278 Best Restaurants in USA

European-style coffee drinks, tea, pastries, smoothies, and other seasonal snacks are on the menu at this small café built over a tidal river in the midst of Dock Square. The coffee is sourced from Portland-based and nationally recognized Coffee By Design, one of the state's best.

If you have a hankering for red-sauce Italian–American fare, steer clear of Little Italy, and book yourself into Don Angie, a restaurant that took a staid cuisine, updated it, and made it wholly edible again: quite a task. Sit in the retro front room—featuring checkerboard floors and arched doorways—and chow down on sopressini pasta paired with mussels, garganelli noodles with meatballs and guanciale (cured pork jowl), or the excellent (and hugely portioned) lasagna for two, a spiral-shape reimagining of the classic dish.

Learning into the area's Wild West past, this casual spot has cowboy hats and cow skulls on the walls, a cardboard cutout of John Wayne—and some of the best smoked meats around. It offers Southwestern takes on breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all in generous portions, and even has a bar to hang out in after a long day of driving or river rafting. 

This snug Lebanese café caters to locals with its popular vegan platters, mixed kebabs for two (with kofta, chicken, and lamb), shawarmas, and more. Seating is limited, but if you can snag a seat at lunch or dinnertime, you’re in for a treat. Try the mint lemonade and falafel sandwich, a house blend of chickpeas and fava beans, topped with turnip and pickles. For a carnivorous option, go for the El Toum sandwich, made with ground beef and pine nuts.

You could easily while away an entire day at this cozy spot. Enjoying Elements' own Biddeford-roasted coffee is a great way to start the day, to fuel an afternoon of reading, or to perk up in the early evening, especially on nights when there's crafts or a silent book club meeting.

Just a short walk from the ferry terminal, Enoteca Maria began an ordinary Italian eatery, with several nonne (Italian grandmas) in the place of a chef, each one cooking regional dishes on different nights. They've since branched out to celebrate global cuisines with "Nonnas of the World," and have been recognized for that incentive. On any given night you might sample Ukrainian, Sri Lankan, Greek, or Argentinian comfort food, cooked with organic ingredients sourced locally when possible. Check their website's calendar to find out what country the next nonna hails from, before she prepares dishes for you in this small, but welcoming space. 

A bustling stop for motorists traveling to and from Mammoth Lakes, this shop is crammed with delicious pastries, cookies, rolls, and other baked goods. The biggest draw, though, is the sheepherder bread, a hand-shaped and stone hearth–baked sourdough that was introduced during the gold rush by immigrant Basque sheepherders in 1907. That bread and others baked here are sliced to make the mammoth sandwiches the shop is also famous for. 

Found in a historic building along Main Street, this casual diner has the feel of an old-time soda fountain and serves up home-style American fare for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner (it closes at 7 pm). Full of local color, this has been the spot for big portions and low prices for decades. Sit at the counter or at a table, where you can read old newspaper clippings under the glass tops. Most lunch and dinner options come either à la carte or as a meal (with your choice of soup, salad, or their famed curly fries). 

You won't be able to miss the pale-pink roasting machine, displayed right by the main counter at this popular downtown spot, housed in a high-ceilinged warehouse structure. The espresso drinks made from house-roasted beans are the big draw, but if you're feeling hungry, they also offer pastries and a small menu of both sweet and savory toasts. 

Pull your car up under the green awning and turn on your vehicle’s lights to catch the attention of the carhop servers at this retro drive-in restaurant. The eatery's BLT made with Canadian bacon is a longtime favorite that pairs well with onion rings and a frappe (try the blueberry), but baskets of fried clams and shrimp are also winners, and there are several burger options, plus over-the-top specialties like Frito pie. Your order will be brought to your car or, if you prefer, to a nearby picnic table. It’s as fun as it sounds!

Don't let the name sway you—Pablo Becker's temple to fresh seafood may very well serve the best fish tacos in town (and that's saying something in San Diego). There's usually a line before the doors even open, and the kitchen almost always sells out by midafternoon on weekends. It's a small menu of locally caught seafood, such as Baja shrimp, swordfish, and white fish, but everything is painstakingly prepared at the highest level with the best ingredients, so try a little of everything before the last order is gone for the day.

Dining at this central Austin classic is like having a warm meal at a friend's home; a refreshing change of pace from the trendy decor and steep price tags found at some of the city's hottest eateries. The relaxed counter service and down-home decor at this charming cottage-turned-café matches its appealing, handmade offerings of sandwiches, soups, and salads. An expanded breakfast menu is popular with locals, and the front patio is usually bustling and is a perfect spot for people watching.

This Chinatown newcomer pairs art deco decor (the lights! the columns! the floor!) with fresh, scratch-made Shanghainese food in a comfortable environment. No menus here—order straight from your phone at any time during your stay. Menu standouts include the rainbow soup dumplings delivered to your table in a bird cage, Peking duck deconstructed with pancakes, and the sweet and sour pork ribs; everything is ordered via your smartphone. Patrons include young adults from the Chinatown community and nearby Emerson and Suffolk University grad students.

