CORAL GABLES. This restaurant is known for having the area's best breakfast, but its vast champagne brunch buffet on Sundays (10am-3pm) presents some tough decisions. Everything is presented so elegantly, you'll want a little bit of it all. How about an omelet made any way you like? Pastas? Sushi? Or even caviar? Afterwards, there's a chocolate fountain and no shortage of sinful dessert offerings. Indeed, no one walks away hungry! Live music complements the meal perfectly, and al fresco seating is available in the tropical courtyard.

SOUTH BEACH. Fresh, premium seafood and European preparation techniques distinguish this Lincoln Road restaurant. Situated in a discrete location west of the neighborhood's tourist hoopla, AltaMar features a quaint interior accented with black and white photographs and an adjoining patio. Specialties such as softshell crab, prepared with olive oil, lemon and herb or ravioli stuffed with salmon draw diners to this unpretentious spot. If you're planning to catch a movie after dinner, the economical pre-theater menu includes a salad, soup, main dish and dessert for $10.

PINECREST. Even as modern, fusion cuisine and other more exotic dining options gain popularity, there will always be a place for traditional Italian-American restaurants like Anacapri. The menu isn't anything fancy, but it's full of the kind of unforgettable, simple dishes that keep regulars coming back. The vivid red tomato sauce ensures that everything from the lasagna to the manicotti and the veal Parmesan is full of flavor, and most dishes are topped with a generous portion of melted cheese. Fresh salads and a nice wine list enhance the meal. The owner, Joe, will likely come by your table to make sure everything is satisfactory.

AVENTURA. Housed in Aventura mall, this Italian dining room provides a convenient break for shoppers, but is also worthy of an evening out. Dinner specials might include lobster Fradiavlo (mussels, clams, and shrimp) with pasta and marinara sauce, or grilled lamb chops with porcini and Barolo wine sauce. You may also choose among several pizzas, baked in a wood-burning oven, and over 15 tempting pastas. If the weather allows, enjoy your meal on the patio.

MIAMI BEACH. A relaxing departure from the oft-times overwhelming SoBe restaurant circuit, this comfortable restaurant is ideal for those looking to enjoy a quiet evening, friendly service, and superb homestyle Italian cuisine. Chef Arturo Cea's innovative menu boasts such fabulous dishes as Linguine Putanesca Bianca with black olives, capers, and anchovies; Gnocchi Formaggio with a selection of different cheeses; sautéed Vitello Chef Arturo with mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and arugula; and Corvina Capesante sautéed with shrimp and scallops. For dessert ­ and missing dessert at this Italian gem would be a mistake of the highest order ­ make sure to save room for Papa Arturo's Tiramisu, Flan with Dulce de Leche, and strawberry-stuffed Profiteroles. Reservations are strongly recommended.