The Infatuation

Kafé Kontrast’s unique blend of Swedish and Indonesian food keeps things fresh with a frequently changing menu. At dinner, you may get mussels served on burrata and painted with sambal, or a schnitzel-ified version of a classic Indonesian fried chicken.

chicharrón, longaniza and arroz congri on the menu along with the usual cole slaw, and mac and cheese

Hidden, eight-seat Meguro shop makes the best ramen we’ve ever had.

A woozy French bistro that should never, ever be rushed.

Normally we wouldn’t recommend anything near Station Centraal unless you have a particular taste for middling churros and Argentinian steakhouses. But if you know you’ll be in the area and need something nice for yourself, a date, your parents, or even a group of friends, Choux is your spot.

Septime, ever heard of it? When it opened in Charonne in 2011, the pioneering neo-bistro took all the stiffness out of bistro dining, made the cuisine more creative and unpretentious, threw in natural wines, and kicked off a movement.

It asks (and answers) the question: What would Cuban food look like without the country’s history of oppression?

You’re not going to stumble into Da Burde. It’s closer to the airport than Michelangelo’s David, but it’s worth the trek for some really good Florentine cuisine, unabashedly served only for lunch (and for dinner on Friday).

Sister restaurant of The Four Horsemen, known for seasonal and unique Italian dishes.

Amsterdam Noord across the IJ once had the unfortunate nickname “Siberia of Amsterdam,” or worse, “the other side.”

The city’s most charming dining room, where frog legs sizzle and martinis are a given.

Lynora’s is so consistent that West Palm needed two to contain the bevy of burrata-loving, meatball-bereft Floridians.

The room is wrapped in copper wallpaper, agate chandeliers, and has panoramic waterfront views of Biscayne Bay.

La Sponda feels like a 1950s old-world glamor fairytale with ivy climbing pastel-colored walls, chandeliers shaped like tree branches, and familiar Italian food in an elevated fashion that looks hand-painted onto the plate.

Dispel any notion of ordering pad thai or pad see ew at Saam. You’re at this upscale-ish SoMa Thai spot to order nearly everything on a compact, spicy-and-sour-leaning menu with a few friends.

Endo is currently fully booked until the end of October, but please do join us in reservation purgatory on the waiting list.

It's still iconically home cooking. The chef is from Abruzzo—and she's amazing by the way. If you want the iconic classic nonna-style cooking with a little bit of a spin you go to Santo Palato.

The Blue Door serves Mediterranean food so simple it looks a little boring. It’s not—the focus here is on taste, not fussy presentations.

The chef behind this pizza spot started out serving NY-style pies from his apartment kitchen to long waitlists.

From the team behind Frasca Food & Wine, Tavernetta in the Four Seasons Vail puts an upscale Alpine twist on Italian trattorias.

All you can eat for $26.99. The place is brand new and will likely improve, and it's a classic case of quantity over quality.

Sushi Sho and Yoshino are currently our two highest-rated omakase spots. The latter costs $50 extra for roughly the same number of courses (20), although with price tags that start at $450, that’s a drop in the bucket.

By the time you receive “the text” confirming your reservation at this weekly Brazilian communal dinner, you’ll likely have completed many milestones—like finishing Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life, or witnessing your child take their first steps.

You'd think a place that hosted iconic celebrities like Jackie Kennedy, Princess Margaret of England, and Monaco's Princess Caroline would be a fussy, fancy affair—not the case at La Tonnarella.

A swanky date night where you’ll eat a black truffle lollipop or something that looks like an egg but tastes like the best potato chip you’ve ever had is possible at Athanor.

A lot of tourists end up going there by chance, but it’s run by three generations of Roman women and nonnas. There are grandkids running around. The type of dishes they serve are very Roman. A mammone would love it there because they are very Roman. They don’t even speak Italian, they speak Roman.

Prepare to be inebriated by the smell of lemons, and distracted by their lengthy, classical Neapolitan pasta- and fish-heavy menu.

San Ho Won is one of the best restaurants in SF.

Filipino spot is a bakery by day, and by night it’s a pizzeria and listening bar

Cetara Punto E Pasta is a barebones family-run spot serving downright incredible fish using old recipes.

It’s rare when something continues to improve after being around for almost 50 years, but Sweet Basil is doing just that in Vail Village.

You’d assume that this bistro near Place des Vosges, with tile floors, lace curtains, and an old-timey cash register, has been around since Charles de Gaulle was president, but it opened in late 2022.

Alla Vecchia Bettola is a neighborhood trattoria that feels like a party, and it’s worth going beyond the historical center to have dinner here.

