9201 Best Restaurants in USA

You'll snag a table if you arrive at this longtime (since 1979) standby just as music lovers are folding their napkins and heading off for a show at the nearby Opera House or SFJAZZ Center. Fresh, sustainable, often local seafood lures the faithful here, as well as peak seasonal produce from the nearby region. Much of the fish—yellowtail, salmon, swordfish—is grilled and served with a choice of sauces, from beurre blanc to lemon-and-caper butter. Brass coat hooks, white tablecloths, a long bar, and a mix of banquettes and tables define the traditional San Francisco look.

Dining here is a step back into history. Dating back to 1857, it is the oldest continuously operating restaurant west of the Mississippi. Daniel Boone's great-grandson, Seth Hays, arrived in Council Grove in 1847 and a decade later he built this restaurant, which, at the time, included a trading post. Historic pictures of the building and area line the walls, and antique church pews serve as booths. Hearty portions range from the signature "trail mix" (eggs scrambled with green chilis, ham, hash browns, and cheese, with a fluffy biscuit on the side) for breakfast to salmon and prime rib for dinner.

Even before diners settle in their seats, the Montage resort's glass-walled special-occasion restaurant captures the imagination with exterior views of vineyards, oaks, and far-off Mt. St. Helena and interior haute-luxury touches like chandeliers of locally handblown Czech glass. The Cali-Continental connection comes full circle in dishes—rabbit cassoulet or caviar with house-made potato chips to start, perhaps, or striped bass with prawn, uni, saffron, and fennel—whose French flourishes elevate the seasonal ingredients.

Sandwich lovers build up their appetite with a hike up the steep hill and then are greeted with some of the city's consistently excellent sandwiches at this small, friendly shop where the menu seems bigger than the actual space. If you're not in a sandwich mood, there are also a few other items like breakfast scrambles, fish tacos, and salads. Plan on taking your food elsewhere since seating is limited outside.

A cozy spot with checkered-tile flooring, mismatched silverware, and an open kitchen, this restaurant serves up rustic-elegant meals without pretension. The chefs, Philly transplants, use local locally grown produce, grass-fed beef, and cheeses from local dairies. The menu changes monthly, but past diners have tucked into cheddar-and–Ithaca Nut Brown Ale soup, pâté made in-house on baguette toasts with Dijon mustard, jam, and cornichons and grilled hanger steak with hand-cut fries and malt-vinegar aioli.

Blink and you could miss the narrow 9-foot-wide storefront of Headquarters, which serves locally roasted coffee, seasonal lattes, and locally sourced snacks. It's small in size but not personality; relax in the cozy interior or head outside to the inviting back patio and deck area.

Inside this sleek Woodstock café, with additional locations Downtown and on East Burnside, patrons sip fine coffees sourced from Central America, South America, and Africa, and indulge in breakfast and lunch fare, such as savory and sweet porridges, granola, toasts, and salads. Finnish owner Wille Yli-Luoma brings a modern, minimalist aesthetic to this striking space with plenty of tables for working and socializing.

With an emphasis on wood-fired cooking and farm-to-table seasonality, the menu at this dapper but casual gem includes salmon and octopus with creative preparations and house-made pastas, breads, and dressings. On warm days, dine on the patio overlooking the historic district and the Wasatch Mountains while enjoying the wine on tap, a huge selection of whiskeys, and a seasonally changing array of fresh desserts. Ask about their slow-dried artisan pasta made on-site and available for purchase, and check out the imported oils and infused vinegars for sale near the entrance.

For a low-key vibes and high-quality coffee service with a punk rock edge, head to Heartwork Coffee. The sidewalk service window slings a full espresso menu, plus teas, cocoa, and plenty of pastries that are often vegan and/or gluten-friendly.

The successor to a popular sandwich shop, which for many years sat at the same address, Heavy's serves a seasoned smashburger good enough to wipe out memories of other lunches. Round out your order with estimable onion rings, a well-made cocktail, and pie.

A visit to Cajun country is not complete without a stop at Hebert's. This butcher shop is one of several contenders claiming credit for inventing turducken—a turkey stuffed with a duck that's stuffed with a chicken. You can grab a link of hot boudin to eat on the spot, or fill a cooler with andouille, deboned stuffed chicken, and other regional delicacies for later.

This publike eatery in historic Ohio City has an open kitchen and a glass garden atrium filled with plants. A Cleveland institution, Heck's has been around for more than 40 years and is known for its bouillabaisse and (arguably) the best burger in town.

Having built a following for his food at Krankies, Winston-Salem local Justin Webster took his smash burgers from pop-up to James Beard–nominated restaurant in his first year. Justin and his wife Heather (nicknamed Heff) focus on accessible but high-quality food, in a fun, eclectic environment that's heavy on nostalgia. All ingredients on the simple menu are NC-sourced—the furthest is brioche buns from Asheville—and highlight favorite regional flavors like pimento cheese and Cheerwine soda. Order a Ladykiller with white American cheese, black garlic sauce, pickles, and onions, with a side of crinkle-cut fries, while you peruse the pop-culture stickers and snacks in the vending machine.

