Fusion restaurants in USA
-
A
Cafe 976
PB denizens of all shapes and colors flock to this mellow, yellow converted 1920s beach house for the magnolia-shaded gardens, the wraparound porch studded with colorful chairs, and eclectic comfort food like Indian tuna curry (limited menu at night) and vegetarian chili. There's local art on the walls and often more being produced right at the tables. Kids will be spoiled by options like grilled cheese with the crusts cut off.
You're all set if you need some wi-fi vibes to go with all the groovy ones here.
reviewed
-
B
Balans
Kensington, Chiswick…South Beach? Oi, give this Brit-owned fusion favorite a go. Where else do veal saltimbocca and lamb jalfrezi share a menu? After you down the signature lobster club, you'll agree tired stereotypes about English cooking need to be reconsidered.
reviewed
-
C
Trumbull Kitchen
At this slick downtown eatery you can get bites of anything from dim sum, tapas, stone pies or (and?) fondue. The bar stays open later on the weekend, the longer to sample the impressive cocktail list.
reviewed
-
Roy's–Waikiki Beach
Groundbreaking Hawaii chef Roy Yamaguchi doesn't actually cook here, but his signature misoyaki butterfish, blackened 'ahi (tuna), macnut-encrusted mahimahi and deconstructed sushi rolls are always on the menu. Reservations essential.
reviewed
-
D
Chino Latino
This shiny, spangled place is the Uptown scenester hangout. The food is Latin-Asian fusion, with novelties such as a satay bar and the large, shared pupu (Polynesian- influenced appetizer) platter.
reviewed
-
E
Chinois
Wolfgang Puck scores again, this time with signature Cal-Asian fusion served in a chic Far East–meets–West Coast setting. Pair the firecracker shrimp with a sugared tower of mochi (pounded rice cakes) or a premium glass of cold sake. It’s only a deal at lunch. Also recommended: 808 Chef Jean-Marie Josselin dials Hawaii on the coconut wireless daily to procure the raw goods that fuel this Pacific Rim delight. Don’t neglect the ‘deconstructed’ ahi roll. Cypress Street Marketplace Charge made-to-order salads and pizza, Asian stir-fries and healthy wraps to your ‘smart’ card, then pay as you exit the food court. Tables overlook the casino floor. Trevi…
reviewed
-
F
Komi
At the time of writing, the critical consensus was Komi was serving the best food in the capital. There’s an admirable simplicity to the changing menu, which is rooted in Greece and influenced by everything, primarily genius. Suckling pig for two; scallops and truffles; a roasted baby goat. It all comes together, because here it’s not just the food, but the incredible attention and measured pacing provided by the staff. You pay for Komi, but what you get is one of Washington’s most knockout dining experiences. Komi’s Venetian fairytale of a dining space doesn’t take groups larger than four, and you need to reserve way in advance – like, now.
reviewed
-
G
Lucy's Grill & Bar
Nestled in windward Kailua at the end of the Pali Hwy, this contemporary bistro is one of the best dining and drinking options outside of Honolulu. The menu is a fusion of Hawaiian-Euro-Asian served among a breezy outdoor patio, full bar overlooking the dining area and open kitchen. And if you like exotic bar drinks, try local concoctions like the pineapple martini or Li Hing Mui margarita made from a famous sweet and sour 'crack-seed' candy.
Dishes range from salt-crusted rib-eye steak to a spinach and caramelized onion pizza with liliko'i (passion fruit) puree.
reviewed
-
H
Indebleu
This dramatic looking space is an oasis of hipness in the heart of Downtown. Reach the muted beige-and-cream dining room on the second floor via a futuristic catwalk to join Washington's beautiful people - from sports stars and politicos to TV personalities and local hipsters - in an exotic explosion of Indian-influenced French grub. Attentive service and delicious food are plusses, although the pulsating house track din drifting up from the lounge makes conversation hard. If you'd rather just grab a cocktail, join the Euro crowd at the orange-hued mod bar downstairs.
reviewed
-
I
Source
Wolfgang Puck makes your visit to the Newseum a tasty, stylish one, with an icily modern two-story restaurant that feels like the canteen of a spaceship. The food is typical of Puck’s fusion repertoire, which favors Asian flavors – tuna tartar tipped with shaved bonito and sesame-miso cones. The most interesting palette experiments involve Puck-ish (heh) variations on local standards; pairing a Maryland crab cake with a tempura-fried soft crab could be insulting to native cuisine, but ends up creating an intriguing dichotomy of taste experiences.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
New Heights
This airy 2nd-floor restaurant, winner of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) design award, overlooks Rock Creek Park. Acclaimed chef Arthur Rivaldo serves up delicious new American dishes with Asian and Mediterranean influences and complementary wines. Specialties range from local jumbo lump crab cakes (and they do mean jumbo) to the exotic Opaka-Paka Hawaiian red snapper grilled with black trumpets and grapefruit.
The signature appetizer, black-bean and goat cheese pâté, is a rich, creamy delicacy.
reviewed
-
K
Tantra
One of South Beach's coolest celebrity hot spots, Tantra is based on the premise that all senses are to be awakened...and it certainly delivers in the visual, aural and taste departments. Large portions of eclectic cuisine like Thai spiced duck confit with an orange-scented cucumber salad share the stage with Moroccan spiced lamb with mint and mango.
