Paprika Mediterranean Restaurant and Hookah Lounge, North Bay Village

When preparing their eclectic lineup of dishes, the cooks at Paprika Mediterranean Restaurant and Hookah Lounge borrow a little something from all of the diverse regions bordering the Mediterranean Sea. From the southern waters, they take the Moroccan lamb carpaccio appetizer and the Tunisian churba soup. They also make their way up north, plumbing Greece's vast culinary traditions to assemble dishes such as the Athena salad with kalamata olives and the salmon filet wrapped in phylo pastry.

After meals, guests can head to the adjacent hookah lounge and partake in the old-world tradition of enjoying a beautifully ornate hookah, which they can load with one of 25 different flavors. Those interested in immersing themselves in the culture even further can make a reservation on Friday night to catch the weekly belly-dance show.