9201 Best Restaurants in USA

Tucked into the foothills and surrounded by spectacular flowers and cactus gardens, this special-occasion restaurant, a favorite among locals hosting out-of-town visitors, provides an alternative to the chili-laden dishes of most nouvelle Southwestern cuisine. Wild-mushroom bisque, grilled buffalo in dark-chocolate mole, and pan-seared sea bass are among the menu choices at this luxurious guest ranch resort. Lower-priced tapas such as tequila-steamed mussels and carne asada tacos can be enjoyed at the more casual (and lower-priced) outdoor bar, accompanied by live acoustic music on weekends. The lavish Sunday brunch buffet is worth a splurge.

In a time when many of the corner-store-style shops serving Seattle's unique signature teriyaki are fading into the rapidly modernizing city, Grillbird keeps it classic, showing that the affordable plates of chicken in sauce, rice, and salad still matter to the city. Stop by for a quick lunch and for a taste of the city's typical workday lunch dish. Though teriyaki exists all over, the specific serving style and sweet sauce used at most Seattle joints was developed here and once dominated the menu of every lunch counter and mini-mart. 

This restaurant in the Carew Tower's Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza maintains the elegant, art deco design of the hotel. Look up to see the murals on the 30-foot ceilings. Many of the beautifully presented dishes feature Ohio's bounty, for example, the Lake Erie walleye with a lobster-and-carrot fricassee. On weekend evenings, there's live jazz; on Sunday there's breakfast.

Long before The Grilled Cheeserie opened a brick-and-mortar shop, it was one of Nashville's most beloved food trucks, slinging grilled cheese and tater tots to long lines of eaters who often tracked the truck down. Now, though, it's easier to indulge in some melty goodness at the restaurant's first permanent location. You can't go wrong with a grilled cheese, but don't sleep on the homemade soups and desserts, either.

A branch of the legendary coal-fired pizza-baker nestled beneath New York City's Brooklyn Bridge, this casual little joint in Henderson doesn't quite conjure up the atmosphere of the original, despite exposed-brick walls and red-checked tablecloths, but it does have a wine list and an extensive beer menu. What counts, of course, is the pizza, and in this regard, Grimaldi's deserves high praise. The oven-hot pies come in three sizes and with such staple toppings as spicy sausage, meatballs, and ricotta cheese and more updated ones like baby spinach and jalapeños. Finish off your meal with a cannoli or some flavor-of-the-month cheesecake. There are four other outposts in the valley.

The owners of this burger joint—a trendy dining room with exposed brick, bright-green seating, and animal drawings on the walls—grind their own beef, lamb, chicken, pork, and buffalo for exquisite gourmet patties. The focus is on locally raised, grass-fed meats and unusual toppings: try the lamb burger with tzatziki and feta spread, or even a vegetarian option. Arcade games entertain kids while parents enjoy Colorado microbrews.

Located just up the hill from Texas State University, Grins has been a favorite among students and tubers alike since 1975. They're known for their burgers (and have 12 different kinds to choose from) and crispy onion rings, as well as heaping, sizzling fajitas and frozen margaritas in several different flavors.

A DIY spin on the South's signature grain, grits here can be topped with pimento cheese or butterbeans, among other options.

Turns out you can go home again, and, sometimes, when you do, you also quit your day job and open up the kind of restaurant you'd like to hang out in—at least, that's the case with the ex-teacher behind this downtown den that promises (and delivers) "good eats, rad beer." In addition to having the best beer list for 100 miles (with 13 on tap and roughly 70 more in cans and bottles, plus a few ciders, hard kombuchas, seltzers, and wine) it also has delicious food created by a Swedish chef (for real) who worked in big-name kitchens in Copenhagen, New York, and L.A. and who makes falafel so moist and zesty that it will leave carnivores rethinking their stance on veganism.

This small, casual pub between Helper and Price is out of the way but worth the drive for its huge selection of burgers, pizzas, salads, and steak-house favorites. Start your meal with one of the many appetizers, and make sure to try one of the craft beers on tap. This place has quite the following, so be prepared for a wait on busy nights.

An homage to Jewish delis, Grossman's plays the greatest hits—blintzes, latkes, lox, chopped liver, and knishes, plus pastrami, corned beef, and Reuben sandwiches all on house-made breads—but mashes things up with quinoa tabbouleh, chicken shawarma kebabs, fish-and-chips, and other atypical deli dishes. The retro-eclectic decor (black-and-white ceramic tile floors, colorful tropical-bird-print wallpaper, chunky stone fireplace) feels nostalgic yet of the moment.

In downtown Houston's thoughtfully designed city park, you'll find The Grove, an airy, modern eco-friendly restaurant from the people who gave the Bayou City the famed Cafe Annie. Though the space might look contemporary, the food is decidedly hearty and homespun, with locally-sourced organic ingredients and "why-didn't-I-think-of-that" combinations like a deviled egg appetizer made with Spanish chorizo and tapenade, or mesquite-smoked Texas quail with baby turnips and local peaches. For a more casual vibe, head upstairs to the Tree House indoor/outdoor lounge and patio (open Thursday through Saturday) for cocktails and appetizers with a great view of Houston's skyline.

Behind the Gruene Mansion Inn, this riverside grill draws quite a crowd. People seem to frequent this locale for the famed rib eye pan-seared in butter and balsamic vinegar, but a cup of the creamy jalepeño crawfish corn chowder makes a notable impression as well.

