8. Arzak. San Sebastian, Spain. Expense of meal for two, without wine: $530.
Juan Mari Arzak is one of the immense virtuosos of Spanish gastronomy, among the first to apply cutting edge procedures and flavors as a powerful influence for local food — for his situation, that of his local Basque Country. The kitchen of his eatery, which is housed in an interesting looking building however is shockingly smooth inside, is presently run to a great extent by his little girl Elena. She proceeds with the Basque-arched development, with dishes like “waves” (they’re made with molds) of nearby creepy crawly crab and anise or monkfish cooked in an inflatable of consumable green papier-máche that figure out how to feel both territorially grounded and eccentric.