Charleston-bound? Set aside some time for a culinary sojourn at Lana Restaurant & Bar at 210 Rutledge Ave., where Chef John Ondo elevates pineapple upside down cake to delectably high art. Legend has it the city’s connection to pineapples goes back several hundred years, to a time when sailors and sea captains brought back exotic fruits from tropical ports. As proof of his triumphant return — and as an invitation to friends to stop by for a visit and treat — a ship’s captain would spear a pineapple on a fencepost in front of his home.

Before dessert, be sure to try one of Chef Ondo’s signature dishes, including Monk’s Bowl, made with mushrooms grown by Trappist monks at a nearby monastery. There’s also plenty of Mediterranean-inspired fare including pastas, seafood and a daily risotto. For happy hour, a tapas menu includes savory baked goat cheese with tomato sauce and garlic oil, hand-cut pommes frittes, jamon, and roasted shrimp baked with feta in a spicy tomato sauce. Just be sure to save room for that pineapple upside down cake.