Basil's Restaurant Minneapolis, Minneapolis

After ascending two floors of ivory and ebony decor that adorns the Marquette Hotel, the subtle colors of Basil's Restaurant stand out. Tables and booths situated next to the third-story windows bathe in natural light during the breakfast and lunch rush. Dishes include the smoked salmon gravlax with capers and eggs or banana flambe french toast for breakfast and escalate to lunch eats such as lamb burgers with gruyere cheese or cider-brined pork chops. That's because Basil's Restaurant's chefs keep time with the sun, making sure to rotate their menus throughout the day.

At night, the ambiance imbues elegance, donning a backdrop of twinkling lights and views of the IDS Center's Crystal Court from the dining terrace. The chefs, too, work with finer ingredients and utensils that wear top hats in order to craft steak au poivre with a blueberry demi glaze or seared diver scallops with carrot and parsnip puree.