This Danish restaurant served Jesse one of the top three meals of his life. No wonder it’s one of 157 restaurants worldwide with a rare three Michelin Stars. “Chef Eric Kragh Vildgaard is a magician,” he says. “You are eating works of art.” There’s no meat on the menu, just the most outstanding seafood and vegetables. “Each dish is meticulously designed to deliver flavor and texture at specific stages. You’ll be left totally bewildered by what you’ve just experienced,” Jesse adds.

With chef Mary Attea taking the helm in 2020, this Nolita favorite became totally women-run—a rarity in the culinary world. The menu may change with the seasons, but the top-notch cooking and chic but cozy interior remain evergreen. Once heavily New Zealand–inspired, Attea’s The Musket Room features omnivore and vegan tasting menus that pull from influences all over the world, including her own Lebanese heritage.

Some of the best food can be found in the unlikeliest of places—like the New York City subway station that houses Nōksu, an underground (literally) hot spot that requires a secret code to enter. It’s become a standout of 32nd Street’s Koreatown. Headed by South Korea–born chef Dae Kim, who is only in his late twenties, this 15-seat counter offers some of the most exquisite fine-dining bites in the city, blending Asian ingredients with classic French methods.

“I probably think about Cariño more than any other restaurant from the show,” Jesse says. “Unbelievably delicious, Mexican-inspired food that deserves two Michelin Stars, in my opinion.” This uptown, currently one-Starred Chicago eatery offers a tasting menu and a taco omakase. It’s the brainchild of chef Norman Fenton, who uses Latin American flavors to create sensational textures and distinctive dishes. But above all, Cariño is Fenton’s love letter to Mexico, where he met his wife.

Never has “a feast for the eyes” felt more apt than at this restaurant in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. Dining here is comparable to visiting a museum, as the restaurant collaborates with local artists for decor. And the menu? Also a masterpiece. Chef Jenner Tomaska makes high-conceptual cuisine with interactive touches, from tableside service to a “puzzle” dish that brings extra drama to the dining room. Expect dinner and a show rolled into one.

An old sawmill turned restaurant in a remote Swedish forest by the Nissan River, Knystaforsen offers an unforgettable culinary experience thanks to the husband and wife duo Nicolai and Eva Tram, who had an incredible vision for the renovation. “It’s one of the most beautiful restaurants you will ever visit,” Jesse says. “And Chef Nicolai wears his heart on his sleeve and on his food.” According to Jesse, the duck heart cooked on the fire outside is one of the most memorable dishes from the show.

Rustic and intimate is the Wilson’s way. With only 24 seats, which chef Jan Ostle serves personally, this small spot located in the Bristol suburb of Redland sources almost all its ingredients from the farm run by Jan’s wife, Mary Wilson. Jesse calls it “extremely personable.” He adds, “The cuisine can be described as modern British with a strong emphasis on seasonality and harvest cycles. It’s understated elegance, and I wish I lived closer.”

“The cheese cart is worth the trip alone,” says Jesse of this breathtakingly scenic spot in the alpine foothills of Lombardy, Italy. Now run by siblings Nicolò and Alice, this family business was first opened in 1989, by their father Ferdy, who still harvests ingredients in the mountains and milks the cows and goats. The cheeses have “an unbelievably broad range,” according to Jesse. Their environmentally conscious approach earned them Michelin’s Green Star for sustainability.

Chef Emily Roux comes from a family of Michelin Star winners. No pressure. Following her father’s and grandfather’s footsteps, the French chef has also made a name for herself in the world of fine dining in the UK. Along with her chef husband, Diego Ferrari, she opened this Notting Hill spot, turning a former pub into a must-try destination that serves sophisticated European fare. Their dedication to flair and flavor got them their first Michelin Star.

This Copenhagen restaurant is one of the fastest Michelin Star earners: They were awarded one just 81 days after opening, and chef Nicky Arentsen received Michelin’s Young Chef Award at only 29 years old. Aure is the creation of Arentsen and his partner in life and business, Emma Nørbygaard. Located in a converted 18th-century gunpowder store, Aure is a complete charmer with a warm atmosphere, a kitchen visible behind a glass wall, and superb, elevated Nordic dishes.

Giuseppe Iannotti approaches food like a scientist but delivers it with childlike whimsy. The two Michelin Star winner’s Italian chef works out of a laboratory, which guests are often welcome to tour after their meal. Iannotti takes you through a blind tasting menu called “Mr. Brown” that flaunts the chef’s global taste and wild imagination. From eggs served in a bird’s nest to kissable frog desserts, the creations at Krèsios are not just innovative, but totally playful.

Welcome to a true dining destination. Drive along narrow, winding roads through the mountains and along the coast in Mendocino County and you’ll arrive at a stunning ocean-view dining room with a mouthwatering menu. Chef Matthew Kammerer’s cooking is rooted in Japanese gastronomy, but he makes the outcome all his own by transforming ingredients sourced from his surroundings. Another unique aspect of Kammerer’s kitchen is that he keeps it completely quiet.

In chef Lucho Martínez’s hands, Mexican ingredients take on new flavors, especially with the subtle Japanese culinary influences he incorporates. Martínez used to cook at Máximo (also in this guide) before opening his own 10-table Roma Norte spot, named after his daughter Emilia. According to Jesse, it’s “one of the most exciting restaurants in the country.” Highlights from Em’s tasting menu include the tuna tartare with scalloped avocado and the escamoles (ant eggs).

Tucked away in an Encino strip mall—where chef Phillip Frankland Lee used to hang out as a teen—you’ll find some of the most innovative takes on Italian cooking today. Despite the restaurant’s name, diners will encounter pasta in unexpected ways here, all in a modern, open-kitchen space. King crab-filled raviolo and cavatelli with Iberico pork are some of the standouts at this if-you-know-you-know destination. And all the food is served by the chefs themselves.

One of the best French bistros is actually located in the beachfront neighborhood of Santa Monica—using, of course, fresh California produce. Though “pas joli” translates to “not pretty” in French, the creations by James Beard Award–winning chef Dave Beran are a true sight to behold. The greatest attraction is undoubtedly the tableside pressed duck—where an entire duck becomes multiple delectable dishes right in front of your eyes.

On a cliffside boasting exquisite views of Ardmore Bay on the south coast of Ireland sits the modern marvel that is Cliff House Hotel. Already an idyllic dream stay, the hotel has yet another point of pride: its esteemed Michelin restaurant, House, which has held a Star for 15 years. While celebrating global flavors, the chefs at House have a long history of supporting Irish suppliers with meticulously harvested and sourced local ingredients.

A beautiful marriage between fine dining and fast casual can be found in a chic nightclub-like space in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. COQODAQ has become one of New York’s hottest reservations and utmost authority on Korean fried chicken, thanks to chef SK Kim’s tireless quest for the perfect recipe. The $46 “Bucket List” gives you an incredible sampling of everything, and you can elevate it even further with a bubbly from the longest champagne menu in the United States.

Located in the buzzy Roma Norte neighborhood, this long-acclaimed CDMX gem is always name-dropped by chefs. And the hype around the restaurant has only grown since they recently scored a Michelin Star. Noted chef Eduardo García—known as Lalo—heads the kitchen, serving French bistro food with a Mexican twist. There are nearly 40 items on the menu, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. “The locals are right: It really is very good food, and Lalo is one hell of a chef,” says Jesse.