At the close of one year, I often start thinking about the places I want to travel the following year. If you’re like me, I hope this list of “meals worth traveling for” sparks ideas for trips to take in 2022. Below are my 10 most memorable meals of 2021 (in no particular order):

1. Aska

   Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York ᐧ $$$$

   Aska is a seamlessly operated Scandinavian restaurant perfect for any special occasion. Simple interior design and attentive service clear the way for you to focus on the 12-14 course tasting menu that quite literally turns food into art. At $295 per person, it’s expensive, but you’re paying for an experience. The entirely open kitchen filled with chefs moving about in perfect harmony serves as the heartbeat of the restaurant. The one decision you can make is about what you drink, and I couldn’t recommend the juice pairing (a non-alcoholic alternative to their wine pairing) more. It’s made up of some of the coolest, most creative drinks I’ve ever had.

2. Sanguich

   Little Havana, Miami, Florida ᐧ $$

   Sanguich’s cubano sandwich blew me away. The bread was perfectly crunchy, the meat hot and juicy, and the sauces incredibly flavorful. It’s in good company with the rest of the menu’s items. Beyond the food, though, I was amazed by the restaurant’s family-like culture that’s palpable the moment you speak with a member of their staff. They’re only open for lunch and don’t take reservations, so expect a wait if you want to dine in. You can also order for pickup or at the to-go window.

3. Callie

   East Village, San Diego, California ᐧ $$$

   Callie blew my mind in a way I wasn’t expecting. Opened by Chef Travis Swikard, a former executive chef for one of the world’s best chefs, Daniel Boulud, Callie brings together a beautiful, unexpected assortment of Mediterranean flavors. From pita and veggie dips to pastas to meats and veggies, I was blown away by every single dish we had. The dining room is swanky and laid-back at the same time, making Callie a great restaurant for so many occasions: a special date, a group dinner, a solo meal at the bar, and more. If you’re overwhelmed by the number of incredible options on the menu, you may want to opt for the set five-course $65 family-style menu. Given the quality of the food, that’s quite a steal.

4. Felix

   Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California ᐧ $$$$

   Felix is home to some of the best pasta I’ve ever had. Between all the hype Felix gets and the dining room full of those who stayed up until all hours of the night to secure a reservation, you’d think there’s no way they could exceed expectations. They do, though, by a mile. The dining room is laid-back enough to make you feel like you could be eating at a friend’s house, which makes Felix great for date nights or small group meals (including with kids). Though it’s not required, I strongly suggest eating everything family-style, so you can enjoy an assortment of appetizers and pastas.

5. L’industrie

   Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York ᐧ $

   If you ask me what the best pizza in NYC is, I’ll now say L’industrie without hesitation. Order at the counter, and wait for a slice with the most perfectly crispy, thin crust covered in top-notch ingredients. You can enjoy your pizza at a couple of barstools inside, or at the picnic tables in their covered outdoor seating area. They close at 10pm, but often run out of pizza earlier, so try to go at least an hour before closing. They also have a rotating selection of soft serve gelato flavors you should check out when you finish your pizza. You may find some other non-pizza items depending on when you go, like the Wednesday sandwich. They basically make and serve what they want, when they want, leaving us with the delicious reward of their spontaneous creative juices.

6. Zahav

   Downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ᐧ $$$

   Known to many as one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia, Zahav’s elevated takes on classic Israeli dishes truly wowed me. They have one set menu that’s served family-style to the whole table, with only one decision to make: do you want lamb or cauliflower as the entree? Even then, they’re extraordinarily accommodating of dietary restrictions and will bring a customized version of any items you can’t have. At $72 per person, the quality and volume of food makes the price feel like a deal. You’ll likely get far more food than you can eat, making for great leftovers.

7. Fore Street

   Downtown Portland, Maine ᐧ $$$

   Fore Street focuses on using the most in-season ingredients available to serve up hyper-flavorful dishes. The rustic decor creates a cozy backdrop for an otherwise buzzing, energetic dining room thanks to the action and emotion spilling out of the open kitchen. You’ll need to make a reservation far in advance, or arrive at 5pm or earlier to get in line for a walk-in table. They may quote you a 2+ hour wait, which offers a great opportunity to order some oysters and a drink at one of the other cute spots nearby. We really enjoyed the Portland Hunt + Alpine Club.

8. St. Anselm

   Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York ᐧ $$$

   St. Anselm is so special. A cozy, wood-filled interior embraces you like a warm hug the moment you walk through the doors, potentially making you wonder whether you’ve stumbled into a fire-heated cabin in the middle of a snowy forest. Though St. Anselm is most well-known as a Steakhouse, the menu has a ton of vegetable and fish-centric dishes that rival the steak in flavor. That’s no knock on the steaks - they’re amazing. The veggies and fish are just that flavorful too. If you are in the market for steak, the butcher’s steak is just $28, which is quite a deal for an amazing steak in NYC.

9. Mandolin Aegean Bistro

   Design District, Miami, Florida ᐧ $$$

   I felt like I had been transported to Greece the moment I walked into Mandolin Aegean. The outdoor dining space enclosed with white walls and turquoise accents is impressively tasteful rather than gimmicky, and will have you thinking you’re on vacation the moment you sit down. I loved everything we ordered, particularly the baked feta and octopus. It remains the juiciest, most tender octopus I’ve ever had. They’re open for lunch and dinner, and you should definitely make a reservation well in advance.

10. Atoboy

    Nomad, Manhattan, New York ᐧ $$$

    I was amazed by the quality of the food at Atoboy relative to the price. It’s the perfect place to go when you want an incredible, high-end meal under $100. Everybody gets to order their own combination of five courses, and there are no more than three options in each course, so if you have at least three people, the table can try the whole menu. If you’re comfortable spending an extra $95, I strongly recommend splurging on the fried chicken. I generally don’t eat chicken unless it’s a “can’t miss” culinary experience, and this chicken definitely falls in that category. It’s perfectly crispy on the outside, but juicy and tender on the inside. Mouth watering. As far as ambiance goes, I enjoyed eating in their private, well-built outdoor cubicles, but look forward to trying the indoor dining. It looked to have a very cool, simple, no-frills vibe.

Do you have any restaurant recommendations worth traveling for next year? Drop me a comment below or send me a note!