9201 Best Restaurants in USA

The Cape May newspaper Exit Zero described Bank Street's cuisine as part Key West, part French Caribbean, part New Orleans. Mesquite-grilled local fish steaks, dry-aged New York strip steak, and bayou oyster stew are flavorful stand-outs. Dine on the porches or in the garden courtyard of the 1840s cottage. The place pulses with life—from the jovial diners singing the praises of Chef Henry Sing Cheng to the greenery that clings and climbs the walls. BYOB.

Dining extends seamlessly from indoors to the game-filled outside at this laid-back pub known for fresh takes on Southern fare, from chicken pie to shrimp with sweet potato grits. The lawn includes a bocce court and cornhole boards.

With dishes like Parmesan-crusted baked haddock and seafood pastas, the dinner menu here isn't all about fried fish; steak and chicken dishes and burgers are also available, and the lunch menu features burgers, wraps, salads, and sandwiches. The dining room has tables, booths, and bar seating, and a dessert case tempts; beyond here the pub, with a "steampunk-inspired" compass rose mural by a local artist, offers bar tables and seating at the curved wood bar. 

On the ground floor of the Marshall House, 45 Bistro has some of the best views of Broughton Street from the floor-to-ceiling windows that run the length of the room. Most of the menu abounds with regional flavors—local crab, wild shrimp, spiced pecans—but standards like the wet-aged rib eye are equally as satisfying, as are the updated old favorites like shrimp and grits with fried Vidalia onion rings, or the grilled romaine hearts in the exceptional Caesar salad.

The smoker works overtime from noon to night at this hipster-chic barbecue shack, churning out an array of succulent meats that can be had by the plate, the pound, or as a sandwich. Every plate comes with two sides, and you should certainly make the frankaroni one of them: possibly the work of the devil, this is macaroni-and-cheese with pieces of hot dog . . . deep fried. Hungry barbecue seekers order at the counter, then sit partially outside (there are heat lamps) at communal picnic tables in repurposed shipping containers.

In what was once a hardware store, this casual eatery has one interior wall of exposed brick and another of exposed plaster; both are used to hang art for sale by local artists. Daily specials are chalked on a blackboard and include a large cheese-and-pâté plate, flatbread pizzas, deli sandwiches, espresso, waffles, soups, and salads.

This perennially packed Hell's Kitchen brasserie has been a magnet for burger lovers since day one. Though the menu offers a mix of flavors—including matzo ball soup, shrimp tempura, and salad bowls—the main attractions are the juicy patties, like the original 10-ounce patty melt with a tangle of onions, Gruyère cheese, and rosemary aioli. There's an option for everyone, including vegan options and a "Cali Reuben" turkey burger. For dessert, have an über-thick black-and-white malted milk shake.

Upstairs from the legendary Boston's on the Beach, you'll find its fancier annex, 50 Ocean. In contrast to the no-frills sports bar on the ground floor, 50 Ocean is a more refined restaurant featuring dishes with a large percentage of locally sourced ingredients. The views from above are spectacular, and the setting is casually elegant, with an outdoor veranda and notable quartz bar. If it feels too fancy upstairs, just head back downstairs for some decent bar fare that includes New England clam chowder, several lobster dishes, and fresh fish.

If you grew up in Middle America in the 1950s—or you're just a fan of classic TV series like I Love Lucy and The Donna Reed Show—you'll appreciate the vintage atmosphere and diner-classic menu here. At tables with Formica tops, you can feast on meat loaf, pot roast, or fried chicken accompanied by a malted milk shake, a root-beer float, or a bottle of wine or a cocktail from the Tune-In Lounge next door. The place also offers lighter dishes like a grilled salmon salad. If you're not feeling totally wholesome, go for Dad's Electric Lemonade (vodka, blue curaçao, sweet-and-sour mix, and Sprite). Just like Mother, the menu admonishes, "Keep your elbows off the table."  If you're a party of two looking for a way to eat here without a reservation, grab a seat at the bar in the attached Tune-In Lounge. The entire menu is offered here, and the bartenders are some of the best on Disney property.

