9221 Best Restaurants in USA

From students recovering after a night of partying to hikers fueling up before hitting the trail, this cozy downtown café with big windows and an expansive side patio serves brunch daily—with cocktails, if you wish. Specialties include breakfast poutine with sausage gravy and salsa verde, banana–and–macadamia nut waffles, and avocado toast on sourdough with eggs, cotija cheese, and cherry tomatoes.

Each and every meal feels like a special occasion at this splurge-worthy place, which offers thoughtful attention to flavor and texture and uses the freshest locally sourced ingredients in its exclusively and seasonally inspired prix-fixe menu. You can be sure that even hard-core foodies will be delighted with this culinary experience. Price reflects the three-course meal; four- and five-course meals are also available. Known for: wood-fire surf-and-turf dishes; ingredients culled from its own garden; private dining sheds and cabanas for special occasions and groups.

The emphasis at this cozy neighborhood restaurant is on the superb food rather than the atmosphere, which isn't surprising, given that the owners formerly served their tasty, no-fuss fare from a truck. Lunch and dinner feature locally sourced, sustainable ingredients in dishes that reflect the seasons. The lobster roll, made with big chunks of knuckle and claw meat, is so good deserves its own cult. (Meanwhile, the weekly karaoke night here pretty much has one.)

The newest location of this beloved German-style bakery and beer garden features 15,000 square feet of outdoor space, plus a spacious interior, for beer and sausage lovers. The sprawling outdoor patio attracts lively lunch, happy hour, and late-night crowds with a full menu of artisan sandwiches, house-made sausages, and “big as your face” pretzels, as well as one of the best beer selections in the city. The wholesale bakeshop, which provides several local restaurants with specialty breads and pastries, opens bright and early every morning; don't miss the $6 “Easy Morning” deal (weekdays, 7–10 am) that includes a small coffee and any pastry.

Hawaii's culinary superstar, Roy Yamaguchi, runs his signature Hawaiian-fusion-cuisine restaurant on Kauai's South Shore in a shopping village that suits the name and creative fare. Though billed as "plantation cuisine," the hot-pot rice bowl, spicy ramen, and burger that's half wild boar are about the only items that might have their roots in the days when sugar was king; otherwise, the menu is classic Asian fusion. Pot stickers, meat appetizers, and an array of noodle dishes and salads make it easy to cobble together a hearty tapas-type meal. Roy's signature molten chocolate soufflé (gluten free) is also offered. The food is served in cast-iron skillets and other casual ware that suit the plantation-style decor. Reservations are recommended, and there is a separate take-out menu.

Choosing your flavor of silky, premium frozen yogurt at this hip dessert café is relatively easy, as there are only a few flavors offered at any given time, unique though they often are (honey-grapefruit and mango lassi, for example). It's the formidable list of toppings that may leave you overwhelmed, albeit happily so, highlights of which include coconut-hazelnut cake crumb, organic sour fruity bears, marionberry compote, cold-brew bourbon sauce, and nondairy peanut butter magic shell. You'll find additional locations on Southeast Division and Northwest 23rd.

Don't be put off by the name, or that it is part of a small chain. This fine-dining restaurant has won a devoted following for classic seafood, casual but sophisticated settings, and nightly live jazz. Chilled oysters and other shellfish compete with Maine lobster tacos and tableside steak tartare to start the meal. The polished staff helps with informed descriptions of almost two dozen entrées starring fish flown in fresh daily and prime steaks. Sea bass in a savory soy broth and Parmesan-crusted sole are favorites, and the wedge salad stands up to any steakhouse. Truffled mac and cheese and au gratin cheddar potatoes are not-to-be-missed sides. Nightly happy hours in the V Lounge offer $9 wines, $10 cocktails, and a variety of appetizers.  A second location in La Jolla has wonderful ocean views and the same dinner menu and happy hour specials. It also serves lunch on weekends.

If the name sets expectations high, Eden does its best to deliver. Tucked like a pleasant little surprise amid an industrial park, the elegant yet easy-going spot grows much of its own produce in a large on-site greenhouse. On the plate, seasonality takes center stage; the dishes are faintly rustic, but the flavors are big and sophisticated. For parents, the restaurant's child-friendly attitude makes this place a paradise. 

