9221 Best Restaurants in USA

Set in a gorgeous restored fieldstone cottage in Fort Tryon Park, just minutes from The Met Cloisters (the restaurant takes its name from the medieval cloister and herb garden here), this is a welcome addition to one of upper Manhattan's most beautiful parks. It offers French à la Northern California cuisine, a curated wine list, a contemporary but character-filled space with 14-foot ceilings, crisp white tablecloths, and a leafy outdoor terrace to enjoy a leisurely weekend brunch while you listen to the cacophony of birdsong around you. Dinner highlights include the mussels in tarragon white wine broth with a crusty baguette and the grilled whole trout. In summer, grab a delicious homemade ice cream to stroll the park. Live music (or a bartender taking requests for record selections), candlelight, and excellent service add to the specialness of this little gem in the woods.

A casual storefront restaurant on Guerneville's main drag, Boon Eat + Drink has a menu built around salads, smallish shareable plates, and entrées that might include vegan risotto, Moroccan chicken, and pan-seared local cod. Like many of chef-owner Crista Luedtke's dishes, the signature polenta lasagna—creamy ricotta salata cheese and polenta served on greens sautéed in garlic, all of it floating upon a spicy marinara sauce—deviates significantly from the lasagna norm but succeeds on its own merits.

Named for the bustling food market in Barcelona, Boqueria was part of the city's first wave of tapas restaurants when it opened back in 2006 and its popularity has never waned, thanks to the seasonal, creative, and delicious food. There are leather banquettes lining the main room and a few seats at the bar, but if you want to make friends, opt for the communal table running down the center of the dining room. This original spot in the Flatiron District is so popular it's spawned offshoots around New York City, as well as in Nashville, DC, Boston, and Chicago.

The name is cheeky if a little morbid; the title refers to the restaurant's specialty—steak. It's a twist on a classic steak house, with a menu full of aged, prime cuts of beef served with a number of sauces, or perhaps try the table-side-prepared steak Diane with flambéed jus. With its large gold doors, intimate booths, and stiff Manhattans, everything about the restaurant feels like old luxury, until you notice the portraits of famous rappers on the walls.

The dining room at Bosq is small and intimate with a rustic-chic setting that's bright in the daytime and dimly lit for a romantic experience at night. The food is equally impressive, melding root vegetables and local meats and fish with bold, and sometimes spicy, surprises. Dishes displayed like works of art and decorated with flowers and meticulously placed sauces are almost too beautiful to eat—almost.

Airy and classic in atmosphere, this modern restaurant focuses on two things: food and local history (it is, after all, situated in a historic 1902 building). The menu features elevated takes on comfort food; at lunch expect more sandwiches. Who wouldn't want to dive into a tater tot poutine or a bowl of house-made onion dip with potato chips, while chatting up your dining partners and enjoying the occasional live music? Social describes the vibe on most nights, more so later into the evening.  Bostonia gets busy, so it's a good idea to make a reservation.

This swanky spot in a gorgeous old brick brewery building in Portsmouth's up-and-coming West End is a magnet for fans of artisan gin, which figures in about a dozen intriguing cocktails, but the exquisite French-accented cuisine appeals to all. Highlights from the seasonal menu include classic steak frites with brandy jus, and pan-roasted halibut with grilled cucumbers, Calabrian chilies, and ramps. There's a nice list of wines by the glass and craft beers, too.

At this softly lit, exposed-redbrick downtown trattoria occupying sections of the 19th-century former Groezinger Winery, the chefs transform local, seasonally changing ingredients into regional Italian cuisine. Staples like ricotta gnocchi with old-hen tomato sauce and the short rib smoked and braised in espresso agrodolce (sweet-and-sour sauce) and served with creamy ancient-grain polenta are rustic yet sophisticated.

Nathanial Zimet's gutsy, down-home cooking, a unique blend of Louisiana and contemporary southern styles, fits right in at its cozy location in a converted Uptown home. The menu here is updated monthly, but it always kicks off with small plates, including multiple iterations of grits and memorable boudin balls. Large plates pack big flavors—smoked scallops, Wagyu brisket, and multiple duck dishes all deliver. Try the Krispy Kreme bread pudding, even if you haven't saved room for it. Next door is Bourrée, the restaurant's casual sister establishment, specializing in chicken wings, meat-based snacks, and gourmet daiquiris, like the top-shelf Hurricane and frozen gin and tonic.

