9221 Best Restaurants in USA

Nestled in the funky Mills 50 neighborhood, this small, casual, Michelin Bib Award–winning taco place serves corn tortillas and fresh guacamole with every dish. Tacos like the vegetarian (shiitake mushrooms, onions, zucchini, and crema fresca) or the smoked greens (kale, shiitake, plantain, onions, and ricotta) are unusual alternatives to the classic chicken tinga or carne asada options. There's a second location in the hip Hourglass neighborhood with a Sunday brunch option.

It's worth the 15-minute drive north of downtown Salt Lake to sample what may very well be the finest small-batch ice cream in the Rockies, or at least Utah. Innovative flavors at this bustling shop in cheerful downtown Bountiful include lavender studded with chunks of honeycomb and mango sticky rice. Offerings change according to which ingredients are available in season.

With a festive sidewalk seating area and a rustic timber-clad dining room, this trendy spot offers some of the best craft beer in Leavenworth. There are several great IPAs on hand, as well as a rich Maple stout. The menu includes tasty pizzas such as the Hot Mama, topped with thick-cut bacon, Mama Lil's Peppers, aged mozzarella, and arugula.

There's almost no combination on Earth as satisfying as pizza and beer—which just happen to be Blind Lady's specialties. The old world-style pizzas are topped with organic ingredients, like homemade chorizo and avocado, which offer an excellent complement to their extensive beer selection, which is updated on their chalkboard daily. Just be patient waiting for a seat at the popular neighborhood spot, which is decorated with upcycled materials such as reclaimed wood floors and glass cases of vintage beer cans.

Ever since owners Chef Mark Bliss and his wife Lisa opened this spot in a former filling station in 2012, it continues to exceed all expectations. The cuisine is contemporary American, and that can mean custom charcuterie as well as delectable entrées (perhaps seared sea scallops, Lockhart quail, pan-seared beef tenderloin) ending with house-made sorbet, butter cake, or lavender goat cheese cheesecake. With a changing menu, loyal followers dine regularly to see what's new, just one reason that reservations are highly recommended. The intimate space suits the menu perfectly—warmly elegant and inviting. The outdoor dining has the same uncluttered feel, surrounded by greenery.

Open up your meal with oysters Thermidor, Japanese style with miso, or grilled and topped with Parmesan cheese. Sip a fine vintage, relax, and pause to appreciate the sublime garden setting—complete with hopping rabbits nibbling at the landscaping—before diving into sea scallops served over lemon risotto or grilled sticky Thai shrimp. On a warm summer evening, there's no better place on the island for a romantic dinner.

The menu at this late-afternoon-into-late-evening spot is limited and changes frequently, but it's always good. Order a small plate or charcuterie board, or go bigger with something like risotto, ramen, or seared pork shoulder with roasted shallots and toasted pistachios. Sunday brunch is popular, thanks to such choices as molasses pancakes, deviled eggs with smoked trout, and gougeres served with candied bacon. Accompany your food with a cool craft cocktail, Maine beer (several on draft), or a glass of wine.

This seasonal outdoor seafood-in-the-rough beer garden with a live-music stage and cornhole games sits directly on Winchester Bay, overlooking the marina whose fishing boats supply the fresh-caught, sustainable crab, bay shrimp, albacore tuna, and clams that appear on the short but sweet menu. Bands entertain the crowd many evenings, and families are welcome, along with well-behaved dogs. It's just outside Reedsport, in the heart of Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, and about midway between Florence and Coos Bay.

The sheer volume of Mexican restaurants on South 9th Street can be daunting—many are excellent, but how do you pick? The family-run Blue Corn consistently delivers, serving Pueblan cuisine with personality like tacos al pastor (taco made with spit-grilled pork) and queso fundido (hot melted cheese with spicy chorizo) alongside harder-to-find specialties like huaraches (crispy masa–pinto bean flatbreads) or whole fish stuffed with the corn truffle huitlacoche. Warm service and killer cocktails round out the experience. Note that it is cash only.

This outpost of Dan Barber's famed Blue Hill restaurant in Manhattan occupies a barn on the grounds of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. The seasonal menu features the center's own produce and meats as well as the bounty of other local farms. The space is beautiful and elegant in its restraint, with high picture windows and the barn rafters. Banquettes are dressed in brown and set off against cream walls. There are no set or print menus here; diners have their choice of a Grazing, Pecking, and Rooting menu for $280 a person, or a Farmer's Feast menu at $148 per person. Both feature several courses that are based on the day's harvest, and also offer delectable wine pairings for an additional cost.

