Must-see restaurants in The USA

  • Bullard

    Portland

    Inside the Woodlark hotel is this nod to chef Doug Adams' roots and chosen home, where the meat-centric menu is decidedly Texas-meets-Oregon. 'Supper'…

  • Passerotto

    Chicago

    Korean American chef Jennifer Kim showcases the food of her childhood through the influences of Italian cooking at Andersonville's hottest new restaurant…

  • Skadi

    Mammoth Lakes

    Considering its more-than-mundane location in an industrial strip, Skadi comes as a surprise. Hip Swiss Alps decor and an innovative menu are the creation…

  • St Elmo's

    Indianapolis

    This nearly 120-year-old carnivore haunt is Indy's best – and one of its only – independent steakhouses. It receives consistent accolades for service,…

  • FLX Table

    Finger Lakes

    Book online well ahead for one of the 12 spots at two sittings around this communal table for a dinner-party style, five-course gourmet feast. Dishes are…

  • Sushi Gen

    Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights

    Come early to grab a table at this classic sushi spot, where bantering Japanese chefs carve thick slabs of melt-in-your-mouth salmon, buttery toro (tuna…

  • Gabriela & Sofia’s Tex-Mex

    Dallas

    The interior here is just acceptable: dark and roomy. But that's good as it doesn't get in the way of the beauty you'll find on your plate. Regional…

  • Dick's Hideaway

    Phoenix

    At this pocket-sized ode to New Mexican cuisine, grab a small table beside the bar or settle in at the communal table in the side room and prepare for…

  • Toscanini’s

    Cambridge

    People come from miles around for Tosci's burnt-caramel ice cream, which apparently was invented as the result of an accident (you can imagine). Besides…

  • Lukshon

    Los Angeles

    This upscale, teak-clad restaurant is one of LA's underrated highs. Chef and owner Sang Yoon steers a sharp, well-rounded menu of sharing dishes inspired…

  • Pizzicletta

    Flagstaff

    Tiny Pizzicletta, where the excellent thin-crusted wood-fired pizzas are loaded with gourmet toppings such as arugula and aged prosciutto, is housed in a…

  • Oak at Fourteenth

    Boulder

    Zesty and innovative, locally owned Oak manufactures top-notch cocktails and tasty small plates for stylish diners. Standouts include the grilled bacon…

  • Tanoshi

    Upper East Side

    It’s not easy to snag one of the 22 stools at Tanoshi, a wildly popular, pocket-sized sushi spot. The setting may be humble, but the flavors are simply…

  • Pig & the Lady

    Honolulu

    An award-winning Vietnamese fusion restaurant, the Pig & the Lady is crazy popular. Book well in advance. Imaginative lunch banh mi (sandwiches) come with…

  • Lovina

    Calistoga

    A sparsely decorated cottage surrounded by a white picket fence, Lovina is especially good for lunch in the garden. The menu changes frequently, featuring…

  • Flower + Bone

    Russian River Area

    From the foraging, pickling, preserving Santa Rosa couple behind the Naked Pig comes Flower + Bone. The cuisine is inspired by ancient cooking techniques,…

  • Owen's Fish Camp

    Sarasota

    The wait rarely dips below an hour at this hip, Old Florida swamp shack downtown. The menu consists of upscale Southern cuisine with an emphasis on…

  • Finistere

    Olympic Peninsula

    When Sweet Laurette (formerly in this location) closed, local foodies despaired, but Finistere is a worthy replacement. With a staff whose experience…

  • Myers + Chang

    South End & Chinatown

    This super-hip Asian spot blends Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines, which means delicious dumplings, spicy stir­-fries and oodles of noodles. The…

  • Bar Harbor Restaurant

    Ketchikan

    This slightly pricey seafood restaurant, usually touted among locals as the best in town, recently reopened in a new cruise-dock location on Berth 4…

