Situated in the center of South Dixie's commercial clutter, Il Paesaggio is quite a find. The restaurant serves hearty, flavorful cuisine in a charming atmosphere. Menu options include Veal Chops with Chopped Mushrooms, Marinated Grilled Portobello on lettuce, Corvina in Wine, lemon and herbs, and pasta with grilled shrimp and chicken. Top off a fabulous meal with homemade cannoli. Elegant yet quaint, the atmosphere is as authentic as its fare.

Fishbone Grille I cannot be beat for the fresh fish they provide at reasonable prices and excellent service to back this up. Check out the chalkboard and try the catch of the day prepared to your liking. Good choices include Cioppino of Shellfish and Crispy Whole Yellowtail. Of the pasta choices, the penne is the standout. Casual and comfortable, the Fishbone Grille is a seafood lover's paradise.

Located in the lower level of Dadeland Station, this is a welcome respite from the bustling shopping area. Lan offers a wide range of Pan-Asian delights, all of which are deliciously prepared. The menu features everything from sushi to glazed baby back ribs. Lan is a fairly small space, quaintly decorated with ethnic-appropriate art. Specialty entrees include garlic beef tataki and katsudon (fried pork with egg and onions over rice).

Asian meets Cuban meets the old-fashioned American diner. Whatever you are in the mood for, you can probably find it at K.C. Cagney & Co. It is okay to have an irreverent sense of humor at this place, there's nothing fancy about it. The menu is a combination of old favorites and new concepts.Go casual and have fun.Order any one of thirty different kinds of hamburgers. A wide variety of Asian and South American dishes also grace the menu.

Welcome home to Gil Capa's. This is the epitome of a family business and when you visit, you are one of the family. Chef/owner Gil Capa keeps his patrons coming back with warm, personable service and superb food. The Baked Eggplant Parmagiana may cause you a longer wait, but is well worth the extra time. Pasta e Fagioli, Lasagna, Tortellini with Prosciutto are just about everything on the menu is hearty and delicious. This is a cozy place, which tends to be packed with regulars during dinner hours.

There are a few fancy items on the menu, but for the most part, this place specializes in simple, excellent regional Italian fare, and nobody is complaining. Meat dishes are delectable: Sausage and Peppers, Veal Parmesan, and the best meatballs in town. A glass of wine and some opera music in the background complete the dining experience. Homemade Linguine with Clam Sauce is one of the more outstanding pastas. Hot antipasti make a great starter for your meal. Do not overlook the wine list; there are more than 800 vintages to choose from. The cafe interior is quaint and charming. You will feel right at home.

Even in South Florida, the land of fusion food, Chifa is exotic, serving a unique Peruvian-Cantonese menu. From start to finish, this may be a meal unlike anything you have tried before. Start with asparagus soup or hrimp roll with almonds. You can choose from a dozen different styles of duck, all of which are delicious. A variety of beers (including Peruvian) are available to accompany dinner. The surrounding area is unimpressive at best, but Chifa is certainly a diamond in the rough. Trek through the strip mall and you will be pleased at what you find.

If you have ever wondered what Puerto Rican food tastes like, or if you love it and cannot seem to find any, Benny's is a discovery you need to make. This family-run restaurant serves fresh, traditional island seafood specialties at affordable prices. Hearty, seafood-based dishes dominate the menu: Shrimp Asopado (a type of rice stew), Breaded Snapper Sandwich, Seafood Empanadillas. Try coconut custard for dessert. This is a family-oriented restaurant; so expect to see a lot of little people in with their parents.

The flavorful dishes, prepared to perfection, will linger on in your memory as well. Served in generous portions, dishes vary from pasta, chicken and steak to deli sandwiches to an all-you-can-eat salad bar. Daily lunch specials are also available. "New York, New York" is the theme, and they do it up royally. Locals, transplanted New Yorkers, and visitors flock here for leisurely meals at booths named for NYC boroughs and streets. It is almost as busy as Grand Central Station.

The trendy districts of Miami have an endless supply of fine dining establishments. If you venture out into the less popular areas of the city, however, you will find the places cherished by the locals and popularized by word of mouth. Casa Paco is such a place, featuring a delightful balance of Spanish culture, delicious food and local flavor. The interior of the restaurant is decorated with various ceramics and other trinkets from Spain. The restaurant serves Spanish and Cuban cuisine. The Sangria is made fresh and the plantain soup is especially delicious.