9221 Best Restaurants in USA

Tucked inside a narrow historic downtown building festooned with colorful murals and graffiti, this funky café has well-trained baristas and sources its coffee beans from small, high-quality growers. Choose from well-crafted espresso drinks, single-origin coffees by whatever brewing method you choose (Chemex, French press, and so on), or one of the many nitro options, from on-tap cascara to kombucha. There's a limited selection of baked goods and pastries, too.

Among the casual dining options at Fontainebleau is this whimsical (can you tell by the name?) restaurant offering a menu of dim sum and other Cantonese (and Asian) specialties. The decor is abstract and somewhat dramatic, designed to set the stage for your meal. The menu's "Hong Kong Chow" section includes a mixed barbecue plate with pork, duck, and chicken, and main dishes like Hainanese chicken, and Thai massaman curry. Dim sum merges the familiar (chicken feet) with the not-so-familiar (squash and pine nut dumplings), and the cocktails are creative. 

Pull out your good shoes and jacket: you're dining in an 1840s Victorian plantation home that's romantic enough for the O'Hara's of Tara. The Washington Inn has five dining areas, one of which is a wine cellar where 10,000 bottles await the uncorking. Flights of wine are available for those who prefer to take their cues from the sommelier. As for your meal, you can't go wrong starting with rock shrimp and lobster bisque, followed by bacon-wrapped twin pork tenderloins, and a dessert of fresh berries and chocolate mousse.

The California-based King’s Seafood Co. brings its briny bounty to Las Vegas's Water Grill with a menu that includes many things you won’t find just anywhere. That might mean live California spiny lobster, Florida stone crab claws, Dungeness crab, live Alaskan halibut, or more than a dozen varieties of lobster—all in season, of course. Starters may range from classic clam chowder to mussels garbanzo with pancetta and harissa. Crustaceans and char-grilled or oven-roasted whole fish are sold by the pound, and there are sushi, raw bar, and chilled-shellfish menus, along with soups, salads, and a kids' menu.

Voted "Best of the Best Seafood" in Corpus Christi for 14 consecutive years, this restaurant pulls in the locals and piles on the tourists who enjoy Gulf seafood and Texas steaks with a little kick of South Texas flavor. Fish is fresh, never frozen; the sushi bar is not intimidating; steaks provide a worthy balance to surf-and-turf combinations; and all the sides (like smoked Gouda mac and cheese) and sauces (andouille cream; crab-and-crawfish nueces) are creative concoctions made in-house. The same menu is offered at lunch and dinner.

Come for seafood with a view: sky-high aquariums dominate the dining room, and the bay is just beyond, but the food should be an equally notable attraction. Every fin and shell of the sea, from the oak-grilled octopus to the black cod caught in the ocean right outside of San Francisco, is sustainably sourced. Speaking of that view, no restaurant has a more prime vantage point of the Bay Bridge than this one, though the full dining-with-a-view experience is more enjoyable on the patio or in the spacious front dining room than in the rather dim rear dining area.  For a special occasion steakhouse with a view, head to Waterbar's next-door sibling, EPIC Steak.

In a town known for its beef, WaterCourse stands out as a devoted vegan eatery in spacious digs uptown. This casual, low-key place serves herbivores three meals a day, most of which are based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and meat-like soy substitutes. There are also macrobiotic dishes available. The Reuben, with sauerkraut, portobellos, and Swiss on grilled rye, is amazing, as are the seitan-based faux Buffalo wings and the cauliflower-based "chicken and waffles." They also offer a small but nice selection of organic wines as well as slow-pressed organic juices. The delectable desserts in the case are, surprise, all vegan.

Come to this long-standing local favorite for a ringside seat on Camden Harbor; the best view, when the weather cooperates, is from the deck. The menu features fresh local seafood, but there are also beef and chicken entrées and salads. Clam chowder and lobster rolls are highlights at lunch.

A small sandwich shop and deli, Waterfront Gourmet has a variety of breakfast items, overstuffed sandwiches, salads, coffees, and more light bites for a quick meal. There are even vegan and vegetarian options available, like the veggie panini and avocado toast.