Open year-round, this friendly family-owned and operated restaurant serves up homey food for breakfast and lunch. Favorites from the extensive menu include traditional breakfast items like pancakes and eggs for breakfast, and fish-and-chips and a variety of sandwiches at lunch.

Shimmering stained glass, stunning woodwork, and magnificent decor make this old-time pharmacy one of the most handsome settings in town. Delectable sandwiches and salads are the main bill of fare, but for more ambitious selections, opt for the ratatouille and shrimp orzo, served with locally caught wild Georgia shrimp.

Expect a wait for dinner, which is not necessarily a bad thing at this island paradise of a waterfront restaurant and bar. Take the wait time to explore the bridges and trails of the open-air tropical oasis, or grab a chair by the river to watch the sunset, listen to the live band, or nibble on some conch fritters at the large tiki bar until your table is ready. Try the lemon-butter hogfish for dinner, and stick around for the live music (a full concert calendar is on the website). Breakfast, offered only on weekends, is good, too. That said, it's more about the view and vibe than the food here.  There's only valet parking on site; a free lot is about a block away but fills up fast in season.

This walk-up café offers a casual dining experience at Guano Point. Chow down on barbecue pork or chicken, curried vegetables, and sides like mashed potatoes and corn on the cob as you take in the canyon's views.

Craving Tex-Mex cuisine and a view? Guapo's, a locally owned Mexican restaurant with various locations throughout the Washington, D.C., area, has one of its outposts in the heart of the Washington Harbor. Sip frozen strawberry margaritas on their patio with a view of the Potomac. The menu includes classic Tex-Mex fare like tacos, enchiladas, and burritos, but you can also find ceviches and moles. 

A classic L.A. Mexican eatery, Guelaguetza serves the complex but not overpoweringly spicy cooking of Oaxaca, one of Mexico's most renowned culinary capitals. Inside, you'll find a largely Spanish-speaking clientele bobbing their heads to nightly jazz, marimba, and rock while wolfing down the restaurant's specialty: the moles. The intense flavors come from intricate combinations of nuts, seeds, spices, chilis, and bitter chocolate. Be sure to check out the pizza-like tlayudas topped with white cheese and tasajo (dried beef) or cecina (chili-marinated pork) and chorizo.

This casual but inviting counter-service Mexican eatery decorated with leafy plants and green-and-white Talavera tiles specializes in hefty tortas stuffed generously with chicken pibil, braised beef, carnitas, and plenty of flavorful accoutrements like habanero slaw and pickled onions. If you'd rather go breadless, you can customize a bowl using most of the torta ingredients.

Clean lines, natural light, and angular, modern tables (some communal) define the Scandinavian aesthetic of this bi-level café in the mostly residential—and quite picturesque—Alameda neighborhood, close to Beaumont's commercial strip. Drop by to work or socialize over cappuccinos or "freelancer" cocktails (espresso and fernet), or dig into a bowl of porridge, a fried egg and avocado sandwich, or a salad of roasted beets with a dill-chive yogurt dressing. There's a second location inside Powell's Books in the Pearl District.

Constructed of stacked shipping containers that have been painted bright azure, this is a great kid- and dog-friendly place to enjoy mojitos and seasonal seafood. Much of the restaurant is outdoors—the better to soak in the Choctawhatchee Bay views—with lounging couches and a patch of sand; simply order at the counter, and your meal is brought to you. There's another location just over the Alabama border in Orange Beach.

Especially popular for breakfast (served all day), this unassuming landmark squats on the beach and serves cheap sit-down eats—mostly sandwiches, but also (after 4 pm) a wide array of seafood entrées ranging from lobster mac-and-cheese to grilled or blackened mahimahi. Many items have a Greek tinge to them.

This trendy Hillstone Restaurant has an open kitchen, comfortable booths, and outdoor seating. The patio is a fantastic place to hang out for Dover Sole flown in from the North Atlantic, cedar plank Scottish salmon, and fried shrimp. For more terrestrial fare, the USDA Prime filet mignon is popular. They make heavenly biscuits, shucked oysters, grilled California artichokes, and an ahi tuna burger. It gets noisy near the bar area, so come early or retreat onto the patio if you prefer a quieter spot.

True Cajun favorites are notoriously hard to find outside of Louisiana, but two Louisiana State University alums have brought an authentic slice of New Orleans to The Gulch. Four different variations of gumbo are the main draw here, but alligator, catfish, and high-piled po'boys made with bread shipped in directly from the Big Easy all deserve nods as well. The decor has the casual feel of a neighborhood haunt with cozy booths, a long wooden bar, and a slightly more upscale back room for larger parties. Come hungry and ready to indulge in some fried delights.

Even given a few modern touches—like the vegetarian gumbo offered daily—this place evokes a sense of old New Orleans. The menu is chock-full of regional culinary anchors: jambalaya, shrimp Creole, rémoulade sauce, red beans and rice, bread pudding, and seafood and chicken-and-sausage gumbos, all heavily flavored with tradition but easy on the wallet. The patina on the ancient painting covering one wall seems to deepen by the week, and the old tables and bentwood chairs have started to seem like museum pieces. Reservations are accepted only for groups of 10 or more.