This family-friendly spot delivers a comprehensive beer selection (30 rotating taps), traditional pub favorites like poutine fries and burgers, and elevated entrées like street-style tacos and lamb pops. A neighborhood gathering place, 51 North Taproom also offers a hearty weekend brunch and ample outdoor patio seating.

Housed in a McVilla aimed at attracting a Japanese wedding clientele, this restaurant serves contemporary Continental food that focuses primarily on beautifully plated, well-prepared standards—albeit with a million-dollar view of Honolulu. Perched at the water's edge, with famed surf break Point Panic offshore, 53 by the Sea uses its setting to great advantage—the crescent-shape dining room faces the sea, so even if you’re not at a table nestled against the floor-to-ceiling windows, you have a fine view. Besides dinner, drop in for lunch or cocktails and appetizers at the bar while watching the city lights go up as the sun goes down. Sublime.

Overlooking the always interesting Mint Plaza, a European-style plaza that surrounds the former U.S. Mint, this brick-walled, cozy-modern restaurant is one of San Francisco's best Roman trattorias, with both rustic traditional cooking and gentle spins on classic recipes. The exceptional cocktails designed by Jacopo Rosito (who left for a job in Miami but the innovative drinks are still around) are worth a trip on their own, and diners can wrap up dinner properly with an amaro and an espresso—this place truly feels and tastes like Rome. 54 Mint's sibling, Montesacro, a block away, introduced the city to pinsas, an oval sibling to pizza.

If you're in Ketchikan in the morning (this place closes at noon), don't miss an opportunity to visit this family-owned café and roastery, which serves some of the best espresso you're likely to find in Southeast. The fresh-baked pastries make a delicious accompaniment.

Named for I–55, which cuts through the Mississippi Delta toward New Orleans, this Gulf-inspired restaurant pulls out all the stops: gumbo, po’boys, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, oysters (char-grilled, fried, or in the shell), and even fried green tomato and shrimp rémoulade. Tables are first come, first served, but it’s worth the wait—especially for weekend brunch: their build-your-own-Bloody-Mary bar has all the fixings for the hair of just about any dog. And their daily cocktail menu drips with Southern twang and flavor.

Set within the gracious Federal hotel, 555 North is the rebirth of chef-owner Steve and Michelle Corry's popular Portland restaurant, which closed in 2019 after an 18-year run. Diners will find the same exceptionally creative, seasonal approach to food as well as a sophisticated but relaxed atmosphere. The menu always offers distinctive and sometimes whimsical preparations of local seafood (the pan-roasted hake in smoky tomato broth is exceptional) meats, and produce. If it's on the menu, try the outrageously tasty salad of grilled peaches, feta, pistachios, and honey.

If you need a handy stop for breakfast or lunch, or takeout provisions for a picnic in the North Cascades, this gluten-free bakery featuring tasty, made-from-scratch baked goods and hearty meals is definitely worth a quick detour off the highway between Sedro-Woolley and Marblemount. The breakfast menu lists the usual quiches and waffles, along with three-potato hash (with eggs, corned beef, veggies, or andouille sausage). Midday offerings include sandwiches (both grilled and cold), salads, and soups. There's a full espresso bar and a soda fountain with delicious shakes.

Housed in a large artsy space, 5th & Taylor is a culinary playground for chef Daniel Lindley to push the boundaries of modern American cuisine. The menu often includes a number of Southern favorites, like tomato pie and beer-can chicken, all elevated by Lindley's finesse and knowledge of flavor. The center sculpture, which serves as a focal point in the dining room, is a depiction of General Francis Nash, for whom the city is named.

Locals go wild for the creative American cuisine with an Asian flair here, served in the building's intimate dining space. Top options include the black-sesame seared rare tuna with baby bok choy or the garlic rib eye with sweet potato gnocchi.

This little bit funky, little bit chic but totally Montauk café serves up fare that fuses local ingredients with international flair. With dishes like mussels with Thai curry, biriyani, fish "Montacos," and house-smoked Hawaiian babyback ribs, this place provides a little culinary adventure right on Main Street Montauk. Tasty home-baked desserts include key lime pie. There is live music most nights.

