9201 Best Restaurants in USA

This hip, modern interpretation of a European bistro also includes a retail showroom, art gallery, gourmet market, supper club, and wine club. The restaurant features rotating specials, such as duck confit and buttermilk fried chicken, plus a daily menu with gourmet sandwiches (try the French dip, made with Angus prime beef), soups, salads, cheese, charcuterie, and wood-fired pizzas. Expect a more elevated menu with dishes like beef carpaccio, venison tenderloin, and grilled rack of lamb for Friday and Saturday night dinner and the supper club (which takes place most Thursdays in spring). Double-check the website for hours.

Veracruz wears a taco tiara in the Austin food scene and for good reason. Their migas taco lives up to the local lore, and this always-hopping original location has a convivial patio seating area for enjoying tasty quesadillas, barbacoa, vegetarian and fish tacos on homemade tortillas, and fresh aguas frescas alfresco.

This downtown Veracruz location, tucked on the ground floor of The LINE, services the bustling hotel crowd with early morning to late night operating hours. There is also a walk-up window, just steps off the hike-and-bike trail, that's perfect for a grab-and-go taco and coffee before you start a day of sightseeing.

Be sure to make reservations because foodies flock here for a taste of its award-winning Modern American cuisine. Vermilion favors locally sourced, sustainable ingredients, though quality trumps local here, so you may find Parisian gnocchi alongside Maryland crab croquettes on this mid-Atlantic menu. Don't miss the fantastic homemade pasta, bread, and desserts.

The sophisticated contemporary Mediterranean fare served in this snazzy bistro with a cathedral ceiling and an open kitchen would hold its own in any big city. Start off your evening with escargot with herbed garlic butter or French onion soup, before graduating to gnocchi with sautéed lobster tail or pan-seared duck breast with a cherry reduction and truffle-dusted potatoes.

The creation of Dano and Bethany Heinze—who amount to downtown Charleston's culinary royal couple, having made their names at the much-missed McCrady's—Vern's is one of the many high-end restaurants in the American South masquerading as a cozy neighborhood joint. But don't let the chalkboard and uncovered tables fool you: Interpretations of local produce here are among the city's best.

The formidable chef Greg Vernick used his Jersey Shore vacations as inspiration for Vernick Fish, an oyster bar reminiscent of the restaurants that dot the Jersey Shore—albeit with an elevated vibe. Located on the first floor of the soaring Comcast Technology Center, the seafood-focused restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily with a special focus on raw fish and fish-forward tartares. The floor-to-ceiling windows along the Arch Street side of the restaurant allow for prime people-watching, and sun-soaked tables evoke the feeling of the Jersey Shore. For the non–fish eater, a selection of curated chicken, steak, and crispy veggies is available.

South Jersey native and James Beard–award winning chef Greg Vernick spent the bulk of his career opening restaurants around the world for Jean-Georges Vongerichten. When he and his wife, Julie, wanted to do their own place, they came back to the Delaware Valley and made waves with their bustling (but intimate) modern American restaurant, whose ever-changing menu features delicious things on toast (avocado, foie gras, Maryland crab), Asian influences, and large-format proteins (whole chicken or rack of lamb) cooked in a wood-burning oven. Expect it all rendered in thoughtful, joyful expressions, and served by a vivacious staff.

Miami visitors looking for that "Cuban food on Calle Ocho" experience, look no further: this storied eatery, where old émigrés opine daily about all things Cuban, is a stop on every political candidate's campaign trail, and it should be a stop for you as well. Order a heaping platter of lechón asado (roasted pork loin), ropa vieja (shredded beef), or picadillo (spicy ground beef), all served with rice, beans, and fried plantains.

Homemade gnocchi, divine seared scallops, and a brief but excellent wine list are among the highlights at this chef-owned Italian trattoria in Brevard's tidy Lumberyard Arts District. Live edge and sleek wood tables and chairs set a rustic homey tone.

The soul of Detroit is alive in Austin "via" this delicious purveyor of deep-dish pies, offering the best authentic Detroit-style pizza in the capital city. Pizza is slung for hordes of hungry late-night crowds at this popular Rainey Street location, along with its original trailer parked on East Sixth. Devotees can also find their pizzas at more suitable daytime hours at their brick-and-mortar location just north of downtown.

