Kota Wood Fire Grill

Though located directly across Grand Boulevard from the Fox Theatre, Kota Wood Fire Grill doesn't rely on Broadway kitsch and generic, crowd-pleasing chow. Instead the restaurant, from the same folks behind nearby Triumph Grill, is airy and attractive, with dishes that draw from Caribbean and Gulf Coast flavors. Seafood has a prominent place: mahi-mahi crusted with plantain and drizzled with a key-lime vinaigrette; shrimp and grits in a rich, garlicky barbecue sauce. Among meat entrées, the smoked pork chop, stuffed with an apple-fig chutney, is a standout.

Though located directly across Grand Boulevard from the Fox Theatre, Kota Wood Fire Grill doesn't rely on Broadway kitsch and generic, crowd-pleasing chow. Instead the restaurant, from the same folks behind nearby Triumph Grill, is airy and attractive, with dishes that draw from Caribbean and Gulf Coast flavors. Seafood has a prominent place: mahi-mahi crusted with plantain and drizzled with a key-lime vinaigrette; shrimp and grits in a rich, garlicky barbecue sauce. Among meat entrées, the smoked pork chop, stuffed with an apple-fig chutney, is a standout.