9206 Best Restaurants in USA

Culinary Institute alum Patrick Amedeo may only serve six different pies and four different salads, but that's all you need at this exquisite artisanal pizzeria. There are traditional thin-crust Margherita and white Bianco pies, but for something more innovative try the Morandi topped with Grana Padano cheese, red onions, pistachios, and rosemary. The Mediterranean salad—romaine and arugula topped with wood oven-roasted eggplant, tomatoes, ricotta salata, and sherry vinaigrette—is sublime. A small selection of wines is available, and if you're in the mood for something sweet, ask Patrick to make his decadent calzone filled with melted Nutella.

With a name that comes from the ideal temperature for cooking pizza, the centerpiece of this bright, minimalist establishment is a wood-burning brick oven. Pizzas come topped with delectable items like speck (prosciutto) and soppressata (salami). The rest of the menu, which largely depends on produce and meats from nearby farmers and artisans, changes with the seasons. Try the braised beef short rib, and top off your meal with buttermilk panna cotta. Local art and quiet conversation make this intimate establishment a pleasant respite.

Restaurateur Stephen Starr logged countless hours researching how to make the very best pizza, laboring over the dough, oven type, ideal temperature, and every other conceivable variable. The resulting artisanal 12-inch rounds, with ingredients like black truffle, fresh prosciutto, and earthy chanterelles, keep this snug 80-seater overflowing with neighborhood duos and families; the no-reservations policy necessitates getting here early or late if you don’t want to wait. All tables are good tables—each has a view of the red-and-white-tiled Neapolitan pizza oven and Headhouse Square through plenty of tall café windows.

Chicago deep-dish pizza got its start here in 1943, and both local and out-of-town fans continue to pack this Victorian brownstone for the filling pies, while the dim, paneled rooms with reproduction light fixtures make the setting a slice of Old Chicago. Plan on two thick, cheesy slices or less as a full meal; this is no quick-to-your-table pie so also order salads and be prepared to entertain the kids during the inevitable wait.

"The truth is in the dough" is the long-standing motto of Burlington's destination for expert Neopolitan pies. The bubbled, chewy crusts are flame-kissed by live fire, and Italian-inspired ingredients are sourced mostly from local farmers like the house-made mozzarella that graces classics like the beautifully simple Margherita. But don't overlook inventive pizzas like the popular Mais, which is an enticing combination of fire-roasted sweet corn, crème fraîche, fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), and crackly edged slices of speck.

This shoebox-size spot puts together thin-crust pies topped with the kinds of ingredients that are worth the constant wait. Almost half the menu changes on a biweekly basis, while dependable favorites include the tomato, basil, and mozzarella pizza; the Sardinian cheese, pine nut, and rosemary pie; and the San Marzano tomato sauce, wild arugula, and mascarpone pizza.

When you take your first bite of any one of the six expertly crafted pizzas on the menu—like the simple tomato, basil, and mozzarella, or the mascarpone, pecorino, arugula, and prosciutto—you'll understand why this small eatery has developed a fierce following. Plates of paper-thin cured meats and olives and salads with chèvre and pine nuts are equally delicious. Don't skip out on the homemade gelato. If you can't get a table at the original Phoenix Avenue location, there's a second one inside Dark Sky Brewing Company.

Charming and light-filled, the menu at PJ Clarke's—yes, of the New York PJ Clarke's—showcases American cuisine, from salads and sandwiches to an assortment of hearty entrées. The sprawling space inside the historic Curtis building features a large bar overlooking Independence Mall; be sure to have a glimpse of the famous Tiffany glass mosaic The Dream Garden before or after you dine. 

Since 1971, this family-run seafood and ice cream shack has been serving hungry vacationers. It's a go-to joint for a quick post-beach dinner (or pre-beach lunch) with a menu that goes beyond the usual deep-fried items: options include broiled seafood plates, hot and cold lobster rolls, and more than a dozen different salads. Order dessert at the soft-serve ice cream window. 