When you need a restaurant for a big group of co-workers you want to impress (and don’t mind sharing plates with) or a birthday party when you’re trying to get two completely different friend groups to talk to one another, go to Stage.

At this bamboo-thatched stunner, crowd-pleasing never means boring.

South Florida-specific dishes like spicy wahoo dip, gator sausage, and smoked mahi are sprinkled throughout the menu.

Amsterdam has a sizeable selection of places where Francophiles can scratch the itch to sit on a wicker chair and polish off escargots, terrines, and velvety champagne.

Like its sister restaurant Levan, this French bistro has an innate c’est la vie to proceedings.

We can’t point you to an alternative to Fratesi’s because it’s the only spot in Miami making this style of pizza (exceptionally thin bar pies).

The counter is a hot-ticket seat to creative flavours.

Wrangle your favorite people who are good at sharing and let them loose at this Mission Bay Chinese-leaning restaurant.

There are a lot of restaurants, bars, and spaces in Vail that try to emulate the Alps. Alpenrose, a German-Austrian restaurant that opened in 1974, does it most convincingly.

fried veal chop drenched in a parm-infused cream sauce

Let an enthusiastic mermaid decorate the inside of a sea cave, and the result would look like Dal Pescatore in Marina di Vietri.

It’s the best spot in town to gobble up some genovese di tonno, or pasta with tuna and slow-cooked onions, which they enrich with katsuobushi and local provolone del Monaco cheese to add creaminess.

If you lack the commitment to invest in your own bubbling sourdough starter, just go to Aioli, a bakery off of Okeechobee Boulevard serving incredible bread.

Our favorite Jamaican spot in West Palm is in a small plaza between a laundromat and a barbershop.

Ask us what constitutes a “classic” Positano view, and we’d point to the one from Il Tridente.

One of the best restaurants in NYC, known for unfussy and delicious Italian food.

Pizza Bear in Coral Gables is making very good sourdough pies that are light, pillowy, and have original toppings that stand out in Miami’s competitive pizza scene.

The second restaurant from the British wine enthusiasts has taken over the historic Simpson’s Tavern

This Murray Hill tasting-menu spot comes from a chef with a big-deal resume and the second-place prize on Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars.

They have all of the local farmers from Rome bringing fresh produce greens and they make their own pasta. They really care about the ingredients. They have a very Roman type of greens that are almost forgotten. A mammone would really like that.

Grabbing an appeltaartje (a Dutch apple tart) with whipped cream at a canal-side café is about as Dutch of an experience as it gets. The ones here are piled tall, with minimal sugar masking the slightly crisp apples.

This Berkeley Indian spot opened its first SF location right on the Embarcadero, and it’s great for a low-key date night.

Only a few minutes from Piazza Duomo in Amalfi’s alleyways is the peculiar landmark La Fontana de Cape e Ciucci (fountain of heads and donkeys), and its partially submerged nativity scene.

Walking down bustling Bridge Street, it would be easy to miss Root & Flower, tucked into a nook set a few feet back from the sidewalk.

Aside from friets, the stroopwafel is an inescapable Dutch eating to-do. Many a stroopwafel slinger will claim theirs as the best, but for the actual best, head to Rudi’s.

Known for combining mouth-numbing peppers with spicy chiles in a thick miso broth.

Locals book half a year out to come to this residential area near Montparnasse for a fine dining experience that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else.

There are plenty of tourist traps firmly camped out in Florence’s main squares, which makes Vini e Vecchi Sapori a bit of an anomaly.

You can book up to a month in advance, and longer lead dates have better options. Also, become a Wednesday person, hit ‘notify’, and know that there’s a 15-cover bar that’s walk-in-only.

Dining at Ohimà feels like you’re in a big city rather than on the Amalfi Coast.

They were featured in the Michelin guide, and the ingredients are prime, both in the pasta and the types of cheeses. Their carbonara is very good and their desserts are incredible. It is a little bit more refined and it’s not your typical trattoria—a little glam. But you’ll see all the locals there.

Tâm Tâm's new sister restaurant is already our favorite place for phở, and that’s not just because of Miami’s limited options.

Sunny's is officially the hottest restaurant in Miami. And we get it. Ask us for a recommendation for any sort of celebratory dinner, and our first answer is going to be Sunny's.

Atrani is the smallest town in all of Italy, so any restaurant within it will be conveniently in the center (and just a 10-minute walk from Amalfi).

The Brass Ring’s half-pound spicy burger is a beautiful monstrosity that drips blue cheese dressing with every bite.

Buccan proves that even an island full of millionaires can’t resist a martini and a hot dog.

Eating here is like meeting a celebrity that you actually like.

La Botte Pazza is the move for anyone who’s ever dreamed of a self-service wine station.

