#10
Ristorante da Pancrazio - Rome, Italy
This restaurant has been operating since 1922 in a quiet back alley just away from the crowds of the bustling Piazza Campo de'Fiori. The building sits atop the resting place of the ruins of Pompeus' Ancient Theater. If the theater sounds familiar that's because it is the site where the Emperor Julius Caesar was murdered by Brutus and Cassius in the year 44BC.
Although da Pancrazio has some really cool underground seating and plenty of beautifully decorated indoor dining areas, the patio is where it's at. It is one of the most peaceful restaurant patios in the city and it is in a very large cul-de-sac alleyway with beautiful buildings in every direction.
Ristorante da Pancrazio serves traditional Italian fare and it does an amazing job of it! When in Rome, have pasta. We have tried pasta dishes all over Rome and this was the best, definitely. The wine list is extensive as well.
#9
Straw - San Francisco, California, USA
Straw is a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant with a carnival theme. This is the Ringmaster burger. It has two house-made glazed doughnuts instead of traditional buns, and drips with grease from the beef patty, fried egg, maple-glazed bacon and American cheese. We have been to San Francisco many times, and we always stop for one of these. If you aren't into getting a coronary bypass then check out what else you can get here:
Tilt-a-whirl seating! What's cooler then eating at a carnival themed restaurant in a booth made out of an old amusement park ride?
Sticky, greasy, messy, delicious! It is the perfect blend of sweet and savory, and crispy and gooey. They really nailed this one.
#8
Schwartz's Deli - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Schwartz's is a name that is recognized all over the world for their absolutely mouth watering Montreal smoked meat. There have been countless attempts to copy what they do here but none of them have got it just right. The smoked meat sandwich is the best way to experience the meat but you can also get just the meat to go. This is a Jewish deli so there is no adding cheese, but if you want to take some home and make the best poutine of your life you are more then welcome to. The smoked meat also goes great on pizza!
Your mouth will be watering when you sit here waiting for a pile of smoked meat. Get one to eat in and another for the road.
The medium fat meat is the perfect balance, the lean stuff could seem too dry and the full fat might take away from the flavor of the meat... but the medium, is, perfection.
#7
Sloppy Hoggs Roed Hus - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
The gorgeous specimen before you is known affectionately as "The Cure". This ingenious creation by this little one-off BBQ joint in northern Edmonton consists of two crispy waffles topped with mounds of BBQ pulled pork, bacon, a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, two sunny-side-up eggs, drizzled with waffle sauce and cracked pepper, then served with a side of crunchy slaw. This is a no-brainier for the top 10 best things we've ever eaten.
Edmonton can be a bit of a downer, particularly during the long winter months. Sloppy Hoggs is the perfect spot for comfort food to cheer you up and I love that it is an Edmonton gem that isn't a chain.
They have the formula perfected and they shouldn't mess with it! The seating is comfortable, the staff are very friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing. Check this place out!
#6
UFO Restaurant - Bratislava, Slovakia
95 m above the Danube River sits the UFO restaurant. From your table here you get the best views of Bratislava and the surrounding hills. The large white building on the left is Bratislava Castle. The service and the food here is top notch. On the table is the poppy-seed cake with marzipan ice cream and cherry gel, and of course some local beer.
This is the trout parfait with sour potatoes, bryndza sheep cheese, trout caviar, and milk foame. Do yourself a favor and spring for the 7-course dinner. Everything they served up was incredible and worth every Euro! The food they serve is world-class!
It really does look like a UFO. An absolutely unique place for a meal. Yes it's weird, and yes it's terrific!
#5
Blewett Brewing Comany - Leavenworth, Washington State, USA
The little town of Leavenworth in the mountains of Washington State is a recreation of a German town and it is set in a nature lover's paradise with a river running right through town. The town is full of great restaurants and breweries but this one definitely stands out. The ingredients they use are top quality and the pizzas are cooked to perfection.
Not only does this little gem produce the best pizza we have had anywhere, but it is actually a brewery! Of course, the name may have given it away.
