The drawback of knowing how to cook yourself is that the food at many restaurants disappoints. I enjoy cooking so much, that in many cases I rather spend the money on ingredients and wine and do my own thing. When we do go out to eat, we like to go to restaurants where the food is special. Those are often, but certainly not always, restaurants with Michelin stars. When I go out to eat mainly to experience the food (rather than just to chat with friends), I will post a review on my blog. Below is an overview of all the reviews I have posted, organized by location. The restaurants that I recommend specially are indicated as such. I’ve only indicated restaurants as recommended that I think are worth traveling for, so there are many very good ones among the others as well. The *, ** and *** indicate the number of Michelin stars a restaurant had at the time of my visit.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Spectrum** (formerly Librije’s Zusje**), recommended
Bussia, recommended
Bord’eau** (2015), Bord’eau** (December 2013), Bord’Eau* (July 2013), has a different chef now
Netherlands, outside of Amsterdam
Zwolle: Librije*** (2015), Librije*** (2014), Librije*** (2013), De Librije*** (2012), recommended
Vaassen (near Apeldoorn): De Leest*** (2014), De Leest*** (2016), now closed
Zeeland: De Kromme Watergang**, Inter Scaldes**, Inter Scaldes***
Maasbracht: Da Vinci**
Utrecht: Karel V, Podium onder de Dom
Noord-Holland: Red Chilli
Italy, Sardegna
Recommended places to eat in Sardegna:
- Alghero: Maristella
- Alghero: La Saletta
- Alghero wine bar with many wines by the glass: SardOa Aperitivo di Vino
- Cala Gonone: DuePi
- Cala Gonone (up in the mountains outside of Dorgali): Ispinigoli
- Calasetta: La Perla
- Palau: Pasta e Vino
- Palau: C’era una volta
- Palau wine bar with many wines by the glass: Rosso & Bianco
Italy, Toscana
Recommended: Il Merlo, Camaiore
Italy, Veneto
Laite*, recommended
Italy, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Ai Cacciatori, recommended
Italy, Sicily
La Madia**, recommended
Officina del Gusto Bye Bye Blues
Tischi Toschi, recommended
Italy, Liguria
Varazze: La Mola
Italy, Piemonte
Torino: Combal.Zero**
Alba: Piazza Duomo***, recommended
Italy, Campania
Vico Equense: La Torre del Saracino**, recommended
Italy, Lombardia
Near Milano: Devero*
Italy, Emilia-Romagna
Bagno di Romagna: Locanda al Gambero Rosso (closed)
Torriana: Povero Diavolo*, recommended
Italy, Abruzzo
Roseto degli Abruzzi: Vecchia Marina
Castel di Sangro: Reale***
Italy, Umbria
Between Todi and Orvieto: Vissani**
Italy, Alto Adige/Südtirol
Croatia
Spain
Girona: El Celler de Can Roca*** (2012), El Celler de Can Roca*** (2016), recommended
Barcelona: Lasarte**
Tenerife: Dining on Costa Adeje, Tenerife
San Sebastian: Berasategui***
Bilbao: Azurmendi***
Between San Sebastian and Bilbao: Etxebarri*
France
Paris: l’Astrance***
France, Corsica
Recommended restaurants:
- Ajaccio: Neptune Plage
- Bastia: L’Ardoise
- Bastia: Grazie Mille
- Bastia for wine and charcuterie (apéritif): L’Antigu or Roba Nostra
- Bonifacio: L’Archivolto
- Porto Ota: A Stretta
- Propriano: Terra Cotta
Australia
Barossa Valley: Hentley Farm
United States
Chicago: Alinea***, recommended
Salt Lake City: Fleming’s Steakhouse, Salt Lake City
Deadwood, SD: Gem Steakhouse
Sweden
Halmstad: Pio Country Club
Germany
Mosel, Piesport: Schanz* (now **), Schanz***, recommended
Bergisch Gladbach (near Köln): Vendôme***
Wolfsburg (near Hannover): Aqua***, recommended for wine lovers
Sweden
Stockholm, Frantzén**
Stefan's Gourmet Blog 
Hi Stefan, I highly recommend Vila Joya in Albufeira, Portugal to you. I really don’t know how to describe it in a professional way, but I enjoyed it sooooooooooooooooo much! And not because it’s a two Michelin stars restaurant, but because the food, the service, the surroundings are amazing to me!
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Hi Sousan, thanks for the recommendation. I’ll keep it in mind for when I go to Albufeira.
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Hey Stefan. Have you ever been to the Spijshuys de Dis in Delft? My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our meals there…
Been following your site for a long time now. Keep up the great work!
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Thanks, Sean. I have only been to Delft once and that was almost 20 years ago. This is the second time someone mentions Spijshuys de Dis to me, so I will surely remember it next time I go there.
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You need to come to Belgium to try some of the Michelin Restaurants here! You are so close! I’ve only just started blogging my restaurant reviews, so I don’t have many from Belgium in my blog even though I have been to them in the past couple of years, but I can give you a list of my favourite ones if you like! emma @ http://www.cookingwithemmarussell.wordpress.com
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