The Horses (like its Public House Group siblings The Hero, The Fat Badger, and The Bull) is a gorgeous pub for people who are allergic to sticky floors and never quite let their Elizabeth Bennet era go.

Sour Seed’s sourdough bagels are flatter and crispier than their yeasty brethren, with a discernible tang in the dough.

A full-on production with a personality, offering Italian-ish dishes.

At Osaki’s, seating and reservations are extremely limited. How limited, you ask? Well, you can only reserve by calling or stopping by in person, after 5:30pm, for the night of and the next night.

If the ear-pleasing crunch of fried, panko-crusted katsu makes you feel things you’d rather not admit, become a regular at this Lower Pacific Heights spot as soon as possible.

The Plantage neighborhood’s namesake cafe functions somewhat like your run-of-the-mill museum or tourist attraction eatery, but feels more like the lobby of a nice hotel.

Make a reservation ahead of time for this shrine to mothers and necessary intro to traditional Dutch comfort food.

Sabatino is a bit like your grandpa who still insists on writing checks—they simply refuse to change how they do things (and of course, this is why we love them).

Known for modern Italian food and a glamorous, whitewashed warehouse space.

Soraya is a fun restaurant where the candles on each table are doing more work than the lightbulbs, and you’ll have to project your voice over the music.

Fort Greene’s couture fish shack is bigger and better than ever.

There is a certain fantasy of Palm Beach living: you’re awakened each day by your butler with a spoonful of caviar, and the hardest decision of the day is which exclusive members-only club to socialize at.

pad ped, with green peppercorns draped over a gingery stir-fry of hanger steak and honeycomb tripe

This is the Vail outpost of the Nobu empire, so make a reservation here when you want some reliably high-quality fish.

Avanti shakes up Vail's dining scene by giving you everything under one roof, from sushi, pizza, and burgers, to Mediterranean eats, ramen, grab-and-go snacks, and a lively après-ski energy that doesn’t break the bank.

Chez Georges is a time warp that begins with a handwritten menu in a looping French penmanship that hasn’t been taught since the ’60s.

Pizza is the headliner at Buccan’s sister restaurant. But Grato’s housemade pastas and small plates are the real reasons to come.

It’s not easy to find many taco spots, let alone good ones, in Amsterdam. Case in point: Coba.

Reservations open three weeks out and lunch is the easy win, with slots scattered through the afternoon. Dinner requires actual organisation (anything between 5:45pm and 9pm goes fast), so get in at least a week and a half in advance or brace for the early-bird or last-orders shift.

Here's where you’ll find the best (and only) Ethiopian restaurant in the city.

Miami’s ventanita universe has expanded yet again with Liger’s, a cookie takeout window in that undefined space between Wynwood, Edgewater, and Midtown.

Ramen is all about chicken and the golden schmaltz.

The Dutch certainly know a thing or two about greenhouses, so when you want to experience the best of the produce that grows in them, come to De Kas.

Size is what makes Boia De so hard to book. But the exceptional pasta, other rotating small plates, and world’s greatest chopped salad are also to blame.

This isn’t an essential dining experience, but it is a fascinating one. The latter part of the name is pronounced 'for peace', a book of original poetry is on hand, and there are several boulders in the dining room of this new Greenpoint outpost of a Vietnamese chain.

At Sea View, you’ll eat excellent pizza with the best glimpse of the sea from up high, with a pergola of fully bloomed wisteria framing all of the photos you’ll inevitably take.

Ristorante Il Pino serves great Italian food at moderate prices, especially considering its striking location immersed in nature with a premier view of the coast.

No one else makes 18-times-sliced scallop while recounting NSFW stories.

There’s always a line, but it’s very iconically Roman. A mammone would love it, but they’d have to have a standing reservation, like every Tuesday night. Their mom would probably take care of it.

In a city full of stiff restaurants, Mr. B’s is a refreshingly unserious place that takes its food and drinks seriously.

Palm Beach Grill’s open kitchen doesn’t stop clinking from the second it opens to the second it closes.

It’s in between Piazza Navona. I grew up near here because my grandmother had a little apothecary, so I was working there after school. My first kiss was in one of those alleyways in Piazza Navona. It’s the heart of the working class of Rome. Great atmosphere and great food—super mammone.

Florence is no stranger to popular sandwich places—yes, we’re talking about All’Antico Vinaio and its lines longer than the entrance to the Uffizi.

La Nonna is a Vail date night staple, built on olive oil-dipped focaccia and sips of housemade limoncello.

bánh mì heo quay

Chasing Rabbits is located in a 12,000-square-foot space that also holds a movie theater, cocktail lounge, speakeasy, and an arcade.

