OLA owes its allure to Douglas Rodriguez. He created Nouveau Latino cuisine in Miami with his offerings at Yuca, opened in 1989. After a sojourn in the Big Apple to open Patria, he has returned south for an encore performance. OLA’s dark woods, shuttered windows, and shadowy corners make it a perfect place for an intimate first date. Bright chandeliers and Latin-inspired art provide shots of light and color. Rodriguez serves up numerous unique dishes on the menu, which reflect his deep understanding of the potential of Latin American and Iberian culinary styles. Start with empanadas – either foie gras and fig, accompanied by duck prosciutto and vinaigrette, or jumbo lump crab with marinated cucumber salad. Sip a saffron margarita as you decide between Serrano ham-wrapped scallops and the Hudson Valley duck combo (seared duck breast over tomatillo-oregano escabeche and duck confit rice). The best, however, is yet to come. The deserts at OLA’s have been called superlative by many a diner. Sponge cake basks in pear liqueur and three milks, an orange tart shelters Ecuadorian chocolate mousse, and orange custard offers a sugar-free way to indulge.