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. 2010



As we compile our top restaurants in the country yet again, we marvel at the veterans that always seem to appear, and delight in the “rookies” that have finally reached the pinnacle. From coast to coast (and beyond, in Chef Mavro’s case), we salute the restaurateurs and chefs that consistently overcome the obstacles and rocky economic environment in order to give us the ultimate in dining. The large coastal cities of New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are well-represented, but metropolises do not hold a monopoly on culinary creativity.

On GAYOT.com, we are proud to present hundreds of restaurants that have earned high ratings. These 40 restaurants were selected by our local writers, regional editors and headquarters staff for this accolade because they provide diners with more than a good meal; rather, they do their best to ensure an unforgettable, unique dining experience.



ATLANTA
Restaurant Eugene

BOSTON
L'Espalier

No. 9 Park

BOULDER, CO
Frasca Food & Wine

CHICAGO
Alinea
Charlie Trotter's

L2O

HEALDSBURG, CA
Cyrus

HONOLULU
Chef Mavro

LAGUNA BEACH, CA
Studio

LAS VEGAS
Joël Robuchon
Picasso
Restaurant Guy Savoy

LOS ANGELES
Mélisse
Patina
Providence
Spago Beverly Hills

Urasawa

NEW ORLEANS
Commander's Palace

NEW YORK
Blue Hill
Corton

Daniel
Eleven Madison Park
Jean Georges
Le Bernardin
Le Cirque
Masa
Per Se

OGUNQUIT, ME
Arrows Restaurant

PHILADELPHIA
Vetri

SAN DIEGO
Addison

SAN FRANCISCO
The Dining Room
Gary Danko
Michael Mina

Masa's

WASHINGTON, D.C.
CityZen
Michel Richard Citronelle

WASHINGTON, VA
The Inn at Little Washington

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL
Vie

YOUNTVILLE, CA
The French Laundry






Excellent Places to Eat in Your Area Beyond the Top Restaurants

If you can’t make it to one of our best dining establishments, you're still sure to find a wonderful restaurant in your area on GAYOT.com. Start by finding your city in our restaurant reviews guide. You can then search by area, zip code, and rating, type of cuisine, price, or feature.  If you need to find a place that is open late or kid friendly, it's easy. Once you find an appealing restaurant, you can read the professional review and make a reservation. 

Each area also has its own "best of" list for a wide variety of dining establishments.  Craving a steak? Gayot has the list of the best steak places in Los Angeles, New York, and other cities. You can find great ethnic food, frozen yogurt, brunch, and more in your neighborhood. These lists make it easy to find a wonderful place to eat, even if you're too far away to visit one of the establishments in our top 40. 



The dining room of Jean-Georges restaurant in New York City, one of GAYOT's Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S.



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.