Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. 2017

32. The Restaurant at Meadowood | Chef Christopher Kostow

St. Helena, CA

At Napa Valley dining destination The Restaurant at Meadowood, chef Christopher Kostow and his crew present a cavalcade of courses tailored to each guest’s tastes. Even dishes with seemingly modest ingredients are complex and unforgettable delicacies.

• Read the full review of The Restaurant at Meadowood

33. Restaurant Nicholas | Chef Nicholas Harary

Red Bank, NJ

Chef/owner Nicholas Harary and his wife Melissa present a very fine dining experience at Restaurant Nicholas in Red Bank, New Jersey. Expect a blend of sophisticated surroundings, professional service and remarkable New American food crafted from the best products the time of year has to offer.

• Read the full review of Restaurant Nicholas

34. Saison | Chef Joshua Skenes

San Francisco, CA

At Saison in San Francisco, diners are greeted by a stack of wood that feeds the hearth, which features prominently in the cooking philosophy of chef Joshua Skenes. The dining room only seats 18, and the intimacy helps preserve the quality of this gourmet gastronomic affair.

• Read the full review of Saison restaurant

35. SingleThread Farm – Restaurant – Inn | Chef Kyle Connaughton

Healdsburg, CA

SingleThread Farm – Restaurant – Inn in Healdsburg, California, showcases the prodigious cooking and farming talents of Kyle and Katina Connaughton, respectively. There is a consistent, well-integrated Japanese influence in the dishes, which arrive in serving pieces of custom and handmade design sourced from Japan.

Only open since the end of 2016, this newcomer makes its debut on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S.

• Read the full review of SingleThread Farm – Restaurant – Inn

36. Studio | Chef Craig Strong

Laguna Beach, CA

EDITOR’S NOTE: CHEF CRAIG STRONG IS NO LONGER EXECUTIVE CHEF AT STUDIO

Chef Craig Strong’s French cuisine with local, seasonal influences works wonderfully well at Studio, as its home, the Montage Laguna Beach, is an ode to the sophisticated California lifestyle and palate. The setting is also impressive, as the restaurant sits atop a gorgeous bluff with panoramic views of South Laguna’s incomparable shore.

• Read the full review of Studio restaurant

37. Twist by Pierre Gagnaire

Las Vegas, NV

Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, located in the luxurious Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, has the distinction of being the only U.S. restaurant from this French fusion cuisine pioneer. The restaurant is small by Las Vegas standards, but the intimate size ensures consistent quality.

• Read the full review of Twist by Pierre Gagnaire restaurant

38. Vetri | Chef Marc Vetri

Philadelphia, PA

In the intimate setting of Vetri in Philadelphia, guests enjoy the earthy, eloquent and ambitious Italian food of chef Marc Vetri. His influences span from his Sicilian grandmother to kitchens in Italy, where he studied for years.

• Read the full review of Vetri restaurant

39. Vie | Chef Paul Virant

Western Springs, IL

Vie in Western Springs, Illinois, a suburb outside Chicago, is where chef-owner Paul Virant presents his innovative and artful American cuisine. He’s particularly touted for his pickling, canning and aigre-doux techniques, which are seamlessly incorporated into dishes that, at their root, are familiar.

• Read the full review of Vie restaurant

40. The Willows Inn | Chef Blaine Wetzel

Lummi Island, WA

A meal at The Willows Inn is well worth the two-hour journey from Seattle to Lummi Island. Chef Blaine Wetzel’s vision of “food telling a story of the land” breaks new ground in celebratory tasting menus with inventive combinations, unconventional flavors and out-of-the-box presentations.

• Read the full review for The Willows Inn restaurant