DiverXO - Madrid
Very creative cooking, riffing on dishes from all over the world. Not everything succeeds, but this was a fun ride
El Celler de Can Roca - Girona
Playful and inventive, this was for the most part a delicious lunch. Worth the trip from Barcelona if you can get a reservation
ABaC - Barcelona
Modern Spanish food with interesting ingredient combinations and creative presentations. For the most part delightful, and worth the trip to the outskirts of Barcelona
Lasarte - Barcelona
Modern Spanish cuisine that features some excellent dishes, but pales in comparison to chef Martín Berasategui’s eponymous restaurant near San Sebastian
Le Cinq - Paris
Modern French cuisine that doesn’t take too many chances, which kind of is a good match for the old-school luxurious surroundings. Some dishes are very good, but on average this is closer to two stars