I've traveled to over 80 countries. Here are 13 of my favorite restaurants I've eaten at around the world.
Throughout my travels, I've loved the meals I've had at casual hole-in-the-wall establishments as much as I've loved ones from Michelin-starred restaurants.
Plus, balancing high-end and casual dining experiences has shaped my taste buds and my views on hospitality and service.
Although it was difficult to narrow down my top picks, here's what I'd say are some of my favorite restaurants in the world.
Chicago's Esmé beautifully blends together art and food.
This Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant is in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, and it's the perfect place to go if you want a meal that blends food and art.
With an evolving tasting menu that changes each quarter, chef Jenner Tomaska and his partner, Katrina Bravo, excel in collaborating with local artists and creatives to create memorable, art-filled dining experiences.
From the dishware, surrounding artwork, and music, to the presentation of each dish, Esmé tells a story throughout the entire tasting menu experience.
Bahia is one of Malta's few restaurants with a Michelin star.
Bahia is one of Malta's seven Michelin-starred restaurants.
The restaurant is inspired by the four stages of an orange tree: seed, growth, bloom, and harvest. Guests are welcomed to each table by a small display that symbolizes the terrain and topography of Maltese and Gozitan villages.
The wooden display has three removable tubes, and diners are asked to select their degustation preference by placing the ceramic tube (for à la carte), bamboo tube (for plant-based), or bronze tube (classic) in the center of the wooden piece.
I loved that each thing I ordered came with a drawing and description of the dish and the village where it and its ingredients came from.
Bardea Food and Drink in Delaware is great for family-style dining.
Located in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, Bardea is an inventive Italian restaurant.
Co-owners Scott Stein and Antimo DiMeo (also executive chef) source ingredients from Italy and local Delaware Valley Farms to create fresh dishes. The restaurant values family-style dining and serves plates that are designed to be shared.
I love how, at its core, Bardea is all about bringing community together over a delicious meal.
Sifr is another gem in Chicago.
It has always been difficult for me to find a restaurant that I feel embraces the true spirit of my home region in the Middle East. Then, I dined at Sifr.
This woodfire restaurant in Chicago is helmed by chefs Sujan Sarkar and Sahil Sethi, who excel at preparing dishes with incredible spices.
Their dishes give me the comforting feeling that I have when I'm eating in the Gulf Arab region. I highly recommend the mezze platter, falafel, tiger prawns, and Persian berry pilaf.
Food aside, the restaurant is also gorgeous with a beautiful rooftop overlooking the River North district of Chicago.
I love the Matsuhisa location in Aspen.
Renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa created the iconic Nobu chain, and he's also the mastermind behind Matsuhisa.
There are a few locations of this sushi restaurant, but my favorite is in downtown Aspen, Colorado, in an old Victorian house. The menu is influenced by Japanese and Peruvian cuisines.
All the dishes I tried during my visit were melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Some of my favorite bites were the black cod miso and yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño.
Plus, the service was incredible.
Snack De Mairipehe blew me away in Tahiti.
While on a moped exploring the Polynesian island of Tahiti, I got so hungry and randomly stopped at Snack De Mairipehe.
Fortunately, it was an excellent decision. The hole-in-the-wall, open-air restaurant has outstanding local dishes.
It's also where I was introduced to the island's signature dish, poisson cru, which translates to "raw fish." The dish resembles a ceviche but consists of raw fish marinated in citrus juice and coconut milk. I've never had anything like it.
Oystera in Todos Santos is great for fans of seafood.
In the heart of Todos Santos, Mexico, lies a beautiful oyster bar called Oystera.
Built on the former site of a sugar mill, Oystera is a beautiful restaurant with lush greenery wrapping around its bar. It specializes in seafood, especially oysters sourced from Baja California that are served with a sweet sauce and ponzu.
Café Tola has pleasantly surprised me.
I stumbled upon Café Tola years ago in Chicago and was blown away by it after just one bite of its spinach and cheese empanada.
The café's freshly baked, warm empanadas range in flavors from guava and cheese to birria, with enough options for all taste buds and many dietary restrictions.
This casual establishment has multiple locations throughout Chicago and one in New York City.
My FZN dining experience in Dubai was memorable.
FZN by Björn Frantzén is an extraordinary blend of European fine dining with a sprinkle of Japanese influences. The restaurant spans two floors but only seats 27 diners.
My dining experience was incredibly memorable. Each meal begins in the "family room" on the upper floor, where canapes and drinks are served.
