2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century

Alinea is Grant Achatz's modernist restaurant in Chicago.

The French Laundry is a restaurant in Yountville, California.

Eleven Madison Park is a fine-dining restaurant overlooking Madison Square Park in New York City.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns is a restaurant at Stone Barns Center in Tarrytown, New York.

Le Bernardin is a seafood restaurant in Midtown Manhattan.

Benu is a San Francisco restaurant serving a fixed menu each evening.

SingleThread is a restaurant in Healdsburg, California.

Atomix is a Korean tasting-menu restaurant in New York City.

Saison is a restaurant at 178 Townsend Street in San Francisco.

Per Se is a Thomas Keller restaurant at Columbus Circle in New York City.

Chez Panisse in Berkeley earns its $$$$ price tag on seasonal sourcing and provenance, not technical complexity. The downstairs fixed-price dinner is a hard booking; plan 4–6 weeks ahead; and the menu changes entirely with the season. Return visitors who found the format rigid should try the upstairs café at lunch for a lower-cost, à la carte alternative that keeps the same kitchen philosophy.

Gramercy Tavern is Danny Meyer's restaurant in New York's Flatiron District, serving seasonal American cuisine.

WD~50 is New York's reference point for American molecular cooking, holding. It suits food-focused diners who want technique over theatrical service. Booking is rated Easy, but confirm current hours and pricing before you commit, as details are limited.

Pearl-recommended and ranked #256 on Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list (2025), Husk is the go-to for serious Southern cooking in Charleston. Chef Ray England's daily-changing menu is built entirely from Southern-sourced ingredients; no exceptions. At $$ pricing with easy booking, it delivers clear value for a food-forward dinner on Queen Street.

Providence is a seafood-focused restaurant in Los Angeles.

Franklin BBQ holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand and an OAD Cheap Eats #7 ranking in 2025; credentials that match the reputation. It opens at 11 am Tuesday through Sunday and closes when the meat runs out, often before 3 pm. Arrive early, bring no fixed agenda for specific cuts, treat it as a daytime anchor for an Austin visit rather than an evening option.

Smyth is John Shields and Karen Urie Shields' restaurant in Chicago's West Loop.

Zahav is Philadelphia's most consistent Israeli restaurant and the right booking for anyone who wants the full lamb shoulder and mezze experience in Society Hill. Book two to three weeks out for a midweek table; weekends need more lead time. Dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday. The OAD ranking and reflect seventeen years of sustained quality.

Manresa holds three Michelin stars and a Relais & Château designation in Los Gatos, with a tasting menu that changes every evening based on daily farm delivery. Book four to six weeks out minimum; this is one of the hardest reservations in Northern California. At three-star pricing, it competes with The French Laundry and Single Thread for serious tasting menu travellers in the region.

Canlis is a restaurant on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle.

State Bird Provisions holds a Michelin star and an OAD Casual North America ranking at a $$$ price point; making it one of San Francisco's strongest arguments for serious cooking without the $$$$-bracket spend. The dim sum-style circulating-plate format is the feature, not a gimmick. Book three to four weeks out minimum; demand is consistent and the room is small.

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.

Daniel is Daniel Boulud's modern French flagship restaurant in New York City.

Zuni Café is a Pearl Recommended, Michelin Plate restaurant in San Francisco serving Californian-Mediterranean cooking at the $$$ price point. Better for weeknight dinners than weekend lunch if noise level matters to you. Book two to three weeks ahead for Saturday evenings; Tuesday and Wednesday slots are easier to secure at shorter notice.

Quince serves contemporary Californian cuisine with Italian influences in San Francisco's Jackson Square.

Frasca Food & Wine is a restaurant on Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado.

Somni is a restaurant on Nemo Street in West Hollywood, California.

Kasama is the world's first two-Michelin-star Filipino restaurant, operating as a daytime café and a 13-course tasting menu in Chicago's East Ukrainian Village. The tasting menu books 45 days out and earns its $$$$ price with James Beard and Opinionated About Dining credentials. Plan at least two visits: one for the daytime pastry program, one for the evening tasting menu.

Ranked #57 on Opinionated About Dining's 2025 Casual North America list and holder of a Star Wine List #1 ranking in New York, Estela earns its $$$$ price tier through ingredient-led Mediterranean cooking and a 795-bottle wine list overseen by a dedicated Wine Director. Book three to four weeks out for weekend dinner; walk-ins are not a reliable strategy here.

Atelier Crenn is Dominique Crenn's modern French restaurant in San Francisco.

Commander's Palace is the reference point for serious Creole dining in New Orleans: seven James Beard Awards, a 2,800-selection wine list, kitchen sourcing that is genuinely place-specific. At the $$ cuisine price tier, it delivers more ambition per dollar than almost any comparable address in the city. Book well in advance; this is not a walk-in restaurant.

The Four Horsemen is a restaurant and wine bar in Brooklyn, New York.

Addison serves William Bradley's California gastronomy in San Diego.

Jean-Georges is Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurant at One Central Park West in New York City.

Mission Chinese Food is worth booking when you want a lively Chinatown dinner with more edge than a standard neighborhood meal. Its Robb Report recognition gives it real dining-history weight, but the better move is eating in rather than treating takeout as the full experience. Go with a flexible small group, not for a quiet or highly predictable night.