Just south of the Ridgefield town line on U.S. 7, you'll see a huge ice cream cone on the roadside marking Heibeck's Stand, where you can choose a made-to-order burger or hot dog with a variety of toppings or a sandwich, Philly cheesesteak, lobster roll, taco, salad---even a house-marinated portobello mushroom "burger." Best of all is the ice cream, which is rich, creamy, and deee-licious—in midsummer, try the fresh peach ice cream.

Family owned for three generations, the Heidelberg is a throwback to when Yorkville was a bustling German community more than a century ago. A thriving remnant of this past, the restaurant's exterior reflects German fachwerkhäuser (half-timbered) facade. Once inside, you can soak up the Bavarian beer hall vibes with a frothy lager, accompanied by one of the classics from the kitchen, like wiener schnitzel, shareable sausage platters, jägerschnitzel, which is covered in a mushroom sauce, or beef goulash braised in paprika sauce. It's a popular evening spot, so squeeze up to the bar area to grab a seat or corner space.

A local date-night destination for decades, this restaurant has a menu featuring German favorites—from sauerbraten served with potato dumplings and red cabbage to beef Stroganoff and spaetzle. All the soups and desserts are homemade. Be sure to try the Viennese-style apple strudel and the rum-zapped almond-cream tortes. A pianist serenades patrons at dinner, and the adjacent jazz club features live music Wednesday through Sunday.

This isn't your typical hotel restaurant: Occupying half of The Study at Yale hotel lobby, this contemporary American eatery has a casually refined decor. The seasonal menu emphasizes the freshest locally sourced ingredients, with highlights like a warm local ricotta appetizer with thyme and truffle on a crostini, lamb cavatelli pasta, and Connecticut grass-fed beef burger.

The post-and-beam buildings of Comstock Ferre & Co., the country's oldest continuously operating seed company (founded in 1820), is now home to a "seed-to-plate" natural foods café. It's open all day for wraps, toasts, soup, salad, juices, coffee, tea, and smoothies. You can also purchase heirloom seeds, groceries, and gardening supplies.

In business since 1950, the look here is updated and fresh as the family-run establishment was rebuilt after a fire in 2014; there are entrées as well as burgers, salads, and the like. While the menu is big on seafood, don't expect only fried: try choices like charbroiled salmon topped with a maple glaze featuring Maine-produced mustard, maple syrup, and blueberry jam. Even before it was a foodie thing, Helen's was sourcing products from local farms and waters. House-baked desserts include a huge selection of pies and traditional New England hermit bars. Baked goodies and bread are sold to-go from the case up-front.

Started by Helen Chock and now run by her grandson, this casual, unassuming spot is an iconic stop for classic Hawaiian food. You can skip the hotel luau and come here for authentic kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon, poi, pipikaula (salted and dried) beef short ribs, haupia (a Jell-O-like coconut pudding), and more. Order at the counter and sit down, but you won't wait long, as Helena's is known for its efficency

Owned by Hamid Kharzai's brother, Qayum Karzai, The Helmand serves outstanding Afghan fare in a casual yet elegant space. Beautiful woven textiles and traditional dresses adorn the walls, adding color to the simple white table settings. Stop by for dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

This handsomely outfitted spot will introduce you to the aromas and tastes of traditional Afghan cooking, with sauces and spices reminiscent of Indian cuisine and an emphasis on lamb. Highlights include aushak (leek-filled ravioli served with yogurt and ground beef) and kadoo (a sweet-savory dish of sugared pumpkin in a beef sauce). Basmati rice pudding, perfumed with cardamom and pistachio, is a wonderful way to finish. The calm restaurant, with white tablecloths and real Afghan rugs, also does a quick-paced delivery service.

Locals flock to this cheery spot for lunch; it's the closest thing to home cooking Petersburg has to offer. On weekdays it's open for breakfast and lunch, but on summer weekends dinner is also an option. Helse also doubles as an ice cream and espresso stand.

The team at Helsinki Hudson melds the delights of the chef's southern upbringing with the bounty of the Hudson Valley. Meats and fish are cured in Atticus, the resident wood-fired smoker. Fan favorites include low country shrimp and grits served with housemade andouille sausage and Great-Aunt Theo's fried chicken. For dessert, don't miss the good ole Georgia sweet potato pie.

In a city where culinary newcomers tend to garner all the attention, Hemenway's continues to be one of the state's best seafood restaurants. The high-ceiling dining room's huge windows look out on Providence's World War II Memorial; in warm weather, dine outside on the front patio. The raw bar here is superlative.

Perched near the eastern end of the Bay Bridge, the upper-level indoor dining area and the broad veranda of this restaurant provide panoramic views westward across the Bay and of the city of Annapolis beyond. Sunsets can rival those off Key West, home of the restaurant's namesake. Entrées include Atlantic salmon and coconut sesame shrimp. In summer an informal bar and grill, Lola's, opens at 5 pm Thursday through Sunday on the lower level, with tables on the lawn adjacent to its private dock. Live music on weekends enhances its simple soup-and-sandwich menu.

If a hearty, comforting plate of cheesy eggs, crispy bacon, and buttered waffles is what you're looking for, head to The Hen's Nest. The digs are humble (in fact, the day's featured dishes are written on postcards in lieu of a menu), but this tiny little café packs a big breakfast punch.