2023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America: The Complete Rankings

Two Michelin stars and a 91-point La Liste score in 2026 put The Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare among New York City's most decorated tasting menu counters. The Japanese-French format under chefs Max Natmessnig and Marco Prins rewards precision-seekers willing to book months ahead. Book if the counter experience suits you; this is not a casual meal.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns is worth the splurge for diners who want a chef-led Progressive American meal tied to the Hudson Valley setting, not a flexible à la carte dinner. The awards profile is serious, the price tier is high, the first-timer move is to treat it as the anchor of the day rather than a quick Tarrytown booking.

Book Single Thread Farm for a serious Healdsburg tasting-menu night, especially if Japanese-progressive technique and wine depth are the point of the trip. The $$$$ price tier is easier to justify for milestone dinners than casual wine-country meals, the reservation should be treated as the anchor of the itinerary.

Saison is a high-price, dinner-focused San Francisco choice for serious special occasions, not a casual test run. Book when progressive American and Californian cooking, formal pacing, major dining recognition justify the spend; cross-shop Aphotic, Benu, Luce, The Wild, Harbor House if cuisine style or format matters more than the name on the reservation.

Yoshino is currently the most critically validated Japanese tasting counter in New York City, ranked #1 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025 and holding a Michelin star. The omakase format is theatrical and precise, built around a hinoki counter sourced from a 300-year-old tree and knives crafted by a Saga Prefecture master. Booking is hard; plan well ahead and target weeknights.

Smyth holds three Michelin stars, a top-five North America ranking from Opinionated About Dining, one of Chicago's most serious natural wine programmes. Dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday, with near-impossible availability and $$$$ tasting menu pricing. Book six to eight weeks out minimum; this is the stronger call over Alinea for food-first diners.

Sushi Sho is the right book if Edomae-style sushi with a fermentation-forward philosophy sounds more interesting than pristine minimalism. Chef Keiji Nakazawa's Midtown counter holds two Michelin stars and an OAD North America #6 ranking for 2025. Booking is near-impossible and the price is $$$$, but for experienced sushi diners, this is one of the most intellectually serious counters in the country.

Atomix is worth pursuing for diners who want a serious modern Korean tasting-menu experience in New York City and are comfortable with a high-price, high-commitment evening. The strongest case is for food-focused pairs or small groups who value structure, service depth, a clear culinary point of view over flexibility.

Three Michelin stars, a No. 7 ranking in Opinionated About Dining's North America list, nearly 20 courses of Corey Lee's technically precise Asian-inflected cooking make Benu one of the most credentialed tables in the country. Book at least six to eight weeks out; closer to three months for a weekend date. The quiet, contemplative room suits serious food travellers over groups seeking a convivial night out.

Perched on the fifth floor of a building on 8th Avenue South, The Catbird Seat has anchored Nashville's serious dining scene since 2011. Under chef Rogelio Garcia, the intimate counter format delivers an ambitious tasting menu that earned a Michelin star in 2025 and consistent top-fifteen placement on Opinionated About Dining's North America rankings. For a city that built its fine-dining identity relatively recently, it remains the reference point.

A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant with three consecutive Opinionated About Dining North America rankings, Oriole delivers serious modern cuisine at a €€ price point that undercuts Amsterdam's starred tier by a considerable margin. Pearl Recommended for special occasions and date dinners where kitchen quality matters more than a four-symbol budget. Booking is straightforward, which makes it one of the more accessible credentialed tables in the city.

Hayato is the most coveted reservation in Los Angeles: a seven-seat kaiseki counter in Row DTLA where chef Brandon Hayato Go cooks directly in front of guests and narrates every course. Two Michelin stars, ranked #2 by the LA Times and #10 in North America by OAD. Near-impossible to book, but worth pursuing for a serious special occasion.

