9221 Best Restaurants in USA

What began as a tiny restaurant adjacent to a Cambridge fish market has grown to important regional status, with more than 30 East Coast locations, including almost a dozen in Boston. The hallmark is the freshest possible seafood, whether you have it wood-grilled, in New England chowder, or doused in an Asia-inspired sauce. The jumbo lump crab cakes are divine (no fillers) and the clam chowder is so good it has become a menu staple at presidential inaugurations. For a true taste of New England, don't miss the golden cracker-crowned baked lobster stuffed with shrimp and scallops, one of the most popular entrées at all Legal restaurants.

A cozy spot with a dose of Scandinavian flair and a long counter bar that abuts an open kitchen, this local diner has been a favorite breakfast (served all day) and brunch destination for decades. Expect a wait, but rest assured it's worth it. You'll thank us when you're digging into eggs and bacon and downing bottomless cups of coffee.

One of the city's best Wagyu beef briskets is served in an unassuming (from the exterior) former factory in trendy Dogpatch. Several American styles—Kansas City, Texas, and the Carolinas—are showcased on an extra-large chalkboard that lists daily specials, priced by the pound. The 10,000-square-foot warehouse has been strikingly redone by New York design firm Nothing Something, which has thoughtfully elevated the old in a steampunkish vibe. The lion’s share of footage is for Magnolia Brewery, with tanks in the back room. When the tech set descends, the volume cranks, which can be a plus for families—frankly, a tantrum would probably go unnoticed.

Large portions of home-style cooking draw a steady parade of regulars and visitors to this local favorite, where you'll find jalapeño burgers, fried chicken, homemade soups, and pies. Hearty breakfasts are served all day, and there are always some tasty daily specials.

If you visit Taylor Street from May to mid-September, be sure to stop at Mario's Italian Lemonade, a neighborhood staple since the '50s. Everyone from politicians like Jesse Jackson to local families lines up for old-fashioned, slushy Italian ices here.

An upscale restaurant and bar in the downtown arts district, The Mark specializes in fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks, pastas, homemade soups, and comfort foods such as chicken potpie. Though the dishes are straightforward, they're skillfully executed. The wine list favors California but includes representatives from France, Italy, and elsewhere abroad. At the bar, which hosts live music, you can sink into leather high-back chairs and booths and order creative cocktails.

For breakfast (served all day), plus lunch and dinner, this neon-lighted retro diner and ice cream shop is a favorite place of old-time Moabites who appreciate the reasonable prices and good-size portions of reliably tasty American fare, from caramelized-pecan pancakes to green-chili cheeseburgers. Friendly servers whisk quickly amid the bustling dining room, and kids love the banana splits, milkshakes, and other sweet treats for dessert. There's also a good-size kids menu and box lunches to go.

The team at this spot for coffee and conversation takes great pride in sourcing direct-trade beans from places like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. Ground zero for Brattleboro's bohemian contingent and fellow travelers, the café is open until 9 on Friday and Saturday, closing at 8 the rest of the week.

Although there are now satellite restaurants in the Chicago suburbs and across the country, the original Mon Ami Gabi has not lost its charm. This little piece of Paris re-creates a classic bistro with views of Lincoln Park that could pass—with the help of a couple of glasses of vin from the wine cart—for the Tuileries. Park-front windows let in ample natural light, warming the wood-trimmed interior. Best bites include several versions of steak frites, as well as bistro essentials such as steamed mussels and skate with crispy garlic chips. The menu features a rotating list of specials, such as cassoulet and pan-seared sea bass.

This family-owned restaurant specializes in the subtle cooking of one of Mexico's most respected culinary regions: Oaxaca. The flavors here are intense without being fiery, as families dine under Mexican-themed murals and antique masks. Try this version of chiles rellenos: bright green chili peppers stuffed with chicken, raisins, and nuts. Don't miss any of the complex moles ladled over chicken, pork, salmon, or extra-tender stewed goat. For dessert, there's fried sweet plantains topped with crème fraîche.

When Wicker Park's veggie-centric Earwax Café closed, vegans and vegetarians decamped to this new California transplant. Even devoted carnivores scarf down the café's satisfying vegan dishes featuring house-made tempeh, seiten, and other faux meats. Don't miss the decadent-tasting desserts, made without refined sugar. Additional locations in Lakeview and the Loop.

