Michael's on East, 1212 S East Avenue, Sarasota, 941-366-0007

Michael’s on East holds the allure of a fancy supper club but is far more accessible. Take “Lobster Pot Fridays,” when you can enjoy two 1 1/4-pound live Maine lobsters, mussels, clams, new potatoes and corn on the cob for only $38.95 per person. This Monday, they experimented with a Cigar and Whisky pairing dinner, in the Wine Cellar, which beckoned with the sounds and smells of a sultry Cuban night when I passed by on my way to the main dining room to try the latest entry into their Epicurean Adventure Series: India. Highlights include an expertly spiced Tomato Rasan Soup that resonates with complex smoky flavors and the Mahi Kaliya which pairs cooling apricot chutney with a delicate but deeply layered Tamarind curry sauce and cumin-roasted cauliflower. Both desserts on offer are exotic and satisfying but there’s something about the rose ice cream and saffron syrup that accompanies the fritters of the Julab Juman that had me refusing to share. Epicurean Adventure to India November 3-30, 2014.

Michael's on East, 1212 S East Avenue, Sarasota, 941-366-0007