Sparkling and gigantic crystal chandeliers aren't exactly the first thing you'd expect to greet you in a brick-and-ivy building tucked into a cobblestoned street, yet here they are—along with myriad other unapologetically glamorous touches. Settle into a green velvet booth and order up a meticulously made craft cocktail, or tuck into small Italian-inspired plates such as juicy lamb belly skewers or bucatini with spicy ‘nduja cream. If the weather cooperates, the alfresco patio is a primo spot for people-watching.

A well-polished service team anticipates your every need, providing a truly sophisticated dining experience, one in which children under 10 aren't on the guest list. There's nothing quick about sitting down for a 7- to 10-course dinner in the main dining room, a 10-course dinner in the intimate Queen Victoria's Room, or the over-the-top Chef's Table dinner in the restaurant's kitchen. Ingredients are sourced daily from local and international purveyors and may include Australian Kobe-style beef, white truffles, Alaskan sablefish, or Galilee Osetra caviar from northern Israel. This is Orlando's only restaurant with a AAA 5-Diamond award and the only U.S. theme park–owned restaurant with a Michelin star; it's also one of the few Disney restaurants with a dress code, so pack accordingly!  The meal will easily run three hours or more, and the Chef's Table can cost more than $500 per person.

Owner Benny Lai took this humble noodle shop founded by his immigrant parents and built it into a chic restaurant with an upstairs lounge serving small plates and wacky cocktails like the Bachelor’s Downfall and the Flaming Volcano (two straws included). In the dining room the best bets are the crispy spring rolls, salted squid, barbecue platter, and soups with rice noodles.  Don't get this restaurant confused with the competing Vietnam Palace across the street.

A visit to Villa Myriam is always satisfying, not just for the uber-fresh coffee drinks on offer and its crisply contemporary design, but for the sense of discovery—tucked away as it is in this emerging early 20th-century warehouse area not far from the train tracks. Tasty teas and sandwiches are also served. The view from its north-facing patio often includes an expanse of salvaged neon signage: Albuquerque history in lights, these are ultimately destined for placement in a neon park just a block away, across from the old Glorieta Brewery, the distinctive red-brick edifice that towers to the west.

A long-time local favorite for lunch (they're only open from 10:30 until 2:30), the Buttery serves savory soups, creative sandwiches, daily-changing quiches, and delectable desserts. Soups, like the tomato basil or the chunky cream of broccoli, are main-course worthy—add a fresh salad and a slice of buttermilk pie, and you're good to go. If you can find a table, eat on the patio in warm weather.

Village Tavern is truly a neighborhood hub for those who love good food, good wine and cocktails, and great company. The bar scene is always fun, especially on Wine Wednesday, when all the wines (even the premium labels) are half-price by the glass. As the bar fills up, the patio is a great option for drinking and dining; however, it's really hard to find a seat outside in the summer. Dogs are more than welcome to join on the terrace, and the servers are extra hospitable. The eclectic and well-rounded menu is rooted in fresh ingredients, and everything is made from scratch.

Outfitted with candlelit tables and a twinkling rear garden, this romantic destination is well worth the sloping walk up from the waterfront. Seasonal menus include inventive new American fare and crowd-pleasing brunch dishes, with a couple of pasta dishes and classics like roast chicken, chicken liver mousse, and pork chops always in rotation. Wait times can be considerable, but the cozy bar pours potent cocktails, local beers, and wine by the glass in the interim.

Helmed by chef Paul Callahan, a 2024 James Beard "best chef" semifinalist, this intimate wine bar and bistro tucked into a historic below-street-level space with a deck overlooking the Swampscott River is a delight for anything from apps and a glass of wine to a full dinner. The menu emphasizes shareable small plates, such as duck-fat beignets with green-tomato jam and scallop crudo with tomato gelée and smoked almonds. Bottles of beer and wine can also be purchased to go.

Established in 1966, this is one of the best restaurants in the Central Valley. The California–continental cuisine includes dishes such as French escargot with a white-wine sauce and filet mignon with a cognac-mustard sauce.

A chef with a national reputation applies classic Italian and French techniques to predominantly California ingredients inside the 1907 Georgian-style mansion housing the Alila Napa Valley resort's destination restaurant. Lunch items like a griddled mortadella sandwich or smash burger give way at dinner to more intricate à la carte fare like squash blossom bucatini and Santa Barbara sea urchin or truffled Petaluma hen, but the prix-fixe and tasting menus demonstrate the culinary team's prowess the best.