Jules is the most exciting new pizza place in SF.

Esme already feels like a neighborhood staple. The low-lit French bistro in NoPa nails halloumi with silky peak-season grilled peaches, cappelletti with two types of peas, and what’s quite possibly the juiciest roast chicken with a 415 area code.

The food at Table 26 is what every buttoned-up adult with a rambunctious inner child wants to eat.

The long-awaited second location of Cinderella has arrived. And the institution’s new outpost in the Mission isn’t trying anything new (at least not yet), which means it’s another place to get their piroshki, infinitely poppable pelmeni, and iconic honey cake.

Pass through the busy Albert Cuypmarkt during the day and you’ll get a quick sampling of Dutch market staples. Come back at night after the market closes, however, and several dinner-focused restaurants situated on the side streets come to life.

Kid is a huge, moody Soho restaurant that also has some very notable parents (some of the people behind Mangal II, Oma, and Manteca).

Look, this isn’t New York. Nobody wants to eat dinner at 10pm, so get organised. Reservations are released 14 days in advance at 9am and, if that doesn’t come off, push notifications for cancellations are recommended.

An Italian restaurant with a menu focused on antipasti, pasta, and gelato.

This entire guide could be dedicated to Surinamese cuisine in the Netherlands and we’d easily run out of space. The typical menu blends influences from China, Africa, India, and Indonesia (among others), and is a mainstay of the Dutch culinary landscape given their colonial ties.

This is where you’ll find London’s most comforting beef rendang.

Rossellinis is built for honeymooners and couples thanks to its gorgeous veranda and candle-lit tables, so it’s no surprise that a meal here requires a reservation well in advance.

Tâm Tâm is our highest-rated restaurant in Miami for a reason. A successful meal here should include some combination of the sticky fish sauce caramel wings, tamarind glazed pork ribs, and multiple trips to the karaoke bathroom.

Skip the superyachts and seaside saloons. If you're looking for spectacle, head to Conca del Sogno, a scene famous for sparklers in magnum bottles and a feast worthy of the party.

Huddle on a low plastic stool, a dipping bowl of mâm tôm at your side.

Consider this our formal nomination for Ruay Mitr to enter your weekly lunch rotation.

sceney, loud, and almost shamelessly sloppy

Part Asian, part European, this Greenwich Village bistro is a collaboration from the Atomix team and their former director of operations.

Cheval d’Or has been a Belleville restaurant since 1987, and its red facade hasn’t changed since (nor has the vintage wood fridge in the kitchen that you can spot from the window).

Cumpa Cosimo is an old-school institution perched high on the cliffs and is full of dark wood paneling, wrought-iron chandeliers, and framed newspaper clippings.

Yuzu ramen here is better than Afuri anyways.

Celis has three locations in Palm Beach County. The one on the island inside Royal Poinciana Plaza is great for a post-workout sandwich and juice after a run down the Lake Trail.

It’s easy to feel lost amid the hordes of tourists that overrun Amalfi. Regain your inner peace at Sensi, and enjoy the most refined food in town with a view to match.

Let’s get one thing straight: there is absolutely no reason to stand in long, slow-moving queues manned by a bouncer for fried potatoes. Just go to Heertji Friet. If there is a queue, it will be short, and, unlike at some of the other spots in town, there’s actually room to eat here.

soba sets are $22

This family-run restaurant has graced the beach of Marina del Cantone for the last 120+ years, and fed everyone from European nobles to the celebrities of the 1960s dolce vita days.

At 40, this seafood institution still does formal better than anyone.

Because of the centuries-long Dutch occupation of the islands, it’s pretty easy to find Indonesian food in the Netherlands. Popular dishes include nasi rames, loempia, and spekkoek, but to get an expansive intro to the Dutch-Indonesian table, order a rijstafel at Restaurant Blauw.

The first thing you’ll notice when you walk into Slope Room is a massive photo of a bear bellying up to a bar.

To prime yourself for a night out, gather a few friends who aren’t afraid of taking some sake shots and bring them to Anju in the Mission.

Our favourite kind of nepo baby—one that actually deserves its praise

This hotel lobby cafe is making the most interesting coffee drinks in South Beach.

You wouldn’t go to Monteverde to look at a monument. It is close to the Gianicolo where you can see all of Rome, but it’s residential. Again, very Roman. All of my spots are iconically Roman, raw spots that a mammone would feel right at home.

This modern Korean is London’s coolest family affair.

At Trudie’s Tavern—a Carroll Gardens spot from the team behind Gertrude’s and Gertie—everyone gets the pretzel.

Four Kings feels like it’s ushering in the next generation of Chinatown restaurants.