At both locations (Ankeny and West Des Moines) the vibe is supercasual, with fish flown in daily for a menu that straddles contemporary and classic, from oysters on the half shell to innovative sushi rolls. There's a nod to Southern cuisine with a fried-seafoods menu and six po'boy sandwiches. Alaskan king crab caught in the Bering Sea and lobster from Kittery, Maine, are among the delicacies. Options for lighter fare include crab cakes or a cup of New England clam chowder or creole-style gumbo.

DPRICE This casual dockside restaurant looking southward toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the distance has lots of local color. The menu includes ribs, steaks, and fried oysters, but its crab dishes are legendary, as are its homemade cheesecake and key lime pie. Warm summer weekends mean live entertainment and seating on the 40-foot deck. There's a deep-draft dock for diners arriving by boat. Waterman's gets very busy on the weekends, so be prepared to wait.

Though the old corn mill has ground to a halt, the mill wheel still stands at this country buffet 9 miles from Mammoth Cave. The fried chicken is popular, as is the inexpensive all-you-can-eat buffet, which is available at both lunch and dinner. The cuisine here varies from traditional Southern to average-Joe American, and it’s a good place for hearty meat-and-potatoes type dishes.

Most visitors are either shocked or appalled that the Watermill still has a smoking section.

Part of a complex of five historic buildings, this restaurant is in a gristmill that dates from 1700. A walk-in wine cellar, set among the gears of the original waterwheel, has 100 wine selections; diners may step in and choose for themselves. The dining area is decorated with Currier & Ives and Audubon prints. Some menu favorites are fresh smoked trout and chicken Fantasio (breast of chicken stuffed with wild rice, sausage, apple, and pecans). Desserts include such Old Virginny recipes as a deep-dish apple pie baked with bourbon. On Sunday, try the hearty but affordable brunch.

Across from Independence Hall, the world's largest Wawa convenience store (at over 11,000 square feet) is located inside an impressive historic structure and sells a grand assortment of satisfying quick bites all day long, including breakfast items and their famous made-to-order hoagie sandwiches. There's also pizza, wraps, and plenty of grab-and-go foods, such as pre-made fruit bowls and salads, along with aisles of packaged snacks. (Wawa's coffee is a local favorite, too).  

Watch deer graze in the meadow while you dine in the romantic, candlelit dining room of the whitewashed Wawona Hotel, which dates from the late 1800s. The American-style cuisine favors fresh ingredients and flavors; trout and flatiron steaks are menu staples.

While Wax Paper has a few outdoor tables set up for dining, this tiny sandwich place in Frogtown is tailor-made for to-go orders. The modest selection of brilliantly prepared sandwiches are made with fresh ingredients and named after NPR hosts; they're best enjoyed along the river or at a nearby park. They come in hearty helpings, so bring your appetite.

This energetic and upscale American tavern owned by TV chef and personality Tyler Florence is rich with upscale turn-of-the-20th-century Americana, including brick walls, comfortable booths, and a billiards room. It also tips its hat to tradition—and comfort—on the menu with deviled eggs, fresh seafood, and several signature dishes that are considered the best of their categories in the city (the burger with Marin Brie, for one), plus noteworthy cocktails that complete the full experience.

The dazzling beach and ocean views, especially at sunset, are just part of the story at this casually elegant restaurant at the Surfsand Resort; it's also a reliable if very traditional destination for a leisurely feast of local seafood and steaks, such as panko-breaded Pacific razor clams with rémoulade, seared Chinook salmon with risotto, and the prodigious 22-ounce "tomahawk" rib-eye steak with sweet potato–andouille hash. There's a nice list of Oregon wines, and breakfast—featuring delicious crab cake Benedicts and cinnamon roll French toast—is offered daily.

LaPlace is known as the andouille capital of the world, and the spicy, smoky, Cajun-style sausage is deservedly popular here. In this butcher shop that doubles as a functional, straightforward restaurant for weekday lunches, you can get andouille in burgers, in gumbo, made into chips for dipping, or worked into white beans and rice.

