9206 Best Restaurants in USA

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We've compiled the best of the best in USA - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

Pearl Restaurant & Oyster Bar

$$

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.

1 Jaffrey Rd., Peterborough, NH, 03458, USA
603-924–5225
Known For
  • Creative fusion fare
  • Superb wine list
  • Oysters on the half shell
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. No lunch

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Pearl Street Pizza

$$

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.

159 N. Main St., Montpelier, VT, 05641, USA
802-622--8600
Known For
  • Local mozzarella, real San Marzano tomatoes, cup-and-char pepperoni
  • Grandma pies and slices
  • Tom Cat Tiramisu made with local barrel-aged gin
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun.--Mon. No lunch.

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peasants FEAST

$$

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.

487 Atterdag Rd., Solvang, CA, 93463, USA
805-686–4555
Known For
  • Tacos with rockfish, gourmet mushrooms, or slow-cooked pork
  • House-cured and smoked bacon, pickled organic veggies, pastrami-smoked salmon
  • Arcade and deli/market attached to restaurant
Restaurant Details
Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Wed. or Sun.

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Pecan Grill & Brewery

$$

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.

500 S. Telshor Blvd., Las Cruces, NM, 88011, USA
575-521–1099
Known For
  • Craft beer brewed on site
  • Local flavor
  • Green chiles
Restaurant Details
Credit cards accepted

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Pêche Seafood Grill

$$$$ | Warehouse District

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.

800 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA, 70130, USA
504-522–1744
Known For
  • Seafood small plates
  • Raw bar of Gulf oysters
  • Big crowds
Restaurant Details
Reservations essential

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The Peddler Steakhouse

$$$

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.

820 River Rd., Gatlinburg, TN, 37738, USA
865-436--5794
Known For
  • Reasonably priced children's menu
  • Laid-back atmosphere
  • Well-stocked bar

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Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen

$

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.

233 W. Center St., Kanab, UT, 84741, USA
435-689–1959
Known For
  • Large patio with sandstone tables
  • Impossible burgers and meatballs
  • Salted-caramel crunch cake for dessert
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch

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Peerless Restaurant & Bar

$$$$

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.

265 4th St., OR, 97520, USA
541-488–6067
Known For
  • Delicious desserts with suggested drink pairings
  • First-rate cocktails
  • Beautiful outdoor garden dining area
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch

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Peg Leg Pete's

$$

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.

1010 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach, FL, 32562, USA
850-932–4139
Known For
  • Lively, family-friendly atmosphere
  • Big portions
  • Fried fish and shrimp

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Pegasus Coffee

$

Pegasus is a Bainbridge Island fixture with all the best coffeehouse characteristics: a crackling fire, cozy seating, fresh java, and a clientele of artsy locals. The charming ivy-covered brick building is the original location for longtime roaster Pegasus, which is sold all over the region.

131 Parfitt Way SW, 98110, USA
206-317-6914
Known For
  • Local coffee roaster
  • Gallery art by locals
  • Live music

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Pegasus Taverna

$$

Specialties such as pastitsio (Greek-style lasagna) and avgolemono (chicken-lemon soup) are prepared in a huge open kitchen at this Greek tavern. You'll also find American classics like Caesar salad and sandwiches.

Peggy Sue's 50s Diner

$

Checkerboard floors and life-size versions of Elvis and Betty Boop greet you at this funky '50s coffee shop and pizza parlor. It's the oldest diner on Highway 15, and the fare is basic American—fries, onion rings, burgers, pork chops—with some fun surprises such as deep-fried dill pickles. If you're heading to nearby Calico Ghost Town, it's worth a stop to grab a milkshake or shop for souvenirs and sweets in the five-and-dime store.

35654 W. Yermo Rd., Yermo, CA, 92398, USA
760-254–3370
Known For
  • Movie and TV memorabilia
  • Over-the-top '50s vibe
  • Gift shop, jukebox, soda fountain, and duck pond

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Peking

$

Tucked away in a K-Mart–anchored shopping center, this reasonably priced, large Chinese restaurant with a Mongolian grill is a real treat. The daily buffet offers both stick-to-your-ribs Chinese and Mongolian dishes. At the grill, choose the ingredients you want in your entrée, and watch the cooks prepare it in front of you. If your children don't like Chinese food, there is a children's menu that includes pizza. Peking is a great value for money and a favorite with locals. The Greene shopping center location is just outside the historic district.

120 J. Waller Mill Rd., Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA
757-229–2288
Restaurant Details
Credit cards accepted

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Pele's Other Garden

$$

Small and colorful, Pele's is a deli and restaurant all in one. For lunch, it serves sandwiches and daily hot specials to satisfy hearty appetites, and at night, it's transformed into a busy bistro, with an intimate back-room bar where entertainers often drop in for impromptu jam sessions.