The restaurant that famously pulled off three Michelin stars in its first year of operation is, predictably, one of the hardest spots to book in Paris.

NYC doesn't need another clubstaurant. But if we must have one, Or'esh is one of the better-case scenarios. The Soho sibling of The Corner Store does its own take on Mediterranean that, in true clubstaurant fashion, occasionally involves wagyu and caviar.

Cote is great. Not only does it give Miami another Korean option—which we so badly need—but it’s phenomenal for a special occasion.

Trattoria Ruggero is just outside the city’s walls beyond Porta Romana.

A seasonal restaurant with impressively spaced-out tables and flickering taper candles.

Pizza Bear in Coral Gables is making very good sourdough pies that are light, pillowy, and have original toppings that stand out in Miami’s competitive pizza scene.

Kid is a huge, moody Soho restaurant that also has some very notable parents (some of the people behind Mangal II, Oma, and Manteca).

Honor Bar is also part of the Hillstone family, so you’ll recognize the menu if you’re a fan of the brand.

Stir-fried string beans get a shower of shredded parmesan, mapo tofu is served as a dip with a side of fried lotus and wonton chips, and niu rou jian bing are deconstructed into a fantastic DIY platter.

This lively taqueria stays packed from lunch through dinner, with the après-ski hours drawing a particularly energetic (and local) crowd.

Here’s a quick cow stomach lesson for you: Don’t confuse lampredotto, the cow’s fourth stomach and Florence’s famous street food, for tripe.

Whether or not you have a fantastic time at House Of Prime Rib depends on a few things.

Kenneh is devoted to exploring the countries of West Africa, which makes it unique in Amsterdam's fine dining scene, which still skews heavily French.

You plus a friend, side by side, with confit oysters and a bottle on ice.

One of the most legendary tonkotsu ramen spots in Tokyo.

Palm Beach is known for its Gilded Age architecture, housing 85% of the wealthy grandparent population, and its obsessive commitment to dress code.

This studio-sized restaurant with a mint green facade has become so popular that it books up weeks in advance (you can join the waitlist, but there are no guarantees).

A Google search of typical Dutch foods may yield dishes like stamppot, snacks like kaassoufflé and bitterballen, or viral stroopwafels, but if you ask locals what they actually eat on the regular, it’s the broodje.

If there is one place that’ll make you feel like you own the Amalfi Coast, it’s L’Antica Cartiera.

“Fun Fact: Okeechobee Steakhouse is the oldest steakhouse in the state of Florida.” That’s probably what your server will start with if it’s your first time here.

Il Grottino Azzurro will make you feel at home, if home were a quirky fisher’s cave from a children’s book.

Carbone is not really a restaurant. It's a pasta theme park for the social media generation. And like so many tourist attractions, it's overpriced, needlessly difficult to book, and prioritizes appearance over everything else.

Mountain Standard is a bit more laid back than its sister spot, Sweet Basil, but it’s still ideal for a special occasion dinner.

kiddie fare for grownups

They’re very passionately Roman. They also have a wine bar by Circo Massimo. Great atmosphere. Love both the sons and father, and the nonna is peeling the vegetables every morning.

Apostoli looks like just another simple trattoria, but it earns its regulars through warm service and creative dishes.

A corner spot with a cave-like basement, known for its alimentari and Italian deli experience.

Club Culinario is the top option near Santa Croce, perfect for either lunch or dinner.

Kitchen doesn’t have the most exciting atmosphere in West Palm. For that you go to their sister restaurant, Mr. B’s.

Nachos and the word “refreshing” don’t normally exist on the same quantum plane. But it’s a fitting description for this casual Mexican spot’s brisket nachos, which are a testament to brightness and simplicity.

For a prime-time table, delayed gratification is the name of the game. They take bookings up to six months in advance so do future you a favour and secure one now.

This Mission spot is an iconic Cal-Ital restaurant you should cross off your bucket list.

Montauk has been a constant in Lionshead Village since 1987, with excellent seafood like ahi tuna tacos and miso Chilean sea bass beckoning shivering patrons for generations.

Le Tre Sorelle sits directly in front of Positano’s public beaches, amid the crowds and tourist traps.

Serves up a special wonton ramen that’s only available for breakfast and lunch.

Three hours of warm, stylish seduction headlined by flawless moi moi.

An upscale restaurant known for luxury ingredients and power lunches.

While you can sample Dutch cheese at the open-air markets, take your time and share with friends at Kaasbar. Their wide selection of local cheeses is divided into white, red, hard, and blue types for a la carte sampling or as chef’s choice boards.

In Palm Beach County, a lot of restaurants cast a wide net with globally mishmashed menus.

