Eater’s Editor-in-Chief, and National Restaurant Editor Amanda Kludt and Bill Addison complied a list of 38 America’s Essential Restaurants. These establishments boast delicious dishes and help to characterize the cuisine all around the country. They also included “superlatives,” giving special attention to must-order dishes from a few of the spaces. Some of NYC’s favorite eateries that are located downtown made the list including Momofuku Noodle Bar and Estela.
Check out the full list of restaurants and superlatives and keep them in mind on your next road trip. Full list, courtesy of Eater.
The 38 List
Alinea, Chicago
Bern’s Steak House, Tampa, FL
Benu, San Francisco
Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Tarrytown, NY
Bluestem, Kansas City
Cafe at Chez Panisse, Berkeley
Clancy’s, New Orleans
Cotogna, San Francisco
Estela, New York
Eventide Oyster Co., Portland, Maine
FIG, Charleston
Franklin BBQ, Austin
Frasca Food & Wine, Boulder
Gjusta, Los Angeles
Guerrilla Tacos, Los Angeles
Gunshow, Atlanta
Herbsaint, New Orleans
Husk Nashville
Kachka, Portland, OR
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Las Vegas
Manresa, Los Gatos, CA
Momofuku Noodle Bar, New York
Night + Market Song, Los Angeles
Oleana, Cambridge, MA
Oxheart, Houston
Parachute, Chicago
Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix, AZ
Poole’s Diner, Raleigh, NC
Prince’s, Nashville
Publican, Chicago
Roberta’s, Brooklyn
Rose’s Luxury, Washington DC
Tei An, Dallas
Trois Mec, Los Angeles
Vedge, Philadelphia
The Whale Wins, Seattle
Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore
Zahav, Philadelphia
Superlative List
Utter splurge: Counter tasting menu, Restaurant at Meadowood, CA
Rising star dish: Khachapuri
Fried chicken: Big Jones, Chicago
Burger: Petit Trois, Los Angeles
Pizza: Wise Guy, Pizzeria Bianco (Town and Country shopping center location), Phoenix, AZ
Pasta: Tagliolini with crab, espelette, and lime, Cotogna, San Francisco
Asian noodles: Biang biang, Miah’s Kitchen, Bellevue, WA
Taco: smoked marlin taco, Mariscos Nine Seas, San Diego, CA
Tex-Mex plate: Garcia’s Deluxe Mexican Dinner, San Antonio, TX
Breakfast sandwich: Palace Diner, Biddeford, Maine
Dessert: Blueberry grunt, Loyal Nine, Cambridge, MA
Cocktail: Thread & Theory, Ticonderoga Club, Atlanta
Best single bite: crazy banana and caviar course at Atelier Crenn
Best off-the-beaten-path meal: Knife & Fork, Spruce Pine, NC
Once-a-week special: Oxtails at Addielee’s, Charleston, SC
Meal finale: tea service at Eleven Madison Park