The Oxford English Dictionary defines raw as "uncooked, in its natural state, not yet processed or purified." Urban Dictionary has a slightly different take. "Sex without a condom" is the leading definition. Coming in second: "slang term for any uncut drug; something pure, unadulterated, hard-core, serious, no kidding, no shit." Aside from the unprotected-sex part, that's a pretty good summary of Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill. Since its opening in early 2010, the midtown restaurant has developed a hard-core following. Much of its popularity is owed to executive chef Timon Balloo's masterful raw menu. Raw is all the rage these days, whether it's oatmeal or coconut water. Balloo does the word justice by dishing out simple, unadulterated seafood that satisfies. You can get fresh clams, crab legs, and lobster, of course. But Balloo's best offerings are his crudos, such as local fish sprinkled with fresh lime and ají amarillo; tuna with avocado and paddlefish caviar; steak tartare with pickled shallots, Dijon mustard, and quail eggs; and salmon slices topped with radish, pomegranate, and a tart white ponzu sauce. Serious. No kidding. No shit. Sounds pretty raw.

Italian designer Roberto Cavalli has been a fashion icon since the early 1970s, when he shocked Paris with his bold prints. Never one to be a fashion wallflower, Cavalli created colorful designs that made him famous among attention-seeking fashionistas. Now he has brought his signature brand of whimsical eye candy to his Miami Beach restaurant and lounge. If you're looking for something staid and subtle, keep walking. But if you want your restaurant to be better dressed than you, Cavalli Miami is the place. Have a cocktail at the neon-pink backlit bar and peruse the pictures on the wall that show the designer cavorting with all sorts of beautiful people. The hostess, dressed in signature Cavalli animal print, shows you to your table, where you find more animal prints mingling with psychedelic florals. It's as if Cirque du Soleil, a zebra, and a poppy shacked up inside a disco. And because Cavalli is a master of playing with patterns, this mix of colors and themes somehow works, entrancing you while you sip on a lavender-hued cocktail and dine on oversize Alice-in-Firenze plates. Adding to the decor are the celebrities who dine there — because any restaurant can have fresh flowers, but only Cavalli can have Justin Timberlake as a centerpiece.

Miami is a design-driven city with a plethora of visually stunning restaurants. Unsurprisingly, many eateries turn to the ocean for interior inspiration, but the Local House's beach-chic decor is especially enchanting. Located inside the Sense Beach House boutique hotel, the restaurant attracts diners with its fresh seafood but invites them to linger by way of a warm and inviting space. Ice-blue banquettes, white lacquered tables, and beige chairs rest atop light wood floors to create a mood that's more South Hampton than South Beach. Meanwhile, a large glossy white bookcase is festooned with books and quirky knickknacks. It's utterly serene and serves as an ideal backdrop for a casual yet thoroughly romantic soiree. Start off with oysters ($15 for six or $29 for 12); then move on to a refreshing melon and citrus salad assembled with feta cheese, spinach, and fresh mint ($12). As a main dish, the seared scallops with toasted Israeli couscous are a crowd pleaser ($26). Breakfast, brunch, and lunch are also offered, so you can enjoy the surroundings almost any time.

S&S Diner has been around since thirty-eight.

That's sure as hell a long-ago date.

The food is quite edible

and the service incredible.

A U-shaped counter fills the pintsize space.

Shovel your chow at a leisurely pace.

Old movie posters recall a time

when you downed a whole turkey for only a dime.

S&S serves breakfast and lunch food.

You'll pay in cash for the whole brood.

Afterward, head out for a walk

across to the graveyard for a serious talk

about eggs and bacon and Al Capone

and Santería, Vodou, and sun-bleached bone.

This is Miami's most genuine diner.

In all of South Florida, ain't nothin' finer.

They say art feeds the soul. That's all well and good, but after spending hours perusing art, you're starving. And even though that Warhol looks good enough to eat, it tastes like cardboard. Instead, head to Verde Restaurant & Bar, conveniently located inside Pérez Art Museum Miami. This delightful little café has a spectacular view of Biscayne Bay's changing colors — a work of art in constant flux. The menu is short yet eclectic — meaning there's an item that speaks to your cravings whether you're feeling a squash blossom pizza ($13) or bigeye tuna tartare ($14). Of course, art is best interpreted with a slight buzz, so have a guava margarita ($12). Hell, have two. Your poor, tortured, artistic soul (and your stomach) will thank you.