From there, I was introduced to the ingredients that would be used in the multicourse tasting menu and then escorted downstairs, where I received a glimpse of the kitchen.
Then, our group of diners was taken into a room with dim lighting so we could observe the magic happening in the kitchen.
I was impressed by Masseria in Washington, DC.
Named after 16th-century farmhouses in Puglia, Masseria pays homage to chef Nicholas Stefanelli's Italian heritage.
The Michelin-starred restaurant seats diners as if they're visiting an authentic Italian country estate — and the food is incredible.
In my opinion, Stefanelli succeeds in transporting diners to all regions of Italy as his menu features dishes and ingredients from varied Italian culinary regions.
Guests can choose a multicourse menu and seating options in the courtyard, covered pergola, or indoor dining room with a view of the open kitchen.
I enjoyed my dining experience at Dinner by Hestan Blumenthal Dubai.
Dinner by Hestan Blumenthal Dubai is a Michelin-starred dining experience where historic British roots appear in each dish.
I loved how the servers were like storytellers as they described the creation of each recipe and how it was inspired by the past, sometimes as far back as medieval times.
This eatery also has a London location, though the Dubai one won me over with its dim lighting and dark interiors that felt perfect for a romantic special occasion.
Campione feels like a hidden gem in Montana.
Located in a historical building in Livingston, Campione is owned by friends Joshua Adams, Jeffrey Galli, and Anthony Sferra.
They believe that eating well is not just for special occasions but is a requisite of every meal — and the food feels like proof.
The restaurant works with local farmers and suppliers to provide local proteins, veggies, fresh baked goods, pasta, and Roman-style pizzas to diners.
Virginia Beach's Love Song seems to always have something new on its menu.
Owned by chef Mike Hill and Jake Keller, Love Song offers seasonal dishes made with fresh ingredients.
The small establishment on Virginia Beach's oceanfront that packs a lot of flavor into shareable plates and its cuisine takes influence from a range of regions, from Spain to France.
Every time I visit, I love getting to try innovative new dishes.
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Business Insider
36 minutes ago
- Business Insider
I tried 8 of Ina Garten's most popular desserts, and the best one was the easiest to make
In eighth place is Ina Garten's tiramisu. Garten's tiramisu is featured in her cookbook "Family Style" and in an early episode of her show, "Barefoot Contessa." The Food Network star said she wanted to whip up the classic dessert for her husband, Jeffrey. "Tiramisu was to the 1990s what Pasta Pesto was to the '80s — it was done, done, and overdone," Garten wrote in her cookbook. "Now that it's not so pervasive, I dragged out my old recipe and rediscovered a dessert that's delicious, can be made in advance, and requires no cooking!" Garten's tiramisu features Italian ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, and dark rum. Garten's tiramisu has a nice flavor but is a bit forgettable. Garten's tiramisu is very quick and easy to put together, which is always a huge plus. But I couldn't find the Savoiardi ladyfingers she recommends at my grocery store, and the American ladyfingers I used were far too fluffy to work well with her recipe. I thought the filling tasted lovely, especially with the punch of dark rum. But I still prefer my dad's delicious no-bake chocolate cake, which has a similar flavor but a far better texture thanks to the use of Nilla wafers. Taking the seventh spot is Garten's apple spice cake. This apple spice cake was among the many recipes that Garten developed while working at her Barefoot Contessa store. "We used to have all kinds of cakes like this out on the bakery counter, and you could come buy a whole cake, but you could also buy a piece," Garten said in an early episode of her "Barefoot Contessa" show. "It's not fancy," she added. "Just really delicious and earthy, and you always want to come back for more." Garten's apple spice cake features Granny Smith apples, rum, raisins, and pecans. To make Garten's apple spice cake, you'll need: 1 ½ pounds of Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and ¼-inch diced 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour 1 cup of chopped pecans 1 cup of golden raisins 1 cup of granulated sugar 1 cup of dark-brown sugar, lightly packed ½ cup of dark rum (Garten recommends Mount Gay) ¾ cup of vegetable oil 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract 2 teaspoons of grated orange zest (2 oranges) 2 teaspoons of baking powder ½ teaspoon of kosher salt 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon of ground ginger ⅛ teaspoon of ground cloves Vanilla ice cream for serving Caramel sauce for serving Garten's apple spice cake is a lovely fall dessert. Garten's apple spice cake is full of delicious fall flavors. The rum-soaked raisins reminded me of caramel, infusing some sweetness with the tart Granny Smith apples. Each bite was filled with the delicious nuttiness of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and I loved the surprising zing of the orange zest. The cake wasn't too sweet, so I even