Pariza Mehta, Kelly Morrison and Ricardo Morffin, owners of Ambli Kitchen + Bar, 5278 N. Nevada Ave., have introduced a new little sister to their restaurant group: Latin Social, 316 N. Tejon St.

The trio created an eatery that offers a sophisticated, ultra-modern room to enjoy the warm hospitality and flavors one might experience in countries having southern coastlines touching the Mediterranean Sea: France, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Turkey.

“All these countries share connections because of their Latin-based language, vibrant flavored foods and romantic flare,” Mehta said. “We wanted to capture that vibe.”

Upon entering Latin Social, it’s evident the team has nailed the vibe. The horseshoe-shaped bar with a massive arch at its back is filled with shelves of beautifully colored spirits, brightly illuminated, which acts as the welcome sign to come on and join the party. It helps too that the jazzy background music doesn’t drown out the laughter from the guests enjoying cocktails while dining. Besides the bar seats, there are side nooks with booths too.

Above the main floor, circling the sides of the room, there is a private dining space at the rear and more conversation tables and chairs around the sides. To accommodate diners upstairs, there’s another kitchen and bar. The open railing around the side walls of the suspended space allows diners there to be included in the excitement of the lower bar area.

The overall effect of Latin Social is one of friendliness and, well, socializing. The food we devoured was boldly flavored and over-the-top delicious. From starters to small plates, to paellas, to mezze and desserts. Each section of the menu has some dishes representative of the five Mediterranean coastal countries featured at the restaurant.

From the starter menu we homed in on the French onion oysters ($12 for two oysters) and the eggplant ratatouille spread ($20). The baked bivalves were served in their opened shell halves on a plate of hot rocks. They were scrumptious with candy-sweet, caramelized onions in red wine and topped with Gruyere with a homemade mini croissant on the side of each shell.

Our very personable waitress suggested, “Take a bite of the oysters and a nibble of croissant.”

We did just that, and both of us polished off one of the combos each. It was the perfect opening act for what promised to be an award-winning dinner. This is for sure a must try-dish.

The creative presentation of aubergine was generous and flavorful. The eggplant dip was a spreadable mashup of zucchini, artichokes, spinach and corn, crowned with blistered white cheddar and artigiano cheese. Two large thin slices of grilled sourdough toast served as landing portals for eating.

It was an easy decision to decide on coconut curry lamb shank ($35) since it’s a favorite of ours on any menu. The Portuguese garlic shrimp ($28 for four shrimp) won out over other offerings as our second choice from the small plates menu. The braised lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender and came served with roasted potato wedges. The shank and spuds were sauced with creamy curry stewed with sweet cherry tomatoes and sprinkled with festive red, tart pomegranate seeds. A homemade, puffy baked piece of naan soaked up the flavorful curry. Both dishes were worthy of repeats.

Owners of Latin Social are easing into the opening of the restaurant with more surprises on the way. Look for pizzas to make an appearance on the menu. A Turkish tea-time 2:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and a Social Hour 4:30-5:45 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays are estimated to begin toward the end of October.

Current hours are 5-9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 5-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations highly recommended on Open Table. Details: 719-900-7962, tinyurl.com/86tbb3r7.

Saddle up for holiday treat

For many in these parts, the holiday season starts by attending the Gingerbread & Jazz by the Early Connections Learning Centers at The Flying W Ranch, 3330 Chuckwagon Road, Nov. 8. The evening includes musical performances, a gingerbread showcase, heavy appetizers, signature cocktails and live auction. Dress in formal Western wear or your favorite cocktail attire to enjoy an unforgettable evening. Ticket options include:

• VIP Legacy Dinner ($250) for early access at 4 p.m., a plated dinner, front-row seating for the gala festivities. Each ticket includes a $165 tax-deductible contribution.

• Gala ticket ($125) for sweet and savory food stations, signature cocktails, musical performances, dancing, live auction and gingerbread showcase (includes a tax-deductible donation of $60 per ticket). Visit earlyconnections.org for more information.

Reservations open

Prime25 N Steakhouse, 1895 Democracy Point, officially opens Friday, Oct. 3. If you’ve enjoyed the fine dining experience at the south location, 1605 S. Tejon St., you’ll find the same high standards of service, food, cocktails and wine at the new outpost.

Hours are 4-9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 4-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 5-9 p.m. Sundays. Make reservations at Open Table.

Wine dinner

Pizzeria Rustica, 2527 W. Colorado Ave., will have a wine dinner 6 p.m. Oct. 28, 6 p.m. to benefit Happy Cats Haven. For $89 (plus tax and tip), you get a five-course dinner paired with wine. Call Coaltrain for reservations at 719-475-9700.