Travel Research: Our Favorite Eats - Syllogi’s Shortlist

WASHINGTON, DC

Lapis (Gray) - My husband is from Afghanistan, and this is the only Afghan restaurant that comes even close to the quality of his mother’s cooking. Plus, it’s really classy inside. Order: Boloni (stuffed flatbreads) and Kabuli Palao (a carrot and rice dish often served at weddings).

Yellow (Erin) - I go here every chance I get. The flavors are bold and exquisite, no matter what time of day, no matter if you go sweet or savory. My favorite is the Urfa-thing Egg Bagel - a Levantine bagel with their famous seasoning plays home to egg, kashkaval cheese, and green shatta labne. For lunch, I opt for the falafel pita, and no matter what time of day, the batatas are a MUST!

NEW YORK CITY

Café Sabarsky (Gray) - My go-to brunch spot in the city is this Vienna Secession-styled Austrian bistro, serving classic sweets like Sacher Tortes, and “grandmother’s” coffee. Plus, I love following my meal with a viewing of the Klimt painting upstairs featured in the movie Woman in Gold.

Indian Accent (Erin) - Elevated, modern take on Indian, this is the perfect New York restaurant for a special occasion. While the flavors remain classic, their presentation is artistic and creative. A highlight is the blue cheese naan, a compact, palm-sized naan stuffed with blue cheese and served warm with a “shot” of pumpkin sorba (soup).

LOS ANGELES

Night Market (Erin) - This Thai restaurant was doing crispy rice long before it went viral on social media. The first time I tasted it, I was transported to a flavorful world I had never been to before. Their flavors are remarkable, their atmosphere is cool and casual - very LA. 

CHICAGO

Tzuco (Gray) - A lively spot with a fitting atmosphere for upscale Mexican cuisine, where the musts are actually the desserts presented in impressive artistic ways.

MIAMI

Sapore di Mare (Gray) - This quaint spot in Coconut Grove was our go-to for every guest that visited, the kind of place where everyone knew our names. Italian seafood is at its most delicious and generous, but I always ordered the pasta stirred in the wheel of parmesan–the first place I had ever seen it done in the US, before it became an Insta sensation.

Lung Yai (Erin) - Gray actually took me here on a visit to Miami, and I still think about it. It’s one of those places where service is not a highlight. You have one chance, and one chance only, to place your order. It’s rushed and chaotic, but the food is well worth it. Savor every bite of these perfect (and very spicy) Thai flavors. 

SAN FRANCISCO

Yank Sing (Gray) - It just makes sense to have a bit of Chinese when in SFO, and this busy yet unfussy brunch spot is quite centrally located. I love the dessert and tea carts that are pushed about, enticing you to order their very delicious mango pudding alongside your oolong.

AUSTIN

Nixta Taqueria (Erin) - Their flavors are remarkable and unique with a menu featuring duck carnitas tacos alongside roasted cauliflower tacos with homemade romesco sauce. Finish your meal with their homemade paletas (popsicles) and you’ll leave utterly satisfied. 

LAS VEGAS

NoMad Library (Gray) - Admittedly, I haven’t eaten there yet – I’ve just seen it through the window. It’s next on my list for sure. I’d also go back to Caramá for the tiramisu alone.

NEW ORLEANS

Jamila’s Café (Gray) - Tunisian food happens to be one of my favorite cuisines in the whole world – and very few places serve it in the US. This neighborhood spot feels more like a home, with friendly service and to-die-for brik au thon savory tuna and egg pastries. 

CHARLESTON

The Royal Tern (Gray) - Just across the river on John’s Island is this airy, white-washed space serving seafood with a very classy vibe. 

SAVANNAH

Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room (Gray) - Savannah has become a world class foodie destination, but this traditional establishment is anything but fancy. Yummy Southern dishes are served family style - a smorgasbord that will fill your belly. I cannot resist the squash casserole.

