If you enjoy incredible cuisine in an invigorating, inspiring atmosphere, these restaurants are sure to delight you. Here are some of the best of the best of 2021.
Experience the depth and breadth of life’s divine flavor at these sure-to-be fine establishments:
Mentone, Santa Cruz, California
Michelin-stared chef David Kinch’s new restaurant takes its name from the village of Menton which sits on the border of France and Italy and it is this meeting of culinary cultures that is the hallmark of his menu. French food with an Italian accent is how he describes it and the talk of mortadella pizza from an authentic brick oven is already getting people excited.
Justine, New Orleans
French flavors are also at the heart of the new project from James Beard Award–winning chef Justin Devillier and his wife, Mia, who are planning a bustling brasserie in the heart of the Big Easy. A homage to Parisian dining with the emphasis on the decadent and decorative and featuring the classics, everything from raclette to foie gras torchon. Yes please.
Hudson Yards, New York City
Not one dining venue, but an area bristling with interesting new culinary projects, this part of Manhattan is really turning into a real Mecca for discerning diners. This year will see the Yards joined by Thomas Keller’s Mad Men-infused TAK Room, a reincarnation of David Chang’s Momofuku, and, perhaps most exciting of all, a wondrous food hall driven by all-time greats José Andrés and brothers Ferran and Albert Adrià previously of Spain’s much missed El Bulli.
Birdie G’s, Los Angeles
Having made his name focusing on cooking seasonal, vegetable-based cuisine at Santa Monica’s famous Rustic Canyon, Jeremy Fox’s latest project leans more towards his own Mid-West roots. This time out the menu is based on the classic comfort foods that he grew up on but with a few trade mark twists and turns along the way.
Afishonado, Miami
A good pun is a great way to get noticed, but so is great food. The Jean-Georges Vongerichten protégé, Jeremy Ford, returned to South Beach to show off his skills at Stubborn Seed, this time out he is planning a stripped-down restaurant serving, as the name brilliantly implies, a seafood based menu.Alchemist
ALCHEMIST 2.0, COPENHAGEN
Experience this 50-course meal in a massive 24,000 square foot space. More than an exquisite meal, this dining experience features art installations, actors, and more…Truly an invigorating feast for all your senses. An exceptionally creative yet upscale dining experience; not for the faint of heart.
Demi, Minneapolis
This third and arguably most ambitious project from Gavin Kayson builds on the theme of a tasting menu that he developed at his Spoon and Stable venue. Featuring a U-shaped counter and limited to only twenty seats, diners will have front row views of the kitchen action which will focus on ingredients and styles that celebrate the Upper Midwest.La Dame de Pic, Singapore
La Dame de Pic, Singapore
In the impressive Raffles Hotel will be Anne-Sophie Pic’s restaurant to host decadent dinners. Get ready to merge Singaporean and French cuisines in a way you never thought possible. A celebration for the senses.