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. Every day, as we add more entries, we are happy to share our thousands of reviews with you free of charge. But once a year, we stop, re-examine the best of the best, and compile our list of the top 40 restaurants in the country. Of course, our choices are subjective, but we're honest, fair, and—unlike some dining websites—take no restaurant advertising. Although we’re interested in trends, décor and decorum, our ratings are based solely on the food. Finally, we apologize if we’ve omitted any of your favorites. But there’s always next year....

Bon appétit!

ATLANTA
- Seeger's

BOSTON
- L'Espalier

CHICAGO
- Alinea
- Charlie Trotter's
- Everest
- Le Français
- TRU

HEALDSBURG, CA
- Cyrus

LAGUNA BEACH, CA
- Studio

LAS VEGAS
- Alex
- Joël Robuchon Restaurant
- Picasso
- Restaurant Guy Savoy

LOS ANGELES
- The Dining Room
- Mélisse
- Patina
- Providence
- Spago Beverly Hills
- Urasawa

LOS GATOS, CA
- Manresa

NEW ORLEANS
- Restaurant August

NEW YORK
- Alain Ducasse
- Daniel
- Eleven Madison Park
- Jean Georges
- Le Bernardin
- Masa
- The Modern

PHILADELPHIA
- Vetri

SAN ANTONIO
- Le Rêve

SAN FRANCISCO
- The Dining Room
- Fleur de Lys
- Gary Danko
- Michael Mina

SCOTTSDALE
- Mary Elaine's

SEATTLE
- The Herbfarm

WASHINGTON, D.C.
- CityZen
- Michel Richard
Citronelle

WASHINGTON, VA
- The Inn at Little
Washington

YOUNTVILLE, CA
- The French Laundry