The team that created The French Laundry is also behind this place, where everything—the zinc-topped bar, antique sconces, suave waitstaff, and escargots, French onion soup, and salmon and beef tartare starters—could have come straight from a Parisian bistro. Sole Provençale, pan-seared flat iron steak with caramelized shallots, and mussels steamed with white wine, saffron, and Dijon mustard—the latter two served with crispy addictive fries—are among the perfectly executed entrées.

When chefs name their idol, more than a few will cite French Laundry chef Thomas Keller, the star behind this stunning, capacious French bistro in the Venezia Tower. Soaring Palladian windows, antique lighting fixtures, a pewter-topped bar, and colorful tile lend a sophisticated take on French country design, a fitting setting in which to dine on savory, rich cuisine. Menu options include classics such as escargots de Bourgogne, steak frites, mussels with white wine, and an extensive seafood bar, and selections of cheese and caviar. Finish with profiteroles or crème caramel. A three-course prix-fixe menu honors the late culinary lion Paul Bocuse. A charming garden outside is perfect for an alfresco dinner or post-meal stroll. Return for brunch from 8 am to 1 pm Thursdays or 8 am to 2 pm Fridays through Sundays, when you might try roasted chicken with a bacon-chive waffle, Croque Madame, or seared foie gras. There's a freestanding Bouchon Bakery near the Venetian Theatre, offering breads, pastries, and confections.

Feast your eyes on the intricately carved walls, pillars, and ceiling at this unique teahouse, a gift from Boulder's sister city Dushanbe, Tajikistan; Tajik artisans decorated the building in a traditional style, with ceramic Islamic art and a riot of colorful wood. The menu presents a culinary cross section of the world, with dishes including North African harissa chicken, spicy Indonesian peanut noodles, and Tajik shish kebab.

Celebrated local chef Nancy Oakes' high-profile, high-priced eatery in the historic 1889 Audiffred Building has been attracting well-dressed locals and flush out-of-towners since 1993. A striking belle époque interior (originally designed by Pat Kuleto and later touched up by Ken Fulk, both star local architects) is the setting for sophisticated American food with a French accent and a distinct local California produce twist.  The main dining room has a three-course set menu with several options in each course, while most of that menu is available à la carte in the bar area.

This upscale steak restaurant run by top-rated chef Michael Mina lives up to the royal reputation of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Its severe but stunning stone-and-glass entrance lets people know they are in for something serious—seriously good. Select from American-grade or Japanese Kobe beef, but be prepared for steep prices. Even the fries are luxurious here. If you're on a budget, head to the adjacent burger bar—you won't be disappointed.

Hurricanes, fires, and the onslaught of trendy restaurants hitting downtown can't tamp down this family-owned seafood shack that's littered with oyster shells and graffiti. The menu is reliable: big ol' shrimp, fried or boiled; shrimp and grits; hush puppies; and the biggie—trays of piping hot steamed oysters. Dinner is served in an enclosed dock house, on a covered deck, and inside the main building. Find the local landmark on a slip of an island about 20 minutes from downtown and just before Folly Beach. When you see the sign, follow the dirt road until you see water. (Boaters can dock here while they eat.)

French fine dining with a hint of Carolina flair is flawlessly executed at this stunning brasserie in a former bank with soaring ceilings and wide windows overlooking horse-drawn carriages on Broad Street. Yes, you'll find escargots, foie gras, and steak frites, all executed at the highest possible level, but save room for entrées like the duck breast cassoulet, served over a confit leg with the perfect amount of crispy indulgence. Before or after your meal, grab a drink downstairs in the speakeasy-esque Bar Vaute, built into the semi-underground former vault. 

At this all-you-can-eat churrascaria, waiters continually circulate through the dining room offering more than a dozen grilled meats—beef, pork, chicken, sausage, and the beloved Brazilian chicken hearts—on large, swordlike skewers. The massive buffet is laden with soups, salads, and side dishes, including plantains, rice, and beans; vegetarians could happily eat from the buffet, but the smell of grilling meat does permeate the restaurant.

A favorite stop on the Bow-Edison Food Trail, this cozy purveyor of savory artisan breads and delectable pastries is a great place to stock up on picnic supplies before venturing up scenic Chuckanut Drive. The offerings change regularly and feature ingredients from local farms—you might find pumpkin brioche, herb focaccia, black olive baguettes, ham-and-cheese pastries, and chocolate babkas.

