2023 OAD Casual in North America: 412 Recommended Restaurants — Page 5

A Michelin Bib Gourmand gastropub in Logan Square that looks like a bar and cooks like a serious kitchen. The daytime menu; cured salmon, a brie-and-leek omelet; is among the most credible brunch cooking in Chicago at the $$ price tier. Easy to book, unpretentious in atmosphere, consistently decorated by Opinionated About Dining since 2023.

Nepenthe is a Pearl Recommended American restaurant on Highway 1 in Big Sur, positioned on a cliff terrace roughly 800 feet above the Pacific. It is the most compelling casual dining stop on this stretch of coast; best for road-trip milestones and scenic occasions; but Near Impossible booking difficulty means planning well ahead is essential. For fine dining at this altitude, compare with Sierra Mar.

Nü Tulum is a credentialed seafood restaurant on Tulum's hotel zone strip, holding a Michelin Plate (2025) and three consecutive Opinionated About Dining Casual North America rankings under chef Luis Aguilar. It's the right call for food-focused visitors who want serious coastal cooking in a relaxed setting; book a few days ahead in peak season.

Michael's Genuine holds a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand and the Star Wine List #1 ranking in Miami; an unusually strong credential pairing at $$$ pricing. For contemporary American cooking with serious wine depth in the Design District, this is where the value-to-quality ratio is clearest. Book a week ahead for dinner; the wine list alone justifies the reservation.

Urban Farmer is a reliable $$$ American and Pacific Northwestern restaurant in Denver's LoDo neighborhood, recognized by Opinionated About Dining three consecutive years. The wine program is a genuine strength, with 1,225 bottles at accessible $$ pricing. Easier to book than Denver's tasting-menu destinations, it's a sound choice for first-timers, hotel guests, wine-focused dinners.

Mastro's Steak House in north Scottsdale holds an Opinionated About Dining Casual North America ranking (#295, 2024) and; a combination that signals consistent delivery rather than hype. Booking is easy, which makes it the right call when you want a credentialed steakhouse night without reservation stress. For adventurous American cooking, look elsewhere; for a reliable, well-executed steak, this is a sound choice.

Quetzal is Toronto's most technically serious Mexican restaurant, built around an eight-metre open fire pit and in-house nixtamalised tortillas. La Liste ranked it globally in 2026 (76 points) and Opinionated About Dining has recommended it three consecutive years. Book Wednesday through Sunday from 6 PM; the tasting menu is the right call for a first visit or celebration dinner.

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse has operated on Rush Street since 1989 and holds a 2025 Opinionated About Dining ranking alongside. Lunch is the sharper value play; quieter room, same beef program, easier booking. For groups or special occasions at dinner, it earns the night out.

Sakagura is a serious izakaya on East 43rd Street, ranked #247 on Opinionated About Dining's 2025 Casual North America list. The format is sake and sharing plates, not sushi or tasting menus. Booking is easy, lunch is the quieter entry point, Sunday is closed.

A Michelin Plate seafood room on Santa Monica's Ocean Avenue, The Lobster holds consecutive Opinionated About Dining Casual North America rankings (#310 in 2025) and. At the $$$ price point with moderate booking difficulty, it's a credentialed, accessible choice for seafood in Los Angeles; book a week ahead for weekends, or walk in on a weekday lunch.

avec has been one of Chicago's most consistent casual kitchens for over two decades, at $$ it still earns that reputation. Michelin Plate-recognised and ranked by Opinionated About Dining in both 2024 and 2025, this West Randolph fixture serves bold, seasonal Mediterranean cooking in a wood-lined room that rewards counter seating. Lunch is the overlooked sweet spot; strong value, quieter room, the same sharp kitchen.