One of the world’s greatest chefs, Joël Robuchon has come to epitomize fine, French cuisine. The intimate dining room is plush and regal, from the black and white tiled entryway to the amazing chandelier in the middle of the room. A 16-course tasting menu will set you back $385 (one of the most expensive in the country), but it’s worth it. What makes his food so special (and pricey) is the innovative ways he shows his respect for ingredients. Take Le Caviar, one of Robuchon’s signature dishes, for example. Elevating the ingredient beyond typical blinis and crème fraîche, he combines thin slices of warm scallops with lime zest, smooth cauliflower cream, thin couscous and Ossetra caviar to create a total sensory explosion of surprisingly complementary textures and flavors. You’d never think to mix these ingredients yourself, but when you bite into his creations, they just make sense. Service may seem a tad too formal, but it’s flawless—exactly what you’d expect from a restaurant of this caliber.

Joel Robuchon Information:

• French menu. Dinner.