Salsa dancing combines flirtatiousness and exercise in a more socially acceptable way than sit-up winks or come-hither kickboxing punches. Allure effectively with today's Groupon: for $9, you get admission to Friday Salsa Night and a choice of one appetizer at Lula Lounge (up to a $22 value).

Every Friday night, Lula Lounge dishes up room-shaking rhythms accented by a tropical fusion conjured from the minds of Jamaican and Cuban chefs. Salsa dance parties ($10 admission) pump out palpitations produced from bongo beaters such as the vintage salsa band Caché. Soak up salsa juices with a beginner lesson at 9 p.m. featuring Toronto's popular "1–2" gurus, followed by a full evening of body undulation more invigorating than mapping out a sine wave. Toe-pointers refuel with provisions from the appetizer menu such as the ensalada verde, which encompasses mixed baby greens, olives, feta cheese, tomato-pepper relish and grainy mustard dressing ($10). Practice finger-sized partner dipping by plunging honey breadcrumb-coated calamari in a chipotle sauce ($10) Special entrees add a nautical touch to the evening with mussels in white wine sauce or Creole shrimp ($12). Regular Friday nights receive a multi-cultural boost worthy of global chat roulette marathons.

Reviews

The Toronto Sun has featured Lula Lounge, and the Toronto Star has done multiple pieces on Lula Lounge. More than 3,300 Facebookers like it.

• The funky venue has 20 staff and boasts tangerine- and lemon-coloured walls and eye-catching saris as tablecloths, but next to the stellar lineup of talent, its greatest asset is chef Derek Crinson and his unique menu of tropical fusion. – Ashante Infantry, Toronto Star
• The owners of Lula Lounge see themselves not so much as operating a club as running a catalyst for music to expand and evolve. – John Goddard, Toronto Star