9204 Best Restaurants in USA

Occupying what used to be New Orleans's oldest music store, this Dickie Brennan stalwart is a convivial spot to try some of the more imaginative contemporary Creole dishes, such as andouille-crusted fish, crabmeat cheesecake, and pepper-crusted duck breast with foie gras. Desserts, especially the white-chocolate bread pudding and the homemade ice creams, are luscious. Drugstore-tile floors and stained cherrywood booths set the mood. The wraparound mezzanine is lined with a large mural depicting the city's famous musicians, like Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, and Aaron Neville. The Parisian-style sidewalk seating bespeaks small plates, wine, and people-watching (though sights of Canal Street aren't always picturesque). The Sunday jazz brunch is New Orleans all the way, while the daily happy hour, offering half-price drinks and snacks till 7 pm, is one of the best in town.

A little more than a decade ago, chef-owner James Shrader (a graduate of Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park) scooped up an abandoned antiques store at the corner of East 15th and South Peoria and, with the help of family and friends, turned it into one of Tulsa's swankiest restaurants with a commitment to fresh ingredients, local suppliers, and culinary excellence. Menu descriptions are littered with words like gastrique, ragout, and compôte, and might include such dishes as roasted salmon with a shaved Brussels sprout salad and tomato confit splashed with a drizzle of orange balsamic. Vegetarians may request a special menu, which might contain, for example, mushroom ravioli, wood-grilled vegetables, or mushroom linguine; other dietary preferences can also be accommodated.

Hungry travelers and townsfolk have been fueling up in this rollicking Old West tavern with period wallpaper and pressed-tin ceilings since 1892, tucking into plates of old-school pub fare. The nachos, fish-and-chips, and steaks are reliably good, and a handful of specialties—especially the sirloin steak with coconut prawns and open-faced chili burgers—keep regulars coming back again and again. Portions are generous, especially at breakfast, and there's a sizable kids' menu. 

Mardi Gras energy, team-style service, lively music, and great Cajun, creole, and Caribbean food have made the Palace a Santa Barbara icon. Be prepared to wait for a table on Friday and Saturday night, though the live entertainment and free appetizers, sent out front when the line is long, will whet your appetite for the feast to come.

Appearance is almost as important as flavor at this lavish art deco restaurant in the landmark Cincinnatian Hotel downtown. Frederick Pissaro, great-grandson of the celebrated Impressionist painter, created artwork exclusively for the Palace. But the menu, which is pricey and continental (pheasant soup, rack of lamb, meatloaf), measures up well. New chef Romuald Jung, who has worked under some of the best in Europe and America, draws on his French and German influences to please older, upper-crust patrons.

Legend has it that the patrons who saved the Palace's ornately carved 1880s Brunswick bar from a Whiskey Row fire in 1900 continued drinking at it while the row burned across the street. Whatever the case, the bar remains the centerpiece of the beautifully restored turn-of-the-20th-century structure, with a high, pressed-tin ceiling. Steaks and chops are the stars here, but the St. Louis--style ribs and hearty corn chowder are fine, too.

This airy, industrial space has two identities, depending on the time of day. Weekend brunches are bustling and lively and feature their popular boozy brunch drinks and the to-die-for lemon ricotta pancakes; at night, dinner unfolds under chandeliers and pendant lamps when the open kitchen serves up house-made pastas and pizza. Tables of locals and dates unwind over wine and sophisticated comfort foods. Whichever you choose, it's best to make a reservation. Expect a lively, loud atmosphere.

Operating here since 1980, The Palm is classic Manhattan meets East Hampton. Its old-fashioned style fits perfectly with the building, parts of which were constructed in 1699. Usually crowded, the restaurant is well known for its aged prime beef, veal, fish, lobster, and high prices. Side dishes are served family style. Service is generally attentive and professional, however it can get quite busy in the summer, so for the best experience, try going in the off-season. For the Palm experience without the Palm prices, look for promotions and deals like half-price Prime Bites at primetime (5–7 pm Sunday–Friday). Desserts include a bag of warm doughnuts.