Jon Yao's Michelin-starred Arts District restaurant reimagines Taiwanese-American flavors through a 10- to 12-course tasting menu, backed by Ryan Bailey's 2,665-bottle wine program and Austin Hennelly's cocktail depth. Reservations release 30 days out and disappear within minutes. Worth the effort if you're prepared for a three-hour, $$$$-tier commitment with zero à la carte flexibility.

Washington D.C.'s most credentialed tasting counter: two Michelin stars, a No. 13 OAD North America ranking, a 360-selection wine program led by Wine Director Gabriel Corbett. The open-kitchen counter format and Japanese luxury ingredient focus make it the strongest special-occasion booking in the city; but reserve months in advance.

Aska is Regensburg's most credentialed fine-dining option: a Michelin-starred Japanese tasting menu restaurant with three consecutive Opinionated About Dining North America Top 16 rankings and. At €€€€, it is the right booking for a special occasion or milestone dinner. Plan well ahead; availability is limited and booking difficulty is rated Hard.

Harbor House holds 2 Michelin stars and a top-ten ranking in North America, making it the most serious dining destination on the Mendocino Coast; and one of California's strongest cases for a dedicated food trip. Book three to six months out minimum; this is near-impossible without advance planning. At $$$$ with a tasting menu format, it competes directly with The French Laundry and Single Thread on ambition.

Set on one of the Gothic Quarter's most atmospheric squares, a Restaurant brings a French-Asian kitchen to the heart of Ciutat Vella. Chef Patrick Kriss has earned consecutive Opinionated About Dining recognition across European and North American rankings, placing the restaurant in a cross-continental comparable set that few Barcelona addresses occupy. The format rewards advance planning: this is not a walk-in proposition.

A two-Michelin-star Edomae-style omakase on the Upper East Side, Sushi Noz operates at the precise end of New York's high-end sushi market. Chef Nozomu Abe presides over a 200-year-old hinoki counter in a hushed, temple-like room, where seasonal otsumami give way to nigiri of considerable technical discipline. Ranked 29th in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025, it belongs to a small peer group of counters where Tokyo-calibre sourcing meets Manhattan pricing.

Grant Achatz's three-Michelin-star flagship delivers one of America's most theatrical tasting experiences, with scented vapors, tabletop desserts, a black truffle explosion that justifies the hype. Bookings sell out in minutes, dinner runs three to four hours, the $210–$265 per person price tag (before wine) makes this a clear special-occasion choice. Worth it if you value performance alongside precision.

Guy Savoy scores 99 points on La Liste 2026 and holds two Michelin stars, making it one of Paris's most decorated classical French kitchens. Dinner-only, Wednesday through Sunday, with a 34,000-bottle wine cellar and a Seine-side address on the Quai de Conti. Book six to eight weeks out at minimum; ideally three months for weekend dates.

Aubergine Starnberg transforms hotel dining expectations with Chef Maximilian Moser's Michelin-starred contemporary cuisine, served in an elegant glass conservatory overlooking Lake Starnberg. Bavaria's only lakeside Michelin star destination offers seasonal tasting menus that celebrate both regional traditions and international influences.

Jua is a Michelin-starred modern Korean tasting menu restaurant near the Flatiron Building, ranked #37 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025. Chef Hoyoung Kim's product-led menu; wood-fired lamb, dry-aged branzino, Jeju Island fluke; justifies the $$$$ price if you are committed to the format. Booking is hard; reserve well in advance.

Two Michelin stars and a top-35 North America ranking from Opinionated About Dining (2025), Atera delivers New Nordic and contemporary tasting-menu cooking from a spacious counter in Tribeca. The room runs deliberately relaxed for the price tier, with a serious 1,500-selection wine program to match. Book several weeks out minimum; availability at this level moves fast.

An eight-seat omakase counter in Tribeca with a Michelin star, a top-25 OAD North America ranking, seafood sourced directly from Japanese fishermen; including Chef Shion Uino's hometown of Amakusa. The seasonal menu shifts meaningfully across the year, making return visits worthwhile. Booking is genuinely hard; plan weeks ahead and treat availability as limited.

