Aubergine - Carmel
Consistently flavorful seasonal Californian cuisine with some Japanese ingredients. Makes the drive to picturesque Carmel worth all by itself
Sons & Daughters - San Francisco
Copenhagen meets San Francisco in the best possible way: flavorful and delicious New Nordic cuisine that features seasonal Californian ingredients
Benu - San Francisco
Elegantly executed, technically perfect Korean-inspired cuisine. Unfortunately, the flavors were a bit too muted for my taste
Localis - Sacramento
The menu changes completely every five weeks, but always contains some gems. An engaging at-the-counter experience and a great wine pairing made for a fun dinner
Atomix - New York
Small bites inspired by Korean cuisine are generally pleasant, but rarely reach the heights suggested by the restaurant’s lofty 8th place on the 50 Best Restaurants list
Quince - San Francisco
San Francisco’s usually dependable three-star was surprisingly rocky after a recent remodeling. Desserts were still excellent, but the savory dishes were uneven and the service often haphazard
Smyth - Chicago
A creative, innovative tasting menu, loosely based on American cuisine. Only a few mind-blowingly good dishes, but everything was tasty. Very unboring - and that’s a compliment
The French Laundry - Yountville
French cuisine that is inspired by American comfort foods. More traditional than cutting-edge, but consistently delicious, and with impeccable service
SingleThread - Healdsburg
Seasonal Californian cuisine with heavy Japanese influences. For the most part very good, some dishes were outstanding. The service was very rushed, unfortunately
Eleven Madison Park - New York
Seasonal vegetables and fruits shine in a creative menu that’s full of big flavors and consistently delicious. All the more impressive since all dishes are vegan
Le Bernardin - New York
Perfectly prepared seafood and delicious sauces. It was in the combination that the execution sometimes faltered, leading to several underseasoned dishes. A step down from our previous visits
Addison - San Diego
A tasting menu that encompasses multiple cuisines that made their home in California, with influences from Mexico, Japan and Thailand. Several excellent dishes, and a consistently high level throughout
Atelier Crenn - San Francisco
French-Californian cuisine that stays fresh with inventive dishes, most of them superb