The Times

dining out Unusual decor, good food, add up to enjoyable evening

VILLAGE INN, 3131 Commodore Plaza, 445-8721. Beef and seafood menu. Price range: $2.75 to $6.95. Two cocktail lounges with live entertainment and dancing nightly. Serving until 3 a.m. daily. All major credit cards accepted. Entering Monty's new Village Inn, is almost like stepping onto a 1930s movie set Stepping into Monty Trainer's new Village Inn on Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove is like entering a 1930s movie set on a tropical island. You expect to see Joan Crawford and the cast of "Rain" sitting amid the plants and bamboo with the old-fashioned fans whirring softly overhead. Mellow piano music emanates from a nook near the small lounge, which is adorned with metal sculptures of ships and Island scenes. The fare is less tropical and more American, but the menu is temporary and soon to be expanded. The thick slice of rare prime rib is the best buy at $6.95. Your order of beef kabob ($4.95) arrives with a pirate's sword spearing the delicately marinarated meat and vegetables. Other beef offerings include New York strip steak, London broil and filet mignon, priced from $4.75 to $6.50. The Village Burger is $2.75. Broiled scallops wrapped in bacon at $4.95, also offered as an appetizer for $3.95, are delicious but rich morsels. Seafood lovers can also select from butterfly shrimp ($5.95), Crab or Shrimp Louis priced at $4.75 or the "Captain's Catch" of the day. Vegetarians have their own entree, hot vegetables on a skewer priced at $3.75, a mixture of fresh tomatoes, carrots and different kinds of squash speared on three pirate's swords. All entrees include choice of potato, a crisp chicory and iceberg salad and hot biscuits. Only house wines are served as a dinner accompaniment. It's a good idea to share the generous appetizers, which are mostly seafood and priced at $3.95. The shrimp cocktail is chef Dean Curran's specialty. Crispy fried cauliflower ($2.95) arrives piled high on a plate with lots of tangy sauce for dipping. After midnight diners can choose from after show entrees, served until 3 a.m. After dinner you can slip into the lounge for some dancing to the music of a live band, which entertains nightly. — CLAIRE ORTALDA

For complete south Dade restaurant listings see page 30

THE SPAGHETTI MACHINE

6001 S.W. 8th STREET 264-4057 BUY ONE DINNER GET 2nd 1⁄2 PRICE FEATURING: PIZZA • HOT SUBS ITALIAN SUBMARINES OPEN SUN.-THURS. 11 AM-11 PM — FRI. & SAT. 11:00-MIDNIGHT DRIVE UP WINDOW — NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAR

MARY LINICK DANCE STUDIO

ENROLL NOW! CORNER BIRD AND 72 AVE. — UPSTAIRS 7211 S.W. 41 STREET FOR INFORMATION CALL: 264-5611 TAP • JAZZ • BALLET • HAWAIIAN ACROBATICS • LADIES' SLIMNASTICS BEGINNER ADULT CLASSES FOR TAP, BALLET & JAZZ FOR FUN AND EXERCISE Preschool classes for 3, 4 & 5 yr. olds in ballet, tap, acrobatics

BEAUTIFUL ARTIFICIAL NAILS & LASHES

Sculptured to your own nail and extended to any length or shape you desire. . . FOR THE WOMAN WHO CARES! MR. NAILS ALL SHOPS OPEN MON. THRU SAT. EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAIL. CORAL GABLES 2315 LeJeune Rd. 444-7165 KENDALL MALL 8861 S.W. 107 Ave. Suite 205 - 270-1836 NO. MIAMI BEACH 17007 W. DIXIE HWY. Ph. 945-7401 BBB

Do You Remember The Flame

IN THE SUNILAND SHOPPING CENTER THE OLDEST RESTAURANT OF SOUTH MIAMI THE BEST RESTAURANT OF SOUTH DADE THE BEST STEAKS OF MIAMI AND NOW THE BEST PRIME RIBS OF DADE COUNTY THE BEST MAINE LOBSTER IN TOWN THE BEST DRINKS MIXED BY PROFESSIONALS THE BEST MUSICAL BACKGROUND WITH YOUR DINNER THE BEST FAMILY ATMOSPHERE YOU CAN FIND THE BEST PRICE, NOBODY CAN GIVE YOU MORE FOR YOUR MONEY THE FLAME ALWAYS THE SAME 11415 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY RESERVATIONS 235-2424