$277 / ¥1,672
British pound: 159
Indian rupee: 12,707
Australian dollar: 368
Canadian dollar: 326
Singapore dollar: 468
Euro: 231

Aragawa gets its famous, hand-fed Kobe beef from a single nearby farm, and it really does melt in your mouth. The restaurant is acknowledged as the best place in town to treat yourself to Kobe beef, and the meat is served with pepper and mustard only; any other relishes are considered blasphemous.

$211
British pound: 121
Indian rupee: 9,450
Australian dollar: 281
Canadian dollar: 248
Singapore dollar: 357
Euro: 176

Chef and owner Alain Passard has made an art form of the vegetable at his über-expensive Paris restaurant, Arpège. Though loyal patrons have complained about the rising prices, out-of-towners will feel remiss in skipping the Paris restaurant everyone is talking about. The food is incredibly design-oriented, and vegetables dominate the menu, which will appeal to anyone looking to splurge in dollars but not calories.

$213
British pound: 122
Indian rupee: 9,539
Australian dollar: 283
Canadian dollar: 250
Singapore dollar: 360
Euro: 178

Two hours north of Toronto, the legendary Eigensinn Farm complex sits on its own swath of private acreage, where everything served in the restaurant is grown, slaughtered and prepared. The eight-course tasting menu costs about $213 a head, without wine, and the restaurant's location is hardly convenient from Toronto. Still, this is one of the most unusual dining experiences in North America and certainly one worth paying for.

$176
British pound: 101
Indian rupee: 7,882
Australian dollar: 234
Canadian dollar: 207
Singapore dollar: 298
Euro: 147

Chef Pierre Gagnaire and Mazouz, an Algerian restaurateur, have teamed up to create Sketch, one of the most impressive spaces in London. The restaurant's New French cuisine, which Gagnaire adapted from his three Michelin-starred Paris restaurant, has received rave reviews, as has the impeccable service, in-house D.J. and rotating art exhibit.

$151 / 195 CHF
British pound: 85
Indian rupee: 6,763
Australian dollar: 201
Canadian dollar: 178
Singapore dollar: 255
Euro: 126

The six-course dinner menu (without wine) at Petermann's Kunststuben in Zurich begins with foie gras, zucchini with langoustine, coquilles St. Jacques, mushroom soup and pumpkin chutney. Dessert changes from week to week, but millefeuille with pineapple is a popular choice. Rico Zandonella, the executive chef, has made a name for himself and his International-French cuisine throughout Europe, but Petermann's Kunststuben is as famous for its service as its food

$135
British pound: 77
Indian rupee: 6,047
Australian dollar: 180
Canadian dollar: 159
Singapore dollar: 228
Euro: 113

The waiting list at Tetsuya's Restaurant is well over a month. And the ten-course French and Japanese-influenced dégustation menu is pricey. The menu changes frequently so you can't be sure, in advance, what you are signing up for. But classics like gazpacho with spiced tomato sorbet, tuna tartare and confit of ocean trout (the signature dish of the restaurant) make frequent appearances, so book your plane ticket to Australia and call Tetsuya's for reservations now. This is one dinner worth planning in advance.

$118
British pound: 68
Indian rupee: 5,285
Australian dollar: 157
Canadian dollar: 139
Singapore dollar: 200
Euro: 98

The décor in this 63-seat restaurant, featuring black marble columns and Murano glass chandeliers, resembles a Venetian villa. The menu is Italian-influenced and Chef Thomas Kellerman's fondness for fish is no secret: marinated tomato with mozzarella and sea bass is one of the many unusual seafood offerings. The comprehensive Menu Vitrum, the only way to experience Kellerman's range, costs $118 (or $200 with wine), including tax.

$114
British pound: 65
Indian rupee: 5,106
Australian dollar: 152
Canadian dollar: 134
Singapore dollar: 193
Euro: 95

A 35,000-bottle wine cellar, cheese cellar, a bread cart famous throughout Europe and an enormous array of sorbets: all compelling reasons to visit Steirereck in Vienna. Ancient beams and archways from a castle in Styria were transplanted by the owners to add to the atmosphere. The six-course prix fixe menu at this Relais & Chateaux restaurant costs $114, while five courses is $102, without wine.

$108
British pound: 62
Indian rupee: 4,837
Australian dollar: 144
Canadian dollar: 127
Singapore dollar: 183
Euro: 90

Yamazato, the famous Japanese restaurant in the Hotel Okura Amsterdam, might be pricey, but at least they give you options. The superb seven-course seasonal menu costs $108 per person, but there are other set menus available, some of which you might even call inexpensive: prices range from $84 for the traditional Japanese fish menu to $30 for the assortment of sashimi on sushi rice served with miso soup and Nameko mushrooms.

