Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. 2018
31. Restaurant Eugene | Chef Linton Hopkins
Atlanta, GA
This Atlanta gastronomic enclave centers a growing local restaurant collection from chef Linton Hopkins and wife, Gina. Restaurant Eugene features a thought-provoking menu with Southern sensibilities and ingredients, as in the sorghum-glazed quail. The atmosphere, professional service, outstanding wine list and attention to details of all sorts elevate this dining experience.
> Restaurant Eugene has previously been featured on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list from 2009-2012.
• Read the full review of Restaurant Eugene
32. Restaurant Guy Savoy
Las Vegas, NV
Expect an all-encompassing experience for the senses at Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, from the deliberately simple yet modern décor to the parade of plates that delight with impressive presentations as well as tastes.
> Restaurant Guy Savoy has previously been featured on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list since 2006.
• Read the full review of Restaurant Guy Savoy
33. The Restaurant at Meadowood | Chef Christopher Kostow
St. Helena, CA
Chef Christopher Kostow’s intention is to surprise, disarm and delight diners at The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena, California. The presentations are beautiful, and even dishes with seemingly modest ingredients are complex and unforgettable delicacies.
> The Restaurant at Meadowood has previously been featured on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list in 2011 and 2013-2017.
• Read the full review for The Restaurant at Meadowood
34. Restaurant Nicholas | Chef Nicholas Harary
Red Bank, NJ
Watch all the behind-the-scenes action from the chef’s table tucked into the kitchen of Restaurant Nicholas in Red Bank, New Jersey. This sophisticated restaurant from chef/owner Nicholas Harary and his wife Melissa features remarkable New American food and personalized, spot-on wine recommendations.
> Restaurant Nicholas has previously been featured on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list since 2011.
• Read the full review of Restaurant Nicholas
35. Saison | Chef Joshua Skenes
San Francisco, CA
Chef/founder Joshua Skenes achieves perfect harmony with simple ingredients at Saison in San Francisco. The team, led by chef Laurent Gras, tailors each meal to the diner’s tastes and preferences, so there is no set tasting menu.
> Saison has previously been featured on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list since 2014
• Read the full review of Saison restaurant
36. SingleThread Farm – Restaurant – Inn | Chef Kyle Connaughton
Healdsburg, CA
The farm/restaurant/inn hybrid SingleThread has ascended the culinary throne in California’s Sonoma County, thanks to the prodigious cooking and farming talents of Kyle and Katina Connaughton. There is a consistent, well-integrated Japanese influence in most dishes, such as the addition of seasoning or individual elements such as house-made tofu.
> SingleThread Farm – Restaurant – Inn has previously been featured on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list in 2017.
• Read the full review of SingleThread Farm – Restaurant – Inn
37. Twist by Pierre Gagnaire
Las Vegas, NV
Nestled away on the twenty-third floor of the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire provides an extravagant dining experience as well as an oasis of serenity. The elegant restaurant overlooking the Las Vegas Strip serves the celebrated French fusion fare of its namesake master chef.
> Twist by Pierre Gagnaire has previously been featured on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list from 2011-2012 and 2015-2017.
• Read the full review for Twist by Pierre Gagnaire restaurant
38. Vetri | Chef Marc Vetri
Philadelphia, PA
Sit back and entrust your hosts, chef Marc Vetri and business partner/sommelier Jeff Benjamin, to offer a feast of soulful Italian cooking at Vetri in Philadelphia. (They’ve also set out to recreate that culinary magic with Vetri Cucina in the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, which opened its doors in late 2018.)
> Vetri has previously been featured on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list from 2005-2006 and from 2008-2017.
• Read the full review of Vetri restaurant
39. Vie | Chef Paul Virant
Western Springs, IL
Chef-owner Paul Virant’s Vie is a gem of a restaurant in Western Springs, Illinois, a town that had hardly known fine dining before. A great supporter of local and sustainable produce, he fashions fleeting delights on his ever-changing menu. He also stands out for his innovative pickling, canning and aigre-doux techniques.
> Vie has previously been featured on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list since 2009.
• Read the full review of Vie restaurant
40. The Willows Inn | Chef Blaine Wetzel
Lummi Island, WA
Chef Blaine Wetzel, who apprenticed at Copenhagen’s Noma, brings Scandinavian elegance and refined, precise technique to The Willows Inn. Venturing from Seattle to this remote outpost on Lummi Island takes around two hours, including driving and a short ferry ride, but it’s well worth it.
> The Willows Inn has previously been featured on GAYOT’s Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. list in 2013 and from 2015-2017.
• Read the full review for The Willows Inn restaurant