Since the early 1980s, Breadline has been a top dining destination in the Okanogan Valley for hearty servings of eclectic fare. The menu features local organic produce, a variety of freshly baked breads, and locally raised natural Angus beef. You'll find Cajun dishes such as jambalaya, as well as an around-the-world assortment of cuisines, including Italian and Greek. The bakery features such sweet treats as lavender shortbread cookies, espresso brownies, elaborately-decorated cakes, and other pastries and breads for take-out.

Enjoy fresh-caught New England seafood (and more) dockside at Breakwater, midway along Water Street in Stonington Borough. Dine inside or outside on the deck in warm weather; the roomy bar is a popular gathering place in winter months.

What started as a streamlined coffee and craft beer purveyor with sparse hours has evolved into an all-day mainstay of east Austin. The industrial garage vibe blends in well with its I–35-adjacent neighbors and attracts a hip clientele from morning to night, who flock here for cold brews and stacked breakfast sandwiches and then like to stick around for their local lineup of draft brews, full bar, and light café fare including late-night guilty-pleasure snacks.

This sleek restaurant may be decorated primarily in neutrals, but the food by James Beard–nominated chef Nicole Brisson brings plenty of color. Her updated Italian classics include Tuscan carne cruda with lemon, capers, and shallots; herb tagliatelle with rabbit ragu; a whole branzino; and a 120-day dry-aged 42-ounce tomahawk. At lunch, choices include a sausage and fontina tart, and charred octopus. Ciccetti Hour is from 3:30 to 5 pm daily. When the weather’s grand, dine on the lovely expansive patio, which is surrounded by olive trees saved from the old Stardust.

Frank DePasquale’s sandwich and pasta shop is easy to miss, but just follow the steady stream of savvy locals down the alley adjacent to his award-winning restaurant to find the tiny spot packed with imported Italian meats and cheeses, vinegars, tomatoes, olive oils, and more. The monumental Italian sandwich is a heaping pile of mortadella, Genoa salami, soppressata, provolone, and all the fixings, while the packed chicken parmigiano is a shareable feast. All are served on house-made breads from the panetteria next door.

Nearly every seat in this urbane bistro has a view of its most important feature—a wood-fired brick oven used to prepare everything from local Kumamoto oysters and creatively topped pizzas to wild-mushroom cobbler. Soups, several well-constructed salads, grilled meats, and seafood round out the menu.

Locals and visitors alike flock to Brick's for country cooking with a view. The restaurant itself has a humble interior, but it's the patio overlooking the Medina River that wins everyone's heart. It's a great spot to start with a mason-jar drink while you wait for a table to sample the simple but well-done menu, with comforting classics like a crispy Jager Schnitzel with mushroom sauce and braised cabbage, homemade meatballs, and smashed potatoes.

Youthful vacations in southern France inspired the menu at the wide-windowed storefront restaurant opened by Nick Ronan, a longtime San Francisco restaurateur and author of The Kissing Chef. "I feed my soul through people," the chef has been known to declare, his zeal for community informing his effusive hospitality and diligent Cal-modern reinterpretations of onion soup, cassoulet, coquilles St. Jacques, beef Bourguignon, and other familiar fare.

Seasonally sourced contemporary American and European dishes are beautifully presented in this light-filled dining room with expansive outdoor terraces overlooking Gig Harbor. Dinners are elaborate affairs that feature seafood—perhaps Thai curry and coconut-steamed mussels—and rich classics such as grilled filet mignon with scampi-compound butter. Tempting desserts include an array of cakes, ice creams, and cobblers, and there's a fine wine to match every course. This wine-focused bistro takes its name from the term used by winemakers to describe the natural sugar content of grapes and wines.

This adorable neighborhood café—one of the most outstanding brunch spots in town—serves fresh and delicious Scandinavian food with fun-to-pronounce names like friterade applen (apple fritter) and aebleskivers (Danish pancakes). All the food—the hashes, lefse potato crepes, the baked egg scrambles, the Swedish breakfast boards—is delicious, with the Swedish meatballs in sherry cream sauce and salmon fish cakes with caraway vinaigrette being especially tasty among the midday choices. There are additional locations in North Portland, Southwest Portland, and Hood River in the Columbia Gorge.

What does a mid-century burger joint look like in modern times? Retro décor including a vintage jukebox, pinball machine, and long diner-style counter, sure, but also fresh-ground local beef in the double-double-style Heartbreaker burger, Jump Back Sauce with house-made Japanese mayo, light-as-air doughnuts, orange wine, and the area's best beer list. It all comes together at Matt Walker's hometown restaurant for a perfect nostalgic experience that will bring you back to childhood summers, whether or not you spent them at one of Fairlee's lakeside sleepaway camps.