" THE FINE DINING LIST "

Osteria Francescana

Via Stella, 22, 41121 Modena MO, Italy

Many have asked what to expect of a meal at Osteria Francescana, Massimo Bottura’s famed, Italian restaurant, since I posted some stories of our meal there over the summer. After much thought, all I can say is this: simple (but not so simple) perfection. There are many ways this is similar to some of the world’s very best restaurant experiences — the service is incredible (from the moment you secure a reservation), the ingredients are top grade, the pacing is great, and so on. But there are also obvious comparisons to be made between Francescana and some of the other 3 Michelin, “World’s Best” restaurants on our list and others — number of tables, years in service, location, size, etc., etc., etc. The bottom line is: Francescana is a standout in many regards — and they seem to relish in that. On an unassuming side street in unassuming Modena in an unassuming dining room (of course, tastefully adorned in Gucci), Bottura and his team serve up what is undoubtedly some of the best food you will ever eat, paired with some of the best wine you will ever drink. The meal is simply pitch perfect. And just when you think you’ve figured it out, Bottura comes out — wearing his signature New Balance sneakers — and turns it all on its head. They’ve actually been working on your favorite dish from the night for thirty years. And the entire meal has been served backwards. The first course was a savory panettone. The final course? Caprese salad, in the form of a desert. That’s right. Now you’re running through the menu — the greatest hits, as it were — and you’re realizing the “simple menu” you just had was actually anything but. Massimo and his team are brilliant and we’re all lucky to taste their work.

Eleven madison park (Pending)

11 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010

We’re going to keep EMP towards the top of our list for now, but all signs indicate the Eleven Madison Park we’ve come to love is likely going to be very, very different when COVID-19 is over. Hopefully when this is all over, we’ll go back to a restaurant similar to what used to occupy the cavernous yet welcoming first floor of 11 Madison Park, but for now, we’ll reminisce of a time before Will Guidara left the storied restaurant, and definitely one before COVID-19 shut down our favorite restaurant.

Here’s our review from our last visit…

Okay. So here’s the thing. It’s that good. No matter the season, no matter the occasion (and you’re going to want an occasion to drop the $$$ it takes to get in the door here), Daniel Humm and Will Guidara have cracked the code on making a restaurant experience something more. From the moment you make the reservation, there’s a sense that this is more than the food — a fact that is solidified when you walk through the revolving doors at Eleven Madison Park and wrapped in a bow when you are handed a bag of their trademark granola as a parting gift. There will never be a restaurant on this list that meets the bar of hospitality set by the staff at Eleven Madison Park. Period. And now we get to the food, which alone would have placed this restaurant at the top of this list. The creativity. The taste. The ingredients. The presentation. Everything is just perfect. Pound for pound, Eleven Madison Park is the best restaurant in the United States.

Most Recently Updated — July 2020

Cosme

35 E 21st St, New York, NY 10010

Daniela Soto-Innes doesn’t get enough credit. Yes, Cosme earns accolades year after year from pretty much every review, but it’s always in the context of Cosme’s sibling restaurants from Mexico City, and the Michelin continues to evade Enrique Olvera’s protegé. But people can’t stop talking about Cosme, and the Flatiron spot is still as hot as ever. So what keeps Cosme on the tip of the American gastronomic conversation? And what makes Soto-Innes so impressive? My $0.02? Making haute Mexican cuisine so accessible in New York City, in such a friendly atmosphere and with such incredible ingredients. From a bevy of mouthwatering appetizers to some of the more innovative pastries we’ve come across, Cosme delights and surprises every time we visit.

Most Recently Updated — July 2019

The Bazaar by José Andrés

1701 Collins Ave Suite 100, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Other Locations: Las Vegas, Chicago, New York

Pro tip: let the chef decide. You won’t regret it. Eat until you’re full or even until a little bit past that because the staff will keep bringing food out until you tell them you’re good. Now this is misleading. You’ll be “good” after your first bite — for us, this was a take on the everything bagel because we mentioned we were visiting from New York — but this is one case where you can allow your eyes to be bigger than your stomach. Don’t worry, we won’t judge.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns

630 Bedford Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591

The good people of Blue Hill (both the New York City outpost and the Stone Barns restaurant) are nothing if not ridiculously passionate about their ingredients; the dining experience at Blue Hill is immersive — you learn about what you’re eating, where it came from, and how it was grown. This is farm-to-table dining in its purest form and will ruin the term forever — but you’ll also be so glad you know what it really means.

Le Bernardin

155 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

Le Bernardin hits all the right notes. It’s fancy; not stuffy. The food is tasty; not overwhelming. The service is friendly; not holier-than-thou. This is what you think of when you think of Michelin dining and it doesn’t disappoint. Eric Ripert has fairly earned his place in the gastronomic hall of fame, and if you’re willing to get slightly dressed up for a (very) special occasion, this is a wonderful treat for you, your loved ones, and most importantly — your senses.

