MIAMI LAKES. When standard Chinese, Mexican or Italian doesn't fit the bill, try this elegant restaurant, which serves unique and flavorful Nicaraguan cuisine. Exotic, distinctive dishes fill the menu, though classic South American churrasco is the clear favorite. Tender, delicious cuts of meat include the butterflied tenderloin, served right off the grill with your choice of sweet, sour and spicy sauces. Seafood is also done to perfection, fried crisp in a cornmeal batter. Plantain chips are an interesting side, and feel free to dig in ­ they'll bring you more. The decor is as distinctive and pleasurable as the cuisine, with exotic prints on the walls and a peaceful fountain in the center of the dining room. Reservations suggested for weekends or larger groups.

DOWNTOWN. If you're in the mood for beef or a taste of Brazil, this festive hotspot is just the place. It's a steakhouse, but with an exotic twist. The romantic, colorful dining room and the pleasant porch, complete with views of the bay, are great places to enjoy a meal, and you will spot a variety of satisfied diners, from groups of business people to couples on dates to families with kids. Everyone loves the vast salad bar, which is stocked with salad favorites as well as a selection of spicy-hot casseroles and meats. The beef-carvers will visit your table with a huge hunk of grilled meat and will slice you off as much as you want. From filet mignon to pork to chicken, it's all expertly prepared and served with friendliness and flair.

SOUTH BEACH. Cool, color-drenched SushiSamba dromo has shed its NYC roots and made the transition to sunny South Beach quite well. A hit with the stylish set, the undeniably chic eatery gets a rhythmic kick with high-energy Brazilian tunes. The food is a seductive mix of Peruvian, Japanese and Brazilian dishes: sushi, churrasco, seviches, tiraditos and anticuchos. A successful fusion is evident in creations like the Green Envy Roll, which joins a wasabi pea crust with tuna, salmon, asparagus and aji amarillo-key lime mayo. Wash it all down with a well-made caipirinha. Or perhaps some sake.

DORAL. Few restaurants can compete with the atmosphere ­ and, yes, the cuisine ­ of this colorful chain of Brazilian-style churrascarias. A family-friendly ambience pervades as diners enjoy a feast for the ages, one that features gaucho-wearing servers circling the South American-themed dining room with mouthwatering skewers of seasoned beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and Brazilian sausage. Just pick what you want, and they're happy to serve it up. Added temptations are Texas-sized side dishes like garlic mashed potatoes and sweet fried bananas ­ the extravagant salad bar has been known to turn heads as well.

SOUTH BEACH. It's true that celeb hotspots in Miami are a dime a dozen, but since this whimsical eatery opened a few years back, it's been the sexy playground of everybody from Mick and Madonna to Oliver Stone and Rupert Everett. Featuring cozy velvet banquettes, ornate Venetian glass lamps, and an exotic Art Deco ceiling, the indoor dining area screams "South Beach." Meanwhile, outdoor dining offers a more subdued brush with the cutting-edge, featuring candle-lit, umbrella'ed tables, tropical plants, trickling fountains, and an ever-present Atlantic breeze. Featured menu items include spicy seared tuna, roasted rack of lamb, tuna marinated in Brazilian cachaca, and foie gras terrine. Reservations are required.