9221 Best Restaurants in USA

James Beard Award--winning chef Alon Shaya's love letter to Louisiana and the local dishes of his adopted city has culminated in Miss River, an airy restaurant nestled in the Four Seasons Hotel. Split a buttermilk-fried chicken for the table, presented whole and hand-carved, with chef Shaya's wife Emily's award-winning red beans and rice as a side. When the weather is good, dine alfresco in the spacious garden patio.

This casual eatery within walking distance of Easton Beach in Middletown has a simple "mission"—deliver great burgers, fries, and hot dogs to the hungry and thirsty shore crowds. A thick and juicy cheeseburger can be had for about $10; toppings are extra and include options like jalapenos or a fried egg. For noncarnivores, there are a couple of falafel options, too.

Healthy, creative dishes and a friendly staff make this art-filled East Village café a local favorite for breakfast and lunch. Hungry San Diegans wait 30 minutes or more to enjoy fluffy scrambled eggs with chicken apple sausage or strawberry banana pancakes with a side of eggs and bacon. Also popular are Mexican-inspired dishes like chilaquiles, breakfast burritos, and quesadillas. Outstanding rosemary, cinnamon, brown, and gluten-free breads are handmade, and the Mission Mocha coffee and Mexican hot chocolate are like liquid desserts. Lunch favorites include the border-inspired chicken pesto sandwich, tortilla soup, and house quesadilla. Locations are also found in Mission Beach and North Park.

The food will take your taste buds to new levels at this dark and sophisticated space adjacent to a historic Catholic mission. Sit at the elegant bar or fireside on the patio, and enjoy a spicy hibiscus margarita with supreme starters or sides. House favorites include the pineapple habanero pork shoulder and the homemade chorizo porchetta. The weekend brunch menu alone could keep this place afloat.

Diners pack this loud and colorful cantina daily to enjoy Mexican food at reasonable prices. What the small menu lacks in variety, it makes up for in reliability; everything from the crispy fish tacos to the carnitas enchiladas is worth trying.

Mission Dupont serves tacos, burritos, nachos, and other Tex-Mex fare in a casual setting. It's a popular hangout for young professionals, graduate students, and interns, who particularly enjoy the legendary happy hour. In warmer months, order a giant margarita out on the patio, and take in the lively Dupont Circle scene.

Fresh seafood and waterfront views are some of the many reasons to swing by this fun restaurant in the shadow of the Chase Center (which, confusingly, is not within the Mission Rock development at the other end of the Mission Bay neighborhood). Everything here is casual but is also a big step above typical pub grub, from local rockfish in the ceviche and fish-and-chips to Dungeness crab on the deviled eggs. Some tables go for a proper multicourse meal, while others enjoy all of the tempting small plates tapas-style. Even if it isn't a sunny day, patio heaters and awnings keep diners (mostly) warm.

Brandon Jew's ambitious, graceful restaurant offers the chef's delicious contemporary, farm-to-table interpretation of Chinese cuisine that sometimes tweaks classic dishes with a California spin (hot-and-sour soup with nasturtiums) or enhances fresh produce with unique Chinese flavors (local asparagus with smoked tofu). The elegant dining room—accented with plants and a chrysanthemum chandelier—provides beautiful views of Chinatown, while the tasting menu breathes new life into it.

This soft-serve shop is a local favorite, serving cones, slushes, milk shakes, and sorbets.

This classic French restaurant is tucked in a grotto on the climb to Bromley Mountain. The two dining rooms are perched over the Bromley Brook, and at night a small waterfall is magically illuminated—ask for a window table.

Off the beaten path even for residents, this microscopic sushi bar is an adjunct of a wholesale seafood market and has a sort of cult following. The fish, air-freighted from around the world, is ultra-fresh, well-cut (into huge pieces—to the regret of those who follow the one-bite rule), and prepared for the serious sushi lover. You can spend as much or as little as you like—from $6 veggie sushi to the $135 omakase (a series of small courses) menu.  Rest assured, it's unlikely you'll run into anyone from your hotel here, and locals will be mightily impressed you ventured so far. (Barack Obama has been know to drop by when he's in town.) The final seating is at 7:45, so plan (and make reservations) accordingly.

A renovated bank building near the State House is one of the most atmospheric restaurants in town, with subtle lighting, a darkwood bar, original art deco paintings, velvet-draped walls, and ornate 20-foot-high ceilings. A baker's dozen of dry-aged and prime steaks delights carnivores, while chicken and seafood offer lighter alternatives.

Three local families—with a fishing history—joined nets in 2008 to provide the best catch in Point Loma; a wall menu showcases sustainable seafood caught mostly by them, off the shores of San Diego and Baja. The fisherman’s stew and fish tacos are on point, loaded with swordfish, octopus, calamari, and rock fish, while the tuna melt and breaded shrimp beckon a cold brew to wash it all down. Regardless of the time of day, there’s usually a line out the door on Fridays. At low tide, you can see oysters under the pier, reminding you that you're as close to fresh seafood as it gets. Bypass the small indoor dining space for a patio table overlooking the dock, but keep an eye on your fries. If your neighbor doesn’t grab them, a seagull most certainly will. 