At Palm & Pine, the cocktails are strong and the vibe is young and local. A rotation of southern and Latin American-inspired plates---with seasonal ingredients from local purveyors---come out of the open kitchen, and even simple dishes are impressive, like the P&P salad with local lettuce, dressed in a house-made Worcestershire sauce. The chef-owner team was James Beard (Best Chef South) semifinalists two years in a row. The kitchen is open until 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. 

In what's described as "Cal-Tropic" flair, Palm House serves atmospheric and colorful vibes. The drinks are smoky and competently worldly, and the menu is a vacation in and of itself.

Long heralded as one of the best spots for watching sunsets, this place also gets high marks for its fresh seafood. Seared tuna, gator bites, and wasabi scallops are among the more intriguing appetizers on the menu, which also has an assortment of bowls, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and wraps; entrées range from coconut shrimp or grilled salmon with a mango salsa to St. Louis–style barbecue ribs or marinated skirt steak. The restaurant is casual but not too casual, with a bit of a Tommy Bahama feel, so you may want to ditch the beach attire. Be advised that it gets pretty packed around sunset, when a live band plays island music and the margaritas flow.

With its dark-wood interior and hundreds of framed celebrity caricatures, this pricey restaurant resembles its famed New York City namesake. For most diners, steak steals the show (aged beef is a specialty), but the gargantuan Nova Scotia lobsters are nearly as popular. Other seafood options include broiled salmon with mango salsa and jumbo-lump-meat crab cakes with chipotle tartar sauce. The Italian specialties are top-notch versions of favorites like veal parmigiana.

The famed Palm chain was acquired by Landry's Inc. in 2020, but thankfully it is honoring the Palm's long tradition of sophistication and impeccable service. Dinner faves include lobster gnocchi, Sicilian salmon, prime porterhouse, Wagyu filet, and more. Distinguished but not stuffy, the first thing you notice is the walls covered with hand-drawn caricatures of local and international celebrities, sports figures, politicians, and others who have dined at the Palm over the years. The dark, quiet bar area is a great place for conversation and cocktails.

This luminous lunch spot supplies an instant burst of sunshine no matter the month, with vibrant ingredients, tropical drinks, and a dining area filled with lush, greenery. The out-of-the-way cafe specializes in dishes from lower latitudes, like tortas, tostadas, and chilaquiles.

A favorite meeting place in the old train depot, Palmer City echoes with the sound of local chatter. It has a great ambience, and the standard pub fare—salads, tacos, pizzas baked in a firebrick oven, and handmade burgers—is reliably good. With more than 40 beers on tap and crafty craft cocktails, there's enough libation diversity to suit just about every taste. The Alehouse hosts live music in the summer months.

The original building, circa 1836, served as a public library and debating hall before becoming a retail space. In the Victorian era it was an ice cream parlor, and today it houses a full-service restaurant with both indoor and alfresco dining. Wood booths line the walls of the plant-filled room; the pressed-metal ceiling is original. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and the menu features traditional salads, burgers and sandwiches, and steaks and pasta.

A warm, almost clubby atmosphere lets you know to expect more than the typical Tex-Mex fare at this Alamo Heights mainstay since 1997. Tempting offerings as varied as enchiladas verdes (covered in green tomatillo salsa), tacos de Cameron (grilled shrimp), and pollo con mole (chicken breast in authentic mole de xico sauce) are sure to please. For dessert, the tres leches cake alone is worth the trip.

Best for lunch but also open for dinner, Palooza pleases with many beers on tap, jazzed-up pub grub, and an often-packed covered outdoor patio. Pulled-pork and crispy chicken sandwiches and beer-battered fish and fries are among the popular items, with prawn and braised beef tacos and shredded kale salads with sliced apples for those seeking lighter fare.

This Seattle classic has been bringing the flavors of the Caribbean to the city for more than two decades, since the owner moved to town and grew frustrated with the lack of dishes like roti, curry, and jerk that she missed from home in Trinidad. Open only a few days each week, and only for a few hours, people clamor to get in and grab Pam's aloo pies, flaky breads, and tender curry goat. Keep an eye out for specials featuring her famous doubles and wash everything down with a glass of sorrel. 

