Samba (CLOSED)

It’s owned by an Italian and situated in Bay Ridge, but this sleek bar-restaurant is Latin to the core. The tropical exoticism extends from the leopard-print ceiling and creative dishes to the Shakira look-alikes who line the backlit bar for live music on Saturday nights. Baked oysters are topped with spinach, chorizo and queso blanco; salmon is plantain-crusted; Chilean sea bass comes in a zesty saffron-and-orange sauce. Surrender to yet another pineapple martini or one of the affordable Argentine or Chilean wines. Drink or don’t drink, you’ll still leave Samba with a buzz.