The three restaurants at Stateline's classy resort, all in spaces that make the most of the lakeside setting, deliver some of the area's best dining, if on the pricey side. Head to the Bistro for casual-fancy breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Brooks Bar & Grill for inventive lunch and dinner comfort food; and the Edgewood Restaurant for evening fine dining with views across the lake to Mt. Tallac.

Edley’s offers a taste of Southern cooking, and their sides are just as delicious as their melt-in-your-mouth meats. Make sure to try their brisket before it sells out for the day in either taco, sandwich, or platter form, and enjoy a craft beer or a signature spiked milkshake called a Bushwacker for refreshment. There are also locations in East Nashville and 12South.

It's not just what's in the pint glasses at this upscale brewpub that has locals raving. The kitchen's mac-and-peas and crunchy salad with shrimp, featuring the region's hallmark ingredients, are almost universally adored. The atmosphere is chic yet comfortable with large booths, canvas chairs, and a huge bar, while an outdoor patio invites you to sip in the sunshine. This is the original location—the restaurant shares its name with a more casual restaurant north of downtown.

Uruguay is known throughout the world for serving up heaping mounds of high-quality meat and this Jackson Heights corner spot does it just right. With a wide variety of marinated meats to choose from (including beef tongue and blood sausage), all cooked right on the open grill, expect large portions and classic side options like tostones (fried green plantains) and yuca frita (fried yuca). Ask for the homemade chimichurri dipping sauce (a vinegary delight with basil and garlic) that pairs well with just about any dish, or try their empanadas (stuffed with juicy beef, chicken, or spinach) and the signature chivito al pan (a decadent steak sandwich topped with ham, bacon, and egg) for a quick hearty meal.

In the heart of Waikiki, El Cielo was opened in 2023 by chef Masa "Arnaldo" Gushiken, who creates incredible Spanish tapas and other international specialties based on his global expertise in places such as Japan, Los Angeles, and Spain. The interior's serene, minimalist design establishes a sophisticated but relaxed ambience in several dining rooms. A few standouts include the truffle egg custard pudding, imported cheeses and hams, octopus, and Basque-style sea bream, and the wine list has some Spanish vintages. The restaurant has attracted attention from local and visiting food lovers, becoming a must-dine experience on Oahu. 

Open since 1931, this iconic spot is perfect for those craving a Mexican meal with a strong margarita. The colorful decor with string lights throughout add to a fiesta vibe. Servers wear traditional Mexican dresses and are friendly. The vibe is why locals return often. If it’s on the menu, make sure you get the ostrich tacos---they’re one of a kind.

Come for the tapas; stay for the Southwestern entrées, such as chicken with cilantro pecan pesto or poblano shrimp with polenta, at this cheery, popular restaurant a few blocks off bustling Whiskey Row. The lovely creekside patio affords a casual ambiance where top-notch service matches the superb cuisine.

Take the American tradition of ballpark franks, give it a Mexican spin, and you'll have a Sonoran hot dog, created by and sold at El Guero Canelo restaurants and their strategically placed food trucks around town. If hot dogs aren't your thing, choose from their equally delicious renditions of standard street food fare: tacos, burros, quesadillas, and tortas (sandwiches).

This cozy room of dark wood beams and stone, nestled in the historic El Tovar Lodge, dates to 1905. Gourmet classics such as duck, lamb, and salmon are on the menu, which focuses on locally sourced and organic ingredients. Many dishes have a modern Southwest touch, and the room is also open for breakfast and lunch. Modeled after a European hunting lodge, this rustic 19th-century dining room built of hand-hewn logs is worth a visit. Everyone from Teddy Roosevelt to Sir Paul McCartney is said to have dined here. If you can't get a dinner reservation, consider lunch or breakfast, when you can get the pancake trio featuring honey pine nut butter and prickly pear syrup.

Dinner reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance with room reservations, and 30 days in advance for all other visitors.

This culinary oasis—stunning for its understated elegance, gorgeous setting, and impeccable service—is one of the best restaurants in the region. Earthtone walls and wood beams accent the high ceilings, and arched windows reflect the glow of candles.

The menu describes this restaurant inside an ivy-covered redbrick building as "a comfort kitchen," but the term doesn't do justice to the sophistication displayed in the cuisine and presentation. Dinner items on the seasonally evolving menu have included mushroom dumplings in a shiitake ginger broth, diver scallops with pureed cauliflower and bacon jam, hanger steak with smashed fingerling potatoes, and a corn polenta bowl with asparagus and mushroom gravy.

