9201 Best Restaurants in USA

Authentic and flavorful contemporary Mexican food, perfectly mixed cocktails, and amiable staff define this cozy restaurant, overseen by award-winning chef and cookbook author Roberto Santibañez. While happy hours at the bar are popular, stay for dinner to enjoy enchiladas with mole, lump crab croquettes with avocado serrano sauce, or poblano peppers with roasted-tomato chipotle sauce. The small space is always buzzing, plus there's backyard seating.

There's nothing basic about this popular restaurant across from the Mount Holyoke campus, and the atmosphere—from the fancy plating to the nice lighting—almost justifies the high prices, which is why this little spot is a magnet for foodies, yuppies, and college students on their parents' tabs. Dishes—everything from seafood to steak—are complicated but mostly successful.

True to its name, this family-owned bistro makes food that is simultaneously simple and satisfying, from sandwiches to salads to burgers. Friday night is reserved for their famous buttery steaks, served alongside baked potatoes with the works. Be sure to save room for the addictive bread pudding. 

This is Pearl's reimagining of a food court, an eminently casual spot featuring chef-driven stands. Choose from six vendors: Chilaquil, serving Mexican street food and namesake chilaquiles; Howdy Child, a smokehouse and delicatessen serving classic meats, sides and salads; Henbit, with made to order smashburgers and savory sides; Freight Fried Chicken, fried in a dry batter similar to what was fried in the 1800s; Park Bar, local Texas craft brews, cocktails, frozen drinks, and fine Texas wine; and Wonderslice pizzas, subs, and salads. The Food Hall was rebuilt from the ruins of a 2003 fire that claimed the structure originally built in 1894 as the bottling house for the original Pearl Brewery.

Keep your eyes peeled for this converted aluminum trailer on the west side of downtown that serves up Mediterranean-inspired specialties like the Marfalafel: a large flour tortilla brimming with falafel, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and tahini and harissa sauces. Devotees also swear by the pimento cheese made from a combination of cheddar and Havarti cheeses blended with pepperoncini, horseradish, parsley, and dill. Save room for the double-chocolate-espresso cookies.

Dining at this central Austin classic is like having a warm meal at a friend's home; a refreshing change of pace from the trendy decor and steep price tags found at some of the city's hottest eateries. The relaxed counter service and down-home decor at this charming cottage-turned-café matches its appealing, handmade offerings of sandwiches, soups, and salads. An expanded breakfast menu is popular with locals, and the front patio is usually bustling and is a perfect spot for people watching.

If you have access to a car, head to this beautifully situated spot on a hill overlooking Auke Bay harbor, where you can choose from a wide selection of locally made craft beer (serving sizes as small as 4 ounces make sampling easy). The brewery also houses Red Spruce, an innovative eatery led by talented chef Lionel Uddipa, making it a two-for-one experience in local creativity. Menu options, which change frequently, highlight a range of global influences and local ingredients. Order at the counter and snag a table on the all-weather covered patio.

Their name stands for "Farmer, Ocean, Rancher, Cook" but this little gem is a great example of the magic that happens when a famous resort chef creates his own vibe and brand. Chef Allen Hess blends the unique nuances of Hawaii Regional Cuisine with flavors from the ocean and land and throws in a dash of comfort food. The plates are inventive: the goat tacos feature Korean braised goat, daikon apple salsa, and mu shu pancake, while the herb-braised lamb leg is cooked in Vinho Verde and simmered with basil, garlic, and shiso. The ube lemon drop martini is a local favorite. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, but the plates will make you believe you are dining at one of the resorts. Special seasonal menus and private chef tables are a specialty. 

This upscale, 47-seat North Loop gastropub was a major trailblazer in the city's locavore and “nose-to-tail” movements. And it’s remained a reliably inventive spot that keeps loyal patrons on their toes with seasonal (and daily rotating) creations, from fried pig ears and shishito peppers to fresh market fish artfully accented with squid ink and foamed butter. F&D's menu isn't tailored to finicky eaters, but this is the place to be for adventurous foodies. The restaurant now offers a decadent Sunday brunch with standouts like a cast-iron frittata with seasonal vegetables.

Classic films are projected on the wall of a large inner courtyard in this hip, loftlike space while you're served stellar seasonal California cooking, and weekend brunch brings throngs fighting for a spot on the patio for some of the city's best egg dishes and Bloody Marys. The majestic atmosphere enhances plates of perfectly shucked oysters on the half shell and sesame fried chicken.

Upscale breakfast dishes like the croque madame—a grilled ham and fried egg sandwich drenched in cheesy mornay sauce—and Instagrammable coffee drinks and cocktails make this Southside coffee shop a good choice for a casual morning meal or brunch. On sunny days, sit on the patio and people-watch.

Healthy, fresh, and fast best describe this busy eatery, the second restaurant for chef--owners Jaron Blosser, Cody Christopher, and Travis Morrin (the first being Three's Bar and Grill in Kihei). You can order a signature salad or create your own with the impressive selection of add-ons, including many grown on Maui. Sandwiches and soups are also featured, as are fresh-squeezed juices. The line can get long, but it moves quickly; order online and skip the wait altogether. Sit-down dining is available, though this bustling restaurant can get noisy.

It's a scenic 20-minute drive east from downtown to reach this intimate but lively contemporary bistro near the north shore of Lake Whatcom, where the chefs emphasize local, seasonal ingredients. In the evening, you might start with Cajun-style shrimp and three-cheese grits or mac and cheese with tasso ham, before moving on to Low Country–style bouillabaisse or seared duck breast with a cherry reduction. Breakfast and lunch are served on weekends—try the eggs Benedict with pork belly, accompanied by a Bellini cocktail. The owners also run a similarly good sister restaurant in La Conner, the Fork at Skagit Bay.