enjoyed a few slices at breakfast during the week. But I recommend following Garten's instructions and pairing it with ice cream and caramel for the "perfect dessert." In sixth place is Garten's chocolate cake with mocha frosting. Garten's cake features Kahlúa, instant espresso powder, and bittersweet chocolate. Garten's chocolate cake was deliciously moist, but it couldn't compete with some of her other desserts. Garten's chocolate cake with mocha frosting has a fantastic texture that reminded me of her Beatty's Chocolate Cake (more on that soon). The cake is springy and light, and the chocolate flavor is well-balanced thanks to the addition of Kahlúa and espresso. But the mocha frosting didn't stand out to me compared with the buttercream in Beatty's Chocolate Cake. Although it was easier to make than the latter dessert and tasted delicious, I didn't find myself craving seconds or thirds as I have with other Barefoot Contessa desserts. Taking the fifth spot is Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake. Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake appears in her most recent cookbook, "Go-To Dinners," where she writes that everyone who makes this recipe "can't believe how easy it is!" She also shared the cake on Instagram to celebrate Mother's Day in May 2023. "For Mother's Day, let mom sleep in while you bake her my Blueberry Ricotta Breakfast Cake," she wrote in the caption. "It's so easy to make — and who wouldn't love cake for breakfast?!!!" Garten's blueberry-ricotta breakfast cake features ricotta, lemon, and sour cream. To make Garten's breakfast cake, which serves eight, you'll need: 2 cups (12 ounces) of fresh blueberries 1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour 1 cup of whole-milk ricotta 1 cup of granulated sugar 10 tablespoons (1 ¼ sticks) of unsalted butter, at room temperature 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 2 tablespoons of sour cream 1 tablespoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon of grated lemon zest Sifted powdered sugar, for dusting Garten's breakfast cake is a delicious dream that I'd happily eat after any meal. The sweet blueberries and zingy lemon keep the flavor interesting, and the cake was also extremely easy to whip up in the morning. I made the cake for my mom just before Mother's Day, and she was also a fan. "This was superb," she declared after trying her first few bites. "I give it a 10/10." Garten's recipe is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, and I've loved making it for everyone. In fourth place is the recipe for Garten's famous "outrageous" brownies. Garten's outrageous brownies were a huge hit at her Barefoot Contessa store, which she ran for 18 years after leaving a job at the White House. Garten's brownies are also featured in her first cookbook, "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook." In the recipe description, Garten says her brownies were so popular at Barefoot Contessa that she sold "like a thousand a week." There's a ton of chocolate in Garten's outrageous brownies. To make a serving of 20 (large) brownies, you'll need: 1 pound of unsalted butter 1 pound plus 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate chips 6 ounces of bitter chocolate 6 extra-large eggs 3 cups of chopped walnuts 2 ¼ cups of sugar 1 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons of instant-coffee granules 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract 1 tablespoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of salt Garten's outrageous brownies are outrageously good. Garten's outrageous brownies taste incredible, so I'm not surprised that they used to fly off the shelves of her store. The brownies are decadent and delicious, and don't take much time or effort. I love how the walnuts provide some contrast to the rich chocolate — each bite is moist and gooey, with just a bit of satisfying crunch. Whenever you need a great dessert to bring to a party or gift a relative or friend, Garten's outrageous brownies are a surefire hit. Rounding out the top three are Garten's chocolate chunk blondies. Garten's chocolate chunk blondies, inspired by chocolate chunk cookies, appear in her 2012 cookbook "Foolproof." "Who doesn't love chocolate chunk cookies?" she writes in the recipe description. "This is the same thing — made into bars." Garten also notes that chocolate chunks have a "more intense chocolate flavor than chips," and that this recipe delivers "moist, delicious blondies, every time!" Garten's chocolate chunk blondies mainly feature pantry staples, so they're cheap to make. To make Garten's blondies at home, you'll need: 1 ¼ pounds of semisweet chocolate chunks 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature ½ pound (2 sticks) of unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 cups of all-purpose flour 1 ½ cups of chopped walnuts 1 cup of light-brown sugar, lightly packed ½ cup of granulated sugar 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon of baking soda 1 teaspoon of kosher salt I should note that I opted to skip the walnuts for this recipe and accidentally bought chocolate chips instead of chocolate chunks. The blondies still came out fantastic, so feel free to use either based on your preference or what's already in your kitchen! Garten's blondies were a huge hit