This small hangout on the banks of Rock Creek has good meat and seafood options, as well as daily pasta specials. Part of the Rock Creek Resort, the restaurant dates to the early 1940s.

Some of Oakland's finest chefs have come through the ranks of this locally renowned eatery that anchors Market Hall in the Rockridge neighborhood. The elegant upstairs dining room serves a daily menu of high-caliber Italian cuisine, while the downstairs marketplace café and bar offers everything from a morning espresso to pizza or a full-blown Italian meal.

A coastal dining stop between San Francisco and Monterey, this casual upscale restaurant serves farm-to-table Italian dishes in a spacious setting complete with a full bar and lounge. It's a great spot for family dinners and date nights, but the dining room can get noisy on evenings when musicians play live music in the bar.

The menu at this little crêperie includes Illy espresso, teas, excellent sweet and savory crêpes, sandwiches, soups, salads, and rich desserts like lemon cheesecake and chocolate mousse, all made fresh daily. The small venue has a relaxed, urban-café vibe. It's a nice place to hang for a bit if you're waiting for a movie at the theater next door or feel like taking a break from paradise to sip a decent espresso and view the latest local art installations on display.

A barnlike space full of cheerful Mexican tiles and folk-art masks, Picante is a find for anyone seeking good Cal-Mex food for a song. The masa is freshly ground for the tortillas and tamales, the salsas are complex, and the flavor combinations are inventive.

Built as Randsburg's Drug Store in 1896, this popular biker and family spot is one of the area's few surviving ghost-town buildings with original furnishings intact, such as a tin ceiling, light fixtures, and a 1904 marble-and-stained-glass soda fountain. You can still enjoy a phosphate soda from that same fountain, or lunch on slow-roasted barbecue sandwiches and blueberry milk shakes along with chili, hamburgers, and breakfast.

Ease into plush banquettes at this quiet, lace-curtained restaurant for classic French and Southwest-inspired dishes. Rack of lamb is the house specialty, and the Dover sole is a real find, far from the white cliffs. Cherry or banana flambé for two, prepared tableside, is an impressive dessert. There's a well-selected wine list, too. Service is formal, but resort-casual attire is acceptable.

Haute comfort food and childhood favorites are the focus at this charming dining nook across from the Claremont hotel. Mac and cheese and free-range chicken potpie play second fiddle to brunches of cornmeal pancakes and gingerbread waffles, which are best enjoyed on the outdoor patio.

Sushi in the remote desert may seem surprising, but the chefs here know what they're doing. The fish is flown in fresh several times a week, the veggies are crisp, and the sauces are spicy—locals particularly love the spicy tuna roll with cucumber and avocado served with sriracha and eel sauce. The tempura is light and crunchy and the stir-fry noodles with vegetables in a spicy miso are a treat. There are also chicken and steak options, along with plenty of dishes for vegetarians. The place has a trendy vibe and is often crowded, so call ahead, especially on weekends.

Authentic Thai food may not be what you expect to find in the middle of the desert, and that's exactly why this cozy, central place so highly recommended by locals. Some of the tastiest dishes here are the noodle options, such as the tangy pad Thai or the spicy, pan-fried drunken noodles. The curry dishes are also very popular. Being a hot spot in town, staff here can get overwhelmed at times. If it looks crowded and you're short on time or patience, you might want to eat elsewhere and come back when they are less packed. It's worth it.

This is the traditional pit stop between Lake Powell or Moab and Capitol Reef, featuring great burgers, fries, and the best homemade onion rings around. Shakes, available in such unusual flavors as peach cobbler and root beer freeze, are a specialty.

For northern Italian cuisine in a no-frills trattoria, this is the spot. Try the braised lamb shanks in a Chianti wine sauce, grilled rib eye with chef's seasonal sauce, or the filet mignon with shrimp, roasted pepper, and onions in a demiglaze sauce. To drift back to old Italy—or 1950s Kernville, perhaps—sample the spaghetti and meatballs.

A renovated hay barn off the main drag houses this collection of upscale food shops, which showcase local organic fruits and vegetables, premium packaged foods, and an international selection of exquisite cheeses. Cowgirl Creamery cheese is made on-site. Grab some before you head to Cowgirl Cantina for creative sandwiches, salads, and soups you can enjoy inside the café or in the outdoor picnic area.