Per Se is one of New York's two or three most complete special-occasion restaurants: three Michelin stars, Central Park views, two nine-course tasting menus that change daily at $425 per person. Book exactly one month out; the window fills fast. The salon accepts walk-ins for à la carte if you miss the main dining room.

Pujol is the splurge choice in Mexico City for a serious Mexican tasting-menu dinner, especially for anniversaries, client meals, destination-dining trips. Choose it over more flexible peers when recognition, polish, chef-driven structure matter more than ease, speed, or value.

Ranked #26 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025 and Pearl Recommended, Sushi Yoshizumi is the strongest case for destination omakase on the Peninsula. Chef Akira Yoshizumi runs a quiet, focused counter in San Mateo that has held <em>OAD</em> top-30 status for three consecutive years. Book four to six weeks out minimum; availability is limited and demand is consistent.

Bavel is one of Los Angeles' hardest weekend reservations and one of its most justified. Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis run a Levant-spanning menu from a family roots playbook; Israel, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt; that rewards large groups and repeat visits. Ranked #34 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025 and Pearl Recommended. Book three to four weeks out minimum.

Momofuku Noodle Bar is one of the most defensible $$ meals in New York City. A Michelin Bib Gourmand holder and Pearl Recommended Restaurant (2025), David Chang's original East Village spot delivers rotating noodles, steamed buns, Asian-influenced comfort food with consistent technical quality. Easy to book by Manhattan standards, it punches well above its price tier after 21 years.

Torien is New York City's only yakitori restaurant operating at Michelin-star level, making it the clear answer if this format is your focus. The NoHo counter; a sibling to Tokyo's Torishiki; ranked #48 on OAD North America in 2025. Dinner only, hard to book, worth the $$$$ commitment if you want binchotan yakitori at its highest expression in the United States.

Little Washington is the top call in Washington, D.C. for a formal special-occasion dinner under Patrick O'Connell, backed by a La Liste 2025 score of 96.5 points. The format is structured American fine dining with serious service depth. Book two to three weeks out minimum and expect top-tier pricing.

Vespertine is Jordan Kahn's two-Michelin-starred tasting menu in Culver City, priced at $395 per person for a four-hour, multi-sensory evening. Pearl Recommended for 2025 and ranked top 26 in North America by Opinionated About Dining, it is the only restaurant in Los Angeles combining this level of technical cooking with full theatrical production. Book it if you want an event, not just dinner.

Bresca is one of Washington, D.C.'s most technically accomplished dinner options: a Michelin-starred kitchen ranked #32 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025. Chef Ryan Ratino delivers Modern French-influenced contemporary cooking in a warm, design-forward room on 14th Street; without the rigidity of a tasting-menu format. Book three to four weeks out; weekend tables go fast.

é by José Andrés is Las Vegas's most rigorously structured tasting menu, earning consecutive OAD top-40 North America rankings (2023–2025). Dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday, with two seatings per night. At $$$ pricing with a 160-selection Spain-focused wine list, it rewards food and wine enthusiasts who want the full arc of Spanish molecular cuisine; not a casual night out.

Langbaan is Portland's most decorated Thai restaurant and the 2024 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant winner. It runs as a ticketed tasting-menu experience with limited seats; booking difficulty is hard, advance purchase is essential. For food-focused travelers who want Thai cooking at a nationally recognized level of ambition, this is the reservation to prioritize in Portland.

Kono is New York City's most decorated yakitori restaurant; a Michelin three-star, 14-seat omakase counter in Chinatown where Atsushi Kono grills every part of the chicken over kishu binchotan charcoal across 16 courses. Open until midnight most nights, it is the right call for a serious special occasion that does not need to end early.

Le Bernardin is worth the splurge when the brief is polished French seafood, calm Midtown formality, a meal built for celebration rather than spectacle. It is less useful for diners chasing a lively room or broad menu flexibility, but for a focused seafood dinner at $$$$, it remains a serious New York booking.

