9204 Best Restaurants in USA

In this North End nook, the lobster roll—in 7 ounces, 14 ounces, and at 28 ounces, the "U.S.S. Lobstitution," the biggest lobster roll in Boston—reigns supreme. Served either hot with drawn butter and cold with mayo, the smallest rolls come on a New England-style buttered hot dog bun, while the larger ones are piled onto sub rolls to accommodate all that meat. The signature sandwiches and wraps are served on freshly baked rolls, and the salads are made fresh daily.

It's rare for Philadelphians to take to outsiders, but Paulie Gee's, an import from New York, has been happily embraced. That's partly because it's one of the very few great pizza shops that offer slices, and partly because it stays open until 2 am on the weekends. There's a full bar, a pool table, and a playlist of '60s and '70s rock, which contributes to the nostalgic, social vibe. 

Fantastic coffee, paired with fresh pastries or delicious bagels, fuels a lot of people at this outpost of the local chain Pavement. Creative bagel sandwiches include Presto! Presto! (a combo of egg, sharp cheddar, avocado, and sun-dried pesto) or you can build your own with ingredients you like. There is communal seating inside, plus an outdoor patio, great for people-watching in warm weather.

Enjoy coffee, snacks, and Wi-Fi access in this hip basement spot, one of several scattered about the city. Tea lovers needn't feel left out—there are plenty of excellent options, including jade oolong and chamomile medley.

In a state that takes its doughnuts seriously, some of the best doughy orbs require an island jaunt. Served from a humble food truck, Payne's "killer" doughnuts have been a summer morning tradition for generations. Stick with the sugar or cinnamon flavors to truly appreciate how warm and crisp these homemade doughnuts are on the outside and how tender and simply delicious they are on the inside.

A floor-to-ceiling mural of the face of Botticelli's Venus overlooks this artfully designed trattoria, which manages to be busy and tranquil at once. Pazzaluna stakes its reputation on innovative dishes such as the fritto misto (fried calamari and vegetable strips) but brings panache to standards like handmade fettuccine in a Bolognese meat sauce.

The latest addition to chef Cisse Elhadji's ever-growing restaurant roster is PB Brasserie, a traditional French brasserie with a sprinkle of Senegalese spice. This sprawling space is conveniently located on 125th Street, and has traditional French dishes, like tuna tartare, frisée au lardon, salmon bearnaise, and one of the most buttery, cheesy, and decadent mac and cheeses in the neighborhood. But for one of the best meals offered here, go for the moules Africana, a heaping pile of mussels in a warm curry-like broth, best with just a dollop of Senegalese hot spice for an extra kick. While most happy hours are surrounded by drink deals, PB Brasserie has one of the best food-focused happy hours in town, with bites ranging $12--$18 everyday 4--7 pm (don't worry, drink specials are available, too).

As the name implies, it's all about fins and shells here, including the live ones that entertain diners in their tanks in the modern dining room. The menu includes a raw bar with a good selection of raw (or grilled) oysters and clams and the chef's "seacuterie" platter, a build-your-own sampler of such choices as salmon pastrami, citrus-cured fluke, cured sea bass, or octopus torchon. Local fish—grouper, snapper, and yellowfin tuna—are best bets as entrées. Hipsters talk up the craft cocktails, and the happy-hour discounts include certain foods. That's a good thing, since Palm Beach prices apply.

PCC Community Markets, an upscale food co-op, has all the fixings you need for a picnic along the canal, including sandwiches and salads. You can also order fresh coffee from the deli.

Peaceful Side quickly became a prime local hangout when it opened in 2022, thanks to its comfortable outdoor seating area and an appealing menu of sourdough pizzas and a solid local beer selection. They've since opened an adjacent taco bar and have announced plans to brew their own beer on the premises. 

The gift shop came first, but since 1984 Cynthia Pedregon has wowed crowds with her homemade soups, sandwiches, and daily quiches. Portions are hearty, but to get a sampling of as much as possible, opt for the Sandwich Sampler, which comes with a quarter sandwich each of tangy chicken salad, fresh tuna salad, perky jalepeño-pimento cheese, and a cup of the soup of the day. Pedregon's cookbooks are prized staples in Hill Country kitchens.

Southern soul food—fried chicken and catfish, crawfish, cornbread dressing and collard greens—is the order of the day at Peachtree's two locations. Try the original buffet at 6800 Eastwood Freeway, or the newer location in the 18th & Vine Historic District. Top it all off with the house specialty: homemade peach cobbler. There's live entertainment Thursday through Sunday.

Known for its good steaks and strong cocktails, Peacock Alley is one of downtown Bismarck's most popular spots for both lunch and dinner. Once the historic Patterson Hotel, this restaurant was the scene of countless political deals, captured in period photographs that feature prominently on its walls. At lunchtime you can choose from a decent selection of wraps, sandwiches, and burgers. The dinner menu focuses primarily on different cuts of steak, although you can also get sides, salads, and seafood. Regional dishes include pan-blackened prime rib. Check the website for daily drink specials.

Huge windows run the length of the Wuksachi Lodge's high-ceilinged dining room, and a large fireplace on the far wall warms both body and soul. The diverse dinner menu—by far the best at both parks—reflects a commitment to locally sourced and sustainable products.

What started as a creekside log cabin is now a 70-screen sports bar with room for athletic fans of every stripe, from hockey (of course) to mushing and beyond. There's also an outdoor deck, pool tables, and a large and varied menu of tasty bar favorites. 