As its name suggests, this sky-high dining den sits on the 71st floor, 950 feet above ground level. With that elevation comes the most stunning views of any restaurant in L.A., and the food is close to matching it. This fine-dining experience has a quarterly rotating menu, but you'll typically find fresh seafood, innovative veggies, delicious scallops, and more. A dress code is loosely enforced, but you can't come in wearing shorts, hats, flip-flops, or any athletic gear. Keep it classy here, bring a date, and get sucked into the twinkling lights of the city as the sun sets over the ocean.

Celebrity mom Dina Lohan (mother of Lindsay) was spotted celebrating Memorial Day here; so was actor and funny guy Jonah Hill, and on any given day you can see supermodels, sports stars, and an assortment of other A-listers hanging out here. With internationally acclaimed chef Walter Hinds at the helm, the menu offers well-prepared classic dishes like Caesar salad, penne primavera, and grilled salmon. The evening specials bring more of an international flair, perhaps moules frites in red curry and Tuscan pot roast. There's a weekend brunch as well as a menu for kids. The bar gets busy after 11 on Friday and Saturday nights thanks to a DJ and a crowd that likes to dance. Reservations are recommended.

Classic and hearty New Orleans-fare dominates at this casual eatery, where chef-owner Manny January---formerly the sous chef at Galatoire's---cooks up a storm with fresh ingredients and abundance of flavor. Grilled lamb chops, marinated and cooked with just a hint of char, became a crowd favorite, something not seen at most restaurants along this gritty stretch of Claiborne Avenue.

The locally-sourced menu here changes daily, but the bistro-style dishes always have a Mediterranean accent. You'll find lots of fresh seafood, like yellowfin carpaccio, fresh shucked oysters, baby shrimp crudo and P.E.I. mussels. There's also plenty for the vegetarian set too, like feta-stuffed ravioli and chickpea sliders with cumin yogurt. On the weekends, there's a lively bar scene.

This fine-dining restaurant, located in the Concord Depot, offers new American cuisine, with much of the food on the plate coming from nearby local farms. Friendly and knowledgeable servers can help you navigate the menu, which changes with the seasons and availability.

Colorful, quilt-draped walls and a cool ceiling-fanned patio make this a comfortable spot no matter the weather. The menu changes with the season, but you might find an entrée such as a juicy grilled New York strip steak in a balsamic reduction or sautéed rainbow trout. The 814 Burger is a half-pound of grilled bliss.

This landmark mainstay continues to thrive as an atmospheric, fine-dining establishment. As always, the food has strong Southern leanings, with seafood highlights, including Charleston bouillabaisse; don't miss the creamy grits (perfection) or authentic fried green tomatoes. Indoor and garden dining make this a great place to linger, perhaps under a gazebo or in an elegant, art-rich (and air-conditioned) room inside the historic residence. Also notable is the genuinely caring service and extensive wine list featuring new varietal blends (no house wine here), which has earned it high and consistent praise.

This stylish bistro is the place to go for a break from antiquing. Typical lunchtime offerings include roasted corn and clam chowder, pesto chicken salad, and burgers with hand-cut fries; dinner could be maple-glazed sea scallops, steak frites, or butternut squash ravioli in brown butter.

Look no further for a caffeine kick than 8th & Roast's ethically traded coffee with decadent flavor profiles. Small bites and syrups are made in-house, and natural light flows in through the shop’s large windows.

Count on comforting, hearty Pacific Northwest pub fare at this long, narrow, and dimly lit eatery, with an ample selection of regional beer on tap. Look for pizza, seafood, and appetizers like deep-fried pickles, beer-battered mushrooms, crab cakes, and a pound of clams. Fish-and-chips, sandwiches, and burgers like the Naughty Nellie, with American and Swiss cheese and crushed red pepper, round out the menu. There's a small beer garden in back and more seating out front. Hoquiam is about a 30-minute drive from Ocean Shores. 

You can count on finding deftly prepared Pacific Northwest pub fare—thin-crust pizzas, beer-braised pot roast, house-made black-bean burgers seafood, cod fish-and-chips, and crab-rockfish cakes—at this long, narrow, and dimly lit neighborhood pub in downtown Hoquiam. There's an ample selection of regional beer on tap, which is best enjoyed in the cozy beer garden in back.