Le Jules Verne inside the Eiffel Tower is no tourist trap. You’ll breeze up the private elevator on the west side and into one of three dining rooms tastefully decorated in shades of gray, bringing the Invalides and Sacré Coeur views into full focus.

Pleasing your sweet tooth has never felt so good as it will when you walk into Pasticceria Sal de Riso in Minori, deservedly the most famous patisserie on the Amalfi Coast.

Escape the noise, and find comfort in a bowl of tofu stew.

The East Village iteration of Ramen By Ra has 50% more seating than the now-closed Noho location. Unfortunately, that only adds up to a total of six seats.

Opened at the start of May, this Nob Hill spot serves ramen that we’re prepared to be deeply annoying about. They serve the toppings on a separate plate, so you can take your time sipping and staring lovingly at your shio broth (our favorite of the options so far) before adding your fixings.

Everyone loves Mandolin, and we’re including ourselves in that group. Not only is the Mediterranean food really good, but the Buena Vista restaurant has the most beautiful outdoor space in Miami.

At this Turkish-Cypriot tavern, a cover charge for water, warm glossy garlic-butter-covered bread, and strong Turkish tea tells you that the dips are essential, dessert is a given, and quick dinners don’t exist.

Definitive farm shop cafe and canteen for people who know that their Windrush line stockholm syndrome is too evolved to live anywhere outside of E2

You say you’ve already “done” Italy? Did you just breeze through Florence and Cinque Terre, by chance? If so, you completely missed out on the unique cuisine of southern Italy. Fortunately for you, Vicio focuses on all things Sicilian.

A guaranteed good date night is the whole point of visiting this Indian bistro in the Marina.

An old-school Italian restaurant known for baked clams, bolognese, and veal parm.

seasonal pizza, like the one topped with sweet-as-candy sungold tomatoes and stracciatella

This place looks like a boutique hotel lobby, with glossy black furnishings, a monochrome statement wall, and romantic corners to hide in.

Keep an eye on their Instagram for information about when limited bookings go live for the next four weeks and know they save a bunch of restaurant tables for walk-ins.

If you’ve noticed an influx of people walking around with pizza boxes in Coconut Grove, this is why.

A tiny uptown charmer overflows with music and masa.

A martini-swilling good time soundtracked by live piano and cackling mates.

This trattoria has been serving comfort food from the Tuscan culinary vault to tourists and locals in the Oltrarno since 1950.

Belluz’s scrocchiarella pizzas are deafeningly crispy, thin, and great for a movie-night pie on the couch.

There’s still no better way to spend $3.50 in this city.

Makes some of the best vegan ramen we've tried in Tokyo.

A Tuscan restaurant known for simple vegetable dishes and pasta.

It’s hard to make a long midweek lunch feel cheeky in a city where even working stiffs call their lunch break the “twelve to two.” But Parcelles is where to give it a go.

With themed menus, frescos in a former noble family palace, and a bar with an open-air vertical garden, Locale is one of the more fun fine dining spots in all of Italy, not just Florence.

The mezcal cocktails, tetelas topped with chapulines salsa macha, and two-toned duck enmoladas at this Mexican restaurant bring a jolt of energy to Presidio Heights.

Blowtorch action, Nas on the speakers, and some of London’s best nigiri.

This kebab-slinging tardis serves some of the most exciting Indian food in a city that thinks it's already full up on it

Semma is the spot we’ve added and removed from this guide the most. Every few months, people seem to remember exactly how good the West Village South Indian restaurant is, then decide to flood the place.

Nagahama-style ramen

Our latest reply to the question, “Where can I have a fun dinner right now?” is this bright-pink Bernal Heights collaboration between the Fat Cat wine bar and its permanent pop-up, The Mantis.

Specializes in tsukemen with two main options: soy-sauce-and-seafood broth or thick lobster bisque.

Like the Pachamama restaurants before it, Lagana opened with a healthy dose of hype. If you can’t find a dinner slot online, don’t panic—they hold some tables for walk-ins, so just turning up might work out.

An announcement for you and your most fiscally audacious friends—hedonism is in again. It’s alive and revived at Vesper, a horny, breathless beehive for the fashion literate with a big chrome bar and enough candlelight to prompt stratospheric oxytocin spikes.

Zippy pickleback martinis are placed in the hands of weary travellers (in this case, fresh from the battle of Old Street), along with moreish lamb scrumpets. Table turnover isn’t a thing.

Sostanza has a menu that hasn’t changed since it opened in 1869, and it’s one of those places that everyone knows, maybe a little too well.

A West Village restaurant known for its immaculate pastas and wagyu carpaccio.