The pizza in the photo above is the big chief and it was incredible! The menu is full of amazing pizzas and they always have a rotating seasonal pizza to try.
#4
Capitalist Pig Handcrafted BBQ - St. Louis, Missouri, USA
The second BBQ joint on our top ten list definitely deserves it. At Capitalist Pig you take your seat inside actual jail cells that used to serve as the police station lock up. Don't be turned off by the cold steel though because the atmosphere is excellent!
Not much has changed since this building operated as a police station. It happens to be directly across the street from the Budweiser brewery.
The burnt end sandwich above was one of the most amazing things I'd ever had. The mac & cheese and cornbread on the side were equally amazing. Everything this place does is beyond excellent.
#3
Au Cheval Bar & Diner - Chicago, Illinois, USA
The Food Network wrote an article naming the top 5 burgers across the USA and the double cheeseburger at Au Cheval was their number one. Naturally we had to go! This beauty is without a doubt the best sandwich / burger I have ever had. The burger comes with maple-glazed pork belly, a house made "dijonaise" and lots of beef and cheese. Don't have this without adding the fried egg to make it "Au Cheval style". There is a second location in New York as well in case you can't make it to Chi Town.
The "double" cheeseburger actually has three patties and it's exactly what you want from a layered burger - cheese between each patty. Here you really get a sense of how think that maple-glazed pork belly really is. Everything about this burger from the beautiful presentation to the ratios of ingredients is perfection.
There can be a 2 hour wait to get in... and once you make it inside, you won't want to give up your seat! The diner has a cozy speakeasy vibe and the lighting is just dark enough to take a nap while you wait for the best burger you will ever have in your life. Don't make any other plans for the afternoon when you go here.
#2
Lan Jia - Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan is home to the best street food on the planet, and the king of that street food? That is served at Lan Jia Traditional Taiwanese Snack restaurant in the Zhongzheng district of Taipei. At Lan Jia they serve up pork baos from a cart out front of the restaurant. The sandwich is made with a freshly steamed bao bun filled with your choice of lean or fatty braised pork, pickled vegetable medley and topped with crushed peanuts and fresh cilantro. No joke, this is one of the single best things we have ever eaten, anywhere.
The lineup to get a pork bao can stretch around the block but it is absolutely worth it!
Don't eat this thing on the run. Stop, sit, savor. Turn off the rest of the world, tune out your spouse or friends, and enjoy this soft, juicy, heavenly creation. Then go get another one!
#1
Tali Wiru - Yulara, Northern Territory, Australia
Tali Wiru means "Beautiful Dune". This dinner experience deep in the Australian Outback with the world famous Uluru (Ayers Rock) as the backdrop will blow away anything you have previously done! You will feel like a celebrity while being treated like a member of the royal family!
https://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/experiences/detail/tali-wiru
You get picked up from your hotel or campsite by this luxurious off-road bus and whisked out into the wilderness of the Outback. You arrive at a large red sand dune just before sunset. If you are feeling like splurging you can arrange to have a private helicopter pick you up instead!
At the top of the dune you are greeted with free-flowing ice-cold Champagne from France! All of the alcohol pairings throughout the night are bottomless!
A Lifetime Experience!
The Menu is Like Nothing Else
The Menu is Like Nothing Else
This is no understatement; not only is this a five-course dinner with unlimited premium alcohol, but you are also treated to a didgeridoo performance and an aboriginal star-talker demonstration while you look out at Uluru or stare at the Milky Way above.
The Menu is Like Nothing Else
The Menu is Like Nothing Else
The Menu is Like Nothing Else
You will be eating things you never imagined, all prepared in a small kitchen hidden away at the bottom of the dune.
Incredibly Intimite
The Menu is Like Nothing Else
Incredibly Intimite
Each night, the guest list is limited to 20 adults and no children. There are 10 tables and each couple has their own table, facing into the vast expanse of the outback. Everyone here is in awe and totally silent!