811 Houston St., Lanai City, HI, 96763, USA
808-565–9628
Known For
  • Tasty thin-crust pizzas
  • Quaint atmosphere
  • Good beer and wine selection
Restaurant Details
Closed Sat. and Sun.

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Pelican Club

$$$$ | French Quarter

Sassy New York flourishes permeate the menu of chef Richard Hughes's smartly decorated, eminently comfortable restaurant in the heart of the French Quarter, but there's still evidence of Hughes's Louisiana origins. The Maine lobster with shrimp and diver scallops is decadent, while the rack of lamb with rosemary-pesto crust is almost a spiritual experience. There is even a children's menu for budding gourmets.

312 Exchange Pl., New Orleans, LA, 70130, USA
504-523–1504
Known For
  • Well-heeled locals
  • Gulf fish dishes
  • Old-school menu
Restaurant Details
No lunch

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Pelóns

$ | Downtown

Situated between some of the city’s best music venues, this lively joint has reasonably priced Tex-Mex standards you can enjoy on the oak tree-shaded patio. Or just indulge in the drink menu full of house margaritas, specialty cocktails, and premium tequila flights.

802 Red River St., Austin, TX, 78704, USA
512-243--7874
Known For
  • Great happy hour specials
  • Excellent margaritas
  • Ultimate pregaming spot for music shows

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The Pembroke

$$$ | Dupont Circle

The Pembroke at the Dupont Circle Hotel is one of the most beautifully designed D.C. hotel restaurants, and it's not unusual to see an influencer posing in the newly renovated space. A wraparound porch allows for tons of natural light, and a coral leather booth is the perfect place to be seen while eating a colorful salad, hearty steak, or delicate seafood dish from the American-focused menu.

Peninsula Grill

$$$$

This fine-dining stalwart melds Lowcountry produce and seafood into traditional but inspired dishes, at once eyeing the past and the future. The dining room fixtures (walls covered in olive-green velvet and 18th-century-style portraits, with wrought-iron chandeliers on the ceiling) serve as an excellent backdrop for Angus steaks, jumbo sea scallops, and Berkshire pork chops. A permanent tent allows for courtyard dining, rain or shine. Finish your meal with the decadent coconut cake that helped put Peninsula on the map. The servers are pros; the personable sommelier makes wine selections that truly complement your meal, anything from bubbly to clarets and dessert wines.

112 N. Market St., Charleston, SC, 29401, USA
843-723–0700
Known For
  • Sought-after coconut cake dessert
  • Special-occasion splurging
  • Knowledgeable and friendly sommelier
Restaurant Details
No lunch
Reservations essential

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Penne Pasta Cafe

$

This small place packs a powerhouse of a menu with reasonably priced pizzas, pastas, salads, and sandwiches. As the restaurant's name suggests, several dishes feature penne, and portions tend to be generous enough so that two people can easily split a salad and entrée and leave completely sated.

3350 Lower Hoonapili Rd., Lahaina, HI, 96761, USA
808-661–6633
Known For
  • Gluten-free and vegan options
  • Fast and friendly service
  • Fantastic desserts

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Pepe's Taco Villa

$$

The neighborhood's not fancy, and neither is this restaurant, but in a town with a lot of gringo-ized south-of-the-border fare, this is the real friendly, real deal. Tacos rancheros—spicy, shredded pork lathered with aromatic adobo paste—are a dream, as are the green-corn tamales and Monterrey tacos filled with imported machacado (air-dried beef). The chiles rellenos may be the best in the state. All are perfect with a margarita from the full bar. Don't leave without trying the sensational mole.

2108 W. Camelback Rd., AZ, 85015, USA
602-242–0379
Known For
  • Waitstaff that happily gives recommendations
  • Squeeze-bottles of salsa at your table
  • Possibly the best chiles rellenos in Arizona
Restaurant Details
No dinner Sun. Closed Mon.

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Pepper Box Cafe

$
Portlanders flock to this cute and simple breakfast and lunch spot to get their New Mexico food fix with dishes like sopaipillas stuffed with eggs, potatoes, and cheddar and topped with red or green chili, and Albuquerque turkey-avocado-bacon sandwiches on a flour tortilla featured on the menu. The build-your-own chili bowl is a good way to go if you're feeling indecisive.
932 S.E. Morrison St., OR, 97214, USA
503-841–5004
Known For
  • Red and green sauces made with New Mexico chilis
  • Smothered breakfast burritos
  • No alcohol license, but there's good coffee
Restaurant Details
Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner

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Pepper Pot

$

The exterior isn't much, but once inside you're given the chance to sample some serious local heat. This is Hatch, after all, and if you're game, you can tuck into some tasty authentic Mexican and New Mexican fare—enchiladas, rellenos, chilaquiles—here, produced with chiles grown in the area. Not every dish will light your lips on fire—just ask the helpful staff for suggestions tailored to your penchant for heat.

