When it comes to beachfront dining, a few aspects are key: a stunning view, great food, and refreshingly potent drinks. This place takes care of all three. Owned by the Restaurant People, the group responsible for YOLO, Tarpon Bend, and Vibe, this Atlantic-side spot is its most food-driven concept to date. Executive chef Chris Miracolo has compiled a menu of global eclectic fare ranging from smoked Gouda and prosciutto mac 'n' cheese ($10) to chard-wrapped Scottish salmon ($26) to goat cheese croquettes ($7) to sushi to everything in between. While the ambiance is somewhat reminiscent of its predecessor YOLO, it offers more of a Southeast Asian resort-like theme — the perfect backdrop for watching the bold and the beautiful do their thing. Much of the crowd is into the whole see-and-be-seen scene, with many of them proudly displaying expensive-car keys tableside while fishing for hot dates. Whether you're looking to eat well, enjoy the ocean breeze, or pick up an eligible (i.e., loaded or supersexy) date, this is the prime option on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Of all the restaurant concepts, Italian can, surprisingly, be one of the hardest to execute. With fare so simple and straightforward, excellence depends on the freshness of the ingredients and details in the sauces, meats, cheeses, and pastas. Luckily, the new Jové Kitchen & Bar at the Four Seasons Palm Beach offers one of South Florida's best takes on Italian, prepared to exacting standards. The dinner-only restaurant takes its name from the god of the sky in Roman mythology. Here, patrons will certainly find heavenly fare from Italian-born executive chef Mauro Zanusso, who delivers classic Italian cooking with a panache deserving of Palm Beach. The selections begin with the cicchetti menu: raw-bar items like oysters, stone crab, and caviar. A truly stellar dish can be found with any of the risottos, accented by royal trumpet mushrooms or butter-poached Maine lobster. For main plates, handmade pastas include fresh gnocchi with figs and herbs and bone-marrow ravioli with short rib. The bar is stacked with an impressive collection of eclectic premium Italian vermouths, grappas, and artisan liqueurs. Choose a wine from the list of more than 100. All this can be enjoyed whether dining alfresco on the outdoor terrace or amid the soft music playing in the restaurant's elegant, luxe interior. Feeling extra fancy? Opt for the private cabana dining with views of the oceanfront pool. But perfection doesn't come cheap: A typical dinner costs $150 to $225 per person.

Chef-owner Matthew Byrne and his wife, Aliza, seem to abide by two rules: Buy nothing but the highest-quality, freshest ingredients, and do as little to them as possible. Byrne and his wife are on-hand at their contemporary American brasserie every night. A Philadelphia native, Byrne has been cooking since he was 12 years old, and with some of the area's top chefs. Years later, he took a job as the private chef to Tiger Woods, cooking for him at his Jupiter estate. Despite the glamorous position, Byrne desired his own restaurant, a place that would be an extension of his own family kitchen. Today, he and Aliza are close enough to walk to work — and often do. She will greet you at the door and seat you, while her husband cooks the line each night, just two sous chefs by his side. To keep the neighborhood-bistro vibe strong, they transformed the former Vagabond's space into a living room of sorts, just ten tables inside (and six outside) with a separate chef's room for private events. Dishes reflect years of cooking for people who have sophisticated palates and the money to spend on high-quality ingredients. That means daily deliveries of everything from seafood and meat to produce and seasonal flavors. There are a few staples Byrne will never lose, including his personal favorite dish: chicken schnitzel.

Eastern-dwelling South Floridian hate driving west of I-95. But if celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein — a vocal fan of this place — is willing to make the trek to Lauderhill from Miami, you should be able to head 20 minutes west. Besides, you might get the chance to bump into the amicable chef and her husband while grilling galbi gui ($24.95), a dish of succulent marinated short rib, over an open charcoal pit. It's one of the few Korean barbecue places that allows guests to cook over flaming embers; others use gas or electric stoves, and the effect is nowhere near as flavorful, or entertaining. Dishes are served with an array of white bowls filled with diverse "banchan" (side dishes): spicy kimchee cabbage and zucchini, fish cakes, marinated seaweed, pickled veggies (some mild, others freaking hot). If cooking for yourself isn't your thing, the prepared options are just as divine. Dolsot bibimbap ($12.95), white rice, carrots, cucumber, bean sprouts, nori, egg, and chili paste are served in a heated pot; the effect creates the perfect char on the rice lining the bowl. Hot pots ($11.95 to $14.95) brimming with spicy liquid, protein, and veggies burst with intricate spice and varying levels of heat. No matter what you choose, you're in for a treat; everything is piquant, even the dishes that aren't overly peppery. Just one trip to this bustling little spot will have you commuting back-and-forth for regular dinners in no time.

Chef/owner Philip Darmon is an Australian native who spent the past decade traveling the globe, cooking for the rich and famous aboard luxury motor yachts. With a pedigree such as that, one would assume he'd be dishing out expensive but minuscule portions of caviar and foie gras to businessmen and local TV stars. Not so. During the day, he's plating up Nueske bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado sandwiches with fresh hand-cut fries ($11) for the populace, like you (although we wouldn't be surprised to hear he has some high-end clients visiting often). Tucked just off Andrews Avenue on a side street in Fort Lauderdale, this neighborhood restaurant offers world-class fare in a friendly and casual environment. Many of his dishes on the weekly changing menu have a strong Southeast Asian or Mediterranean influence. From Thai duck salad with soba noodles, cilantro, sesame, and soy ($13) to crisp-skinned salmon over sunchoke purée, chive oil, and salmon roe ($24), each dish here feels just as special as dining on a yacht — even if you can't afford to even step onboard one. And the wine list, curated with help from celebrity chef Angelo Elia, is just as exceptional.

Paula DaSilva is an all-around rock star in the kitchen. The Brazilian native and former Hell's Kitchen contestant (she actually appeared on the show while working as chef de cuisine at 3030 Ocean) left the Broward restaurant scene to start 1500 Degrees in the Eden Roc. Her first year there, she earned a spot on Esquire's New Best Restaurants in America, and she's gone on to participate in numerous James Beard House dinners since. If that doesn't earn you kitchen cred, we don't know what does. We were proud, obviously, but our hearts and palates yearned for DaSilva to return to Broward. Fortunately, our innermost wishes were granted. After her mentor, Dean Max, departed from 3030 Ocean last year, we got our girl back, and our little hearts couldn't be more content. DaSilva has been reinventing the menu at the distinguished Fort Lauderdale restaurant with the rustic farm-to-table cuisine that made her a national culinary star. And we've been reaping the rewards with our taste buds ever since.