MAUI

Mama’s Fish House (Gray) - Not far from the airport, this open air seafood restaurant faces a small sandy beach, and has some of the most lovely tropical floral arrangements I’ve ever seen.

JAMAICA

Jamaica Inn (Gray) - A resort serving unbelievable breakfasts. Waiters donning white jackets bring a tray full of blue china balanced on their head to your room, and carefully lay out a pink tablecloth on your verandah’s table. Eat delicately cooked eggs, ackee and salt cod, and fresh tropical fruit while looking at hummingbirds sip from the flowers in front of you. Magical.

LONDON

Dishoom (Erin) - Dishoom (with locations across the UK) pays homage to the Irani cafés and the food of Bombay, where bold flavors blend together in a unique way that only Indian cuisine can. The Chili Broccoli Salad and House Black Daal are definitely highlights.

PARIS

Restaurant le Meurice Alain Ducasse (Gray) - Hands down, the most elegant breakfast I’ve ever had, where the hot chocolate poured from a silver kettle is not to be missed. The opulent and baroque dining room is inside Le Meurice hotel.

MARSEILLES

Aux Antipodes (Erin) - What happens when a French chef spends time cooking in Brazil and SE Asia? A flavor profile you didn’t know you needed including steak with farofa, shrimp Thai curry, and bouillabaisse. This unassuming restaurant is located close to Port Vieux and is owned by two brothers who welcome you with smiles and stories as you settle in for your impeccable dining experience.

ROME

L’Archetto (Gray) - Just steps from the touristed Trevi Fountain, this “spaghetteria” serves 30 different kinds of pasta – and I will always go here for spaghetti with truffle and lemon, no matter the crowded popularity.

GENOVA

Osteria Maniman (Gray) - When I was studying abroad, this was the “fancy” place we’d take our visiting parents for the views over the Mediterranean and the classic Ligurian cuisine.

LISBON

Tapisco (Gray) - This skinny tapas bar faces a lively copper-coated kitchen, and serves great cocktails in crystal glassware to guests on the sidewalk.

Stanislav Cafe (Erin) - The perfect cafe for a light breakfast, mood-boosting decor, and friendly service. The food is simple, healthy, and varied that leaves you feeling nourished, but not overly full. 

PORTO

The Yeatman Bar (Gray) - Location is the primary reason for taking all of our visiting guests to this upscale lux hotel lobby bar: the panoramic view of the city is breathtaking. And having a list of a dozen different gin and tonics from which to choose is a nice perk.

éLeBê Entreparedes (Erin) - We came here on a recommendation from a friend, and enjoyed every minute. A standout was the fondue bread bowl, with a secret drawer full of extra bread underneath. 

MALLORCA

Ca’s Patró March (Gray) - Traverse down a windy, narrow road to the jewel-colored sea to this thatch shack where freshly grilled calamaris are served on simple planks. This is a place that I truly yearn to return.

BERLIN

Cookies Cream (Gray + Erin) - At one time, before it earned a Michelin star and got on everyone’s radar, guests would unexpectedly enter this chic vegetarian dining room through the garbage ramp behind the Westin Hotel.

DUBROVNIK

Azur (Erin) - Azur labels itself a “CroAsian” restaurant. The chef expertly blends Croatian with Asian cuisine for an unforgettable experience. Walk by during the day to make a reservation for the evening or the following evening. Szechuan Chili and Garlic Prawns and Chicken Chorizo Tacos are just some of the menu highlights. 

MILAN

B Cafe (Erin) - We were drawn to this spot because of the casual, cool nature. A woman was sitting in the open window, with one leg hanging over the window sill. Throughout our little coffee break, they brought us free snacks with a smile and made us feel welcome. 

SOFIA

Niko’las 0/360 (Gray) - A recommendation by a fellow Syllogist, this classy dining space proves that the Bulgarian dining scene is far more advanced than one might suspect.

