L'Atelier du Joel Robuchon, NYC

Overall: Um... WOW.
Cost: $170 incl. wine
Two things surprised me: Despite the sleek red-and-black interiors, the ambiance was relaxed and almost cozy. Also, though I'm instinctively suspicious of molecular gastronomy, this food actually tasted good. Exquisitely good. Abundant fresh crab was perfect on slivers of avocado, and juicy langoustine in a crisp parchment wrapper was unusual but delicious. My friends had oysters, hanger steak and foie gras which were also accompanied by many "oh my god"s. While the desserts were gorgeous, the only memorable one was Le Sucre, featuring a large golden orb with some intriguing flavors inside. Oh, the bill seems astronomical but actually the wine was responsible for a large portion of it... Actually, unlike say, Per Se or Masa, instead of forcing outrageous prix-fixes onto customers, there is a wide a-la-carte selection of tapas, appetizers and entrees. Count 30 days ahead on your calendar (their advance reservation period) and start calling.