207 W. Hall St., Hatch, NM, 87937, USA
575-267–3822
Known For
  • Local chiles
  • Mexican specialties
  • Good breakfast
Restaurant Details
No credit cards
No dinner

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Peppercorn Grille

$$

Filling pizzas, pastas, and steak and fish dishes make this clubby-looking restaurant a fine choice after a long day of skiing in winter or hiking in summer. Start with the signature New England clam chowder (bacon bits add a smoky touch), and follow it up with a salad with the zesty house Peppercorn Ranch dressing before moving on to a flat-iron steak. Other top selections include rack of lamb, surf n' turf, and pasta with shrimp and pasta. 

553 Pine Knot Ave., Big Bear Lake, CA, 92315, USA
909-866–5405
Known For
  • Dog-friendly, heated outdoor patio
  • New England clam chowder
  • Root-beer float desserts

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Peppercorn's Grill

$$$

This mainstay of Hartford's restaurant scene (beginning in 1898) presents contemporary "farm-to-chef" Italian cuisine in a lively but cozy setting. Enjoy homemade potato gnocchi, ravioli al'arancia (orange), slow-roasted osso buco, or a simply grilled veal chop—but save room for the warm Valrhona chocolate cake or homemade gelato or sorbet.

357 Main St., Hartford, CT, 06106, USA
860-547–1714
Known For
  • Consistently good food and service
  • Good choice pre-theater or pre-sports event
  • Tuesday through Friday happy hours
Restaurant Details
Closed Mon. No lunch Sat.–Thurs.

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Peppers Mexicali Cafe

$$

This cheerful, white-walled storefront serves traditional dishes from Mexico and Latin America, with an emphasis on fresh seafood. Excellent red and green salsas are made throughout the day, and there's a large selection of beers, along with fresh lime margaritas.

170 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, USA
831-373–6892
Known For
  • Traditional Latin American dishes
  • Fresh lime margaritas
  • Daily specials
Restaurant Details
Closed Tues. No lunch Sun.

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Perbacco

$$$ | Financial District

From the idyllic vitello tonnato (slow-roasted veal with tuna sauce) to the pappardelle with short rib ragù, California Street's longtime power dining favorite's menu is a delectable paean to northern Italy. With a long marble bar and open kitchen, the brick-lined, ultra-polished space oozes big-city charm, attracting business types and Italian food aficionados alike to the FiDi well after evening rush hour ends.

230 California St., San Francisco, CA, 94111, USA
415-955–0663
Known For
  • Agnolotti del plin (a type of pasta filled with meat)
  • Crisp and friendly service
  • Tajarin pasta with pork and mushroom sugo
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Sat.

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PERC Coffee

$ | Eastside

Roasted aromas, fresh-baked pastries, and industrial vibes abound for hard-core coffee folk who can watch beans being bagged and sent out to international destinations.

1802 E. Broad St., Savannah, GA, USA
Known For
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Restaurant Details
No dinner

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The Perch Restaurant, Bar, and Cabins

$$$

Built on top of an old glacier moraine, the Perch offers dining in a more removed and relaxed setting than elsewhere in the area. Steak and seafood make up the menu—local ingredients are used when possible—although gluten-free and vegetarian options are also available. Home-cooked breads and desserts make this a worthwhile stop as you head to or leave the park. There are also 20 cabins available on the premises starting at $125 per night.

Parks Hwy., Carlo Creek, AK, 99755, USA
888-322–2523
Known For
  • Impressive wine selection
  • Bay windows overlooking the mountains
  • Adjacent to Panorama Pizza Pub
Restaurant Details
Closed mid-Sept.–mid-Apr.

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Perla

$$$ | East Passyunk

Chef-owner Lou Boquila brings his modern interpretations of Philippine cuisine to South Philly with this romantic BYOB. Wednesday to Sunday, Boquila creates the popular kamayan dinner (a Filipino style of communal eating without plates or utensils), which features loads of delicious food presented to the table on banana-leaf placemats. You’re not only allowed, but encouraged, to eat with your hands.

1535 S. 11th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19147, USA
267-273–0008
Known For
  • Creative Filipino food
  • Intimate dining room
  • Communal kamayan dinners
Restaurant Details
Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch

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Perla's

$$$ | South Congress District

Seafood, service, and panache are pretty as a pearl at this homage to New England yacht clubs. One of Austin’s original high-end patio destinations still delivers the city’s best fish, punched up with Texas style and zing. Case in point, the Crab Louie served as luscious lumps of crabmeat piled upon crunchy fried green tomatoes and served with lemony aioli. Market fish selections are ordered to preference and served with spicy garlic-herb salsa verde, house tartar, or red chimichurri sauce. Sit at the cold bar and watch the expert oyster shuckers at work. At night and weekend brunch hours, the patio is ideal for South Congress people-watching with a tropical cocktail in hand.

1400 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX, 78704, USA
512-291–7300
Known For
  • Exceptionally fresh seafood
  • Wes Anderson–level attention to detail and decor
  • Best patio to see and be seen

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