MARRAKECH

Dar el Bacha Coffee (Gray) - It’s now a chain, but the original coffee house is buried inside an elaborate museum courtyard. No reservations, which is normally a deal-breaker, but I’ll wait for the multi-page coffee menu (I had beans grown on Mount Everest) and the fez-wearing servers pouring from elegant silver pitchers.

DUBAI

Stay (Gray) - Dubai is one of those places where the hotel restaurants are excellent, and this fine dining venue at One&Only The Palm spills out onto the pool terraces and has an incredible view facing the skyscrapers of the city beyond.

TEL AVIV

Abu Hassan (Gray) - The “triple” - that’s all you need to know at this food stand - where the hummus and fava bean dishes served with pita are the best you’ll ever have.

SEYCHELLES

Marie Antoinette (Gray) - In a lovely Victorian home just above the capital of Victoria is this casual Seychellois Creole cafe serving local delicacies including fruit bat (I did not try), and an octopus pumpkin curry (that I still vividly remember).

MAURITIUS

La Goélette (Gray) - The formal, al fresco restaurant at The Royal Palm Hotel, is an elegant space is covered by a thatch room, where a piano plays nightly, and servers donning white dinner jackets flambéed Mauritian bananas tableside for dessert.

CAPE TOWN

See Cape Town Feature where we highlighted Kloof Street House and Babel

BANGKOK

BKK Social Club (Gray) - Some of the world’s finest hotels are in Bangkok, so I like to spend my time hopping between their lobbies. This design-focused, atmospheric bar anchors the Four Seasons Hotel along the riverfront, and is a perfect perch to hide from the frantic urbanity beyond.

KYOTO

Yoshikawa (Gray) - A restaurant dedicated entirely to tempura - and I still dream of the tempura-fried fig I was served - with only 10 seats surrounding a bar / open kitchen.

Pettirosso (Erin) - This Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant combines the flavorful, healthy Mediterranean food with the simplicity and beauty of Japanese food to create this one-of-a-kind restaurant in the heart of Kyoto. 

TOKYO

Daigo (Gray) - A starred vegetarian experience (rare for Michelin), where guests are escorted through a garden to their own private dining room and served beautifully presented dishes.

SHANGHAI 

The Puli (Gray) - There’s something lux Asian hotels do right with breakfast buffets. (And buffet is not a word you’ll ever hear from me…except maybe in this instance where so many options are so beautifully presented). This cool boutique offers one of the nicer offerings in the city. I love their fresh-pressed, hot soy milk.

SYDNEY

Bennelong (Gray) - Perhaps my favorite restaurant experience in the world. The Sydney Opera House’s fine dining venue under the smaller sails, where the views of the harbor match impeccable service, astounding architecture, and superbly presented dishes.

RIO DE JANEIRO

Aprazível (Gray) - I like this place so much that we hosted a wedding party here. Perched high above the town, tables sit in tree-houses that create something of a fantasy. Heart of palm is served grilled inside a whole tree trunk, and cocktails are crazy good. 

BUENOS AIRES

Rapanui (Gray) - Go here for ice cream - where an entire menu is dedicated to Argentina’s famous dulce de leche flavor. Some of the best I’ve ever had.

SÃO PAULO

A Figueira Rubaiyat (Gray) - This place is now overly popular with other fancier places on offer, but I still love the magic of strolling through the elegant Jardims neighborhood to get there - and sitting under the branches of a huge fig tree, an icon of the otherwise concrete city.

LIMA

Astrid y Gastón (Gray) - Once sitting amidst some of the world’s best restaurants, I still can’t get the cloudberry bread, nor the trio of ceviche, out of my mind.

CARTAGENA

Alma (Gray) - A gorgeous private courtyard serving elaborate food. I will never forget their fisherman’s chowder.

Los Tacos del Gordo (Erin) - Probably the best fish tacos I’ve ever had. The perfect crisp, perfect amount of toppings, and high quality ingredients - all in a super casual setting.