Named for the 1902 Owen Wister novel that made Buffalo famous, this is the dining salon of the beautifully restored Occidental Hotel. Dishes made from organic beef range from buffalo rib eye to chateaubriand and filet mignon with béarnaise sauce. Further delights include shrimp scampi, swordfish, and chicken marsala, all served amid the splendor of antique mirrors, Western art, and Victorian lamps; many fixtures are from the original building. Period lamps light the 19th-century brass-color tin ceiling, and wainscoting accents the maroon-colored walls. There's also a kids' menu, and starry-eyed couples can dine in candlelit seclusion within the old Stockmen's bank vault.

Hyde Park has never been much of a destination dining neighborhood, but when fine-dining vet Erick Williams launched Virtue in 2018, food critics across the country took notice of his elegant and soulful exploration of Southern cuisine as shaped by the Great Migration. Come for dishes like gizzards with dirty rice and walleye with pickled okra and country ham crumbs in a space that feels stylish but welcoming. James Beard awards soon followed for both Williams and chef de cuisine Damarr Brown (who also competed on Top Chef). Reservations go fast, so don't wait to book your table.  

The long lines outside this late-night Old Town doughnut shop, marked by its distinctive pink-neon sign, attest to the fact that this irreverent bakery is almost as famous a Portland landmark as Powell's Books. The aforementioned sign depicts one of the shop's biggest sellers, a raspberry jelly–topped chocolate voodoo-doll doughnut, but all the creations here, some of them witty, some ribald, bring smiles to the faces of customers—even those who have waited 30 minutes in the rain. The Loop (covered in Fruit Loops cereal), Grape Ape (vanilla frosting, grape dust, and lavender sprinkles), and Dirty Snowballs (marshmallow topping, dipped in coconut, with peanut butter center) are other faves. The location in a slightly seedy section of Old Town makes this a not-quite-appropriate venue for very young kids—plus some of the more amusing doughnuts are adult themed.  A second location in Northeast tends to be a bit less crowded.

Utilizing products from local farmers and producers, this bright and airy café caters a healthy menu of all-day breakfast and lunch dishes, ranging from berry bowls, smoothies, and breakfast sandwiches to pad Thai noodle bowls and house-made hummus. Grab-and-go options include wellness shots, juice cleanses, boba tea, and specialty coffee drinks.

Chic yet inviting, the fresh Vietnamese fare at Vui’s Kitchen includes favorite dishes like pho and dumplings garnished with local greens, as well as a seasonal selection of local beer and wine. The kitchen sources seasonal local produce whenever possible.

Smack in the heart of the Village, this bustling restaurant greets you with the sound of martini shakers and the smell of Italian classics prepared by Food Network/James Beard finalist/Michelin-starred brothers Michael and Bryan Voltaggio. Grab a table near the swanky bar, or nestle into one of the globe domes on the patio. Here, servers deliver piping hot plates of lamb ravioli, crispy octopus with creamy gnocchi, or Voltaggi-O’s—a nod to the childhood classic SpaghettiOs (only the brothers’ version is made with homemade annelini pasta and a giant meatball). For shared plates start with the caprese, prosciutto di parma, or the white sauce pizza topped with mozzarella and fontina. In the open kitchen, you can catch a glimpse of the brick oven (imported from Italy) that cranks out consistent perfection.

This bustling restaurant is on the short list of locals and visitors in the know for tasty, and big, breakfasts and early lunches (they close at 1). Aside from fluffy waffles and pancakes (which can come loaded with all sorts of toppings), they serve very good Mexican breakfasts and lunches—the chile verde plate for breakfast is great, as are the chicken enchiladas for lunch. Standard American fare, like eggs and bacon, and sandwiches round out the menu.

The historic Waiahole Poi Factory, which made poi for 70 years before serving as an art galley and then a commercial kitchen, returned to its roots back in 2009 and now makes some of the island's freshest and best-tasting poi. Along with that Hawaiian food staple, you can get plate lunches with other classics like squid luau (a dish with taro leaves and coconut), lomi lomi salmon (pieces of salted salmon mixed with onion and tomatoes), chicken long rice, and laulau (meat or fish wrapped in leaves and cooked); outdoor seating is limited, so it's good for takeout. A menu favorite is the Sweet Lady of Waiahole dessert, named after a popular local song, with warm kulolo (taro-coconut pudding) and haupia (a type of coconut pudding) ice cream. A second location recently opened in the food court at Windward Mall and is convenient for those who don't end up going farther north along the coast.