Aptly named for a plot on a map, Waypoint is a step on the path to coastal-inspired fare that includes an excellent raw bar with crudo, bivalves, and the celebrated caviar served with doughnut holes. On the menu, as an homage to the ocean, are whole-fish roasts and indulgent seafood pasta dishes, as well as slow-roasted meats and inventive pizzas for landlubbers. The creative cocktail program is highlighted by several varieties of absinthe served from copper, twist-top faucets.

A nautical theme and a tasty "between the sheets" pizza-style sandwich are signatures of this creative pizzeria, which is housed in the 19th-century landmark building that was once home to the Pioneer Boathouse. Indoor deck chairs and a picnic table complete with umbrella add a playful air.

The motto of Arlington's one-stop-shop says it all: "If we don't have it, you don't need it!" This charming country store is known for carrying anything from toilet paper to boxed cocoa mix and boasts a popular deli complete with build-your-own sandwiches, prepared foods, and house-made specials like freshly baked biscuits.

Plush armchairs, exposed air ducts, rotating contemporary art, and brick walls create a salon ambience in this high-ceiling space inside the Monarch Building in the trendy Nine Rails Creative District. Specializing in fine coffees and wines, WB's also turns out well-crafted café fare throughout the day, including brûléed grapefruit and ham-and-egg toasties at breakfast and grilled-shrimp bowls, Brussel sprouts tostadas, and fig-and-prosciutto bruschetta during the afternoon and evening hours.

The restaurant, which serves American fare with an emphasis on seafood, has a deck overlooking the lake. Dishes include broiled au gratin sea scallops, blackened wild Atlantic salmon, prime rib, veal cordon bleu, and vegetable lasagna. Some local wines and brews (12–18 on tap), as well as picks from around the world, accompany meals.

Follow the gravel drive to the back of the Wedge building and you’ll see a large covered deck and a huge mural of a pizza slice—the pizza here is delicious. The space inside is both cavernous and cozy, with comfy seating areas and a reading area stocked with books, which are great places to enjoy salads, wings, and other typical pizza-restaurant fare such as breadsticks, dessert wedges, and New York–style cheesecake. A row of dartboards lines one wall, and there is a pool table and other diversions. The Wedge hosts dart tournaments, trivia contests, live music, and Nashville SC watch parties.

The past seems to echo through this restaurant, which is across the street from the Weinhard Hotel in what was once the town's pharmacy. The menu changes frequently to highlight seasonal specialties and local purveyors; some signature items include the chef's salad, rib-eye steak, and dark chocolate cake. Try a panini sandwich or grilled cheese for lunch; for dinner, the seafood curry or salmon scampi are good bets. Raspberry-rhubarb pie and coconut-lemon pie are dessert favorites.

A former post office now serves appetites in the middle of nowhere. There are some unusual dishes like mahimahi (a mild, white fish) with tomatillo sauce, but also plenty of German fare. Start with potato pancakes served with apple sauce or sour cream. The schnitzel is fabulous, as is the rouladen—a tenderized beef fillet wrapped around dill pickle, ham, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. If it's warm outside, sit beneath the vined trellis and watch the resident goats and donkeys grazing nearby. Live music accompanies your meal on Thursdays and Sundays. Reservations are strongly recommended.

This cavernous downtown brewhouse has a soaring, barrel-vaulted ceiling, monitors airing regional sports, and plenty of bar and booth seating, but it's known first and foremost for turning out some of the area's best ales—strong, barrel-aged Belgian-style beers are a specialty. There are tasty, filling pizzas and pub fare, too, including a notably good bacon burger with mustard, grilled onions, and a tangy house sauce.

A perfect option for a delicious feast of modern German-American fare before or after a visit to Antelope Island State Park, this dapper downtown Layton restaurant is also midway between Salt Lake City and Ogden. The made-from-scratch food is spot-on—try the Alsatian-style flammküchen, currywurst with fries, Parmesan-crusted pork schnitzel, or one of the tasty thin-crust pizzas. The restaurant's Döner Wagon food truck appears at various locations throughout the Wasatch Front.