This Katana is pretty much a carbon copy of the wildly popular original in North Beach, only slightly bigger and with its own parking lot.

After living the pop-up life for a while, Flagler St. Bakery is finally here.

Meals at this Shoreditch smoke show begin with warm, fresh cornbread madeleines and get steadily hotter (in all senses) when brown butter-washed rye and fried rabbit legs get involved

New Jersey-style bar pies

The Eighty Six is largely a 4 Charles knockoff with a heightened scene and a more ambitious cocktail program, and it’s a great time if you're into red meat and exclusivity.

Two golden words used to unlock prime-time tables at Osteria Angelina: chef’s counter. Glorious 7pm bookings were possible if you were prepared to perch on stools opposite chefs slapping Angus rib-eye on grills.

A New England galley that isn’t afraid to get a little freaky with the fish.

Anyone who's been to Florence has likely been to Cammillo (open since 1945), and they probably still remember deep diving into their signature tagliatelle with cream, prosciutto, and peas, or having a long leisurely bistecca lunch.

Their ramen has everything you’d expect—tender chicken, creamy broth, and thin noodles.

Tavern has all the trappings of a ye olde drinking den you’ll want to hole up in. Just one that’s been pressure-washed.

This is the second location of Rose Pizzeria, and the entire city should give collective thanks that this Berkeley-based spot has landed in the Inner Richmond.

A new-school mom-and-pop that’s always bumping with house party energy.

Bodega Ortega is a Coconut Grove convenience store, but most of the folks lingering inside are here for the café counter, which serves lattes, juices, and good sandwiches on crunchy baguettes.

In the A24-owned Cherry Lane Theatre, the people behind Frenchette and Le Veau d’Or are doing French-ish food with a dose of Americana. It's a great time.

Befriend the cool staff and order the limited glorified Filet-O-Fish before it sells out.

chicken katsu sando

steak bomb and buffalo chicken sandwiches

A hot new highlight of London’s big, fat Greek restaurant obsession, Zylia is a modern taverna that’s front and centre at the latest iteration of Arcade in Covent Garden

This see-and-be-seen cafe in Sant’Ambrogio is straight out of a Wes Anderson movie, complete with an aloof staff and red velvet interiors.

Dalila’s comes from the same people behind El Tepeyac, and just like that restaurant, it’s a cute but casual spot on the Upper East Side/East Harlem border with reasonably priced food.

Where the bubbling buffet trays justify the line out the door.

Slow down and break bread over a communal platter at this living room of a restaurant.

thai tea slushy in kitschy mug shaped like Stitch or Elmo

It’s the sister restaurant of Central, the Peruvian fine-dining spot in Lima.

We’re not saying you should block off your calendar for a very important meeting that may or may not exist, but if you did, Agrodolce Provisions in SoMa would be a great place to take it.

A restaurant with a menu centered around live-fire cooking and great breads and pastas.

A takeaway jerk shop that simply does it better than anywhere in the city.

keema palata, the flaky, stuffed flatbread

Yes, this restaurant is owned by Gucci and Italy’s most famous chef, Massimo Bottura.

With a family tree that includes The Plimsoll, Tollingtons, and one of the best pizza spots in Philadelphia, Bar Etna was fated to be a scene of combustible proportions

beef kebabs

Try your luck with same-week cancellations. Input all the dates you want and join the waitlist for an email if something pops up.

Located in a traditional 100-year-old house, Kosoan offers a sweet matcha escape from the busy city.

Church, but for pizza. From dough obsessive Antony Mangieri, this Lower East Side restaurant explores the absolute ceiling of what a Neapolitan pie can be.

A pop-up turned restaurant cranks out the city’s best pies.

A restaurant that feels like a rustic escape from the city, known for its mains.

A tiny but mighty fish sauce-fueled scene that makes you feel cool by association.

Food completely unto itself in a fine dining spaceship that’s hard to leave.

peel-and-eat shrimp with a mountain of aioli

peanut harissa with kabobs

A family-run spot from the '70s known for its chicken parmesan and linguine with clams.

Florence suffers from over-tourism, so we can’t really deny (or blame) the fact that restaurants have notoriously grumpy restaurant service.

abuela slice

In terms of sheer firepower, this London transplant is at the tippy top.

Go late for an adult midnight feast with exciting, perfectly executed, whimsical dishes.

You can book for a group of any size until 6pm, but between then and 9:30, they keep most tables available for walk-ins. Our best advice is to leave work early or opt for a daytime weekend booking.

This family-run natural wine bar and bistro isn’t where you come to solely drink fruity gamays or other carbonic macerated pours.

A casual restaurant known for great pasta, great prices, and a great patio.