with everyone who tried them. Garten's blondies are so moist and luscious that there's sure to be some chocolate dripping down your fingers. But the mess is worth it for the delicious treat, which had a crispy crust that gave way to a middle so fluffy it reminded me of an extra-soft cookie. "Three words: chunky, decadent, delicious," my friend Kayla said when I asked for a review. I also loved that this dessert was as quick as it was cheap. There's no better pick than this when you're looking for a way to impress people without breaking the grocery-store budget. Taking the second spot is Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake. Garten actually got the recipe for Beatty's Chocolate Cake from her friend Michael Grimm, who frequently appears on "Barefoot Contessa." The cake was named after Grimm's grandmother Beatty, who would bake it for her husband and the customers on his milk deliveries, said Grimm's friend Monte Mathews, who shared the famous cake's origin story on his blog Chewing The Fat. Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake blew me away. When I first tested and reviewed Beatty's Chocolate Cake, I wrote that it's "packed with chocolate and still light as air — a true feat." It's deliciously rich yet fluffy and moist, and the buttercream is truly the perfect icing on top with its hint of sweetness. Beatty's Chocolate Cake still tastes great days later, making it perfect for leftovers. While it's not the quickest or easiest cake to make, the work is extremely worth it. This is a cake you make for someone you really love. Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake here. Our winner is Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake. Garten previously told Epicurious that the mocha chocolate icebox, one of her go-to recipes, was inspired by a "fabulous caterer" friend. "I thought it was such a good concept that I was going to do it with something more interesting," she said. "So I took Tate's chocolate-chip cookies, and I added Kahlúa and cocoa powder. I made it into mocha whipped cream and then layered those and put it in the refrigerator, and, oh my God, it makes grown men weep." The cake features Tate's chocolate-chip cookies, Italian mascarpone cheese, and Kahlúa liqueur. To whip up the cake at home, you'll need: 3 (8-ounce) packages of Tate's Bake Shop chocolate-chip cookies 12 ounces of Italian mascarpone cheese 2 cups of cold heavy cream ¼ cup of Kahlúa liqueur ½ cup of sugar 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract Semisweet chocolate (for the garnish) If you can't find Tate's Bake Shop at your local supermarket, Garten recommends using another thin, crisp chocolate-chip cookie for the recipe instead. Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake is one of my favorite desserts, period. Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake was the first dessert I had made from scratch in a long time, and it was beyond simple and fun to whip up. The cake looks extremely impressive, thanks to its 10 layers, which you can easily see in each slice — and tastes even better. The Tate's cookies give the cake a rich and buttery flavor that will satisfy every sweet tooth, and I loved how the mocha whipped cream paired with the crunch of the chocolate-chip cookies. This is also one of those cakes that gets better each day it sits in the fridge, which was a delightful treat to look forward to as my family and I finished it all week. It might not make a grown man cry, but anyone who tries this cake will be thinking about it for a long time. I know I still am, and I can't wait to make it again and again. Get the full recipe for Ina Garten's mocha icebox cake here.
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
I took a $39 round-trip ferry from Connecticut to New York. It was the perfect way to spend a summer day.
We walked around the charming village, browsed the cute shops, and marveled at the historic homes. Although I had a great time that day, Ihadn't been to Port Jefferson — or on the ship — since. So, I decided to spend a recent sunny-weathered Sunday riding the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson ferry. The ride, which was an hour and 15 minutes each way, was definitely worth the $39 round-trip ticket price. Here's what my experience was like. I spent a few hours walking around Port Jefferson. When I got off the boat, I explored the streets of Port Jefferson. I noticed cute little shops, small parks, and restaurants serving everything from casual bites to fancy surf-and-turf meals.I also wandered through a farmers market in Harborfront Park and took photos along the water. As I walked, I gazed at docked sailboats, a large statue, and an oversize Adirondack picking up a chai tea from Local's Cafe, I browsed the small businesses selling everything from house plants to gourmet foods. I stopped for lunch and some treats before getting back on the boat. I stopped at Dortoni Bakery, a local favorite that sells Italian pastries, breads, cakes, and cookies, before deciding on the latter.I also grabbed lunch at Slurp Ramen before walking off my delicious meal and doing some more window shopping around mid-afternoon, my feet and wallet felt done for the day, so I walked back to the marina for my return ferry. Overall, taking the ferry was the perfect day trip.