The Canapes
The Canapes
The Canapes
The canapes on offer are these braised crocodile bao as well as; emu prosciutto crostinis with pickled quondong, blue cheese gougeres, and pan-seared scallop with native finger lime.
The canapes were served with Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut Champagne from Epernay, France.
The Entree
The Canapes
The Canapes
The amuse bouche is a caulifower espuma with Sevruga Caviar and baby watercress, flooed by these Paroo kangaroo rillettes with dehydrated beetroot, smoked bunya nut puree, mountain pepper tuille and seablite.
The espuma was served with 2015 Curlewis Ble Sel Chardonnay from Geelong and the kangaroo was served with 2014 Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Pinto Noir from Mornington Peninsula
The Mains
The Canapes
The Mains
The first main is this Wagyu beef fillet with salt baked celeriac, paperbark smoked onion soubise, king brown mushroom, glazed greens and charred leek.
The beef was served with 2012 Hickinbotham Clarendon Vinyard Shiraz, from Mclaren Vale
The Mains
The Dessert in the Desert
The Dessert in the Desert
The second main is this Glacier 51 toothfish with parsnip and miso mousseline, puffed organic quinoa, native samphire and heirloom carrots.
The fish was served with 2010 Tyrell's Single Vineyard HVD Semillon from Hunter Valley
The Dessert in the Desert
The Dessert in the Desert
The Dessert in the Desert
For dessert we had this wild rosella verrine of rosella mousse, yoghurt panna cotta, raspberry jelly, and musk scented meringue as well as an Australian cheese selection.
Dessert was served with Penfolds Fortified Grandfather Rare Tawny Port (20 year old blend)
After Dinner
The Dessert in the Desert
After Dinner
After dinner you are escorted down the dune to a camp fire where you are served wattleseed hot chocolate followed by Louis XIII Cognac before being dropped off back at your accommodation.
You will never find a better dining experience in your life!
The Honorable Mentions
Best Mac & Cheese
Best Mac & Cheese
Best Mac & Cheese
The Gabardine - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The mac & cheese here is next-level. Sophisticated sauce with crunchy panko and giant cubes of ham.
Anthony Bourdain ate here!
Best Brunch
Best Mac & Cheese
Best Mac & Cheese
L'Avenue - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
This is a brunch spot like no other. Here, the Sweet-savory and Crunchy Eggs Benedict is the star - with panko crusted French toast, mozzarella, beer braised ham, poached eggs and hollandaise. Absolutely amazing!
Best Asian Food
Best Mac & Cheese
Best Greasy Diner Food
Centara Grand Hotel - Bangkok, Thailand
The local cuisine that is served at the Centara Grand Central Plaza Ladprao Hotel in Bangkok would be number 11 if the top 10 list kept going. The hotel has 6 restaurants, a lobby bar, a rooftop bar, a buffet, and a coffee bar, but the Thai restaurant steals the show. The Panang chicken curry shown here is unmatched.
Best Greasy Diner Food
Best Greasy Diner Food
Best Greasy Diner Food
The Little Nugget Diner - Reno, Nevada, USA
This burger on an onion roll is called the Aweful-Aweful burger and it is anything but. It should make anyone's top 5 burger list. Find it in a little galley kitchen at the back of The Nugget Casino.
http://littlenuggetdiner.restaurantwebexpert.com/
Best Dessert
Best Greasy Diner Food
Best Wild Game
Trattoria Pizzeria Da Simonetta - Rome, Italy
The tiramisu that made Tiff cry. Look closely and you can see the lady-fingers, soaked in Italian espresso. This tiramisu was something special. The pizza, pasta and pistachio cake were amazing as well!
https://www.facebook.com/Trattoria-Da-Simonetta-463801710342582/
Best Wild Game
Best Greasy Diner Food
Best Wild Game
The Grubsteak - Estes Park, Colorado, USA
This place serves local wild game and they do it very well. This is the wild game meatloaf, made with venison, wild boar, elk, and antelope. Game meat can be very dry but this was so tender and moist. Depending on when you go, the meatloaf will be made from different game. It all depends on what is available at the time.