A favorite spot for special occasions, this intimate downtown bistro is highly regarded for its deftly prepared, European-influenced Northwestern cuisine, such as Spanish-style octopus a la plancha with harissa and kalamata olive oil emulsion, and cocoa-and-chile-rubbed New York strip steak with red wine honey. Elements is also one of the best brunch spots in town—consider the Dungeness crab Benedict.

A stylish setting and a taste of impressively authentic Spanish fare—these are the draws of this handsome tapas restaurant in downtown Medford's turn-of-the-20th-century "Goldy" building. Pass around plates of mussels in romesco sauce, apricot-braised-pork empanadas, chorizo-studded Andalusian paella, and lamb-sausage flatbread, while sampling selections from the lengthy beer and cocktail menus.

Master bakers Sherif and Nadine Farag run this cozy, conversation-filled bakery and cafe that's known for its meticulously crafted Middle Eastern and French pastries, sandwiches, and breakfast dishes. Start the day with poached eggs cilbir (over garlic labneh with aleppo butter, parsley gremolata, and toasted sourdough), and make every effort to save room for a slice of cardamom-rosewater cake or a brown-butter brownie.

Luxury, precision, and creativity are the driving forces at this internationally renowned prix-fixe restaurant in a refined high-ceilinged space. Swiss-born chef Daniel Humm oversees the kitchen, concocting unexpected, often whimsical, dishes that change often but have a solid grounding in locavore American tastes. This is one of the most fine-tuned dining experiences you can have in New York City.

This elegant turn-of-the-20th-century mansion has been feeding regional specialties to Savannah's upper crust for decades. Chef Kelly Yambor has helmed the kitchen since 1996, and she masters dishes like Georgia shrimp and Savannah red rice, a double-cut Berkshire pork chop with apple-cabbage slaw, and local grouper Celeste (with a sesame-almond crust). Splurge for the chef's seven-course tasting menu—you won't regret it. Definitely ask for wine recommendations, as the wine cellar is massive and the staff is knowledgeable. The service is also impeccable. This is a local favorite for special occasions or just to get away from the hubbub.

This clever French-Vietnamese concept sitting on the corner of South First is a picture-perfect café and boulangerie known for its delectable menu of banh mi and pho as well as a fantastic array of classic French pastries made in-house, including a daily selection of macarons. Pork and shrimp crepes, drunken beef noodles, and the fried chicken banh mi are safe bets. In addition to sake, beer, and inventive cocktails, the drink list brims with French wines that pair beautifully with this cuisine. Brunch is offered on weekends.

"Real food, done real good" is the motto at Elizabeth's, where the vinyl-print tablecloths look just like grandma's and breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. The menu offers everything from po'boys to a stellar seared duck, but the highlight is the lively weekend brunch served from 8 am to 2:30 pm that includes "lost bread" (also known as French toast), "redneck eggs" (fried green tomatoes with poached eggs and hollandaise), and a traditional country breakfast with a smoked pork chop (there's also bottomless mimosas, if you want to start the party early). The fried-oyster po'boy is huge and irresistible. The staff is spunky, and so is the Bywater neighborhood clientele. The praline bacon is a must. Breakfast is served every weekday as well, also from 8 to 2:30, and has almost the same options.

This swank restaurant and bar near the Capitol is artfully designed and thoroughly modern. The California–French, farm-to-table cuisine changes seasonally, but typical dishes include oysters on the half shell, steak tartare, and wood-fired bone marrow and entrées like wood-fired beef tenderloin and poached or pan-roasted fish.

Open since 1939, Elliston Place has retained much of its mid-century decor, including vintage jukeboxes at the tables (though the boxes themselves no longer play) and a lovely soda counter, complete with a fountain. Come for great burgers, frothy ice-cream sodas, and delicious chocolate shakes—or breakfast.

Traditional Mexican recipes get a creative and tasty update at this deservedly popular restaurant. Start with the namesake elote, roasted corn on a stick; this Mexican street-food favorite is transformed into an addictive dip of grilled corn kernels, Cotija cheese, lime, and chiles. Dishes are delicious and satisfying, from small plates like corn-crusted scallops with tomato jam and white truffle crema to larger dishes like braised lamb shank in ancho chile sauce or a vegetable chiles relleno.

Make your reservations in advance during high season.