Dining out | The Hot Five

You've done the dance, now bag the after-prom snoozefest and grab a meal instead.

AZIA

Head to Eat Street's hopping late-nighter for a huge menu (curries, pastas, seafood and tons of appetizers) and fab people watching. Owner Thom Pham's downtown cool room/hot crowd outpost (Temple, 1201 Harmon Pl., Minneapolis, 612-767-3770, mplstemple.com), also cooks until 2 a.m. daily.

2550 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-813-1200, aziarestaurant.com

CAFE BARBETTE

Dish prom fashions over nibbles (fries with aioli, cheese fondue) or something more substantial (roast chicken, stuffed crepes, a marvelous Niçoise salad) at this low-key Yuptown late-night favorite.

1600 W. Lake St., Mpls., 612-827-5710, cafebarbette.com

FLAMEBURGER

Drop by this no-frills, forever crowded greasy spoon par excellence -- open 24/7 -- to answer the proverbial question: Can anyone, even a half-starved post-prom teen, actually consume an entire Ranch Breakfast?

2534 Rice St., Little Canada, 651-483-8444, and 4800 Central Av. NE., Hilltop, 763-571-3267

112 EATERY

Even that scorching low-cut dress won't land you a table at the city's No. 1-with-a-bullet late-night destination without a reservation (OK, never say never). Why? Chef Isaac Becker's brie burger is out of this world, and his sweet-and-sour crab salad and bacon-egg-harissa sandwich follow close behind.

112 N. 3rd St., Mpls., 612-343-7696, 112eatery.com

PIZZA LUCE

Great-tasting combos from classic (sausage, pepperoni) to unconventional (garlic mashed potato, mock duck-pineapple), baked far into the night.

Four Twin Cities locations, including 1183 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-288-0186, pizzaluce.com

RICK NELSON