Pasta is served here dalla forma, meaning it's cooked, then dipped into a cheese wheel and stirred up until it's coated with melted cheese before serving. Catering to a higher-end crowd, Forma specializes in cheeses, pastas, and pizzas. It also serves small plates like fresh mozzarella knots, arancini balls, and crispy artichokes prepared Roman style. A generous happy hour from 3 to 6 lets you discover many of the specialties without breaking the bank.

Housed inside a converted Ford dealership that dates back to the '40s, Fort Oak is a haven for sophisticated carnivores and pescatarians alike. Chef Brad Wise's menu leans heavily on wood-fired fish, like the whole branzino, as well as aged steaks, heritage pork, and an impressive raw bar selection. Fort Oak leans into the building's unique history, with remnants of the former car dealer and garage touched up on the outside wall, but inside is a chic and modern bistro with a sleek, u-shaped bar at the center where patrons can sample their menu of cocktails named for vintage cars.

At one of Clayton's designated "farm-to-table" restaurants, chef-driven Southern cuisine highlights the region's best produce, meats, and spirits in a relaxed, down-to-earth environment. With exposed brick walls and a small wooden bar you'll want to huddle around, Fortify is simply about good food, fun cocktails, and a wine list that includes a few local selections. Menu favorites include fried green tomatoes, cornmeal-crusted trout, Dr. Pepper–braised lamb shank, and the Fortified Salad with warm bacon vinaigrette.  Reservations are a must in the fall when the mountains are packed with leaf lookers.

Multiple TVs, each tuned to a different sport, line the brick walls of this friendly place. The bar claims 20 beers on tap, the better to enjoy what locals call the town's best hamburgers and other hearty pub fare. In winter opt for buffalo chili. The fish tacos, bison burger, and beer-battered fries also get rave reviews.

The biggest of three breweries sharing space in an industrial warehouse, Foundation welcomes visitors (and their fur babies) to its tasting room with a roster of craft brews that pair well with their Detroit-style pizzas and snacks like giant pretzels, available Thursday through Monday. Foundation's best-known brew is the Double IPA Epiphany, but the ever-changing list of beers on tap includes pilsners like Riverton Flyer and wheaty brews such as Radiant Waves.

An ultramodern take on the old-school farmhouse, Founding Farmers has been a popular choice for both tourists and locals. The restaurant is known for its sustainable and local sourcing. The wide-ranging menu includes everything from handmade pasta to burgers oozing with a variety of toppings. Farms from all over the country provide most of the fresh vegetables, beef, poultry, and fish. Bonus: it's one of the few standalone restaurants in the city offering breakfast from Monday to Friday. 

From the red stools lined up at the soda fountain to the pressed-tin ceiling, this cute little place oozes nostalgia. Order a banana split, a shake, or just a cone, and enjoy your trip down memory lane.

Coffee aficionados should head down Valencia Street to Four Barrel Coffee for excellent house-roasted coffee in a fun and funky space, packed with Mission hipsters, cyclists, and artists (be sure to look at the selection of Mission counterpart Dynamo doughnuts as well).

With a focus on the historical cuisine of the Four Corners region where Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado touch borders, chef Brother Luck's restaurant serves up creative tasting-style menus sure to impress his Top Chef fan base. Along with the Four Corners significance, the number four represents Luck's four key sources of ingredients—hunters, gatherers, farmers, and fishermen; the four seasonal menus; and the fact that Luck is the fourth generation in his family to have the name Brother Luck. The four-course suggestions are perfectly paired modern American dishes often featuring beef, wild game, or seafood, served up in a clean, modern dining room with a casual atmosphere for passing plates and allowing seasonal dishes to shine in flavor and presentation.

Inspired by an Ernest Hemingway photograph of a family fishing trip in Key West, this oceanfront spot pays homage to pristine seafood that's served alongside views that will make you feel like you're on a luxury liner. While the indoor dining room has a bright and airy feel with nautical decor, the outdoor patio is the spot to reserve, a fitting backdrop to dishes of wood-roasted oysters with smoky lemon, Key West pink shrimp, or grits and vegetable island curry. Don't skip the key lime pie for dessert; this one stands out from the pack.

Lining up for an ice cream cone or frappe at Four Seas, a former blacksmith shop near Craigville Beach, has been a rite of summer on the Cape since 1934; it made the ice cream for Caroline Kennedy's wedding (the flavor: fresh peach) and has won a bazillion 'best' awards. They also sell lobster salad rolls, hot dogs, and other sandwiches. 

This family-owned brewpub downtown sells its own beers, which range from Double Citra Pillows (a hazy IPA) to Hiding in Plain Sight (a hoppy lager). The menu includes appetizers, salads, and sandwiches. Sit in the large tasting room or grab a seat on the patio.

If your vacation dreams run more British hunting lodge than SoCal beach scene, Fox and Farrow might be your place. Run by longtime South Bay chef Darren Weiss, this gastropub features classic fare like hunter's pie with wild boar alongside more creative concepts inspired by the Pacific Rim, all in a clubby ambience: think British-racing-green velvet Chesterfields and paneled wood walls. Order from an inspired list of craft cocktails to add to your experience. Then finish your night at the adjacent Underground pub, which also benefits from Weiss' influence. While visiting the building, go outside to view a new mural by famed Endless Summer artist John Van Hamersveld, which was unveiled in early 2025.

A well-established wine bar with small plates, pasta, and classic American dishes, Foxcroft feels like dining in a cozy wine cellar with a private chef. More than 40 wines are available by the glass or taste, with flight samplings built around bubbles, Italian wines, Cabernets, and more. If you fall in love with a wine in the retail shop, the price is the same to enjoy at the table. There are additional locations in Charlotte and Greenville, with the original near Southpark.