Quince is the San Francisco splurge to choose when a formal Italian-contemporary tasting menu, serious wine support, Michelin-level polish are the brief. It is worth the spend for milestone dinners and wine-focused guests, but less compelling for groups that want ordering flexibility or a looser room.

One of the most credentialed French restaurants in North America, Joel Robuchon at The Mansion holds AAA 5 Diamond status, La Liste 96 points (2025), and an Opinionated About Dining #88 North America ranking. The $$$-tier dinner format with a 1,645-selection wine list is the right choice for a significant occasion; and easier to book than comparable restaurants at this level.

Yamakase is a serious omakase counter in Santa Monica with three consecutive Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America rankings (#62 in 2025) and. Chef Kiyoshiro Yamamoto runs a focused, quiet counter best suited to special occasion dinners for two. Booking is rated Easy by Pearl, making it one of the more accessible high-recognition sushi destinations in Los Angeles.

A two-Michelin-star restaurant next to MoMA with tableside service, an exceptional wine programme (3,045 selections), and one of the most decorated track records in New York City. Book the main dining room for a special occasion, the Bar Room for a lower-commitment introduction to the same kitchen. Reserve six to eight weeks ahead for dinner.

Noda is a Michelin one-star, eight-seat omakase counter in Flatiron ranked #31 on OAD North America 2025. Chef Shigeyuki Tsunoda delivers technically precise traditional omakase; warmed rice, pristine nigiri, standout sea eel and uni; backed by a serious sake and vintage Champagne program through the adjoining Shinji bar. Hard to book; reserve months out.

Ranked #40 in North America by Opinionated About Dining (2025) and holding a Michelin Plate, Lorea delivers technically precise modern Mexican cooking in Roma Norte at $$$; one price tier below Pujol and Quintonil, with comparable critical standing. Book two to three weeks out for weekends; Tuesday and Wednesday evenings are more accessible.

Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee, has ranked in the Opinionated About Dining Top 50 North American restaurants three consecutive years (2023–2025) under Chef Cassidee Dabney. It operates as a farm resort with multiple dining venues, rewards multi-night stays more than single-meal visits. Booking difficulty is rated Easy for a property at this level.

Atelier Crenn is a high-commitment San Francisco splurge for diners who want modern French fine dining as the main event. The case for booking is strongest for a focused table of two, a milestone dinner, or a repeat visit where the format still feels worth the premium; otherwise, cross-shop nearby $$$$ peers with more flexible cuisine profiles.

Stages at One Washington is one of the strongest cases for a dining detour to Dover, NH: ranked in OAD's top 60 restaurants in North America for three consecutive years, with a sourcing-driven progressive American format that changes with the season. It's significantly easier to book than comparably ranked urban tasting menus, the tracks with the critical recognition.

Canlis is Seattle's most decorated fine-dining address, open since 1950 and now sharper than ever under F&W Best New Chef Aisha Ibrahim. The multicourse tasting menu, panoramic Lake Union views, a 12,000-bottle wine cellar make it the city's clearest answer to a serious occasion dinner. Book three to four weeks ahead and budget well above $200 per person with wine.

Book Eleven Madison Park if a high-commitment vegan French tasting menu is exactly what you want, not just because it is famous. The case is strongest for first-timers who care about tasting-menu structure, formal service, a room built for a major occasion; diners wanting flexibility, meat, or an easier group dinner should choose another New York splurge.

Contramar is the strongest value argument in Mexico City's serious restaurant tier: $$ pricing, a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand, a top-51 Opinionated About Dining ranking. Gabriela Cámara's Pacific coast seafood kitchen in Roma Norte is the clearest answer to 'where should I have lunch in Mexico City?'; easy to book, group-friendly, consistently credentialled.

