Must-see restaurants in North America

  • Maialino

    Union Square, Flatiron District & Gramercy

    Fans reserve tables up to four weeks in advance at this Danny Meyer classic, but the best seats in the house are at the walk-in bar, with sociable,…

  • Marjie's Grill

    New Orleans

    In one word: brilliant. Marjie's is run by chefs who were inspired by Southeast Asian street food, but rather than coming home and doing pale imitations…

  • Larrupin Cafe

    North Coast & Redwoods

    Everybody loves Larrupin, where Moroccan rugs, chocolate-brown walls, gravity-defying floral arrangements and deep-burgundy Oriental carpets create a…

  • Boucherie

    New Orleans

    The thick, glistening cuts of bacon on the BLT can only be the work of the devil – or chef Nathanial Zimet, whose house-cured meats and succulent Southern…

  • Purebread

    Whistler

    Imagine the best bakery you’ve ever visited, elevate the quality by the power of 10 and you might just get Purebread. Founded as a pinprick-sized business…

  • Starlight Theatre

    West Texas

    You might expect a ghost town to be dead at night, but the Starlight Theatre keeps things lively. A movie theater that fell into roofless disrepair (hence…

  • Dish Dive

    Atlanta

    Located in a teeny house near some railroad tracks, Dish Dive is cooler than you and it doesn't care. Anyone is welcome here, and the food – fresh,…

  • Kaiyo

    The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers

    For a deliciously deep dive into the cuisine of the Japanese-Peruvian diaspora, head to Cow Hollow's most playful and inventive new restaurant, where the…

  • Geste Shrimp Truck

    Kahului

    Beside Kahului Harbor, this small white food truck, emblazoned with a giant shrimp, serves the tastiest shrimp on Maui – maybe even the world! A dozen…

  • Cattleman's Steakhouse

    El Paso

    This working cattle ranch is 35 miles southeast of downtown – follow signs 4.7 miles northeast from I-10 exit 49 – but locals would probably drive 200…

  • Nuka

    North Shore & Upcountry

    One of Maui’s best dining options marries a traditional Japanese restaurant with an elegant-casual dining room. Order classics such as sushi and tempura,…

  • Ludvig's Bistro

    Sitka

    Sophistication in the wilderness! Sitka’s boldest restaurant has only seven tables, and a few stools at its brass-and-blue-tile bar. Described as ‘rustic…

  • Catbird Seat

    Nashville

    For the 22 lucky diners perched around an open kitchen, chefs Will Aghajanian and Liz Johnson choreograph an unforgettable 10- to 12-course dining…

  • Tin Roof

    Kahului

    This creation by celebrity chef Sheldon Simeon proves that a restaurant can be successful no matter the venue – in this case a tin-roofed outlet next to…

  • Haliʻimaile General Store

    North Shore & Upcountry

    The culinary sorceress behind this destination dining spot is chef Bev Gannon, one of the forces behind the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement. In-the-know…

  • Gunshow

    Atlanta

    Celebrity chef Kevin Gillespie's innovative and unorthodox Gunshow is an explosively good night out. Guests choose between a dozen or so smallish dishes,…

  • Red Shoe Pub

    Cape Breton Island

    The Red Shoe is the place to catch a bit of Celtic music as you mosey down the Ceilidh Trail. The homey, ramshackle pub hosts at least one gig seven…

  • Acquerello

    San Francisco

    A converted chapel is a fitting location for feasts that turn Italian culinary purists into true believers in Cal-Italian cuisine. Chef Suzette Gresham's…

  • Hana Farms Grill

    Hana & East Maui

    Behind the Hana Farms stand, this little gem is the local choice for a lunch stop. It serves fresh seafood plates – with lilikoʻi (passion fruit) butter,…

  • Tan Dinh

    New Orleans

    It may look like a bog standard strip-mall Vietnamese joint when you walk in, but we'd happily contend that Tan Dinh is one of the best restaurants in…

