Reservations are required-and can be difficult to get-at this luxury Penn Quarter restaurant run by Jose Andres.  Twelve seats are arranged in a horseshoe around an open kitchen where a group of young chefs prepare multiple courses of some of the best avant-garde food in America.  Prices start at $250 per person (before alcohol), but if you can afford it you'll be treated to the pinnacle of culinary theater.  If the price tag doesn't suit your budget go next door to Barmini, where you can have outstanding cocktails and desserts prepared with the same inventive flair.

minibarbyjoseandres.com