Commis is Oakland's two-Michelin-star tasting menu and one of the Bay Area's most consistent high-end bookings. Chef James Syhabout's sourcing-led, California-inflected menu has held two stars since 2010, ranked #53 in Opinionated About Dining's North America list for 2025, is backed by a 1,035-bottle wine program. Book as far in advance as possible; availability is near-impossible on short notice.

Ranked #47 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025 and Pearl Recommended, Nakaji is a sourcing-focused omakase counter on Bowery where the fish quality does the talking. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30 pm. Booking is easier than most counters at this level, making it one of New York's most accessible high-end sushi options.

Quintonil is a serious Mexico City splurge for diners who want contemporary Mexican cooking with major award credentials and a polished Polanco setting. Book lunch if the meal is the priority and dinner if the occasion needs a more formal rhythm; either way, treat the reservation as a primary trip anchor, not a last-minute add-on.

Masayoshi Takayama's three-Michelin-star omakase at Columbus Circle is New York's most expensive sushi counter and among the hardest to book, but the 26-course tasting and pristine hinoki bar justify the $800+ price if you're comparing it against the city's other top-tier omakase programs. Request counter seating for the full experience.

Yakiniku Yazawa is Beverly Hills' most critically recognised Japanese BBQ restaurant, ranked in OAD's top 105 in North America for three consecutive years. The tableside grilling format keeps things relaxed, but the ingredient quality is operating well above casual. Easy to book and open every night, it is the right call for a special occasion that does not require a fixed tasting menu.

Nodoguro is chef Ryan Roadhouse's omakase-only Japanese restaurant in downtown Portland, ranked on the Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in North America list three consecutive years. It operates just three evenings per week, making scheduling the main constraint rather than availability. For a special occasion dinner or a focused solo meal, it's the strongest Japanese option in the city.

A Michelin-starred dumplings and kakigōri spot in Nashville's 12 South neighbourhood, Locust ranks #24 in North America by Opinionated About Dining (2025). Reservations sell out the moment they open each month, but the technical precision and focused menu from Noma-trained chef Trevor Moran make the effort worthwhile. Book for Friday to Sunday only.

Alfonsina has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand for three consecutive years and ranks in OAD's Top 60 restaurants in North America; strong credentials for a $$ restaurant on Calle García Vigil. Chef Jorge León runs a kitchen grounded in Oaxacan ingredients, but the drinks program is the detail most first-time visitors miss. Easy to book and worth returning to.

Casa Oaxaca is the most decorated restaurant in Oaxaca, ranked in Opinionated About Dining's top 68 in North America three years running and holding a Michelin Plate in 2024 and 2025. Chef Alejandro Ruiz delivers formally recognised Oaxacan cooking at $$$ pricing; worth it for serious food travellers, though Levadura de Olla offers comparable quality at lower cost. Book a weekday lunch for the easiest access.

Noz 17 is a seven-seat omakase counter in Chelsea holding a Michelin star and an OAD top-50 ranking. Chef Junichi Matsuzaki's free-wheeling procession of otsumami, sashimi, nigiri makes it one of New York's strongest serious sushi bookings. Book four weeks out minimum; this is a hard seat to get.

Odo is a 2-star Michelin kaiseki counter in Flatiron, ranked #39 in North America by Opinionated About Dining. Chef Hiroki Odo runs a seasonally driven set menu in a quiet, counter-only room separated from the front bar. Book six to eight weeks out minimum; dinner slots go fast, but Wednesday-to-Sunday lunch is the same program with better availability.

Pineapple and Pearls holds a Michelin star and ranks #80 in North America on OAD (2025), making it one of Washington D.C.'s most credentialed tasting menu experiences. Chef Aaron Silverman's deliberately celebratory format; tableside theatre, warm storytelling service; earns the $$$$ price point for guests who want fine dining to feel like an occasion. Book six to eight weeks out for weekends.

A high-ceremony French-contemporary Napa reservation for diners who want precision, recognition, a serious wine-led meal. The price tier is steep, but Michelin 3 Stars, Forbes 5-Star recognition, a Wine Spectator Grand Award make the splurge easier to justify for milestone dinners than for casual wine-country dining.