  • Bahn Mi Deli

    Gulf Coast & South Texas

    You'll probably pass by a couple of times before you find it. The corner-store vibe isn't immediately convincing, but after tasting one (or a few) of the…

  • Field & Main

    Northern Virginia

    Star and Neal Wavra's elegant eatery occupies a building that has functioned as a restaurant for two centuries. This is one of the best places to eat in…

  • Watson Soda Fountain Café

    Orange County

    Established 1899, this former drugstore was recently refurbished to a period design (check out the old safe, apothecary cabinets and telephone switchboard…

  • Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater

    Walt Disney World

    Burgers, ribs and glow-in-the-dark drinks served drive-in style. Climb into your convertible Cadillac, order from the car hop, sip on a Lunar Landing and…

  • Nick's Original Filet House

    Alabama

    Also known as Nick's in the Sticks, this rickety back-road joint is a Tuscaloosa classic. Nestled in the trees about 5 miles out of town, with a flock of…

  • Irazu

    Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village

    Chicago’s lone Costa Rican eatery turns out burritos bursting with chicken, black beans and fresh avocado, and sandwiches dressed in a heavenly, spicy…

  • Z & Y

    North Beach & Chinatown

    Graduate from ho-hum sweet-and-sour and middling mu shu to sensational Sichuan dishes that go down in a blaze of glory. Warm up with spicy pork dumplings…

  • Kualapuʻu Cookhouse

    Moloka'i

    This kitsch old roadhouse serves the best meals on the island. Portions are generous – breakfasts feature huge omelets – and plate-lunch options include…

  • Kula Bistro

    North Shore & Upcountry

    This superb family-owned bistro offers a friendly retro dining room, sparkling service and delicious home cooking, including fabulous pizza, pasta and…

  • Nobu

    Lanaʻi

    Created by chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, worldwide chain Nobu is known for ultra-fresh and creative sushi and other Japanese dishes. Newly redesigned, the…

  • UpCountry

    Northwestern Washington & the San Juan Islands

    Settle in for an intimate sharing plate–style dining experience at this tiny restaurant, with just 11 seats surrounding the open kitchen of chef-owner…

  • Night + Market Song

    Silver Lake & Echo Park

    After cultivating a cult following in WeHo, this gleefully garish temple to real-deal Thai and Cambodian street food is killing it in the hipster…

  • Industrial Eats

    Santa Ynez Valley

    Hugely and justifiably popular locals' hangout, housed in an eclectically decorated warehouse on Buellton's coolest street. Pizzas have traditional to…

  • Xiao Bao Biscuit

    Charleston

    Housed in a former gas station, with exposed brick walls and concrete floor, this casual but stylish eatery hits the hipster high marks. But the food? Now…

  • Hiro's Ohana Grill

    Moloka'i

    Casual fine-dining restaurant in an awesome sunset-watching setting opposite the ocean, with tiki torches lit after dark. All the delicious plates are…

  • Hardena/Waroeng Surabaya

    South Philadelphia

    Short of a trip to Jakarta you are unlikely to find better authentic Indonesian food than that served at James Beard–nominated Hardena. Order at the…

  • Mariscos 4 Vientos

    Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights

    You'll find the greatest shrimp taco of your life at no-frills Mariscos 4 Vientos. Order from the truck (if you're in a hurry) or grab a table inside the…

  • Lucky

    Blue Ridge Highlands & Southwest Virginia

    Lucky has excellent cocktails (try 'The Cube') and a seasonally inspired menu of small plates (hickory-smoked porchetta, roasted oysters) and heartier…

  • Craft

    Union Square, Flatiron District & Gramercy

    Humming, high-end Craft flies the flag for small, family-owned farms and food producers, their bounty transformed into pure, polished dishes. Whether…

  • Goldy's Breakfast Bistro

    Boise

    Assuming an egg is just an egg, Goldy's offers 866,320 'Create Your Own Breakfast Combos.' Check our math – we were already drunk on hollandaise sauce…

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