This rococo Miami institution celebrates the joys of living (and dining) large.

The Scene
The sweet smell of money mingles with the heady aroma of dry-aged steaks cooked on an oak-fired grill. For 30 years, the Forge has been culinary ground zero for Miami's well-off and well-fed. Inside, the ornate decor features antique brick walls, pressed-tin ceiling, giant tapestries and stained-glass windows. Serious, mature waiters glide through the room, attending to diners' every whim.

The Food
To patrons, familiarity breeds content. Steaks, chops and grilled fish, prepared with little regard for current culinary trends, dominate the long and pricey menu. Meat is the kitchen's forte, especially the signature "super steak"--16 ounces of fork-tender beef with remarkably deep yet subtle flavor. Another signature, roast duck, comes with blackened skin, but moist and succulent meat. Mushy crab cakes and bland Caesar salad aren't in their league, nor is the cakey Grand Marnier souffle.