Parks BBQ is the strongest case for Korean barbecue in Los Angeles, holding consecutive Michelin Plates (2024–2025) and back-to-back OAD North America top-100 placements under chef Jenee Kim. At $$$, it delivers documented national-level quality in the heart of Koreatown without the $$$$ price tag of LA's tasting-menu circuit. Book two to four days ahead for weekday dinner; lunch is more accessible.

Semma is the clearest argument for South Indian cooking in New York City, holding a Michelin star and the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York State. At $$$, it sits a tier below the city's tasting-menu circuit while delivering comparable critical recognition. Book well ahead; this is a hard reservation; and go with the staff's recommendations beyond the dosa.

A 10-seat Edomae omakase counter in the basement of a Little Tokyo office building, Sushi Kaneyoshi holds a Michelin star and ranks #78 on OAD's North America list (2025). Chef Yoshiyuki Inoue's focus on Hikarimono and classical technique places it among LA's most serious sushi destinations. Hard to book, fixed format, $$$$; right for committed omakase diners, not a casual introduction to the category.

Nicos has held an OAD North America ranking three years running and a Michelin Plate, all at a $ price point that undercuts every comparable option in Mexico City. Chef Gerardo Vázquez Lugo's kitchen has been executing traditional regional Mexican cooking in Claveria since 1957, the service is practiced enough to justify the cost many times over. Book for Saturday lunch; Wednesday through Saturday are your dinner options.

Hawksworth has held the top of Vancouver's contemporary dining scene since 2011, earning La Liste recognition and a top-100 Opinionated About Dining ranking in North America. It currently operates as a breakfast and lunch venue inside the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, with reliable service and a European-rooted Pacific Northwest menu. Book when consistency and occasion polish matter more than novelty.

Nozawa Bar is a Michelin-starred omakase counter in Beverly Hills, ranked #121 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025. It's the right call for returning omakase diners who want a focused, chef-led progression at the top of the LA sushi tier. Hard to book, $$$$ pricing, best suited to parties of two or three.

Totoraku is Los Angeles's most serious yakiniku restaurant and one of the few in the US ranked consistently on Opinionated About Dining's North America list. The catch: it is invitation-only, with no public reservations. If you have a referral, the premium beef and unhurried format justify the effort. Pearl Recommended 2025.

Rose's Luxury is a Michelin-starred Capitol Hill anchor and one of the strongest cases for $$$$ dining in Washington D.C. Chef Aaron Silverman's family-style prix fixe runs Wednesday through Saturday only, tables are hard to secure; book four to six weeks out. Ranked #57 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025, Pearl Recommended.

Ranked #54 on Opinionated About Dining's 2024 North America list, Jung Sik Dang is the most accessible of New York City's top-tier progressive Korean tasting-menu rooms. Book it for a special occasion dinner in TriBeCa; a return visit via lunch is worth checking for value. Easier to secure than Atomix, with comparable ambition.

Langdon Hall is Ontario's most complete fine dining destination: a Michelin Plate, AAA 5 Diamond property ranked #33 in North America by Opinionated About Dining (2025), with chef Jason Bangerter's nine-course tasting menu built on 85 percent Ontario-sourced ingredients. Book the full overnight stay, add the World Classics wine pairing, plan well ahead; weekend tables go fast.

Pasjoli is Dave Beran's Santa Monica French bistro and one of LA's most consistently ranked restaurants, placing #18 on the LA Times 101 Best and #70 on OAD North America 2025. The pressed duck with tableside service is the main event; book three to four weeks out for weekend seatings. A $65 early-bird format makes it accessible without sacrificing the kitchen's ambition.

A Michelin-starred tempura counter in Murray Hill ranked #65 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025. The fixed tasting format runs soup, sashimi, a seasonal tempura sequence; counter seats are the only ones worth booking. Hard to get, consistently credentialed, a strong value case against broader $$$$ omakase options in New York.