This long-established coffee haunt and art enclave features a steady rotation of local artists, with house-made pastries, cheesecakes, muffins, scones, and luscious desserts. Gallery Espresso is a real neighborhood joint and a popular destination for art students, and the comfortable vintage couches and chairs are a great place to curl up with a book.

Inspired by the food of Southeast Asia, China, and Japan, Gan Shan West has an eclectic and inventive menu of house-made dumplings, ramen, soups, and noodles. Choose a table in the colorful petite dining room or sit on the breezy patio.

Stacks of colorful shipping containers house mini-kitchens circling a central courtyard at this outdoor food hall. Grab an acai bowl, a signature sushi roll, or a basket of fried chicken, and find a spot to kick back and enjoy the live bands on weekends.

This local favorite, also known as Fast & French, has been a fixture in the neighborhood for 40 years, thanks to the consistent food, the esprit de corps of the staff, and the family-style tables for sharing breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Its popular fondue grew from a once-a-week special to a daily affair, and you can also get your cheese fix with the wonderful Bucheron cheese salad. Nightly specials, such as bouillabaisse, are reasonably priced and come with a petite glass of wine. The subtly sweet chocolate mousse cake is the best way to end your meal.

These days, you can buy this sinfully delicious gelato in food stores throughout New England and have it shipped to your door, but it all began in 2007 in this storefront in Brunswick. Stop in and pay homage to the history with a dish of ripe mango sorbetto, dark chocolate noir, or mascarpone pistachio caramel.

At this line-around-the-corner, no-English-spoken bakery, the delicious dim sum is strictly to-go, so picnic at Woh Hei Yuen Park on Powell Street or Portsmouth Square.

Mirrors and art adorn the walls at this French-inspired bakery and café serving coffee, sandwiches, soups, and cheese plates. Next door, the retail shop sells wine, kitchen gadgets, French table linens, and fancy food items.

In what used to be a Greek coffeehouse in the early 1900s, this low-key café is a reminder of Price's strong Greek heritage. The menu features traditional recipes from Crete, including gyros and dolmades. The baklava and other desserts are among the best Greek pastries in the state.

This small, casual pub between Helper and Price is out of the way but worth the drive for its huge selection of burgers, pizzas, salads, and steak-house favorites. Start your meal with one of the many appetizers, and make sure to try one of the craft beers on tap. This place has quite the following, so be prepared for a wait on busy nights.

A summertime fixture for five decades, the Harbor Dogs shack on the town landing is the perfect place to grab lunch to enjoy at a nearby bench beside the harbor or before or after a cruise. Hot-dog toppings include Southwestern, Asian, and Chicago-style, and there are also lobster and crab rolls, fish tacos, haddock Reubens, and fried-seafood platters.

Locally sourced ingredients form the basis of breakfast ricotta biscuits, kaleidoscopic salads, and sandwiches stacked on housemade focaccia at this delightful, female-owned neighborhood coffee shop and cafe.

This little sandwich shop is known for pressed Cubans, roast beef hoagies, and corned beef on rye, or you can opt for a bowl of chili. While you're waiting, explore the old service station memorabilia. There's a small dining room, or take it to-go. 

This neighborhood market offers fresh sandwiches, pastries from Macrina Bakery, New Zealand style soft-serve ice cream, locally sourced coffee, beer and wine, and thoughtfully selected pantry goods. By featuring products from local producers and serving as a welcoming gathering spot, it’s a go-to spot for quick bites and quality groceries. The store also hosts weekly food truck pop-ups and wine tastings.

Locals enjoy the fast-casual HiHo Cheeseburger, where the humble burger is elevated with high-quality ingredients: premium 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef with freshly baked buns and topped with locally sourced produce. The menu includes a variety of gourmet burgers with a selection of sauces and toppings. Sides, such as fries and milkshakes, complete the meal. They also offer alternatives like a veggie burger for those with dietary preferences for a more elevated fast-food experience.

Part barbecue joint, part seafood shack, Hog Heaven has a wonderful smoky aroma that perfumes U.S. 17 as you approach. Pulled-pork barbecue has the tang of vinegar and the taste of long hours in the pit. Although sandwiches are available, the buffet, which includes fried chicken, greens, and sweet potato casserole, is the main event. Add on all-you-can-eat shrimp, or, during winter, local oysters, for a true surf-and-turf feast.

Southern comfort food at its finest can be found at this bright, old-school diner. Cheese grits with a good cheddar bite, fluffy biscuits that can be stuffed with anything from sausage and gravy to perfectly fried chicken, and hunks of made-from-scratch cake are just a few of the reasons locals flock to Home grown. Before you leave, browse the in-house thrift store—an appropriate backdrop to the eclectic atmosphere and crowd at this restaurant.  Arrive before 11 for the shortest wait, or grab a seat at the counter.

The only full-service restaurant serving dinner in town, this very casual eatery specializes in authentic Navajo fry bread, used in a variety of massive, delicious dishes. Often busy, people also come here for a full range of steak house staples, fish dishes, and the only salad bar around. Blanding is a dry city, so no alcohol is served.