The raw bar is the star of the show at Pearl & Mary, where platters of oysters, clusters of crab claws, and bright lobster tails are tough to resist. Build your perfect seafood order, paired with a sparkling wine cocktail, and then round out the meal with a crudo (raw fish or seafood with citrus juice), a platter of fish-and-chips, or a whole grilled snapper. Happy hour is popular here, as are the late-night hours when the dining room starts to feel more like a bar.

One of Manhattan's last classic standalone diners, Pearl Diner has been serving all the favorites from its compact corner spot since the early 1960s. In the affluent Financial District, it's a welcome relief to find such an affordable (and hearty) menu.

Chef Jeff Black does serve three kinds of po'boys, but that's about as working-class as it gets at this dazzlingly decorated homage to the bivalve. East and West Coast oysters come raw, with perfect dipping sauces—at half-price all day on Monday and during happy hour every other day—or warm in five irresistible guises, from bacon wrapped to crusted in cornmeal and sprinkled with sweet-potato hash. If you eschew shellfish, Black has you covered with a grass-fed steak lovingly bedecked in blue cheese. Expect to get the best and pay for it here, where craft cocktails are $12, and each warm apple pie serving comes baked in its own miniskillet. Upstairs, the classy crowd endures lengthy table waits with Peroni on tap at the breezy Black Jack bar.

There have been many imitators and few real competitors to this West Village seafood institution. Since 1997, Rebecca Charles has been serving arguably the best lobster roll in New York City in a no-frills space (which expanded next door to accommodate the throngs) on charming, restaurant-lined Cornelia Street. But that's not the only reason you should cast your net here. Pan-roasted sea scallops and plus-size crab cakes compete with the legendary lobster roll for your taste buds' attention. Service is very efficient—you might even say rushed.

Despite its prosaic setting in a shopping center a little south of Peterborough's historic downtown, this sleek, contemporary Asian bistro and oyster bar is quite welcoming once inside. Several types of fresh oysters are always available, along with such diverse offerings as crispy duck confit lettuce wraps, Hanoi-style pork spring rolls, sweet-and-sour Thai noodles, and coconut-veggie rice bowls.

The handmade Italian brick oven is the centerpiece of this hot pizza spot, which shares a former department store building with AR Market and the curing facility for Vermont Salumi. The team cranks out perfectly blistered Neapolitan-style pizzas and thick grandma pies, with classic and weekly special toppings that range from fire-roasted mushrooms to roast pork and miso drizzle. The bar boasts a top-notch local draft list and affordable, well-made cocktails.

This low-key, family-friendly eatery in the heart of town serves up made-from-scratch dishes that showcase seasonal local bounty sourced from trusted fishers and farmers. Feast on soups, beef-and-cheese smash burgers, and various salads and sandwiches in the casual interior or in the cozy brick patio.

Craft beers and classic comfort fare that favors locally grown ingredients are the draws at this bustling spot with a smart layout, excellent service, and inviting outdoor dining—complete with a view over the Mesilla Valley. Pecan wood is used for grilling steak and chicken, and burgers and rib-eyes come smothered with green chile and Amber Ale–grilled onions. Try the Napa salad, with just the right balance of candied pecans and fresh greens.

The name implies fish, and that's what you'll find at this modern temple to seafood, the brainchild of nearby Cochon proprietors Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski. In addition to an airy, modern space enhanced by exposed beams and a wood-burning grill, the dining room has a fascinating history: the building was a former mortuary that claims to have embalmed Confederate president Jefferson Davis. If that doesn't give you something to talk about, the crowd-satisfying fare will: there's head-on, coal fire grilled whole fish; smothered catfish with pickled greens; and excellent nonfish options. The small plates offer inventive options such as spicy ground shrimp with noodles, a raw bar menu featuring the best of local oysters, and an excellent seafood salad.

It's not every day in the Smokies you walk past an 80-foot-high redwood tree to eat at a riverfront steak house comprising five historic log cabins. And it's probably just as unusual to have your steak brought table-side and custom cut before being sizzled over Tennessee hickory charcoal while you graze on hot homemade bread and items from the salad bar. Chicken, shrimp, salmon, and fresh boneless English mountain trout are also on the menu, along with desserts like hot blackberry cobbler or Peddler's version of strawberry shortcake.

This inviting, art-filled restaurant at the Flagstone Inn has one of the only all-vegetarian menus in southern Utah, but even avowed carnivores have been known to rave about the green chile–and–Swiss cheese Impossible burgers and the inventive pizzas—including the "hot mess," with vegan Italian sausage, chèvre, shishito and serrano peppers, and a bourbon sauce. There's an impressive selection of craft beers and ciders.

This upmarket neighborhood bistro and wine bar in a vintage former hotel anchors the up-and-coming Railroad District, on the north side of downtown, just a few blocks from Main Street and the Shakespeare theaters. Regulars appreciate the well-crafted cocktails and thoughtful wine list as much as the consistently tasty locally sourced American food, such as fig-and-horseradish salad with apples and blue cheese and grilled lamb T-bone with apricot-glazed carrots and avocado-yogurt sauce.

Prepare for long lines during the summertime at this local favorite. Dig into seafood favorites at one of three dining areas—indoors, outdoors on the covered deck, or at picnic tables downstairs, near the wryly named Under Where Bar, which often has live music. Note: If you do choose to sit downstairs (near the playground, a perk for parents) no grilled dishes are available. Luckily for you, the fried shrimp and fish are some of the best around.