25 Best Restaurants In France And Monaco

First came The Daily Meal's 101 Best Restaurants in America, then 101 Best Hotel Restaurants Around the World. Now, The Daily Meal has set its sights on Europe. Each week this fall, The Daily Meal will highlight the best restaurants in various regions in Europe, culminating with the debut of our first list of the 101 Best Restaurants in Europe in December.

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Perennially on the quest to find the best places to eat and dine in cities large and small, The Daily Meal continues its European culinary tour across the pond with France and Monaco.

The Daily Meal's list of the 25 Best Restaurants in France and Monaco was carefully curated through a two-month-long nomination process; we consulted the Michelin Guide and other trusted sources and gathered recommendations from The Daily Meal's editors, who have traveled and dined extensively around the world.

Once we compiled a preliminary list of more than 100 restaurants, we reached out to a panel of knowledgeable judges, comprised of restaurant critics, food and lifestyle writers, and bloggers with wide restaurant-going experience. They added their own favorites, and then voted for the winners. Some of our judges requested anonymity. Among those we can thank publically are Libby Andrews, Peter Black, David Downie, Jonell Galloway-White, Agusti Jausas, Annie Jacquet-Bentley, Dino Joannides, Karen Le Billon, Julie Mautner, Roger Morris, Joe Ray, Marjorie Williams, and Meg Zimbeck. Additional panelists include award-winning travel writer and journalist Rosemary Bailey, Rachel Bajada of French for Foodies, and Jack Maraffi, the editor-in-chief of The Affluent Traveler.

Panelists voted in two categories: cuisine and style/décor/service. From innovative menu options to plating and presentation to freshness, quality, and taste, panelists evaluated each restaurant's cuisine and only voted for the restaurants which they believe are extraordinary. For the second category, panelists evaluated the dining experience, from the restaurant's interior and dining room ambiance to the service, voting for the restaurants which they believe offer an unrivaled experience. Each restaurant had the chance to be voted on twice during the survey. Finally, the percentage scores from each category were averaged to arrive at the final ranking.

With dozens of restaurants to choose from, it was a culinary challenge to whittle the list down to a select 25. Restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, from classic French to fusion were considered. We did not discriminate on location; no arrondissement or town was off the table. Naturally, the list is predominantly populated with big-name restaurants in Paris, like Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Guy Savoy, and L'Atelier Saint-Germain de Joël Robuchon, and five restaurants which appeared on The Daily Meal's 101 Best Hotel Restaurants Around the World have made this list.

While The Daily Meal's first list of the 101 Best Restaurants in Europe won't be revealed until December, The Daily Meal 25 Best Restaurants in France and Monaco are sure to whet your appetite for more.

Lauren Mack is the Travel Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @lmack.