Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. 2017

By Gayot Editors

Best Restaurants in America for 2017

The year 2017 brought some significant changes to the realm of fine dining in the U.S.
We mourned the shuttering of Tru in Chicago and SAAM at The Bazaar by José Andrés in Los Angeles, both previous honorees of GAYOT’s top restaurant awards. The spirit of reinvention, an imperative motif in the culinary world, was embodied by Eleven Madison Park as the New York restaurant embarked on a renovation to fortify its future and continued success.

Meanwhile, stalwart chefs across America persevered in their pursuit of culinary innovation through refined techniques and pristine ingredients sourced from near and far. We’re proud to honor these excellent establishments on GAYOT’s 2017 Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S., presented in alphabetical order.

1. Addison | Chef William Bradley

Addison, San DiegoSan Diego, CA

Reservation OpenTable

Seasonal haute cuisine, professional service, fine cuisine and opulent décor make for a sensory evening at Addison at Fairmont Grand Del Mar. Chef William Bradley’s dishes are built around whatever produce is at its peak.

Read the full review of Addison restaurant.
Watch our exclusive video interview with chef William Bradley.

2. Alinea | Chef Grant Achatz

Alinea, ChicagoChicago, IL

Chicago’s Alinea continues to be a paragon of innovation, thanks to the culinary wizardry of Grant Achatz and business savvy of Nick Kokonas. Patrons can look forward to an evening of suspense with an ending that’s as whimsical as it is delicious.

• Read the full review for Alinea restaurant.
Watch one of our dinners at Alinea.

3. Atelier Crenn | Chef Dominique Crenn

Atelier Crenn, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA

San Francisco’s Atelier Crenn is a canvas for the artistic self expression of chef Dominique Crenn. The menu is written in the form of a poem, while the unusual plates, silverware and dishes (a wood log, for example) put forth unique presentations.

Read the full review of Atelier Crenn restaurant.
Chef Dominique Crenn was one of the 2017 GAYOT’s Best Female Chefs in the U.S.
Watch our exclusive video interview with chef Dominique Crenn.

4. Aubergine | Chef Justin Cogley

Aubergine, Carmel-by-the-SeaCarmel, CA

Reservation OpenTable

California’s coastal town Carmel-by-the-Sea is charming in its own right, but gourmands especially should make the trip to visit Aubergine. At this intimate restaurant inside L’Auberge Carmel, executive chef Justin Cogley delights diners with abalone, caviar and other delicacies from the deep.

Read the full review of Aubergine restaurant.

5. Blue Hill at Stone Barns | Chef Dan Barber

Blue Hill at Stone Barns, TarrytownTarrytown, NY

Encompassing a working farm, education center and restaurant, Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, New York, is the embodiment of chef/co-owner Dan Barber’s culinary activist spirit. Much of the food served in the restaurant comes straight from the grounds, and the result is impossibly fresh tasting fare with little complication.

Read the full review of Blue Hill at Stone Barns restaurant.

6. Chef Mavro | Chef George Mavrothalassitis

Chef Mavro, Honolulu

Honolulu, HI

Reservation OpenTable

Honolulu fine-dining restaurant Chef Mavro is changing things up after nearly two decades, introducing an à la carte menu. Never fear, though, for the illustrious Hawaii Regional Cuisine of chef-owner George Mavrothalassitis can still be enjoyed in a grand tasting.

Read the full review of Chef Mavro restaurant.

7. Daniel | Chef Daniel Boulud

Daniel, New York
New York, NY

Chef Daniel Boulud oversees more than a dozen restaurants worldwide, of which his eponymous NYC fine-dining establishment Daniel is the apex. The French contemporary cuisine beguiles as a blend of informed hominess and truffle-steeped excess.

Read the full review for Daniel restaurant.
Chef Daniel Boulud was GAYOT’s 2014 Best Restaurateur in the U.S.

8. Eleven Madison Park | Chef Daniel Humm

Eleven Madison Park, New York

New York, NY

Chef Daniel Humm and Will Guidara recently unveiled a new look for Eleven Madison Park in NYC. In this understated, sophisticated setting, patrons savor a tasting menu that pays homage to New York’s local ingredients and longstanding culinary traditions.

Read the full review for Eleven Madison Park restaurant.

9. Everest | Chef Jean Joho

Everest, ChicagoChicago, IL

Reservation OpenTable

French refinement profoundly endures at Everest, which overlooks the Chicago skyline from its 40th floor vantage point. Chef-proprietor Jean Joho’s Alsatian roots are evident from the creative cuisine to the wine list.

Congratulations to Everest for returning to GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list.

Read the full review of Everest restaurant.
Watch our exclusive video interview with chef Jean Joho.
Chef Jean Joho was 2012 GAYOT’s Best Restaurateur in the U.S.

10. Frasca Food and Wine | Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson

Frasca Food and Wine, BoulderBoulder, CO

Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, Colorado, takes diners on a journey through the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. Chef/co-owner Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson’s Northern Italian fare is masterfully complemented by co-owner Bobby Stuckey’s show-stopping wine list.

Read the full review for Frasca Food and Wine restaurant.