$108
British pound: 62
Indian rupee: 4,837
Australian dollar: 144
Canadian dollar: 127
Singapore dollar: 183
Euro: 90

The three-course menu at Zalacaín costs $108 per person, but experiencing service this precise is worth every euro. When the restaurant opened in 1973, it was the first outpost of nouvelle Basque cuisine in Spain. The menu is just as innovative today, featuring unusual seafood and a variety of Spanish game. The well-stocked humidor is offered to both male and female guests upon arrival. Jackets and ties are required.

$90
British pound: 51
Indian rupee: 4,030
Australian dollar: 120
Canadian dollar: 106
Singapore dollar: 152
Euro: 75

The snooty staff at Bruneau, which is commonly acknowledged to be the best restaurant in Belgium, serves guests in an outdoor garden during the summer and a tastefully decorated townhouse during the colder months. It's worth the trip despite the staff's reputation: the most famous dish is coucou de malines, or chicken stuffed with truffles. The four-course prix fixe costs $90 without wine and $162 with.

$86
British pound: 49
Indian rupee: 3,851
Australian dollar: 114
Canadian dollar: 101
Singapore dollar: 145
Euro: 72

The Four Seasons Hotel Milan is housed in a 15th century convent, a dramatic setting that does justice to the restaurant Il Teatro's dishes, such as whole-wheat pizzella pasta with sea urchins, clams and Neapolitan wild asparagus or stewed grouper fish with fennel, watercress and reserve provolone cheese. The four-course dégustation menu costs $86 per person without wine. There is also a vegetarian carte, truffle menu and cheese trolley.

$85
British pound: 49
Indian rupee: 3,806
Australian dollar: 113
Canadian dollar: 100
Singapore dollar: 144
Euro: 70

When in Rome, do as the fashionable Romans do and dine at Vivendo in the St. Regis Hotel. The five-course tasting menu, priced at $85 per person, doesn't include wine, but an additional $36 will get a wine pairing for every course but the last--dessert. To truly appreciate the Italian delicacies here at their heavy and aromatic best, save Vivendo for the end of a very long day in which very little other food has been consumed.

$80 / 294 AED
British pound: 46
Indian rupee: 3,582
Australian dollar: 106
Canadian dollar: 94
Singapore dollar: 135
Euro: 67

This Mediterranean-style seafood restaurant in the fabulous Jumierah resort has no prix fixe menu, but specialties of the house include an Arabian chilled-seafood platter served with Iranian caviar, poached sea bass fillet and poached Atlantic lobster with broad beans. A wooden deck connects the restaurant to the resort, and a post-prandial stroll along the ocean makes for a very pleasant digestif and vantage point for observing the glittering city of Dubai.

$80 / 2,285 RUB
British pound: 46
Indian rupee: 3,582
Australian dollar: 106
Canadian dollar: 94
Singapore dollar: 135
Euro: 67

Inside the elegant Hotel Savoy in Moscow is the historic Restaurant Savoy, previously known as Alpen Rose and home to a private artists' club populated by members of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet and Mali Drama Theatre in the early 20th century. Currently closed for renovations, the restaurant will re-open in November with a new French chef and Russian/European cuisine.

$67 / 150 BRL
British pound: 38
Indian rupee: 3,000
Australian dollar: 89
Canadian dollar: 79
Singapore dollar: 113
Euro: 56

The Copacabana Palace in Brazil is an Orient-Express hotel, an elegant Brazilian landmark with one of the nation's most famous restaurants. The Northern Italian cuisine at Cipriani includes dishes such as ravioli with black truffle, and equally rich fish and meat entrées. Diners have a view over the hotel pool and the frolicking Brazilians working up an appetite within. The dégustation menu starts at $67 without wine.

$61 / 493 CNY
British pound: 35
Indian rupee: 2,732
Australian dollar: 81
Canadian dollar: 72
Singapore dollar: 103
Euro: 51

Shanghai's futuristic Three on the Bund complex of designer boutiques, restaurants, galleries and an Evian spa is home to Jean Georges Vongerichten's latest eponymous venture. But the most expensive restaurant in the complex--and in all of Shanghai--is the Whampoa Club. Young chef Jereme Leung's traditional Shanghainese dishes with a twist have been received with glee by locals and critics alike. Just go before China catches up to the West in terms of prices--$61 here gets you the royal treatment, and a meal at the nearby Jean Georges is only about $58.

$60
British pound: 34
Indian rupee: 2,687
Australian dollar: 80
Canadian dollar: 71
Singapore dollar: 102
Euro: 50

This newly opened restaurant in the Athens Hilton has sister properties in Montreal and New York. While the Montreal property opened first, there's nothing like experiencing Milos' classic Greek cuisine in its country of origin. Grilled fish and brined hyacinth bulbs are a winter specialty, and there is an oyster bar and chef's table as well.

