At high-end restaurants, it's easy to end up shelling out hundreds of dollars per person on lavish tasting menus and meticulous wine pairings. But just because a restaurant is expensive, doesn't always mean it's worth your hard-earned cash.
Fortunately, we know a few that are.
Business Insider recently released its list of the 50 best restaurants in America, compiled by combining six noteworthy lists from food critics, experts, and diners. We pulled out 17 spots that will indeed cost a pretty penny, but offer impeccable food and first-class service.
All prices come from Zagat, which includes the price of dinner plus one drink and tip.
Keep scrolling to see outstanding restaurants that are worth every dime.
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Acquerello
Chef: Suzette Gresham
Location: San Francisco, California
Price per person: $118
For fine Italian food in the Bay Area, look no further than Acquerello's opulent dining room and delightful prix-fixe menu, which includes between three and five courses of plates like grilled swordfish, squid-ink risotto, and pancetta-wrapped rabbit.
The restaurant has been a standout in the San Francisco dining scene for more than two decades and now boasts a James Beard Outstanding Restaurant nomination and two Michelin stars.
Jean-Georges
Chef: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Mark Lapico (executive chef)
Location: New York, New York
Price per person: $166
Jean-Georges blends French, American, and Asian influences to craft an ever-changing menu that focuses on ingredients from the local farmers' market.
Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views of Central Park and Columbus Circle, and diners can choose between various prix-fixe menus.
Daniel
Chef: Daniel Boulud, Jean-Francois Bruel (executive chef), Eddy Leroux (chef de cuisine)
Location: New York, New York
Price per person: $176
At Daniel Boulud's namesake restaurant, Daniel, which boasts two Michelin stars, the chefs draw inspiration from the four seasons and translate it into upscale French cuisine.
A sampling of dishes might include Long Island fluke with sea urchin and green apple, roasted duck breast topped with a dandelion-flower marmalade, or ravioli filled with braised rabbit and covered in chorizo cream.
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