You can smell the smoke pit for miles before you pass this '50s-style drive-in. Seating at this seasonal local favorite just south of Spa State Park on U.S. 9 is either under a roof shared with the kitchen and order counter or at outdoor picnic tables; a small section has table service. Chicken, ribs, and beef brisket are the specialties, but you can come just to have ice cream, listen to the DJ spinning oldies, and gaze at the classic cars that congregate in the lot on Saturday night.

The chef-owner of this restaurant also known as The "Little Italian Place" describes the menu's influences as his East Coast grandmother's multicourse Sunday family suppers, his later culinary explorations, and his zeal to create "fresh and original" Italian cuisine. The country-road setting accentuates the just-like-home feeling, as do the calzones, pizzas, pasta dishes, and truffle risotto.

Look for the bright yellow doors that mark the entrance to this microbakery on the way into downtown Camden. Located in a workshop next to the owners’ home, laminated dough is the star here, featured in fruit-filled danish, croissant, “cruffins” (croissant muffins), and savory pastry. The treats here are made with local flour, butter, eggs, cheese, and produce and sell out quickly, so arrive near opening or preorder for best results.

Large windows look out on Elliott Bay in this cozy spot tucked behind a meat vendor in Pike Place Market's main arcade. In nice weather, open windows let in the fresh salt breeze. Flowers brighten each table, and the staff is warm and welcoming. Despite its name, this restaurant has only a few French flourishes on an otherwise American/Pacific Northwest menu. Go for the rich oyster stew, the sea scallops with rosé hampagne beurre blanc, Dungeness crab (in season), poussin with barley risotto, or the fish of the day. Local microbrews are on tap, and the wine list is thoughtfully compact, but if you want to feel more like you're in France, sip a pastis as you gaze out the window.

Antique furnishings and portions of old bank buildings set the scene at this restaurant, where the menu is diverse but basic—chicken, burgers, steaks—and the portions are large. It's open 24 hours a day, a rarity even in the larger cities.

Located in what was once Kauai's most expensive plantation estate, Gaylords pays tribute to the elegant dining rooms of 1930s high society: candlelit tables sit on a cobblestone courtyard that surrounds a fountain and overlooks a wide lawn. The menu is eclectic, offering Portuguese fish stew, shrimp pasta, scallops, steak, sake short ribs, chicken, and a few vegan and vegetarian options. Be sure to start with the fresh ahi poke stack. The banana cream pie with a coconut crust is a tasty twist on an old favorite. Lunch offers some hearty salads, soups, hot and cold sandwiches, and burgers. 

It's a bit of a drive, but when you get to this beautiful, comfortable restaurant, you'll find expansive views of the ocean below and the majestic mountains above. Chef Jared Krausen sources as many ingredients as possible locally, offering up an eclectic and elevated menu. Desserts are not to be missed here.

This is the place to mingle with C'town residents as well as with Washington College students and local pols, for good conversation—indoors or alfresco—over fresh coffee (including excellent espresso) or fine wine, by the glass or bottle, to accompany hearty, healthy soups, salads, and sandwiches. Friday night is "wine night" with complimentary hors d'oeuvres, often accompanied by live music. Wi-Fi's in the air here.

Modern Mexican farm-to-table creations and inspired cocktails are the focus of this festive indoor-outdoor space that's popular for its firepit, made-to-order masa station, and happy hour. An open kitchen serves up locally sourced, organic, and sustainable dishes like ceviche, grilled fresh fish tacos, enchiladas with mole sauce, and braised pork quesadillas. 

Robonaut Red Ale and Pleasure Chest IPA are just two of the beers created inside this sprawling, renovated former lumberyard. The beers are complemented by not-so-diet-friendly pub fare including corned-beef poutine, flatbreads, and what some have labeled the best burgers in town. Sunday brunch features mimosa flights and a breakfast flatbread, and dogs are welcome in the outdoor beer garden. The brewery has a smaller location serving the same delicious beer and a less expansive food menu in a former hardware store in downtown Titusville.