Cote

The OG: 16 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10010
The Sequel: 3900 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137

They’ve got the beef. Okay, that was corny, but they really do. Also, talk about a restaurant that has adapted well to COVID! You can order Cote via Goldbelly and if you’re ready to experiment with hundreds of dollars worth of the finest cuts of steak you’ve laid eyes on, you can imagine you’re back at the superb atmosphere that is Cote from the comfort of your own home. Okay, so back to Cote… beautifully appointed, wonderful service, and some of the absolute best steak (don’t skip the sides) you will have. And the best part? It’s barbecued. At your table. By an expert. I’d recommend you watch and learn from the best before trying this at home.

Momofuku Ko

8 Extra Pl, New York, NY 10003

I will always be partial to David Chang’s ramen shop (it was my first “fancy” meal in New York), but the menu at Ko is sublime — and I feel like I’d get a ton of shit for having a noodle bar on a fine dining list. At Ko, you’ll experience a dinner that is wonderfully paced with what I can only describe as “tastes for days”. Ko is an experience in food that shows that David and his team are food lovers and it’s honestly such a treat to eat here.

Balagan

9 Rue d'Alger, 75001 Paris, France

This was — hands down — my favorite meal in Paris. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we ate at Michelin starred restaurants and I am fully prepared for the hate. BRING IT ON. There was something about the meal at Balagan that was just next level. Chefs Assaf and Uri were serving up some absolute 🔥 dishes, the Israeli music was on point, and the drinks paired perfectly with our meal. It was a near perfect meal, and such a treat to watch the Balagan crew work. We will be returning here, and returning here often.

June 2023 (Update): Balagan is now closed.

Republique

624 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Get the bread. Okay? Okay. Now we can move on. Oh, and get a drink. What drink? Any drink really. Okay? Okay. Now we can really get started. Your experience at Republique starts with the building. Take it all in, because it’s a beauty. Once you get situated, order anything — yes, anything — because the menu doesn’t miss.

Saffy’s

4845 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029

Saffy’s — from the makers of Bavel and Bestia — is one of LA’s new hit restaurants. AND you can still get a table. When we went, I was fully expecting an Instagram-friendly restaurant that was “meh” in the food department. I was wrong. It’s true that Saffy’s has a great vibe (especially for influencers and influencer-types), but the food is very, very solid. From the scallop crudo to the roasted carrots to their trademark skewers, Saffy’s handles the “Mediterranean haute cuisine” role deftly. Great place to bring your family and friends to enjoy every course. Oh, and get there early to enjoy a cocktail or two.

contra

138 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

Contra packs a small but mighty punch where you’ll have a lovely meal with lovely surprises and wonderful flavors. The atmosphere is fairly laid back and casual which fits its Lower East Side dwellings and plays nicely with neighborhood stalwarts like Scarr’s, Katz’s, and Russ & Daughter’s. Good for a (fancy) date night or special occasion.

Olmsted

659 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

I love the “farm-to-table-y-ness” of Olmsted. That term refers to the ambiance, the service, and, of course, the food. For a restaurant with near universal acclaim, Olmsted makes you feel at home from the moment you walk through the door and the food feels like a warm hug.

Horses (and the Garden at Horses)

7617 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Horses is yet another celebrated (and hyped) new entrant to the LA food scene. The food is consistently good and the vibe is great — think scene-y but not too scene-y. Standouts on the menu include: the Horses Caesar, the beef carpaccio, and their pizzas. Skip the burger (even though everyone around you is getting one); there are better burgers in LA.

alinea

1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

I ate here once, many years ago on a consulting trip so this review is written only from my memories of the taste, but boy oh boy were the tastes good. Grant Achatz turns up the tastes by a notch and I would have it no other way. The food at Alinea is fantastic, the service decent, and the ambiance "vibe-y”.

DANIEL

60 E 65th St, New York, NY 10065

So remember what we wrote about Le Bernardin? Think the opposite for Daniel. It’s a bit too fancy when it really doesn’t need to be. The tastes can be overwhelming. And the service is borderline overbearing. Now, why is it on this list? Because, frankly: the food is still all sorts of awesome and Daniel Boloud is a mastermind when it comes to gastronomy. Just level set expectations: this is “formal, fine dining”. Wear a jacket and button down. Leave the Yeezys at home. Not that this is bad in any way, shape, or form. But in a world where we’re becoming more comfortable interacting with the world in sweatpants, Daniel (like the experience at his restaurant) is still stuck in an era that is fast becoming antiquated. But hey, maybe you like that jazz.

Animal restaurant

435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Animal is open again! This is a wonderful spot for a good meal and great service. And although their burger is no longer, we do appreciate the care and craft that goes into the meal here. Plus, their desserts are INSANE.