The lobby features freshly cut grass, while the bar pulses to Tantric music as sweet somethings wander around offering aphrodisiac cocktails.
reviewed
-
L
Taranta
Europe meets South America at this Italian restaurant with a Peruvian twist. So, for example, gnocchi is made from yucca and served with a spicy lamb ragout; salmon filet is encrusted with macadamia nuts, and filet mignon with crushed espresso beans. There’s an incredible selection of Italian, Chilean and Argentinean wines, all of which are organic or biodynamic. Taranta is a Certified Green Restaurant.
reviewed
-
M
No 7
This intimate Fort Greene stalwart is all about vintage: there are wide-plank floors, a marble-topped bar and a cozy 20-seat dining area in the back. The short menu showcases the talents of chef Tyler Kord, featuring imaginative dishes such as seafood tortilla soup and broccoli tacos with feta, pine nuts and beans.
There’s a saucy list of cocktails to choose from, too. Order the ‘Whore Water’ (tequila, Cointreau, watermelon, jalapeño, lime and Thai basil) at your own discretion.
reviewed
-
N
Jinja
Asian fusion cuisine and tropical cocktails make this bright spot a place to linger. Choose from among Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and Malaysian-style mains, but whatever else you do, don't miss the wasabi mashed potatoes. The kids' menu keeps young ones happy and the drinks menu inspires adults to be bold - try a Polynesian 'party bowl' with four straws (around US$29) or a Thai martini (around US$9) with lime vodka and house-made lemongrass syrup.
reviewed
-
O
Kenichi
Many attempt Pacific fusion; Kenichi does it right. The likes of cranberry miso sauce, balsamic reduction and curry with mint-scented yogurt sauce fill a menu of fresh, quality seafood and meat. The portions are small yet memorable. Sushi and pupu could be combined for a less spendy meal. It's a shame the environment doesn't match the standard of the food, with an extremely plain dining room and an unadulterated outdoor area the only options.
reviewed
-
P
Rhythm Cafe
There's no lack of flair at this colorful, upbeat bistro, in a converted drugstore in West Palm's antiques district, strung with Christmas lights and hung with bright, bobbing paper lanterns. The menu is equally vibrant, bopping happily from goat-cheese pie to 'the best tuna tartar ever' to pomegranate-infused catch of the day. Dessert's a star – the chocolate butter-cream cake is advertized as 'so good you'll slap your momma!' We don't advise that, but do taste the cake.
reviewed
-
Q
Jackson House Inn
Expect tranquility, exquisite views of Mt Tom and premier cuisine at the Jackson House. The prix-fixe menu might feature scallops and stone crab or duck in phyllo, followed by a main dish of pepper-crusted tuna or a juicy little squab lightly caramelized with maple syrup. The chef also offers a 10-course tasting menu at $95, a true treat for your tastebuds. End with the pumpkin brûlée, steamed lemon pudding or tarte tatin.
reviewed
-
R
Tabla
At first glance you'll wonder if you're reading the menu wrong--could lobster and haricot verts be Indian? Only in the hands of Goa-born and France-raised chef Floyd Cardoz, who masterfully blends American produce with his native staples. If you can't get in or you're just in a relaxed mood, stay downstairs at Cardoz's more casual Bread Bar. Order a Tablatini with your tandoori steak and watch the endless parade of street traffic.
reviewed
-
S
Café Hanalei
Enter this breezily elegant restaurant and…wow! A stupendous view of Hanalei Bay. The Asian-inspired island cuisine is good (if short of great). The best value is lunch, from a ⅓lb Kobe beef burger to a bento of teriyaki beef, mango-glazed chicken and fish tempura. Dinners highlight fish, eg pan-seared 'ahi with peanut-miso sauce. Skip the overpriced breakfasts but splurge on the decadent Sunday brunch around US$55.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Ophelia's on the Bay
On the harbor-side at the southern end of Siesta Key, Ophelia's is the island's top romantic spot. The water lapping the dock at your feet and the distant mangroves are a serene balm to the soul. The menu is all over the map, reaching around the globe for influences, but everything is finely prepared and stylishly presented. Reserve ahead.
reviewed
-
T
Centre Street Café
This artistic, eclectic restaurant embodies the essence of Jamaica Plain. Smart but idiosyncratic staff serve dishes that range from ‘Shrimp Nirvana’ to ‘Danno’s Szechwan Shaboom.’ It’s not particularly fancy fare, but ingredients are organic and locally grown, and the outcome is – as the menu promises – ‘outrageously good!’ A highlight is Sunday brunch, when patient would-be patrons wait in lines that stretch down the block.
reviewed
-
U
L'atelier De Joel Robuchon
If you've eaten at any of Robuchon's celebrated restaurants in Paris, Tokyo, London or Las Vegas, you know what to expect - a smorgasbord of flavors in tiny bites. Taking small plates and omakase to a whole new level, L'Atelier's frog legs croquettes, hangar steak, caramelized free-range quail stuffed with foie gras, served with potato puree, and lychee desserts are divine. Sit at the counter, if you can.
reviewed
-
V
Nine One Five
Classy Nine One Five certainly stands out from the nearby Duval detritus of alcoholic aggression and tribal band tattoos. Ignore all that and enter this immaculate, modern and elegant space, which serves a creative, New American-dips-into-Asia menu. It's all quite rich – imagine a butternut squash and almond risotto, or local lobster accompanied by duck confit potatoes.
reviewed
-
3W & Blue Bar
Seemingly lifted en masse from Soho, this swinging eatery features a ‘blue bar’ and trance music that’s hard to tune out. Submit to the suggestive bamboo and red-lantern decor by ordering an Asian-inspired dish like sesame-crusted tuna. Or just go all the way with some sushi; the Dynamite roll – with shrimp, spicy tuna, salmon and avocado – is, well, dynamite ($12).
reviewed