2023 OAD Casual in North America: Highly Recommended Restaurants — Page 2

Pêche Seafood Grill is the strongest case for booking a seafood restaurant in New Orleans right now. A 2014 James Beard Best New Restaurant award and a 2025 Michelin Plate confirm chef Ryan Prewitt's kitchen has sustained its quality. The open wood-hearth format and sustainably sourced Gulf Coast focus make it the right call for a serious dinner without formal-dining pressure.

Le Filet is Montreal's most accessible credentialed French seafood option; Michelin Plate (2025), three consecutive OAD Casual North America appearances. Chef Yasu Okazaki's Japanese-influenced approach favours precision over richness. Easy to book with a week's notice; closed Sunday through Tuesday. Strong choice for a first serious dinner in the city.

Liholiho Yacht Club is the most practical case for a serious dinner in San Francisco without committing to a $$$$ tasting menu. Chef Ravi Kapur's Hawaiian-inflected cooking holds a 2025 Michelin Plate and an OAD top-250 ranking. Book two to three weeks out for a table, or go straight to the bar for a late-night option that works solo or in pairs.

Atla is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Mexican restaurant on Lafayette Street in NoHo, where chef Gustavo Garnica's kitchen delivers technically sharp small plates; arctic char tostada, scallop ceviche, tender birria; at a price that holds up against its peers. It's the more accessible and better-value sibling to Cosme, with a mezcal list worth exploring and a room that works for lunch or dinner.

Bar Moga is a SoHo izakaya-cocktail bar ranked #142 in OAD's North America Casual list for 2025, with three consecutive years of recognition. It's the right call for a date or small celebration dinner, with easy booking and late-night hours on weekends. Not well-suited for large group events or formal business meals.

Ranked #87 in North America for Casual Dining by Opinionated About Dining in 2025, Damn the Weather is the strongest case for a serious gastropub in Seattle right now. Chef Bryn Lumsden runs a kitchen that punches well above the Pioneer Square setting. Booking is easy, hours are generous, the food-to-effort ratio is hard to beat in this city.

Sadelle's is SoHo's most credible case for Jewish appetizing as a proper dining destination, earning consecutive Opinionated About Dining recognition in 2023 and 2024. It's the right call for a celebratory brunch or a weekend morning when you want something more considered than a diner but less formal than a tasting menu. Booking is easy by New York standards, the daytime-only format keeps expectations clear.

Staple & Fancy Mercantile is Ethan Stowell's most ambitious Italian restaurant, ranking #429 on OAD's Casual North America list in 2025. Booking is easy by Seattle standards; one to two weeks out for weeknights; and the chef's choice dinner format is the reason to go. One of Ballard's most consistent kitchens.

South Beverly Grill is a Pearl Recommended casual American in Beverly Hills, ranked #160 on Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list for 2025; up from #218 the year prior. Easy to book and open daily from 11:30 am, it's a dependable choice for serious casual dining in the Beverly Hills corridor without the commitment of a tasting menu format.

The Progress is a Michelin one-star restaurant on Fillmore Street from the State Bird Provisions team, operating an à la carte format at the $$$ price tier; rare for a starred room in San Francisco. Expect bold, fire-driven Californian cooking built around whole-animal and whole-vegetable philosophy. Book three to four weeks out; this fills fast.

Galatoire's is one of New Orleans' most enduring Creole institutions, holding a Michelin Plate (2025) and an OAD Casual North America ranking. Booking is easy compared to competitors like Commander's Palace, but the experience splits sharply between lunch and dinner; Friday lunch is the version locals actually care about. Good for groups and celebrations; not the room for quiet conversation.

Han Oak is a serious Szechuan-New Korean kitchen in Northeast Portland with consistent Opinionated About Dining credentials; ranked #149 in North American Gourmet Casual Dining in 2023. Open Wed–Sat only, it suits food-focused diners who want culinary ambition at a casual price point. Booking is currently easy, making it one of Portland's more accessible credentialed choices.

A Michelin Bib Gourmand holder and a consistent presence on Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list, Dooky Chase delivers Cajun and Creole-rooted American regional cooking at a price-to-quality ratio that outperforms most of its New Orleans peers. Dinner is Friday and Saturday only, so plan around the limited schedule; but the counter seats at lunch are one of the better ways to spend a weekday in this city.