Not to sound paranoid or anything, but someone is trying to keep you out of South America. How else to explain the insanely expensive airfares?

Before resigning yourself to the Travel Channel, visit Lima, a new restaurant/lounge serving Latin-infused cuisine. True to the name, chef Raynold Mendizabal (formerly of Pesce) flavors a full third of his dishes with lime, including the ceviche, raw shellfish, and tiradito menus. Thirsty? Dip into the large wine selection, representing Chile, Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany.

Designed by two architects (Ali Honarker and Mustafa Nouri) and an artist (Paul Miller, responsible for Dragonfly’s cool look), the three-level structure (dining on top, entryway bar, basement lounge) features open floors and an invisible staircase. So it may take all night to explore the whole place. But that’s okay.

When people ask why you look so tired, you can finally tell them you just got in from Lima.

Lima, 1401 K Street NW, at 14th Street (202-789-2800 or limarestaurant.com).