The Epicurean Table

Smyth has been on our culinary radar for years, and after finally experiencing it for ourselves, we can say we experienced some of the most beautiful food that was presented as artful as it was delicious.

Sepia continues to be a restaurant we trust when we are in Chicago.  It strikes that rare balance of being polished yet comfortable, making it just as suitable for meaningful conversations across the table as it is for family nights out.

There are two things that define Thanksgiving in New York City for our family: The Rockettes and Jean-Georges’ turkey. For the last few years, dining at this iconic restaurant has become a cherished tradition, one we look forward to as much as the holiday itself. Simply put: Jean-Georges makes the best turkey.

There are certain restaurants in New York City that become part of your family traditions that you look forward to all year. For us, Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare is exactly that. Easily, our favorite restaurant in NYC, and it has become a cornerstone of our annual Thanksgiving week in Manhattan. Helmed today by Chef Max Natmessnig and Chef Marco Prins, the restaurant has entered a new era, one defined by extraordinary technical precision, quiet confidence, and food that feel

César is not an extension of a past chapter; it is the evolution of a chef who has spent nearly four decades honing his voice. And that voice has never been clearer, or more confident.

To say Eleven Madison Park was everything we imagined feels like an understatement. For years, we were a house divided; Kira determined to experience this institution, and Carmine refusing as long as it remained fully vegan.

Blue Hill Farm has been on our radar for years, but the logistics never quite aligned for us, at least not in this chapter of life. Enter Family Table at Blue Hill, the perfect way to kick off the annual Jabri Family Thanksgiving trip to NYC.

Ariete is one of those restaurants we simply can’t skip when we’re in Miami. Each visit teaches us something new, reminding us why Chef Michael Beltran’s vision continues to evolve in exciting ways. The service remains outstanding warm, attentive, and perfectly in tune with the food.

Our first visit to Stubborn Seed left a lasting impression. So much so, that when our travels brought us back to Miami, we made it a priority to return. Our first experience set a remarkably high bar and we returned curious to see how the experience would evolve with the season. Chef Jeremy Ford and his team have once again curated a extraordinary tasting menu. The autumn tasting menu was clearly refreshed to reflect the season’s best, while remaining rooted in the restaurant

EL Ideas proudly holds a Michelin star. From the very first course, one you literally lick off the plate, you know you’re in for something unexpected. There’s no separation between guest and kitchen here. You’re encouraged to wander, chat with the chefs, and watch each dish come to life. There are no servers; instead, the chef who created each dish personally introduces it to you.

We’ve had Indienne on our radar for quite some time a restaurant that beautifully redefines Indian fine dining. Helmed by Chef Sujan Sarkar, this Michelin-starred gem in Chicago delivers a culinary experience that is both deeply rooted in heritage and unapologetically modern.

We firmly believe that one of the best ways to teach your child about the world is through food. We love being able to have Emma be a part of each dining experience that becomes a geography lesson, a history class, and a window into culture. Our recent visit to Elske, maintaining a one Michelin star since 2017, perfectly embodied that belief. Elske, meaning love in Danish, offers a culinary journey through Scandinavia. Flash back to world cultures, a region encompassing Denma

Ômo is as exclusive as it is imaginative. Guests choose between two Chef’s Tasting menus: The Journey or The Jaunt. We opted for The Jaunt, complete with all pairings (both wine and sake) and it was absolutely worth it.

If we had to curate a list of kid-friendly Michelin-starred restaurants, Capa in Orlando would make the list. Nestled within the Four Seasons, this modern Spanish-influenced steakhouse has mastered the art of balancing sophistication with warmth, creating an experience that welcomes both seasoned fine diners and families looking for something memorable.

Oriole is simply exquisite. Tucked discreetly behind an unassuming doorway in Chicago’s West Loop, the journey begins with a step into a freight elevator a threshold that transports you from the industrial streetscape into a world of refined luxury and exceptional fine dining. Once inside, every moment that follows is deliberately choreographed to heighten anticipation and re

Boka has been on our radar for quite some time, and we finally made the reservation we’ve been meaning to for years. Tucked into Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Boka has earned a reputation for being one of the city’s most consistently excellent fine dining destinations and after our recent visit, we can confidently say that reputation is well-deserved. Holding a Michelin star since 2011, Boka has maintained this honor for well over a decade, no small feat in the ever-e

Mako is an omakase that quietly unfolds in waves each course subtle, balanced, and deeply intentional. It’s the kind of meal that demands attention, rewards curiosity, and reveals itself over time. With only 22 seats and a beautifully restrained aesthetic, Mako invites you into a tranquil world where each dish is a meditation on precision and purity. We often say that fine dining is less about extravagance and more about experience.

Tucked along a quiet stretch of Lincoln Park in Chicago, Esme is less a restaurant and more an immersive art installation, where every plate is a brushstroke, and every course a conversation. With its deeply conceptual approach to both food and space, Esme has earned its place among the most avant-garde dining destinations in the country. For lovers of modern art, Esme is a dream. The restaurant partners with local artists and reimagines the space and menu regularly around

Tucked in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, Cariño feels like an open invitation into something personal. And indeed, the name says it all. Cariño, meaning “affection” in Spanish, permeates every aspect of the experience from the thoughtful design to the vibrant dishes to the warm, attentive service.

At Jabri Fine Dining, we return to Ever not just for the food, but for the experience the storytelling, the sense that something profound is unfolding with every course. Ever, the two-Michelin-starred destination in Chicago’s West Loop, continues to deliver moments of quiet beauty under the leadership of Chef Curtis Duffy. Each visit feels like a chapter in an ongoing narrative one that marries artistry, emotion, and exceptional technique.