10 Unexpected U.S. Cities With a Surprisingly Good Food Scene

Tallahassee is not only the state capital, but it is also a lively college town with a great mix of cool, eclectic areas and swanky upscale dining options. College Town, at the edge of FSU, is a pedestrian-only area with bars, cafes, and restaurants for casual fare. Bar 1903, located in the historic Walker Library, and Eve on Adams on the 17th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton are perfect for a fancier meal. Bonus, Eve on Adams offers some of the best views of the Tallahassee skyline.

For a casual meal, check out Madison Social located at the edge of FSU’s campus. It delivers classic pub food with a twist. If you want to go for a night out on the town, Il Lusso is a great five-star option for an upscale dining experience.

South Walton is a Gulf Coast Florida gem that is known for its sugar-white sand, turquoise waters, and unique beach neighborhoods. But that’s not all. It is also becoming a foodie hot spot with an interesting mix of old classics and new eclectic cuisines. Local chefs are putting delicious spins on coastal casuals—be it comfort foods or fine dining. Places to check out are Scratch Biscuit Kitchen where made-from-scratch biscuits take center stage for breakfast, lunch, and even dessert. Also worth a visit is Ovide, where classic Gulf Coast flavors come together with impeccable French techniques to create masterful dishes for a fancier dining option.

Take advantage of South Walton’s luxury seaside communities like Alys Beach for the perfect combination of sun, sand, laid-back atmosphere, and great food. The Citizen is a coastal tavern serving some of the best seafood around as well as creative cocktails.

From moonshine distilleries like Sugar Tit, speakeasy bars with drag queen nights, and grocery stores that champion the farm-to-table movement—Greenville is quickly becoming America’s hippest food city. Once a world-renowned textile boomtown in the 1900s, Greenville struggled when all the mills shut down. Now the city and its many turn-of-the-century neighborhoods are on the mend. Today the city has more than 100 restaurants, many of which are James Beard-nominated establishments that cater to every pallet.

A perfect date night restaurant is Juniper located eight floors above Main Street offering epic views, intoxicating drinks, and stellar food. Some nights they have live entertainment for a true one-of-a-kind experience. Another favorite is Camp which is touted as a gathering place capturing the essence of Greenville with food that is delicious and flavorful using fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced locally. For breakfast head to Swamp Rabbit Café along the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

Set in the heart of Wisconsin’s fertile Chippewa Valley, Eau Claire’s food scene includes a little bit of everything—fine dining, first-generation Mexican and Hmong fare, food trucks, and a thriving field-to-table movement led by Farm Table Foundation that incorporates farms scattered around the area. It also has many indie coffee shops that are the perfect place for people-watching. The diverse food fare in Eau Claire goes to show that Wisconsin is so much more than cheese curds.

The Lakely, which is attached to the Oxbow Hotel in the heart of downtown, serves a locally-sourced seasonal menu full of Midwestern classics with an artist twist. Stop by the Brewing Projekt, one of eight craft breweries in town for a flight of their funky flavors. For an after-dinner treat head to Ramone’s, which is a vintage ice cream parlor with sodas, malts, and ice cream.

Bloomington, along with its sister city of Normal, has always been known as a university town with both Illinois State University and Wesleyan located inside the city limits. But as the town grows and expands, so does the culinary scene with many different cuisines taking root thanks to the university’s large international student population. With Korean, Indian, Mexican, Thai, and everything in between, it is the place to go for a laid-back culinary adventure.

For rustic, old-school vibes try The Lucca Grill, which is perfect for Italian favorites with its antique bar and tin ceiling. Desithl Restaurant & Brew Works is a chic eatery with farm-to-table cooking and around 48 creative taps. Another generational favorite is the Ropp Jersey Cheese farm just outside town that focuses on cheddars ranging from Cajun to dill, green olive, and others. They also have fresh cheese curds, queso, farm-raised meat, ice cream, and other farm-to-fork products.

Another college town in the heart of cowboy country, Bozeman’s culinary scene caters to its vibrant community of students, professionals, and outdoor enthusiasts. The food here keeps up with the demands of a global palate with classic French, smoked BBQ, sushi, coffee roasters, and food trucks. It also has a thriving farm-to-table and grain-to-glass movement, a food co-op that works with local ranches and farms, and restaurants like Montana Ale Works located in an old historic rail depot. 

Downtown Bozeman is full of quaint boutiques, coffee shops, and classic favorites like Bacchu’s Historic Pub (opened in 1929) as well as newer ones like La Petite Chatelaine Chocolate Co. For a wholesome breakfast or brunch, The Farmers’ Daughters Café & Eatery is a must-visit where everything is sourced from local farms. After dinner, head to Sweet Peaks for handcrafted ice cream.