France is one of the most historical places on the face of the Earth. You may not be intrigued by their long and storied history with Great Britain and the many Kings and Queens who have left their fingerprints all over the area, but you will undoubtedly recognize that French cuisine is considered the finest in the world. Michel Bras runs a small restaurant in the Aveyron region of France, simply known as “Bras”. This unique dining experience is known as French food at its finest. With a family-friendly atmosphere, Bras' son helps to run the restaurant and his mother still drops in to make her Aligot dish from time to time.

Bras is far off the beaten path. Instead of being found center-city like many of New York's famous restaurants, Bras is located atop a plateau, nearly 4,000-feet above sea level. The restaurant is beautifully rural, built with grey granite and modern glass block to give it a contradictory appearance that plays very well with the surrounding area.

The hilltop landscape doesn't stand out as unique, but the modern-meets-classic architecture is stunning, and the views of surrounding hills and fields below are incredible. Inside of the complex, every aspect is contemporary. The dining room is very unique, a triangular-shaped structure with floor-to-ceiling glass. Overall, the ambiance is distinctive and very inviting.

Restaurant Magazine of Britain is considered Europe's foremost authority when it comes to restaurants and chefs. Bras easily walked away with the honor of being named of one Restaurant's Top 50 establishments in the world - an honor not easily awarded. The construction of the restaurant might be aesthetically pleasing, but the food is what really sells. The menu is a fine mixture of local French produce and other ingredients.

Bras places a strong emphasis on “simple” and this shows up in some of the starter dishes: simply cooked fresh, local vegetables. The wine selection is enormous, boasting a 38-page selection of both local and imported wines. Fowl, beef and pork, truffles, foie gras, fresh seafood, and other items are also beautifully prepared and served by Bras.

Most people come into Bras to try out the famous dish served my Michel's mother, Aligot. This dish is a local delicacy in the area. Aligot is served piping hot and made with local cheese, mashed potatoes, and a hint of garlic. It can be described as the French version of Ireland's famous potato colcannon. Other unique dishes of Bras include lemon crisps, real fruit lollipops, and chocolate ices. Bras uses a high standard of ingredients and uses a technical execution to pull off the cooking.

The service staff also wins high marks for Bras. The menu can get a bit pricy at times, and many people are disappointed with the portion size in comparison - even the wine is expensive and you only receive half of a small glass per serving. However, the experience of the setting as well as the food works to make Bras one of the top restaurants in the world.