City lights twinkle in the near distance as you enter the oversize patio from the dock. Whether you arrive by yacht or pre-owned Toyota, Seasalt and Pepper's view is gorgeous. Make your way to the bar for a cocktail and a dozen oysters. As you slurp down the cool, briny kisses of the sea, allow your eyes to wander away from your date. Is that Beyoncé and Jay Z in the corner? Since the restaurant's opening about six months ago, it has hosted some of the brightest stars in the Miami firmament. They come to dine alfresco on organic filet mignon ($45), Maine lobster thermidor ($50), and house-made foie gras ($18). For one sparkling evening, you can feel what it's like to be a pampered celebrity. And it feels good — even if you drive home in the Toyota (we won't tattle when you say your yacht is in for service).

There are times when being a do-it-yourself kind of person works to your advantage. After all, it's pretty handy to change your own tire or make homemade cupcakes. But there are some things that really should be left to the experts — like rewiring the electricity in your house or cooking the perfect steak. First off, that hunk of meat you brought home in the Styrofoam packaging might have come from a cow that died of natural causes (ya never know). Second, your electric two-burner stove in your studio apartment simply can't generate the heat needed to get the ideal sear. Which is why you go to BLT Steak. Laurent Tourondel's Miami Beach restaurant uses only prime cuts of certified Angus beef, naturally aged for tenderness. Then, chef de cuisine Daniel Ganem sears the meat at 1,700 degrees. That's what gives the New York strip ($58) its mouthwatering char on the outside while keeping it cool and pink on the inside. It takes a real pro to honor such a fine piece of meat. Now go ahead and savor your dinner. You can call the electrician tomorrow.

It seems fair to say Miami has the good weather but New York has the good bagels. Yet then there are occasions when it's simply gorgeous in the Big Apple and you can find the perfect bagel in the Magic City. For the latter, Miamians just need to head to Bagel Bar East — one of the few places around that still hand-rolls, boils, and bakes its bagel dough. You'd be hard-pressed to find a deli classic not listed on Bagel Bar's gargantuan menu, and everything is available for take-out. You can also purchase meat, fish, and prepared salads by the pound. If you like smoked fish, order a cream cheese bagel with Nova, whitefish, lox, surgeon, baked salmon, or sable ($12.99 to $15.99). For meat lovers, there's no shortage of melts, wraps, burgers, and sandwiches ($9.99 to $11.99). One example: The indulgent corned beef sandwich with pastrami and chopped liver ($10.99) comes with a pickle and either potato salad or coleslaw and tastes like your ideal blend of authenticity and awesomeness. Every day from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Bagel Bar East does Miami proud.

There are lots of restaurants in the Magic City that dazzle with bright lights, designer table linens, guest DJs, and chefs with acting resumés. But sometimes a place shines so brilliantly that it needs none of that fancy footwork. The District Miami is such a spot. This place claims to offer "contemporary pan-American cuisine," but it's really a melting pot of favorites you probably grew up with — slow-braised pork shoulder, tacos, and meatballs — except reworked by a masterful chef. Under Horacio Rivadero's care, meatballs are made with foie gras ($15), tacos are graced with sweet lobster meat ($18), and tartare is prepared with young Colorado lamb ($14). The work pays off, because Chef Rivadero was named a semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Best Chef-South award this year. Better make reservations now.

There's no debating that the food at Rouge is fantastic — the place has arguably the finest seared foie gras in the city. But where this restaurant excels is its ambiance. Once you walk into the red-walled bohemian atmosphere of the interior dining room, you begin to feel far away from the weird wilderness of 71st Street, which is just on the other side of the door. Make your way to the outdoor courtyard, formerly a parking lot, and discover an oasis lined with rustic brick flooring and walls covered with sprawling vines and flowers. Ornamental tiles adorn all the tables, and the soft bubbling of fountains instantly transports you to a breezy night in Marrakesh. It's an amazing departure from the bustling center of Normandy Isle, which is a mere few feet away from the low-key patio. And Rouge's combination of subtlety and French-Moroccan styling makes it a beguiling place for a romantic evening of wine and whispered sweet-nothings.