$60
British pound: 34
Indian rupee: 2,687
Australian dollar: 80
Canadian dollar: 71
Singapore dollar: 102
Euro: 50

The most expensive prix fixe menu among the three offered at Vadrózsa (there is also an extensive à la carte menu) is the Menü Katalin. Beluga caviar, grilled gooseliver, and bacon-dressed pheasant breast constitute the first three courses. Dessert is decidedly lighter, and alcohol is not included. For an even better deal, visit Vadrózsa, which is located in a Baroque villa, at noon, when there is a 15% discount on the entire menu.

$58 / 79 TRY
British pound: 33
Indian rupee: 2,591
Australian dollar: 77
Canadian dollar: 68
Singapore dollar: 98
Euro: 48

During the summer months, guests of the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul can choose to sit in Seasons' glass-enclosed courtyard, landscaped garden or outdoor terrace. The menu, which consists mainly of international dishes, even includes a children's section with spaghetti, hamburgers, hot chocolate and milkshakes. During the month-long celebration of Ramadan, a buffet is on offer, consisting entirely of traditional Turkish specialties.

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New York: Masa
$366
British pound: 210
Indian rupee: 16,390
Australian dollar: 487
Canadian dollar: 431
Singapore dollar: 618
Euro: 305

This tiny restaurant, which seats 26, is the most expensive in the country, with the prix fixe menu ranging from $350 to $500 per person--not including alcohol. Thinking of saving by bringing your own bottle of wine or sake? You can try, but expect to pay a corkage fee of $75. The menu changes frequently, but always includes five appetizers, a sushi entrée with up to 20 types of seafood flown directly from Japan and a dessert course served with tea.

Chicago: Alinea
$192
British pound: 110
Indian rupee: 8,598
Australian dollar: 255
Canadian dollar: 226
Singapore dollar: 324
Euro: 160

Alinea's opening last spring generated major buzz, thanks to Executive Chef Grant Achatz, former sous-chef to Thomas Keller at French Laundry in Napa, California. Achatz left French Laundry for Trio, the Illinois restaurant where he continued making his name with an entrée called Black Truffle Explosion, which actually featured bursts of truffle broth while diners chewed. At Alinea, guests choose from a menu of as many as 24 mini-courses, which can take as long as five hours to finish. Since opening, Alinea has not disappointed Achatz fans, and reservations must be made several months in advance.

Seattle: The Herbfarm
$152
British pound: 87
Indian rupee: 6,807
Australian dollar: 202
Canadian dollar: 179
Singapore dollar: 257
Euro: 127

Live guitar music, herbs and vegetables grown on the grounds and a large selection of Pacific Northwest wines are just a few of the reasons why The Herbfarm is a unique dining experience. Paying over $150 per person outside of New York or Los Angeles is a bit uncommon, but at The Herbfarm--where a nine-course meal (at $159 to $189, including wine but excluding tip and tax) can take over four hours to consume--we promise you it's worth it.

San Francisco: French Laundry
$135
British pound: 77
Indian rupee: 6,046
Australian dollar: 180
Canadian dollar: 159
Singapore dollar: 228
Euro: 113

The restaurant takes reservations two months to the calendar date in advance, so get booking now--it's universally acknowledged as one of the must-dine destinations in California, and even in the entire U.S. Thomas Keller, the renowned chef behind the restaurant, made waves lately with the opening of Per Se in the Time Warner Center in New York, but French Laundry remains his landmark property, and one well worth checking out. The prix fixe menu consists of between five and nine whimsically named dishes, such as Oysters and Pearls, which is pearl tapioca custard served with caviar and oyster. Tasting menus are priced at $175 per person.

Washington, D.C: Inn at Little Washington
$129
British pound: 74
Indian rupee: 5,777
Australian dollar: 172
Canadian dollar: 152
Singapore dollar: 218
Euro: 108

This country inn and restaurant opened in 1978 in a converted garage in Rappahannock County. The self-taught chef and owner, Patrick O'Connell, has since catapulted his inn and restaurant--now a Relais & Chateaux property--to national attention with innovative, hearty appetizers and entrées like lobster napoleon or a "salmon five ways" starter. The homemade bread basket brought to the table, which includes chewy poppy seed rolls and rye bread with currants and nuts, is refilled every few minutes. Prix fixe menus start at $138 per person during the week.

Philadelphia: Le Bec-Fin
$120
British pound: 69
Indian rupee: 5,374
Australian dollar: 160
Canadian dollar: 141.5
Singapore dollar: 203
Euro: 100

Le Bec-Fin celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. To commemorate the event, the restaurant launched a new, three-course prix fixe dinner as an alternate to the much heaver, seven-course prix fixe ($138 per person) that had traditionally been the only option. To toast your date, order La Bicyclette, a champagne cocktail with raspberry spirits and Chambord raspberry liquor introduced in honor of this year's anniversary. When it opened in 1970, Chef Georges Perrier couldn't have known the formal restaurant would become a hallmark of a town famous for its cheese steaks. Luckily for us, it did.

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