What was once a beloved local eatery in a strip mall grew into impressive new-build stand-alone digs in 2023 with a wraparound porch, a spacious backyard with hammocks and cornhole, and inside, surfboards and taxidermied marlin sharing airspace under the vaulted ceiling. The lively scene at a wraparound bar and live musicians playing beside the oyster-shell-adorned fireplace set the scene for generously portioned fresh seafood and Southern comfort food. First-timers feel at home and regulars keep returning for perfect flounder filets, mahi tacos, and the Truckstop, a pan-fried pork loin with potatoes and gravy.

French cuisine meets coastal Carolina at this charming bistro—refurbished by new owners in 2022—that melds fine dining with a casual lack of pretension. An excellent wine list—mostly France and California—pairs well with entrées like crab cakes served with pickled red onions and remoulade (among the North Carolina coast's best) and a confit duck quarter with mushroom risotto and microgreens. Don't overlook the cinnamon maple beignets for dessert. 

A great spot to stop for a beer and an inexpensive, healthy bite to eat, this bohemian café offers a menu built around salads, burgers, and relatively nutritious pub fare—think hummus plates and artichoke dips. There are tons of vegetarian options and a decent selection of gluten-free items, all of which are clearly marked. If you visit in the summer, try to get a seat on the back patio—it overlooks a pretty garden with a stream running through. Not that sitting inside is so bad: the interiors are interestingly done up with whimsical art and an array of differently shaped blue glass bottles.

Convivial, cozy, and a bit off-the-wall, this is one of Port Townsend's best sources of generous, unfussy breakfasts and lunches, like thick pancakes and decadent eggs Benedicts, plus hefty burgers and sandwiches. Long popular with sailors and shipwrights who work in the surrounding Port Townsend Boat Haven, this hole-in-the-wall fills up fast on weekends, but you can help yourself to a mug of drip coffee while you wait.

The Outer Banks' first farm-to-table restaurant, this upscale foodie haven marries Southern roots with contemporary flair and Currituck Sound views. During its three decades of existence, the Blue Point has maintained a sustainably sourced menu with seafood, beef, and other dishes prepared to highlight their texture and flavor. Try the seared Outer Banks scallops with quinoa and turnips or the fish of the day. Next to the restaurant, the Back Bar (no reservation needed) offers a short menu, creative craft cocktails, and waterfront sitting areas.

There are craft cocktails, and then there is Blyth & Burrows, where the alchemy of spirits is taken to the next level with creative concoctions that include the unholy integration of gorgeous (albeit unusual) ingredients such as absinthe foam, house-made black-lime cordial, blackstrap maple-chipotle syrup, and uncommon liqueurs and spirits. Delicious and inspired small plates, like deviled eggs with duck confit, charred oysters with absinthe butter, and local meat and cheese boards keep you from falling under the table.

The ultimate for steak and seafood, this scenic spot on the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills is an indoor/outdoor gem. Be sure to order the table-side Caesar salad, before perfectly prepared cuts of prime rib, signature 40-day aged steaks, or a grilled fish entrée. For starters, order the freshly baked Parker House rolls with two butters, and the signature goat cheese baklava topped with pistachios and honey. Elevated side dishes include a decadent truffle or lobster enhanced mac and cheese, and perfectly cooked grilled asparagus. The cheesecake is light and served with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream. A crowd favorite is the handmade giant cookies with vanilla ice cream.

Renee Erickson made her name serving Seattle's seafood, and takes a new spin on the same at this cool, marble-topped ode to Parisian fish and shellfish bistros. The menu offers seafood both raw and cooked, as well as meaty continental classics like steak tartare and a burger (and steaks borrowed from Bateau next door). Seafoam-green seats pop with color from the white walls in front of the long L-shape bar and tables that surround it. Baskets of fresh oysters await shucking from beds of ice, while nautically named cocktails are shaken nearby. Boat Bar is part of Erickson’s trio of restaurants on this corner: General Porpoise Coffee and Doughnuts serves oversized filled doughnuts until the afternoon, and diners looking for a more substantial meal can head to the steakhouse sibling, Bateau.

This classic ice cream and burger stand feels like a blast from the past with retro decor, classic diner fare, ice cream, and milkshakes that can be enjoyed on their covered patio. The family-friendly staple embraces their throwback energy, even naming their delicious signature shake flavors after 1950s rockers.