  • Monkeypod Kitchen

    Kihei & South Maui

    Happy hours are crowded but convivial at this ever-popular venture from chef Peter Merriman, where the staff, your fellow drinkers and the 36 craft beers…

  • Noosh

    Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights

    Follow the spice route into the future with Istanbul-inspired, San Francisco-invented sensations: satiny lamb belly with smoked yoghurt, nutty confit…

  • Quintonil

    Polanco & Bosque de Chapultepec

    This contemporary innovator consistently makes the Top 50 Restaurants in the World list – #11 in 2018 – for creatively showcasing traditional Mexican…

  • Mercado Divisidero

    The Copper Canyon & Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífico

    At the foot of the train station sits the Divisidero market with stall-upon-stall of eateries selling mostly tacos, burritos and gorditas (stuffed thick…

  • Acorn

    Denver

    The oak-fired oven and grill are the shining stars of this superb restaurant, where small plates of innovative and shareable eats make up meals. The menu…

  • La Providencia

    Zipolite

    Zipolite’s outstanding dining option, on a road behind the beach's western end, combines exquisite flavors, artful presentation and relaxed ambience. You…

  • Arsicault Bakery

    San Francisco

    Armando Lacayo left his job in finance because he, like his Parisian grandparents before him, was obsessed with making croissants. After perfecting his…

  • Peche Seafood Grill

    New Orleans

    Coastal seafood dishes are prepared simply here, but unexpected flourishes – whether from salt, spices or magic – sear the deliciousness onto your taste…

  • Hartwood

    Tulum

    Assuming you can get in (it accepts walk-ins and online reservations made one month in advance), this sweet 'n' simple nouvelle-cuisine restaurant down on…

  • Locanda Verde

    Financial District & Lower Manhattan

    Curbside at the Greenwich Hotel is this Italian fine diner by Andrew Carmellini, where velvet curtains part onto a scene of loosened button-downs, black…

  • Shaka Pops

    Hana & East Maui

    A friendly shaka wave greets travelers passing this happy mobile tricycle, where frozen treats-on-a-stick come in fresh, tropical flavors from Lilikoʻi…

  • In Situ

    Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa

    The landmark gallery of modern cuisine attached to SFMOMA also showcases avant-garde masterpieces – but these ones you'll lick clean. Chef Corey Lee…

  • Frances

    San Francisco

    Rebel chef-owner Melissa Perello earned a Michelin star for fine dining, then ditched downtown to start this market-inspired neighborhood bistro. Daily…

  • Out of the Fire

    Eastern Shore

    For all that this spot puts forward in playful attitude, it's serious about several things, most prominently sourcing sustainable ingredients and turning…

  • Mt Engadine Lodge Dining Room

    Banff & Jasper National Parks

    It's worth detouring off the Smith Dorrien/Spray Trail for a bite at this charming backwoods lodge. Drop-ins are welcome for the daily afternoon tea,…

  • 626 on Rood

    Southwest Colorado

    Elegant and inventive, this is contemporary American at its best, like whole plates of stunning heirloom tomatoes in season, house-made mozzarella and…

  • Bha! Bha! Persian Bistro

    Naples

    This experimental, high-end establishment takes its name from the Farsi phrase for 'yum, yum,' and that turns out to be a serious understatement. Wash…

  • Balter Beerworks

    Knoxville

    From the communal tables on the patio to the standing-room-only bar to the buzzing dining room, this convivial joint – a former gas station – exudes a…

  • Boulenc Pan Artesano

    Oaxaca City

    Oaxaca’s best bakery comes with a trendy cafe next door where the most popular dish is – guess what? – avocado toast. Guys with beards or girls in Doc…

  • Sasa

    Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights

    Like an unexpected first-class upgrade, Sasa delights with exceptional attention to detail. Here katsu is made with kurobuta pork, silken organic…

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