, Florida favorites like Cuban coffee flan and strawberry-guava cheesecake also appear. Call ahead for dinner reservations.

Joe's Stone Crab, established in 1913, is an old favorite that's lost none of its charm and popularity throughout the years. In fact, regulars probably wish Joe's were a little less popular since the wait during dinnertime is often counted by the hour. Among the freshest and best-prepared meals in town, however, dinner is worth the wait. Otherwise, try lunch or off-peak dining, as reservations are not accepted. The stone crabs with Joe's special sauce are superb, as expected, but don't ignore the other local seafood including grouper, pompano, yellowtail, and Florida lobster. Creamed spinach, another favorite, comes with or without garlic, the hash browned potatoes and fried green tomatoes are crisp and authentic. Choose the classic key lime pie for dessert. And diners can also choose their claws to go from Joe's Takeaway service.

The aesthetic and the food at Pacific Time are Asian-chic with Indian influences and overtones of healthy eating to assuage the conscience. Along the pedestrian-lined roadway, housed in a loft-like space with a high ceiling and spacious seating, east and west are blended seamlessly both in decor and dishes such as tamarind grilled salmon and warm curried pacific hama hama oysters with chili puree-and those are just for starters. Entrees may include sweet sake pan roasted sea bass, Szechwan grilled Florida Keys' black grouper or dry aged Colorado beef filet with Indonesian flavors. Unusual desserts include chilled red plum soup, warm bittersweet chocolate bomb, baked Alaska Key West, and homemade ice cream in black sesame tuille.

Perhaps the most difficult reservation to snag in town is for Prime 112. Filled with celebrities and a variety of colorful people, it's worth the effort for the food alone. In a city with several outstanding steak houses, Prime 112 stands out among them. The quality of the seafood is also top notch. Start with the huge house salad, which is among the best in town. When considering steak, there are a variety of cuts and sizes to choose, from an eight-ounce filet mignon to a three-pound porterhouse for two. Don't forget to leave room for a delicious side dish to "accessorize" your meal, such as the sauteed forest mushrooms, creamed spinach with crispy shallots or the rum baked sweet plantains. An interesting option is the opportunity to order one of several sauces, some classic, some unusual, and/or several flavored butters, for a few dollars more--all designed to maximize your beef experience.

Prime 112
The Browns Hotel
112 Ocean Dr.
Miami Beach
(305) 532-8112
www.prime112.com

For a unique and exotic dining experience, try an evening at Tantra. The floor is fresh grass, vanilla candles are everywhere and a soothing waterfall accentuates the Indian-inspired ambience. The cuisine is a multi-cultural experience. Starters may include stone crab waffle with beluga caviar, caramelized Sonoma foie gras or Thai lobster soup, while the imaginative entrees may feature Moroccan spiced lamb with mint and mango, rare seared tuna with foie gras, lobster Napoleon, and the Saigon saffron seafood stew. This is also the place to try an exotic martini where one might go for a sumptuous "Blissful Chocolate," flavorful "In the Buff" or the bombastic "Tantra Classic."

Don't let The Forge restaurant's decades long reputation for the finest steak fool you. Diners will find seafood, lamb, veal, or just about any entree to be expertly prepared and served in ornate and elegant surroundings, which are highlighted by antique brick walls and stained glass windows. Of course, this is the place to enjoy the "super steak"--16 ounces of a special cut, perfectly aged on the premises--or the 40-ounce prime steak served on the T-bone. It's hard to choose among the hearty desserts, but if you're craving chocolate, go for a Grand Marnier or marble soufflé, and be sure to order one when you place your dinner order or you'll be doomed to disappointment.