The hot five: Festive dining

Chef Aaron Slavicek takes the chill off with bison chili, grilled lamb skewers with saffron-scented couscous, a hearty vegetarian green curry over basmati rice and other tasty treats. The cozy bar shakes up all manner of colorful, mood-enhancing cocktails.

5411 Penn Av. S., Mpls., 612-822-5411, www.cafemaude.com

Make merry in the bar (Cuban pianist Nachito Herrera takes the stage Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.) over chef Jack Riebel's smoked fish assortment, a BLT stuffed with cornmeal-crusted catfish, walleye cakes and one of the city's most irresistible burgers.

1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-332-1010, www.dakotacooks.com

Throw something sparkly on your back, take a highly coveted seat in the lounge, sip one of bartender Johnny Michael's "Mistletoe" martinis and graze through chef Tim McKee's meant-to-be-shared menu, including polenta-crusted prawns and fabulous lamb sliders.

510 Groveland Av., Mpls., 612-874-6440, www.labellevie.us

Owner Kim Bartmann's lively salute to the beloved northern Wisconsin supper clubs of her youth hops every Friday night with its swell a la carte fish fry (don't miss the smelt fries). Chef Brian Hauke puts out a terrific weekend brunch; order the green eggs and ham (poached eggs and ham with herb hollandaise sauce over biscuits) or the lobster egg-salad sandwich.

509 1st Av. NE., Mpls., 612-767-7766,

www.redstagsupperclub.com

The romantic dining room (ask for a table by one of the restaurant's three fireplaces) is decked out for the holidays, and the menu features rutabega gnocchi, duck confit-caramelized onion flatbread, beer-braised pork belly, pan-roasted Lake Superior whitefish and other seasonal fare. An early bird three-course dinner ($28) is served weekdays from 5 to 6 p.m.

374 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-224-5715, www.wafrost.com

RICK NELSON