Ardor

Set in a swanky hotel, this babe is ultra-chic, attracting an A-list crowd. It's all very handsome inside, with white velvet and leather booths nestled amid greenery for a rain forest feel. The well-trained staff keep things humming along. As per the name, Chef John Fraser puts his passion on the plate, and vegetables bask in the limelight. Begin with local fruit as an amuse bouche; then dive into cauliflower or carrots cooked in the tandoor with Indian spices. Even onion rings are gussied up, dusted with an umami powder and piment d'espelette.
While vegetables take center stage, fish and meat are given equal care. Lamb cooked under pine; aged duck in myriad incarnations; and high-end cuts of beef are all charcoal grilled to tender perfection.