At Shaw-naé’s, you’re very well-fed family.

An Italian American restaurant with a creative menu and a great cocktail list.

How do you feel about clubstaurants? The Corner Store, from the Catch team, isn’t quite one, but there’s definitely some shared DNA.

Filipino in essence and as London as a packet of Buzz Sweets.

Deep in opera glove territory, a place to dig in with your hands.

There’s plenty of pizza in town, but Giotto is a standout for the attention to detail in every single pie.

A restaurant known for its chalkboard specials and classic Italian dishes.

The Polo Bar is so preppy, their tap water tastes like seersucker. Ralph Lauren’s tartan-filled, subterranean Midtown country club has cornered the market on equestrian paintings and parquet ceilings, and it’s the closest you’ll get to a guaranteed celebrity sighting.

One bonnet away from a Dickens film set while rehabilitating the image of school dinners.

Natural wine and seasonal dishes often involving Jimmy Nardello peppers. Before that was every other restaurant’s formula, it belonged to The Four Horsemen. When it opened in 2015, this little Williamsburg spot was ahead of its time, and it continues to serve creative small plates worth seeking out.

Experience peak pork, one dripping taco at a time.

You’re in Italy, so of course you need somewhere for pre-dinner drinks and snacks.

A fine-dining restaurant known for its pasta and seafood dishes.

A low-key neighbourhood restaurant that turns summer rolls into art.

A restaurant with a back deck offering gorgeous waterfront views and excellent pastas.

Dinner is the show at NYC’s premier restaurant for going all out.

Sure, there are Italy-shaped limoncello bottles and statue of David pasta souvenirs at the Mercato Centrale, Florence’s central market.

The crackle-crusted bánh mì sets a new bar—but don’t stop there.

Seats at Sushi Tetsu are obviously always limited. The online booking system opens at 12pm sharp every Monday for the following week and, if nothing’s available, add yourself to the waiting list.

The chaotic energy of a family reunion mixed with naans the size of a ship’s sails.

Arà è Sicilia is a fast-casual Sicilian place in Sant’Ambrogio with a small patio on the street that’s good for lunch.

An Italian American spot with a non-traditional menu and a spritz-fueled atmosphere.

A restaurant known for its hearty orecchiette and olive oil cake.

Set an alarm for 12:20pm on Monday and refresh the pre-order page until you see the sandwich drop, then load up your basket ahead of time. At 12:30pm you can order.

Where everyone orders the burger and nobody shares.

Destination noodles for people who appreciate spice and bouncy biang biang.

Carbone is overhyped. It’s so overhyped that you’ll hear people claim that the food here isn’t even any good. That is untrue. The red sauce Italian food at Carbone is consistently delicious.

A tiny, walk-in-only spot known for its affordable and excellent Italian dishes.

Dim Sum & Duck’s glistening cheung fun make a cold queue worthwhile.

An unpredictable one-man show where first-rate pork is the only real given.

Cervo’s makes a reliably great meal feel unexpectedly sexy too.

Hearts race at this counter, as much from the flames as the tingling jungle curry.

We’d like to be eating at 4 Charles Prime Rib right now. Unfortunately, this small, subterranean West Village spot somehow hasn’t become any easier to get into since it opened in 2016. Try to get a seat here.

A charming neighborhood restaurant known for its simple pastas and bottles of wine.

Before we get into whether or not Rao's is worth it, there are few things to discuss. This East Harlem Italian spot, founded in 1896, doesn't take walk-ins or accept reservations. To eat here, you have to have a standing table or know someone who does.

London’s ambassador of lamb chops, complete with a glam, high society setting.

A restaurant where fresh pasta is made every morning by the real Nonna Dora.

The blueprint for NYC’s old-school Italian sandwich shops.

A cramped and charming restaurant known for its hand-rolled spaghetti and pasta with bottarga.

An Italian spot known for accommodating any reasonable request and excellent food.

Texan cookout meets Chinese flavours

Lebanese food

Afghan cuisine

Modern British bistro

Bakery/cafe

Argentinian live-fire restaurant

Upscale KBBQ restaurant

Specializes in tea-infused ice cream

Fusion restaurant from the Jungsik team

Tex-Mex spot with breakfast tacos and margaritas

The combinations may sound assembled with an online randomizer, but they’re not gimmicks. A sticky rice french toast with syrup, compote, and coconut crumble could easily go overboard, but tart passion fruit keeps everything from getting too sweet.

Laidback Italian restaurant in NoPa

Smashburger spot in the Outer Sunset

Japanese restaurant from the Hina Yakitori and Akikos people

American spot in Hayes Valley

Filipino classics with unexpected twists