Essentially a sleek shack with a roofed outdoor dining space populated by picnic tables, the no-frills Playita Mariscos is a beloved local joint lauded for its Baja-style tacos. You'll also find beer-battered fish and shrimp tacos that evoke feelings of the sun-dappled Baja Mexico coast. Be sure to add the aguachile and ceviche to your order.

One of a chain of Mexican restaurants spread throughout the state, this location dishes up standard south-of-the-border fare like enchiladas, nachos, and shredded beef burritos, as well as more unique offerings such as snapper Veracruz and mole. Save room for dessert; the impressive menu has all the Mexican restaurant staples, from churros and flan to deep-fried ice cream. The full-service bar pours 10 different margaritas with the option to add one of seven different flavors, including prickly pear and jalapeño.

Run with homespun care by the Razatos family since 1947, this café has been a fixture on the Plaza since 1905. The food runs the gamut of New Mexican fare, including salads, sandwiches, burgers, and tacos (don't miss the delicious crispy avocado tacos). Prices have jumped significantly in recent years, but it is still a preferred stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner by locals. A South Side branch ( 3466 Zafarano Drive  505/424–0755) is also run by members of the Razatos clan and is close to Cerrillos Road hotels.

Honored with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, this Plaza steakhouse prepares double-cut lamp chops that are just as succulent as its menu's many beef selections. All meat entrées are served with your choice of diable, béarnaise, or beef pan gravy, and accompaniments are offered à la carte.

Festive, colorful interiors and authentic Mexican specialties make Plaza Mexicana a sure bet if you need a break from Vernal's ubiquitous diners and steak houses. There are about 20 varieties of burritos to choose from, as well as a large selection of seafood options. While this isn't the cheapest Mexican food in the region, it's among the best.

On the second floor of the Sheraton on Capitol Square, the lavish Plaza has a spectacular view of the state capitol building and an outdoor fountain courtyard. The views are eclipsed by the food. Imaginative appetizers complement fine Continental-inspired fare that might include osso buco, Wiener schnitzel, or a New York strip steak.

Anglophiles are at home in this bit of Britain where savory pies in a flaky, buttery crust reign. Vintage wooden desks and industrial lighting fixtures bring a lived-in feel to the bright dining room. Find local, UK, and European beers on draft at the bar, which is likely showing a football match to the delight of fans.

After a long winter, Chicagoans think any old patio is magical, but the peaceful graveled outdoor dining area here is truly special, because it nestles alongside Frank Lloyd Wright's masterful Robie House. The all-day menu's full of satisfying rustic dishes (like grain bowls and prosciutto and manchego baguettes) with a French picnic vibe. There's coffee and wine by the glass, too.   

Zero waste with root-to-stem consumption has this plant-based restaurant turning beets into catchup, cashews into cheese, and carrot tops into pesto. Sustainability rules the menu created with fresh produce from local farms and the regenerative gardens out back. Tastebuds are in for a pleasant surprise with the Kombu cauliflower, the Cubano (mojo marinated shredded jackfruit), and the kimchi bowl with red-lentil "spam." Weekend brunch rolls out “chicken” and oat-milk waffles along with other classics with a healthy spin like “sausage” and biscuits. If you can’t finish your meal, never fear. Leftovers are composted and nothing goes to waste, including veggie stock that makes its way into risotto and banana peels turned into tacos.

The warm and cheery first floor of this renovated bank feels like a genuine Irish pub. The eatery's long bar features over a dozen taps—invariably spouting several imported and a few local brews—and the menu includes good Irish smoked salmon on grainy bread as well as a panoply of worldly appetizers, salads, and main courses. In winter, patrons crowd around a blazing fireplace on stools set around small tables.

Weekend or weekday, the brunch lines are as constant as the excellent scrambles, biscuits, and fluffy lemon-ricotta pancakes. The atmosphere is also winning—bright and pastoral, with rustic wood floors and huge windows—and the Little Plowers menu dishes out smaller-portioned pancakes, French toast, and grilled cheese for younger brunch-loving guests.