Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, worldwide team of discerning professionals—and your views, too.



Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. 2008




Dig In
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

In our annual issue, we celebrate the best restaurants in the country and honor those who run them. Before delving into our top picks, read about the Gayots' criteria for choosing the Top 40 restaurants as well as what's new at GAYOT.com.

A group of chefs plating a dish


Diners enjoying a meal and a bottle of wine

Fashionable Plates
CULINARY TRENDS

What are the greatest culinary trends in the last twelve months? We examine how a new generation of chefs is threatening the very mentors who first taught them, how the crumbling economy is changing the way we eat out, and much more.



Cream of the Crop
TOP 40 RESTAURANTS IN THE U.S.

In our 40-plus years of writing about dining, during which we helped coin the phrase "Nouvelle Cuisine," we have compiled one of the largest restaurant review databases in the world. From this collection, we are proud to present our list of the 40 best restaurants in the country.

The dining room at The Modern, one of our Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S.



Post your own restaurant and hotel reviews and feedback on our forum
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Post Your Own Reviews and Feedback

You've read our reviews and top restaurant and hotel lists, now, write your own! Post a comment on our community forum, or review a restaurant or hotel on our site for our millions of visitors to read.


A fish sandwich with french fries; eat well at low prices

A Fistful of Dollars
TOP 40 CHEAP EATS IN THE U.S.

We've searched the nation for top quality cuisine at the lowest prices. Whether our picks are undiscovered finds or old family favorites, one thing remains the same: you'll get a square meal at a great deal with change to spare.


New Kids in Town
TOP 10 NEW RESTAURANTS IN THE U.S.

At GAYOT.com, we take pride in bringing you up-to-the-moment news about restaurant openings and reviewing them as soon as we can to let you know if they're worth your time and money. These ten restaurants, which represent the best of the freshman class, certainly qualify on both counts.

Ubuntu in Napa, one of our Top 10 New Restaurants in the U.S.


Elway's Cherry Creek in Denver, one of our Top 10 Steakhouses in the U.S.

Choice Cuts
TOP 10 STEAKHOUSES IN THE U.S.

Steak aficionados may disagree on how they like their meat, but true "meatheads" should find happiness at any of these restaurants. Despite the wide range of styles, from Austin's Finn & Porter to Atlanta's Kevin Rathbun Steak, the quality throughout our list is always prime.



Head of the Class
TOP 5 RISING CHEFS

You may not know who they are, but you'll want to find out after tasting their creations. The culinary skills of our five rising stars belie their tender years. In the future, we won't be surprised to see their work touted on our list of the Top 40 restaurants in the United States.

Gavin Kaysen of Café Boulud in New York, one of our Top 5 Rising Chefs


Rhubarb Napoleon by Neil Robertson of Canlis in Seattle

Wonka Visionaries
TOP 5 PASTRY CHEFS

These kings and queens of sugar and spice concoct their creative desserts in harmony with their restaurant's head chef, creating a sensible bridge from the savory side to the sweet. When one of our five winners is in the kitchen, it's a no-brainer to stick around for the last course.



The Ringmaster
BEST RESTAURATEUR IN THE U.S.

Sirio Maccioni, owner of Le Cirque in New York, Las Vegas and Mexico, is the toast of the restaurant town and our first winner of this new award. He's a high-profile public persona who takes a long-term approach to the restaurant industry while still playing an active role in his business and keeping it all in the family.

Sirio Maccioni, owner of Le Cirque in New York, Las Vegas and Mexico, who was selected as our Best Restaurateur of the year



Park Avenue Winter, one of the quarterly themes of Park Avenue in New York, our winner for Top Restaurant Design

Mise-en-scene
TOP RESTAURANT DESIGN

Some diners are so wowed by a restaurant's look, they fall in love with the place even before they get a chance to taste the food. Park Avenue lives up to its lofty name by keeping its décor fresh year-round with an extensive quarterly makeover.



And much, much more!
THE PANTRY


Food Rating System
Explained

Restaurant Lists and Dining Themes
Sexy, brunch, cheap eats and more

Restaurant Features
Learn about your favorite chefs

Food and Wine Pairing Guides
Which wine to pour

Gourmet Foods
The tastiest things in life
Food Terms
Parlez-vous shabu shabu?

Cookbook Reviews
How to do it yourself!

Wine Dinners and Tastings Near You
Eat, drink and be social

Top Wines and More
Best vintages

Newsletters
Get plugged in


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VALENTINE'S DAY WINES

Add wine to the celebration of love, curated by GAYOT´s Wine & Spirits Editor.

Check the list.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

For a rosé bubbly Valentine's Day celebration.

Get the recipes.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDSOver the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.