Stepping into this artisanal patisserie with attached wine bar feels like being in Europe, save for the Southern hospitality. Hungry customers line up for plump Valrhona chocolate croissants, slabs of burrata-dotted focaccia, and sandwiches made on fresh bread with locally milled grains. Bobby Boy exists in perfect harmony with Caviste Wine Bar; bakery customers enjoy sandwiches and coffee at the bar by day, then fancy bar snacks are made to pair with the natural wines at Caviste at night. 

Using modern techniques pioneered by the great Lyons chef Paul Bocuse, this contemporary successor to the Culinary Institute of America's Escoffier, serves classic French cuisine in a casual yet sophisticated beige and white room designed by famed restaurant designer Adam Tihany. In addition to such iconic dishes like black truffle soup, torchon of goie gras, and rack of lamb, there's an informative and reasonable wine list (presented on an iPad). There's also a dessert cart that serves specialty cocktails and hand-cranked ice cream prepared tableside with liquid nitrogen in two minutes.

Although the steaks at this cozy brasserie are executed to perfection (you can also buy them to take away from the on-site butcher counter), this isn't just another Chicago steak house. Chefs Brian Ahern and Jamie Finnegan are informed by classical French training and many of the most memorable dishes are anchored not by beef but fresh seasonal produce. The cocktails are darned good too.

Well established as a local favorite, this unassuming café is situated in a strip mall near Diamond Head and away from the bustle of Waikiki. It's a great spot to grab a quick, delicious breakfast or brunch, including best-sellers such as the loco moco, açai bowl, bagel sandwiches, French toast, omelets, and other morning staples. Locals love their Mama's fried rice dish, with plenty of sautéed vegetables. Many lunch options are available as well, such as chicken salad and lobster rolls. The interior is basic, but there's also ample seating on the patio out front.

The Grand Bohemian, a luxury boutique hotel, is the setting for this sleek city-center restaurant. Start with the calamari or the porcini flatbread followed, perhaps, by a selection from the famed Angus beef menu, the Chilean sea bass, or the Hunter's Board of handcrafted charcuterie. The Sunday Jazz Brunch here is legendary, with stations for omelets, seafood, and carved prime rib, as well as an expansive dessert selection. Local politicians favor this place for power breakfasts, and local jazz stars perform in the Bösendorfer Lounge most evenings.

If you're looking for a Steppenwolf pre-theater dinner, this upscale spot gets the foodie stamp of approval. The seasonally driven menu is constantly changing, showcasing elegant fare like slow-cooked fish or an elevated presentation of roasted chicken, and the slick bar and outdoor patio both serve food, so this is a big draw even for those not watching curtain time.

If not for the pandemic, the folks behind this eatery with arguably the best restaurant name in NYC might still be slinging salteñas (like an empanada, but hand-braided and filled with a rich, savory stew) out of the food hall in Manhattan's Columbus Circle subway station. But now, they've claimed their brick-and-mortar shop out of their original prep kitchen in Sunnyside, with satisfying peanut soup, salad and grain bowls with barbecued meats or jackfruit, and fried chicken sandwiches, all which are best with dollops of llajua, their homemade Bolivian hot sauce. It's window-serve only, with a few outdoor picnic tables for seating in the front.

Boma takes Western-style ingredients and prepares them with an African twist. You walk through an African marketplace–style dining room to help yourself at counters piled high with flavor from an upscale buffet like no other. The dozen or so serving stations have entrées such as roasted pork, Durban-style chicken, spice-crusted beef, and fish served with tamarind and other robust sauces; intriguing salads; and some of the best hummus this side of the Atlantic. Don't pass up the soups and salads. The zebra dome dessert is chocolate mousse covered with white chocolate and striped with dark chocolate. For a more relaxed breakfast experience, book a table for before 9:30 am; Boma gets crowded quickly. 

When you see the lilac building, you’ll know you’re in the right place. Inside, say hello to the giant neon sign that reads “Fancy Service,” and settle into the eccentric atmosphere. Bon Ton is perfect for a night on the town—starting or capping off the evening with a round of fun cocktails—or digging into Cajun-style food with Vietnamese flair. Try the boiled peanuts appetizer, then indulge in a blackened catfish banh mi. Afterwards, head upstairs to The Waiting Room speakeasy for more unique cocktails.