1771 Best Restaurants in USA

The emphasis is on the cooking at this dimly lit, painted-cinder-block eatery that blends French techniques with Southern ingredients like mountain trout and North Carolina shrimp. Vivian's service is top-notch, making it ideal for a date night.

House-made pasta and inventive cocktails are highlights at the ultrahip Vivo, which is styled after a trendy Roman nightclub. The waiters are attentive, the food—mussels marinara, lamb ragù, squid-ink seafood—is quietly impressive, and the blazing wood-fired oven makes almost instantaneous pizzas.

In this romantic Victorian house, each dining room has a fireplace, Oriental rugs, and marble-topped tables. Country French and Mediterranean flavors predominate the cuisine. The menu changes seasonally.

Whether you choose to sit inside the contemporary confines of this big and boisterous waterfront restaurant or outside at the tropical-tiki Raw Bar, you can't go wrong with atmosphere or cuisine. The menu features seafood and sushi, as well as Lowcountry-inspired dishes.

Situated downtown within walking distance of the Alberta Bair Theater, this prime people-watching restaurant has a loyal dinner following, understandable considering its casual yet elegant decor, pleasant, attentive service, and entrées such as buttermilk fried chicken, Alaska king salmon, apple-brined pork shank, and made-from-scratch pastas. Walkers also has an upscale bar scene, attracted, in part, by a tempting selection of craft cocktails served by bartenders so hip they look like they belong in Brooklyn. This is where politicians (such as President Bill Clinton), celebrities, and other famous folks dine when they're in town.

The modern Austrian menu at Kurt Gutenbrunner's lovely, light-filled, neighborhood restaurant has a strong emphasis on Austrian tradition and urban New York attitude. It's hard to argue with such dishes as Wiener schnitzel with potato-cucumber salad and lingonberries or venison goulash with spaetzle and Brussels sprouts, and the fare is often lighter than you'd think Austrian food would be. Desserts do Vienna proud: apple-walnut strudel is served with apple sorbet. The atmosphere is casual but sophisticated—perfect for either a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.

This popular Southern California restaurant, wine bar, and retail store has a sprawling two-story presence in The District at Resorts World. At dinner, expect dishes finished with truffles from wherever in the world they’re in season, such as truffle Bolognese; baked brie with truffle honey, truffle butter, and shaved truffles; truffle gnocchi; or truffle pizza. Alternatively, choose from among the steaks or be tempted by grilled halibut or pork belly. From the all-day menu, choose a cheese or charcuterie plate from nearly two dozen selections. Try the wood-oven-roasted French toast with lemon whipped ricotta and caramelized peaches at brunch from 8 am to 3 pm daily. The shop carries 8,000 wine labels, plus spirits, beer, and food items from all over the world for taking along or consuming on-site.

Inspired by the Lewis Carroll poem, "The Walrus and the Carpenter," this restaurant is a gem for excellent seafood and views. Come here for a crab cake sandwich or select from the list of fresh, briny Chesapeake oysters in a casual, modern pub setting. Then wash it down with a local craft brew. The Walrus proudly partners with Maryland's Oyster Recovery Partnership, which recycles shells and builds reefs for the area's once-declining bivalve population.

The stylish surroundings are a match for the hip, Asian-fusion cuisine served at this spot. The menu includes an innovative selection of sushi and rolls; tasty small plates such as black cod with miso; and such refined main courses as crispy salmon with pomegranate reduction. Reservations are essential on weekends.

Not your typical Western ski-town eatery, Wasabi is the place for your sushi fix and Japanese cuisine. A nice selection of "fusion rolls" put new spins on old standbys. For example, try the Going-to-the-Sun Salmon Roll (with snap peas and lemon-dill aioli), or the Goonie Roll (a tempura-fried delicacy with dungeness crab and siracha cream cheese). For those who prefer food from the grill, Wasabi offers up honey-ginger glazed salmon and other hot dishes. You can even stay here; the upstairs, pet-friendly flat can be rented for parties or overnights---see the website for more info).

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.

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.

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.

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.

This sophisticated dining room on the town green is the place to see and be seen. Dinner selections might include free-range chicken with potato purée, braised short ribs with Cabernet demi-glace, or Scottish grilled salmon with ratatouille.

The culinary team focuses on Americanized versions of bistro classics created from regional ingredients in this modern-style West End restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton Washington D.C. In warmer months, the patio is popular with guests and locals alike, and innovative cocktails please the happy hour crowd.