A Michelin-starred Korean BBQ restaurant from Corey Lee of Benu, San Ho Won delivers technically precise fire cooking at $$$, well below the $$$$ tasting-menu tier. Ranked #38 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025, it is one of San Francisco's strongest value cases for a serious dinner. Book three to four weeks out minimum.

Addison is San Diego's clearest choice for a formal, high-spend French-contemporary celebration, backed by Michelin 3 Stars, Forbes 5-Star recognition, major wine-list credentials. Book it when precision and ceremony matter more than flexibility; choose a livelier peer if the night calls for steakhouse energy or a looser à la carte feel.

America's first Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse, Cote delivers more than most $$$$ venues in New York: A5 and USDA Prime beef dry-aged in-house, tableside grilling by trained staff, a 1,200-label wine list with a World of Fine Wine 2-Star Accreditation. The Butcher's Feast at $65 per person is the entry point for first-timers. Book three to four weeks out minimum; weekend prime slots are near impossible.

n/naka is a two-Michelin-starred kaiseki in Culver City where Chefs Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama serve a 13-course, California-inflected tasting menu rooted in seasonality and precision. Ranked ninth on the LA Times 2024 list of 101 Best Restaurants, it is one of the hardest reservations in Los Angeles. Book months ahead and commit to the drinks pairing.

Birdsong holds two Michelin stars and a Pearl Recommended 2025 designation, with live-fire Pacific Northwestern cooking that has climbed to #58 on the OAD North America list. At $$$$ pricing, it delivers more technical depth than Lazy Bear and more ingredient-forward cooking than Atelier Crenn. Book several weeks ahead; counter seats, the best option for solo diners and food enthusiasts, go fastest.

Californios holds two Michelin stars and a #59 OAD North America ranking for good reason: Val Cantú's Mexican heritage tasting menu, anchored in California farm produce and a 960-bottle wine list with rare Mexico depth, is unlike anything else at this price tier in San Francisco. Book months ahead; availability is near impossible; and budget for both the $$$$ food and a $$$ wine pairing.

Senia is the most credentialed New Hawaiian restaurant in Honolulu, ranking #66 on Opinionated About Dining's Top Restaurants in North America in 2025; up from #87 in 2023. Chef Anthony Rush runs a focused dinner-only operation in Chinatown, Tuesday through Saturday. Book here for special occasions when both the food and the cocktail program need to perform.

Marea is one of New York City's most consistent Italian seafood fine-dining options, with a 950-bottle wine list anchored in Tuscany, Piedmont, Burgundy that matches the food rather than outrunning it. Ranked on La Liste (81pts, 2026) and Opinionated About Dining's North America list, it earns the $$$$ price tag if pasta and crudo are your format. Book at least three to four weeks ahead; this does not hold easy availability.

Miro Kaimuki is Honolulu's highest-ranked restaurant on the Opinionated About Dining North America list (#140 in 2025), running a French-Japanese kitchen under Chef Chris Kajioka in the Kaimuki neighbourhood. Dinner only, Wednesday through Monday. Book ahead and treat it as the anchor of your Honolulu eating; nothing else in the city operates at this tier.

Ranked #82 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025, Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres is one of the Strip's most consistently decorated steakhouses; and a better fit for theatrically minded diners than purists after a straightforward chop. Easy to book with reasonable notice, it sits inside SAHARA Las Vegas, giving it a quieter room than most comparable properties on the boulevard.

Chef Holly Smith's Northern Italian kitchen in Kirkland has placed in the Opinionated About Dining Top 100 North America three consecutive years (2023–2025) and. It is the strongest Italian dining option in the greater Seattle area for a focused, occasion-worthy dinner; easier to book than Canlis and more serious than most city-centre alternatives. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday evenings only.