If Branson were to run a contest for the most unusual restaurant in town, Mitsu Neko Fusion Cuisine and Sushi Bar would certainly be a strong contender. This Japanese restaurant is owned by a young Russian couple who are usually on-site to help guests decide what to choose from the large menu. Along with sushi, it serves Westernized Japanese mains and innovative cocktails. Popular dishes include the house-smoked salmon and the blue fire roll; guests also rave about the house-made crème brûlée and the strawberry roll (strawberries and cream arranged to resemble maki).

The garlic chicken may haunt your dreams, so it's worth the trek to a downscale neighborhood to find this unprepossessing takeout joint. Line up, order the plate lunch with rice and salad, and sink your teeth into the profoundly garlicky masterpiece drizzled with a sweet glaze. Obsessed locals line up at dawn to get takeout for lunch.  To avoid the wait, call in your order ahead of time.

Fresh flowers and redbrick walls lend color and charm to this downtown eatery, where a patio is open for outdoor dining when the weather gets warm. Depending on the season, the daily seafood might be steelhead, scallops, salmon, or halibut, usually served with grilled vegetables. Grilled pork tenderloin comes with bacon-fat roasted brussel sprouts, and local produce is the inspiration for such scrumptious vegetarian fare as white-cheddar-and-apple salad. Dessert specialties include vegan carrot cake and flourless dark chocolate and crystallized ginger torte.

This little downtown seafood joint with sidewalk and indoor seating serves fresh coastal food in a setting full of local charm. You'll see plenty of fried seafood on the menu, but the raw bar (combination platters of oysters, clams, steamed shrimp, and crab) does not disappoint. Daily specials include deals on whole Maine lobsters, peel-and-eat Carolina shrimp, and beach-friendly cocktails.

Located inside the former 19th-century-era Grafton Village Store, this modern general store is a meeting spot for locals and travelers seeking groceries, deli sandwiches, prepared foods, and homemade pastries. It's an idyllic stop for a cup of locally roasted coffee and a cider doughnut on the front porch.

Subtitled "A Place For Steaks," this downtown eatery is all about meat. Diners get to choose their steaks from a platter of cuts. Side dishes and desserts are outstanding, too. Can't get enough Mo's? Try Mo's Cucina, Mo's Irish Pub, Moceans (A Place for Seafood), or Mocha, all in the same downtown neighborhood.

Just like an authentic Japanese izakaya (bar/restaurant), this hip little place serves yakatori (skewered chicken) grilled on a binchotan (grill) that the restaurant owners imported from Japan. Ramen is served with a variety of broths—regular shoyu, spicy, and vegetarian. Their nouko base enhances every serving with creamy undertones. They get busy so reservations are essential; make them online. 

Quick and reliable, this no-frills diner opens early and closes late, dishing up large portions of all-American fare at a decent price. People come for the all-day breakfast, the grass-fed beef burgers, and a great selection of soda-fountain favorites, including shakes and sundaes. If you're headed out into the desert for the day, grab one of their boxed to-go lunches, with a sandwich, chips, water, fresh fruit, and a candy bar.

Set in a vintage redbrick storefront on downtown Moab's busiest block, this urbane café and ice-cream shop also offers enough hearty savory dishes throughout the day—plus a well-curated selection of beer and wine—to serve as a legit breakfast or lunch option. Consider the Liège-style waffles with fresh berries or avocado toast early in the day, or a veggie "meatball" or fancy grilled cheese sandwich (the preparation of the latter changes daily), Cobb salad, or street tacos in the afternoon. The silky-smooth nitro-infused ice cream comes in such offbeat flavors as s'mores and Cap'n Crunch. You'll also find jewelry, clothing, and other handmade crafts for sale. In the evening, a space in the back transforms into a speakeasy called Raven Room, with craft cocktails and an upscale bar food menu. 

This casual spot with Persian fare and a focus on high-quality ingredients will steal your heart. Whether you're craving kebabs, falafel, baklava, or gyros, you cannot go wrong (although we do strongly recommend the baklava and the salmon kebabs). The freshly baked pita served with every order is a great touch.

A meal at this friendly, rough-hewn fish shack with an over-the-top nautical theme is a Cape Cod tradition for some people. Bring your own libations, and if you need to kill time (the lines are sometimes daunting), stop inside Moby's Cargo, the bustling gift shop next door.

The team at this spot for coffee and conversation takes great pride in sourcing direct-trade beans from the Organic Farmers Cooperative in Cameroon, West Africa, and pairs them with an assortment of cookies, cakes, and muffins. This is ground zero for Brattleboro's bohemian contingent and fellow travelers.

Locals come here for the cool vibe, live music, and great coffee. Local art, which is often for sale, decorates the rich red walls, completing the artsy vibe.

For a melting pot of global flavors, head to Food Network–featured chef Brian Riggenbach's playful modern diner. Start with the famous tatchos (nachos with tater tots) and then take a short trip around with world with Filipino sisig (a pork dish that's a bit sour), Korean-style bulgogi steak, and barbacoa (slow-roasted short ribs) smothered in adobo. The brunch offerings are just as varied and fun, with an added bonus of some very refreshing cocktails. 

Thanks to multiple plugs by Oprah, each day's fresh batch of English muffins often sells out, but the scones, croissants, breads, and other baked goods also inspire. Breakfast brings pastries and sandwiches with scrambled eggs, cheddar, and bacon between a buttermilk biscuit; the lunch menu expands to include soups, salads, pizzas, and more sandwiches—turkey-pesto focaccia, ciabatta chicken-Asiago panini, and vegan veggies among them. There are other Model Bakery locations in downtown Napa and Yountville.