PHILADELPHIA:

THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT Sipping champagne, six dishes in, when the kanpachi with mussel vinaigrette and Jimmy Nardello peppers appeared. It’s simultaneously smooth, crunchy, and savory with a bit of heat.

A PERFECT ORDER FOR A VERY SPECIAL DATE NIGHT The tasting menu is ever-changing, so whether you get duck three ways or scallops in a kimchi beurre blanc is out of your hands. Add on the $140 wine pairing to amp up the experience.

HOUSTON:

THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT When we popped the tuna tartare’s tiny pickled enoki mushroom caps in our mouths.

A PERFECT ORDER FOR AN ANNIVERSARY DINNER Start the evening with sake bottle service, then order the toro tartare, corn and mushroom okonomiyaki, premium sashimi for two, foie gras pbj milk bread, and green tea kakigori.

GO IF YOU LIKE… Silver-skinned fish, rare bottles of sake, or fresh flowers on everything.

MIAMI:

THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT (AGAIN) When we rounded the corner and witnessed the full glory of Sunny’s two-year glow up.

A PERFECT ORDER FOR A BIG NIGHT OUT Martinis (plural), Parker House rolls for the table, shrimp cocktail, corn agnolotti, steaks (we like the hanger), and the chocolate cake for dessert. Finish the night at their outdoor bar with more martinis.

GO IF YOU LIKE… A steakhouse that isn’t just your typical meat and potatoes.

AUSTIN:

THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT Pulling into the parking lot and seeing plumes of meat smoke wafting into the sky.

A PERFECT ORDER FOR FOUR The Pitmaster’s Platter, which piles meats and sides onto multiple trays so you won’t have to pick between the beef chorizo and the miso-glazed carrots (believe it or not, the choice is harder than it sounds).

GO IF YOU LIKE… Smoked meat, obviously.

SAN FRANCISCO:

THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT When the restaurant welcomed us with individual appetizer boxes filled with Jell-O-like lotus, braised beef tongue, and tofu cosplaying as mozzarella.

A PERFECT ORDER FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION The tasting menu, which is between 10-12 courses. Add two more with the lava rock A5 wagyu and Dungeness crab croquette supplements before they sell out.

CHICAGO:

THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT A bite of the hibiscus-and-beet-cured scallop aguachile that simultaneously made us sweat and cry pineapple brothy tears of joy.

A PERFECT ORDER FOR IMPRESSING THE HARD-TO-IMPRESS The scallop aguachile, any of the tacos, an octopus Sonoran dog, a huitlacoche quesadilla, and at least one blue corn macaron.

GO IF YOU LIKE... Seafood, bold flavors, chatting with chefs at the counter, Obelix, and Taqueria Chingon.

LONDON:

THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT First bite of the yughwe, a rich, expletive-worthy beef tartare that will change your perception of time and yolk. We talk about it a lot.

A PERFECT ORDER FOR DATE NIGHT Nothing says romance like spooning prawns. The maeun saeu arrive cuddled up on a bed of sweet gochujang.

GO IF YOU LIKE… Wearing Issey Miyake, supremely talented bloodlines, illicit affairs between soy-braised short rib and its twin flame poached Korean pear.

SEATTLE:

THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT: When the momos set up camp in our brains.

A PERFECT ORDER FOR A COUCH GOBLIN DATE NIGHT Tandoori momos, house curry with chicken, butter curry with lamb, aloo gobi, and garlic-basil naan to sponge it all up.

GO IF YOU LIKE… 19 variations on a good thing, curries that are more brothy than saucy, and relative peace and quiet.

NEW YORK:

THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT The Ice Box Plus arrived, sparkling and glistening like a tray of jewels retrieved from a shipwreck.

A PERFECT ORDER FOR A SPONTANEOUS NIGHT OUT A bottle of white, shrimp cocktail, the regular Ice Box, pull-apart sesame brioche with butter, stuffed squid, and an ice cream sandwich.

GO IF YOU LIKE… Chilled wine, white marble, and extremely snappy shrimp.

LOS ANGELES:

THE MOMENT WE KNEW WE LOVED IT When a guy in board shorts and flip-flops stormed out of the bar because they didn't serve chips and salsa.

PERFECT ORDER FOR A BIG NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS Surf clam ceviche, a double order of tuna yuca tostadas, baked oysters, shrimp dumplings, chicken drumsticks, and steamed kanpachi.

GO IF YOU LIKE... Boozy cocktails, potted birds of paradise, the flavor of coconut, using your outside voice.