PALM BEACH. Simple wooden tables and chairs, clustered and close-set, front an exhibition kitchen in this spare, comfortable restaurant. Popular with the Palm Beach crowd, the place is constantly bustling with patrons who clamor for the flavorful Northern Italian cuisine. Risottos that incorporate fresh seafood and vegetables make for an ideal meal. Homemade pastas also have a loyal following, thanks to spinach ricotta ravioli, rigatoni with roasted eggplant, and pappardelle with fresh lobster in a brandy sauce. Roast duck, sauteed snapper, pan-seared veal chops, and lemon chicken also tempt patrons with their rustic goodness. A substantial selection of wines, along with a full bar at the entrance, give license for festivity long after the meal ends.

BOCA RATON. An elegant evening awaits at this expensive, refined restaurant. A Boca institution, it surrounds diners with lovely furnishings, an attentive waitstaff, and a more-than-substantial wine cellar. Whether you want the drama of spaghetti carbonara prepared tableside or a first-rate linguine with red clam sauce, you'll find it at Arturo's. Other options include snapper in white wine sauce, broiled lobster tail, grilled veal or lamb chops, sweetbreads, and filet mignon in a cognac-mushroom sauce. Homemade fettuccine with black truffles is a signature dish and an earthy, sensuous delight. Incredible desserts provide an apt ending for a fantastic meal. Jackets are required.

PALM BEACH. Golden-hued and elegant, Bice is a formidable presence on the Palm Beach dining scene. Refinements like crisp linens and fresh flowers provide indication that a meal here will be nothing less than spectacular. Northern Italian cuisine is particularly authentic, given that the restaurant was founded in Milan in 1926 (and still maintains headquarters there). Society folks frequent the place for everything from light pastas to grilled meats and seafoods, reveling in impeccable presentation and service. Pasta e fagioli, a favored dish, ranks highly, along with perfectly prepared calamari and great veal cutlets. The outdoor terrace adds romantic ambience on balmy evenings.

WEST PALM BEACH. From Clematis Street, you can just see Capri Blu, twinkling in the distance from tiny lights strung across its facade. The romantic place, whose pale interior is punctuated with accents of blue, is an open, inviting beacon in the twilight darkness. Cuisine and ambience, both highly rated, compel locals to return regularly for such fantastic dishes as salt-encrusted snapper and impossibly tender veal. Pastas, crafted in-house, are as delicious as you'd imagine, and even salads are without fault. You'll also find chicken, beef, and an array of fresh seafood. Anything you choose is certain to be great; just make sure you reserve room for the tiramisu, which garners praise from everyone who gives in to its seductions.

PALM BEACH. Rustic but elegant and welcoming, this restaurant sports stucco walls the color of saffron and an exhibition kitchen towards the rear. A central bar divides the dining room into a front and back section, and a great sidewalk dining area lets you keep an eye on pedestrian traffic along Royal Poinciana Way. Although the menu changes regularly to take advantage of seasonal ingredients, you can always be assured of wonderful pastas, grilled fish, and terrific house-baked pizzas. A nice wine list guarantees an apt complement to the cuisine, and a strong espresso provides a nice cap to a meal. It's also an ideal pick-me-up when you need a break from the day.