Restaurants in Westwood Lake

Like the red cape of a matador attracts a bull, the bright-red awning at 1401 Argentinean Bistro beckons to diners. Once lured inside, guests find plates piled high with "Argentinean dishes mixed with Italian inspiration," as noted by the Miami New Times. Patrons relax in the casual eatery as they nosh on housemade pastas, slow-cooked sauces, and that most sacred Argentinean meal: grilled meats. Dinner service gets an extra surge of energy on Thursday and Friday nights, when live music fills the room from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

In the bygone era of the saloon, few cowboys got to munch on endives stuffed with crabmeat and cilantro. And though The Lost & Found Saloon bears old-fashioned decor—a long wooden bar, rustic tables, and a wagon wheel converted into a ceiling light—visitors aren't confined to period eats. Instead, they bite into marinated eggplant with three melted cheeses or grilled shrimp with sage and thyme. Chipotle is a favorite seasoning, flavoring burgers, salads, mahi mahi, and even tofu melts. For breakfast, diners enjoy scrambles and omelets made with eggs from free-roaming hens. The rest of the day, sips of cold beer offset the heat from dabs of various hot sauces, including a house blend made with real chunks of house.

The menu at Il Corso Trattoria overflows with traditional Italian dishes, displaying examples of lasagna, filet mignon, tilapia, paninis, and brick-oven pizzas. Inside the Old World–style eatery, exposed brick columns stand tall as diners feast on chefs' gourmet handiwork and sample wines that flow straight into the restaurant via transoceanic aqueducts.

Before owner François Delfosse and his wife Lucia even set foot in George's in the Grove, they knew their way around the kitchen. Lucia had operated three restaurants in their native France, and upon taking over the Coconut Grove hot spot, they opted to keep the space as they found it on the theory that you shouldn't mess with success. The previous owner had placed Buddha statues all around to counterbalance his excitable personality. Now the statues remain to complement the soothing zen music that plays in the background and only stops when birthday celebrations transform the relaxed lounge into a dark nightclub. In this latter scene, patrons show off dance moves while Top 40 hits play and the birthday diner chows down on a sparkler-accented dessert.

A long glass pane stretches across one side of the dining room, giving patrons a look at chefs hard at work arranging French cuisine. François and Lucia's menu spotlights delicate dishes such as steamed mussels with white wine, garlic, and shallots, and rich morel-mushroom risotto with shaved foie gras and truffle oil. Hearty steak tartare—very rare meat with capers, onions, and spices—or lamb shank braised for three hours delight palates and imbue patrons with the strength to climb the Arc de Triomphe. As diners sip wine, they admire paintings along a café au lait-colored wall or take in sunlight on a sidewalk patio.

Dark exposed rafters overlook yellow-and-gray checkered tiles and walls the color of melted butter. The dining room's rich color scheme echoes the dynamic flavor pairings in Torange Restaurant's authentic Persian menu and buffet. Accents of citrus, barberry, and pomegranate elevate steaming stews as well as plates of golden fried tilapia and marinated chicken. The chefs also warm kebab skewers with pieces of lamb, tenderloin, shrimp, and other meats, and each option is served with charbroiled tomatoes and hand-carved grains of rice.

Wine racks the color of warm wheat chaff crisscross the walls at Holleman’s Restaurant, the sleek bodies of the bottles reflecting servers as they slip through the dining room. The vessels, stamped with labels from France, Argentina, and Italy shimmer beneath visions of Black Angus steaks, fresh pasta, and racks of New Zealand lamb. From the kitchen drift the scents of garlic-and-rosemary demi-glace and cognac-and-peppercorn sauce. In that busy room, New York strip steak crackles against the open-flame grill and chefs busily mold crabcakes.

Beneath wrought-iron chandeliers, the high-topped tables are covered in crisp white cloths like ghosts appearing in traffic court. On some evenings, the smooth twang of an electric guitar fills the room, flitting softly beneath a crooning singer.