Kleiner's latest is a standout in Hyde Park

HOT PLATE

Prices: appetizers $9-$15; entrees $12-$36; desserts $8

Hours: 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Credit cards: All major

Reason to go: Jerry Kleiner keeps moving south, and that's a good thing.

Hyde Park, one of the city's largest melting pot communities, has been in need of an attention-getting restaurant for a long time. Enter restaurateur Jerry Kleiner.

For some, the Kleineresque mix of textures and colors -- dark woods, burgundy drapes, multipatterned walls, velvet dice-themed chairs and silk-covered light fixtures -- might be too much.

In Park 52's case, the artsy theme is the perfect complement to Hyde Park's eclectic community.

Still, it wouldn't be worth the trip if there weren't any good eats on the menu. The rock shrimp is one of those must-try dishes -- tempura battered shrimp, fried and served in a spicy sauce. Seared tuna with a chili-balsamic sauce and apple chips also gets kudos.

The restaurant is a good spot for having a drink while people-watching (I ran into three people I knew while there). The drink menu offers more than 80 wines.

A final note for the ladies: Bathrooms are a pet peeve for most women, but Park 52's are clean and as stylish as the dining room.