Within the Terrain garden store, you'll find a bright, cheery café that offers exquisitely prepared dishes using locally sourced organic produce so fresh you'll want to become a gardener yourself. Enjoy brunch all afternoon; dinner entrées like line-caught Atlantic halibut with barley risotto or the duck breast with braised endive come with a delicious (and, frankly, adorable) terracotta pot of baked bread.

You can see fettuccine, lasagna, and other pastas squeezing out of the pasta machine in the front window of this main-street restaurant. Traditional Italian dishes share menu space with more creative fare. Smoked salmon, caviar, and scallions adorn angel-hair pasta in Alfredo sauce; the same sauce dresses breaded breast of chicken filled with asparagus mousse and served with tomato-tinted pasta. For a truly regional experience, try the handmade gnocchi—pasta made of potatoes and called "hats" in some parts. There are 24 wines by the glass.

This upscale seafood restaurant serves straight-from-the-sea clams, oysters, and fish inventively prepared and exquisitely presented. The clean lines of the dining room give the nearly always crowded restaurant a maritime feel that perfectly complements the food. No reservation? See about seats at the bar or chef's table.

Every winter city needs a ramen shop, but the menu and the mood at this upscale eatery make it a must-visit. The restaurant's basic name belies the creativity at work, with Japanese small plates, a long roster of ramen dishes, and eye-catching cocktails in the cozy back-room bar.

White Dog did farm-to-table long before the concept rose to national prominence, and the Sansom Street stalwart continues to remain fresh, lively, and unpretentious. The menu specializes in sustainable foods ethically sourced from the region—think simple cooking that highlights the beauty of Kennett Square mushrooms, Lancaster beef, or Chester County goat cheese. The convivial Parlor Bar has craft beers on tap and in bottles; the wine list is largely American. The space, a consolidation of historic brownstones, features distinct rooms decorated in farmer-chic style. There are a number of locations in the burbs as well, but this is the original. 

The first tavern opened here in 1673—and ever since, the premises have served, in turn, as a tavern, boardinghouse, restaurant, and even a meetinghouse for Colonial Rhode Island's General Assembly. Today, the tavern provides an intimate fine-dining experience, the mood set by the low dark-beam ceilings, uneven plank floors, and four still-working fireplaces; an outside patio is a more recent addition.

This rooftop restaurant and bar is known for its picture-perfect all-pink ambience, including a giant sculpture of Dolly Parton’s face. The menu features spunky cocktails like the Grey Goose and Campari Anti Hero or the smoky mezcal Fixin to Leave, shareable bites like a grazing board or classic crudité, and mains like caviar (even if it's not a special occasion), marinated mussels, and smoked chicken.

Set in a historic cider mill near the Saco River, this rustic yet elegant bistro and adjacent gourmet market and deli presses fresh cider in the fall—it's served with traditional homemade cider doughnuts. But it's also a terrific farm-to-table restaurant, featuring a seasonal menu of eclectic, contemporary dishes. Consider the burrata with grilled stone fruit and a white balsamic–nasturtium reduction, and roasted Thai-style cod with lemongrass, pickled ginger, and a green curry sauce.

In a modern, stylish building on the north edge of downtown, close to Prosser's two main winery districts, this unpretentious steak and seafood restaurant with black-leather booths and banquette seating offers plenty of great dishes to pair with Yakima Valley wines (of which it stocks a considerable selection). Filet mignon, steak frites, and classic Caesar salads star on a menu that also includes a variety of sandwiches, burgers, and taco plates.

Unlike other buffets, which serve all of their items in large buffet pans, many of the foods here are presented as individual portions—an improvement on a number of levels. Wicked Spoon quickly became a cult favorite for desserts including gelato and homemade macarons, and dishes such as "angry mac 'n' cheese" (traditional mac and cheese with a touch of spice). There's continuous service from breakfast to lunch daily. There's also a bottomless-beverage option. The decor and music selection are modern and fun.

Inventive dishes—made with 100% organic and locally sourced ingredients—live music, and a friendly staff are among the reasons why this intimate, ocean-to-table eatery is packed on weekends. Everything is fresh as it gets, from fish-and-chips, Monterey Bay bouillabaisse, and whole roasted fish of the day to local greens with spicy vinaigrette.

Willi's occupies a corner storefront with street-side outdoor seating and a compact dining room that curls around the full bar. The warm Maine lobster roll with garlic butter and fennel remains a hit among the small, primarily seafood-oriented plates, with the ceviches, local barbecued oysters (also Buffalo-style crispy), and bacon-wrapped scallops among its worthy rivals.