Best of the Best: World's Top 5 Dining Experiences

They say the stomach is the way to a man's heart. Traditionally, this advice is given to young ladies courting that special someone with hopes that a home-cooked meal will seal the deal. Yet I think the guidance rings equally true for resorts and hotels.

Give me a delicious dinner or a superb shore lunch––a signature dining experience to cap off an exciting adventure––and you've not only filled my belly but have cemented your place in my memory.

I'm a simple man and am more than content to stay that way for the rest of my life, but I have to admit I have become a bit of a food snob––or, more accurately, have developed a nuanced appreciation of high quality cuisine. I can't help it. In my travels, I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to dine at a wide variety of the highest regarded restaurants on the planet.

Allow me to share three examples.

At a castle in the highlands of Scotland, my wife and I enjoyed supremely tender beef while watching the sun set on the tallest mountain in the U.K. The King of Norway donated the furniture we sat on for the feast, and one waiter's sole responsibility was to help us select the perfect wine to accompany our food––and then to rush to our table and top us off, seemingly after every sip.

At a remote fly-in fishing lodge in Manitoba, I saw the shore-lunch concept taken to a new level by a dedicated guide who painstakingly measured the temperature of his oil to ensure the beer batter would have the ideal viscosity––a skill he honed six days a week, four months a year for the past decade. My dad and I sat on a pristine island and ate perfectly bronzed walleyes that were swimming just an hour ago, while watching a bald eagle soar overhead.

On a tropical island in the Atlantic Ocean, my wife and I enjoyed a tiki-torch lit, five-course dinner on the beach with a personalized menu congratulating us on our wedding anniversary––all while a pianist played in the background and a key deer wandered up to our table.

Without further adieu, here is my list of the five best dining experiences at resorts, hotels and lodges around the world.

1. Ashford Castle
Cong, Ireland

The Restaurant: George V Dining Room

The Scene: The dining room, built specially for a visit from the Prince of Wales, is the cornerstone of a magnificent, 800-year-old baronial castle on Lough Corrib in Ireland's untamed Connemara region. Eleven Waterford crystal chandeliers hang from the dining room's ceiling.

If you catch Atlantic salmon or brown trout during your stay, the kitchen will clean and cook the fish to perfection; otherwise, the roasted rack of lamb with red pepper coulis and spinach is tremendous. The breakfast buffet with fresh ham, beef and made-to-order omelets is an event itself, after which you may need to stroll around the castle's gardens to avoid a post-breakfast nap.

What Else You Should Know: The Guinness family owned Ashford Castle centuries ago. As a hotel, Ashford was named #1 Best Resort Hotel in Europe by Conde Nast Traveler in 2010. My wife and I stayed at Ashford Castle our last night in Ireland. We are glad we saved it for last––it blew away everywhere else we stayed on the Emerald Island.

Click here to read my full article about Ashford Castle, including my adventures with salmon fishing, falconry and hiking.

2. Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior
Tofte, Minnesota

The Restaurant: Three Options: The Bluefin Grille, Coho Café and Bakery, and Waves of Superior Café

The Scene: A diverse array of fresh, locally made food ranging from Lake Superior salmon and lake trout to award-winning pizzas to apple walnut french toast served with pure maple syrup, fresh fruit and locally wild rice sausages––all with spectacular views of the world's largest freshwater lake.

Why It's the Best: Outstanding food with even better scenery, perched on the big lake. "Guests are surprised how incredibly close our resort is to Lake Superior," said Dennis Rysdahl, owner and general manager of Bluefin Bay. "People are stunned by these amazing views––you can't get closer to Superior than this."

What Else You Should Know: The Bluefin Grille was voted "Minnesota's Favorite Resort Restaurant" by Minnesota Monthly Magazine readers. Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior is hands-down the most beautiful resort in the Midwest, in my opinion.

Click here to read my full article about Bluefin Bay, including my adventures kayaking, biking and mountain climbing.

3. Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort
British Columbia

The Restaurant: Nimmo Bay dining room for breakfast/dinner; glaciers, mountains and islands for lunch

What Else You Should Know: Nimmo Bay is routinely named one of the top ten wilderness resorts in the world, and was named the best dining experience in British Columbia in the New York Times best-seller "1,000 Places to See Before You Die." You will be hard-pressed to find a more breathtaking place on the planet to enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch.

Click here to read my full article about Nimmo Bay, including my adventures heli-hiking, ocean kayaking and mountain climbing.

4. Ritz-Carlton, South Beach
Miami, Florida

The Restaurant: DiLido Beach Club

The Scene: The only restaurant on world-famous South Beach that is actually on the beach, the setting couldn't be cooler. And the food you eat, while watching the rich and beautiful stroll along the beach, couldn't be tastier. Our seven course, ocean-inspired lunch included award-winning cerviche, shrimp, marinated mahi, Pacific tuna and pan-seared salmon that––get this––was flown in that morning from the Pacific Ocean.

Why It's the Best: Chef Andres Meraz is a rock star. Mark my words: This immensely talented, personable and good-looking young chef will be famous someday. Not yet 30 years old, the phenom has already worked at restaurants in Spain, Hungary, Italy and Austria.

What Else You Should Know: Again, I promised I wouldn't commit to favorites, but I will say this was the best lunch I have ever had. Living up to its name, every aspect of the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach is first-rate. Last year, the Ritz rolled out a "Catch of the Stay" package that includes deep-sea fishing by day and evening stays at the hotel with your daily catch prepared to perfection.

Click here to read my full article about the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, including my adventures with crocodiles, manatees and sharks in the nearby Florida Evergaldes.

5. The U.S. Grant Hotel
San Diego, California

The Restaurant: The Grant Grill

The Scene: Boasting a $6.5 million art collection, the 104-year-old U.S. Grant Hotel and its signature restaurant––complete with a Sommelier and award-winning mixologist for fancy cocktails you can't find anywhere else––is a West Coast icon. The seasonal menu features the best California produce, fresh Pacific seafood, sustainable meats and poultry, and fresh herbs with signature dishes such as Dry Aged Prime Rib Eye with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Marrow, Onoway Potatoes, and Sauce Bordelaise.

What Else You Should Know: The U.S. Grant Hotel is a historic landmark. It's within walking distance of Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, and San Diego's popular trolley tours. Nearly every U.S. president has stayed at the hotel.