Hey all, sorry I haven't been keeping in touch via this thread. But I went to a couple of places specifically suggested on here (and some others):

A Voce Columbus: http://withoutbacon.wordpress.com/20...bus-3-5-stars/
Love the bread w/ ricotta!

L'Achepot, (Brussels): http://withoutbacon.wordpress.com/20...ssels-belgium/

Vermillion: http://withoutbacon.wordpress.com/20...llion-3-stars/
Decent Indian-Latin fusion place.

Picholine: http://withoutbacon.wordpress.com/20...ine-4-5-stars/
Picholine was recommended to me on here and I loved it. Probably one of my top 5 restaurants ever. I couldn't believe that it only got one Michelin star!

Tocqueville: http://withoutbacon.wordpress.com/20...ville-3-stars/
I thought this place was decent, but not that impressive. Especially coming so close after Picholine, I was not that impressed. I actually considered downgrading it from 3 stars to 2.5...

Daniel Boulud's latest, Boulud Sud: http://withoutbacon.wordpress.com/20...sud-3-5-stars/
Nice and comfortable restaurant, but quality doesn't suffer.

Junoon: http://withoutbacon.wordpress.com/20...unoon-3-stars/
Michelin-starred Indian, but service was a bit off.

I also went to Arpege in Paris, again thanks to recommendations from people here. Very good food -- review coming sometime soon. I'll also be going to Eleven Madison Park again this week, probably my #1 favorite restaurant overall.