Painted in bright purples, pinks, and greens, this festive spot offers traditional Cuban fare: slow-roasted meats, tropical root vegetables, hearty stews, rice, and beans. The meat plates—featuring slow-roasted pork, oxtail, shredded beef, rubbed chicken, or giant prawns—with various rich and saucy accompaniments, are all tasty and best enjoyed with a side of fried plantains.

Perched between Central and Harvard squares, this new American trattoria was created by husband-and-wife team Chris and Pam Willis. Take a seat at the fresh-flower-covered communal table (or one of the smaller, more intimate tables) and choose your own culinary adventure by picking three dishes from the prix-fixe menu (à la carte is available only in the bar area). Delicious dishes include their signature lumache with Bolognese, lasagna bianca, and lamb tartare. The cocktail presence is strong (so are the drinks), and the natural wine list features small-batch wines from vineyards off the beaten path. Pammy's dual-opening fireplace, dramatic floral arrangements, and hand-drawn peacock mural add to its well-known charming nature that brings in foodies from all over Cambridge. Take note of the 6% fee added to all checks for kitchen administration.

One of North County's best restaurants, across the street from the Del Mar Fairgrounds and racetrack, offers French cuisine with California flare. Chef-proprietor Jeffrey Strauss brings a caterer's sensibilities to the details, like a mix-or-match selection of sauces—such as wild mushroom, béarnaise, au jus, grain mustard, or peppercorn—to complement the simple but absolutely top-quality grilled meats and seafood. Appetizers can be very clever, like the Kim Chee seafood martini. Whatever you do, save room for dessert; you can watch the pastry chef build it for you at the demonstration area in the dining room. Popular sweet endings include seasonal fruit tart tatin and chocolate peanut-butter bombe. The comfortable rooms are painted with murals of bucolic country scenes, and the service is quiet and professional.

This Mexican bakery serves up fresh tres leches, bread pudding, cheesecake, and a host of other pastries so flaky you’ll get almost as much on your shirt as in your mouth. Grab a Mexican Coca-Cola to complete your sugary snack.

Adding a dose of hip to Balboa Park, this gastropub, located adjacent to the San Diego Museum of Art's sculpture garden, offers a stylish pit stop pretheater or between museum-hopping. The menu features grab-and-go options as well as dine-in upscale pub fare and craft brews, with several vegan options and a weekend brunch. Panama 66 does not take reservations.

This serene teahouse on the ground floor of the historic Panama Hotel has tons of personality and a subtle Asian flair that reflects its former life as a Japanese bathhouse. The space is lovely, with exposed-brick walls, shiny hardwood floors, and black-and-white photos of old Seattle (many of them relating to the history of the city's Japanese immigrants). Kick back with an individual pot of tea—there are dozens of varieties—or an espresso, along with a plate of small Japanese confections. This is a good place to bring a book, as it's usually calm and quiet. A clear panel in the floor shows the room still full of luggage left by Japanese Americans forced into internment camps during World War II.

This is a great place for a beer and a steak, though the menu also has burgers, chicken tenders, fish and chips, pasta dishes, and salads. In summer, dinners (reservations suggested) are served out on the porch, which has spectacular views of Panamint Valley. A limited breakfast and lunch are also served.

Breakfast is the specialty at this Nashville institution with 20 kinds of pancakes (sweet and savory) and homemade syrups. A favorite with locals, students, and celebrities, there are good soups and sandwiches for lunch—or you can stick with the pancakes, which are served till closing in late afternoon. Get there by 8:15 on weekdays to avoid lines, but be prepared to wait on weekends.

The original Hillsboro Village location opened in 1961, but this newer SoBro location brought the Pancake Pantry's signature scratch-made breakfasts—pancakes, omelets, and waffles—closer to the Downtown masses. Don't miss the irresistible homemade maple syrups; if you're not in the mood for breakfast, there are a range of sandwiches and salads, too.

The interior of this attractive "Nash-Mex" cantina welcomes guests with bold accents of color and warm exposed brick walls to create a cozy environment. The menu features comfort food as well, with inventive tacos stuffed with Nashville hot chicken or fried pickles, plus more traditional Mexican fillings like adobo chicken and carnitas. The restaurant is also known for excellent burgers and one of the favorite margaritas in town.