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
New Ranking Reveals The Most Exclusive Restaurants In The World
Hungry? If it's one of the world's most exclusive restaurants you're hoping to eat at, you may want to snack in the meantime, as waiting lists are long—or almost impossible to get on at all. Food is a driving force in many people's reasons to travel and the rise of social media has opened up our collective eyes (and mouths) to tasting possibilities around the world. With it, competition for seats at the best and most unique restaurants has risen exponentially. Many have become destinations in their own right, with hungry customers coming from all four corners of the globe primarily to taste what they're cooking. The Disfrutar tasting menu—worth waiting (a really long time) for. Europa Press via Getty Images This has caused what you might consider to be wait list chaos. Indeed, some restaurants now demand bookings up to a year in advance, often with hefty deposits required to secure the table. Some have resorted to even more restrictive measures, creating challenges diners must meet to try and book a table. Diving into the data behind booking the most popular restaurants, payments provider Dojo has analyzed search volumes, reservation waiting times, and social media followings to reveal the world's most sought-after restaurants, highlighting the growing demand for exclusivity and its impact on hospitality. The award for the hardest restaurant to reserve a table at goes to The Lost Kitchen in the town of Freedom in Maine on the U.S. east coast. The reason is simple—every booking is down to chance. Instead of online or telephone reservations, hopeful diners need to mail the restaurant a postcard with their request to visit, including name, address, phone number, email and booking season. These are then selected at random and guests called with the good news. Erin French, brainchild of The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Maine and its unique reservations system. Portland Press Herald via Getty Images While that sounds like a lot of effort to go for dinner, The Lost Kitchen isn't struggling for bookings. It receives an average 66,210 Google searches a month and has 350,000 Instagram followers. A five-hour multi-course dinner for the 2025 season costs $295 per person, plus taxes, drinks and gratuity and dinners are held on Saturdays, May through October. Multiple U.S. restaurants have year-long waiting lists Restaurants across the U.S. dominate the list. At the top, Rao's in New York is legendarily hard to book at a table. Since its opening in 1896, this ten-table Italian diner has grown in fame and stature and commands as much loyalty in its patrons as any other restaurant. As a result, most tables are permanently reserved for those most loyal patrons. Your best bet for a booking is through a connection (try making friends with a regular!), although you could try direct contact as well. Insiders say January and August are the quietest months, as regulars are more likely to be on vacation. Rao's in New York may look like any other Italian restaurant, but this is likely as close as you'll get to eating there! Getty Images On the opposite coast, the toughest booking in San Francisco remains the House of Prime Rib, the go-to restaurant for big celebrations and even bigger slabs of steak. Searches on Google top more than 90,000 a month and the wait list for a reservation is thought to be around one year. The waiting time is equally as long at Damon Baehrel, though the dining experience is about as different to House of Prime as you could imagine. The sole owner and employee, visitors attend Baehrel's 12-acre farm around 110 miles north of New York City to dine on a completely self-derived, sustainable, living-off-the-land cuisine he calls Native Harvest. He may have just 88 Instagram followers, but his reputation ensures his popularity. European restaurants come with Michelin stars and long waits Three of Spain's best restaurants are ranked among the hardest 15 to get a table at. Disfrutar in Barcelona (meaning 'joy' in English) is a three-Michelin-star experience with a year-long wait for a table. If that's too long, the reservation time is typically just 330 days at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona. And at two-Michelin-star Mugaritz (a regular on the world's best restaurant lists) in foodie-haven San Sebastian, an evening of experimental eating that's known for its divisive effect on diners will need booking around 180 days in advance. Noma in Copenhagen, where clean design and lots of light sets the scene for some of the world's best cuisine. AFP via Getty Images Elsewhere in Europe, perhaps the world's most famous and followed restaurant, Noma in Copenhagen gets an incredible 246,000 Google searches a month and has well over a million Instagram followers. Despite this, waiting times are typically just 90 days, although if you're flexible and are in a larger group (six to eight diners is ideal), you can often find bookings sooner. Boasting not only three Michelin stars but also a green Michelin star that recognizes its cutting-edge approach to sustainable gastronomy, De Librije in the city of Zwolle in the Netherlands is famed for its artistic and delicious cuisine. Currently fully booked until August 2026, hopeful diners can still join the waitlist with the hope of getting a table sooner. Though not that soon. The 20 hardest restaurant bookings in the world, according to Dojo. Dojo To see the full list of restaurants surveyed along with the methodology for how they were ranked, go to Dojo.
