Some travelers pore over an atlas in their free time, pondering which country they’ll conquer next. We do that too, but we also flip through the atlas of menus that we’ve collected from our travels and say, “To hell with sightseeing. I’m off to Modena – just for the pasta.” Yes, we’ll take the farm rabbit at Le Louis XV over opera in Monaco, the eel at Fischers Fritz over a pub crawl in Berlin, and the burger at the Bobcat over all those touchy-feely meditational spas in Santa Fe. And you know what? We suggest you do the same.
MONACO
Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse
This restaurant is so high-end that you’ll almost get a nosebleed eating here.
Galavante favorite: Mediterranean sea bass with lemon, fennel, sweet peppers, and red onion.
SANTE FE
Bobcat Bite
The only double-wide trailer restaurant on the planet that deserves a Michelin star.
Galavante favorite: Bacon green-chile cheeseburger
SAN FRANCISCO
Le Central
The most literary restaurant in America, where you won’t overhear gossip, but lofty discussions about Chaucer and Joyce.
Galavante favorite: Rack of lamb persillé with ratatouille and potato gratin
MADRID
Santceloni
So romantic, even going alone will feel like you’re on a hot date.
Galavante favorite: Guinea fowl and lobster
BERLIN
Fischers Fritz
The restaurant with service so efficient you imagine the owners co-writing the Art of War with Sun Tzu.
Galavante favorite: Oeuf Onsen et Pieds Bleu: Fried Demeter Onsen egg with ratatouille of lobster. Also, the world’s most sublime foie gras and smoked eel
NEW YORK
The Four Seasons
Power lunch? How about power dinner, dessert, cocktails, and coffee.
Galavante favorite: Filet of bison, foie gras, and Périgord black truffles
MODENA
Osteria Francescana
Pasta so fresh you wonder if they started making it right after you ordered. Oh wait – they did.
Galavante favorite: Tortellini in capon broth
BRAY, UK
The Waterside Inn
Forget about Peking duck. Gressingham duck will change your life.
Galavante favorite: Roasted Gressingham duck breast with cherries and Bourgueil wine
(Photos: Mediterranean Sea Bass, courtesy of Alain Ducasse; Bobcat Bite Burgers and Steak, courtesy of Bobcat Bite; Le Central Appetizers, Courtesy of Le Central; Santceloni, courtesy of Santceloni; Oeuf Onsen et Pieds Bleu, courtesy of Fischer Fritz; Four Seasons Appetizers, courtesy of the Four Seasons; Roasted Duck, Osteria Francescana’s, courtesy of Osteria Francescana; Contemporary Italiancourtesy of The Waterside Inn)
