MELAO GASTRO BAR – Restaurant

Dominican cooking with a bar attached, up on North Dale Mabry Highway. Melao goes for upscale-casual — swing seating, neat trim, live music and a DJ as the evening builds — but the kitchen is the reason to come. Mofongo is what regulars point newcomers toward, the mashed plantain doing exactly what it should, and the skirt steak comes off tender and well seasoned. Mojitos and sangria are made with care rather than volume. Afternoons are quiet enough for a long lunch; later on it becomes a different room altogether.

Cuisine: Restaurant