Schwa is one of Chicago's most distinctive tasting menu experiences: Michelin-starred, BYO, chef-served, with no printed menu and hip-hop on the speakers. The cooking is technically sharp and deliberately provocative. Book three to four weeks out minimum; this is a hard table to get; and arrive willing to surrender control of the evening entirely to Michael Carlson's kitchen.

Xiquet by Danny Lledo is Washington D.C.'s most credentialed Spanish tasting room; Michelin-starred, AAA 5 Diamond, ranked three consecutive years on Opinionated About Dining's North America list. The third-floor room is deliberately small, the booking window is tight, the wood-fired Valencian rice preparations are the reason to plan around it. If a tasting format suits you, this is the room in D.C. to prioritize.

Kochi is a Michelin-starred Korean skewer restaurant in Hell's Kitchen delivering a hands-on tasting menu from chef Sungchul Shim. Ranked #85 in North America by OAD (2025), it earns its $$$$ price point through precise sourcing; Iberico pork, steelhead trout; and a format that favors energy over ceremony. Book 4+ weeks out; this is a hard table in New York's fine-dining market.

Le Coucou holds a Michelin star and ranked #81 on Opinionated About Dining's North America list in 2025, making it one of downtown Manhattan's strongest cases for classical French cooking at the $$$$ tier. Chef Daniel Rose runs an à la carte menu; giving you more spending control than tasting-menu-only peers; with dinner service running until 11 PM. Book four to six weeks out minimum.

Orsa & Winston is worth targeting for a serious downtown Los Angeles tasting-menu dinner, especially if Japanese-Italian crossover and chef-led pacing sound like the point rather than a limitation. The $$$$ price tier makes sense for a special occasion, backed by Michelin and Opinionated About Dining recognition, but it is a weaker fit for diners who want à la carte flexibility or a louder group night.

Next Restaurant is a Michelin-starred tasting menu in Chicago's Fulton Market that rebuilds its entire menu every four months around a new culinary theme. Founded by Grant Achatz and ranked #76 on Opinionated About Dining's 2025 North America list, it delivers a theatrical, narrative-driven experience at the $$$$ tier. Book when the current theme aligns with your interests; the format rewards planning.

Arca is the most credible fine-dining choice in Tulum and one of the strongest restaurants in Mexico right now, ranked #67 on the World's 50 Best list in 2025. Chef José Luis Hinostroza's micro-seasonal, open-fire menu earns the $$$$ price point, but book six to eight weeks out during high season; this one fills fast.

Rezdôra earns its Michelin star with deeply regional Emilia-Romagna cooking in a warm Flatiron room that avoids the stiffness common at comparable $$$$ venues. The regional pasta tasting is the move on a first visit; the 525-bottle wine list, with Piedmont and Tuscany as its strengths, rewards a return. Book at least three weeks out; this one fills fast.

Providence is the Los Angeles seafood tasting-menu booking to chase when the occasion deserves structure, polish, serious culinary recognition. It suits couples or focused small groups better than casual mixed-preference parties, especially if everyone is comfortable with a formal, seafood-led evening.

Kuruma Zushi is a Midtown Manhattan sushi counter with three consecutive years in OAD's Top 125 restaurants in North America. Chef Toshihiro Uezu runs a traditional Edomae format Monday through Friday only; the restaurant is closed on weekends. Booking is rated Easy relative to comparable New York sushi rooms, making it the most accessible entry point to serious omakase in Midtown.

Jean Georges holds 2 Michelin Stars, a La Liste 95-point ranking (2026), and a Central Park dining room that justifies occasion spending. Open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner only, it's harder to book than most New York tasting-menu restaurants; plan 3–4 weeks ahead minimum. For Modern French cooking with global flavor range and a setting that earns its price, this is a dependable choice.

Kumiko holds a 2025 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar and an Opinionated About Dining top-150 North America ranking; a rare combination of bar-program depth and Japanese tasting-menu precision. At $$$$ for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, it is one of Chicago's strongest cases for a full evening commitment. Book three to four weeks ahead; demand has grown since the James Beard win.