Spago Beverly Hills is the reference point for California Fusion dining in the city, with a multi-course tasting menu, a 2,700-bottle wine list, four dedicated sommeliers. Ranked on La Liste, OAD, World of Fine Wine-accredited, it delivers consistent prestige-level dining. Book for dinner and a special occasion; lunch is not offered.

Carbone is the Greenwich Village Italian-American institution that earns its $$$$ price tag through the full package: a theatrically-staffed room, mid-century classics executed with precision, a 9,200-bottle wine list with genuine depth in Tuscany and Piedmont. Reservations are hard to secure year-round. Book well ahead for special occasions; expect to spend significantly on wine.

Charlie Trotter's on W Armitage Avenue is one of Chicago's most recognised American fine dining addresses, with a formal, technique-led approach suited to special occasions. Booking is accessible compared to the city's harder tasting-menu rooms, making it a realistic choice for a considered dinner in Lincoln Park. First-timers should come with time to spare and a clear occasion in mind.

Osteria Mozza is a restaurant on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.

Virtue is one of Chicago's strongest arguments for James Beard-level cooking at an accessible price point. Chef Erick Williams won Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2022, the kitchen holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand; credentials that are rare at $$ pricing. Book three to four weeks out for weekends; the dining room fills consistently and walk-ins are unreliable.

Shake Shack at JFK Terminal 8 is the right call if you are flying American out of Concourse B and want a reliable pre-flight meal. No booking needed: walk in, order at the counter, go.

IMA is a Michelin Plate-recognised Japanese restaurant in Beverly Hills operating at the $$$$ tier, earning. It holds its own against serious competition in the Los Angeles Japanese dining field, the relatively low review count means reservations are more attainable now than they will be once 2025 Michelin attention builds. Book weekday evenings and confirm the menu format before you go.

Jungsik New York is a restaurant on Harrison Street in New York City.

Pane Bianco is Chris Bianco's counter-service sandwich spot on Central Avenue, ranked on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats list three years running and backed by a 2022 James Beard Award. Hours are limited; lunch daily except Sunday, dinner Wednesday through Saturday only; so plan ahead. At this price point, it is one of the most decorated casual lunch options in Phoenix.

Via Carota is the West Village Italian that justifies its perpetual wait: ranked #82 on Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list in 2025, it delivers precise, seasonal Italian cooking in a room that feels genuinely lived in. Book ahead, order widely, return often; consistency is the point.

Kato is a restaurant in Los Angeles' Arts District.

Harbor House is a coastal restaurant at Harbor House Inn in Elk, California.

The Inn at Little Washington is a restaurant and inn in Washington, Virginia.

Roberta's is a clear yes-book at the $$ price point; ranked #17 in Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list for 2024 and Pearl Recommended for 2025. The Bushwick address requires a deliberate trip from Manhattan, but the wood-fired pies, house-made pasta, seasonally driven starters justify it. One of the strongest value-for-quality decisions in New York's casual dining tier.

Californios is a restaurant on 11th Street in San Francisco.

Joe's Stone Crab has been Miami's definitive stone crab destination since 1913, holding a Michelin Plate (2025), a Pearl Recommended designation. At the $$$ price point, medium claws offer the best value; visit between October and mid-May when stone crabs are in season. Moderate booking difficulty; plan ahead for weekends.

Angler SF is a restaurant on The Embarcadero in San Francisco.

The Restaurant at Meadowood has been closed since the 2020 Glass Fire destroyed the dining room, with no confirmed reopening date. The three-Michelin-starred tasting menu under Chef Christopher Kostow; built around a 3.5-hectare kitchen garden on a 250-acre Napa estate; is not currently bookable. For Napa fine dining now, consider The French Laundry or Auberge du Soleil instead.

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 Plate restaurant at $$ on Abbot Kinney, Gjelina is one of Los Angeles's strongest casual dining options for the price. The kitchen combines Italian-influenced pizza with contemporary vegetable cookery to a level that outperforms its neighbourhood setting. Easy to book, open seven days, worth it for a relaxed but technically sound dinner in Venice.

Mister Jiu's is a modern Chinese restaurant on Waverly Place in San Francisco.

Semma is a South Indian restaurant in New York City's Greenwich Village.

Cosme holds a firm place among New York City's most globally recognised modern Mexican restaurants, with seven consecutive years on the World's 50 Best list. The a la carte format, dark and energetic room, rotating seasonal menu reward multiple visits. Book as far ahead as possible; reservations are near impossible at short notice.

A James Beard Award-winning kitchen ranked #443 on OAD's Top Restaurants in North America (2025), Uchi is Austin's clearest answer for a serious Japanese-influenced tasting menu. Chef Tyson Cole's non-traditional omakase format suits special occasions and serious food travellers. Book two to three weeks out minimum; this is a hard reservation.

Vetri Cucina is Philadelphia's most consistent high-end Italian tasting menu, operating from a Spruce Street townhouse since 1998. La Liste-ranked with 76 points in 2026 and a deep Italian wine list across 520 selections, it is a reliable choice for a serious occasion dinner. Booking is easier than the reputation suggests; typically 1 to 2 weeks out.

Balthazar is the French brasserie that set the SoHo template in 1997 and has held it since, with a serious raw bar, in-house bakery, a kitchen running until 11 PM most nights. Ranked on Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list, it earns the booking; but book four to six weeks out for any weekend evening slot.

Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare is a restaurant on West 37th Street in Manhattan.

Emeril's is Emeril Lagasse's flagship restaurant in New Orleans' Warehouse District, serving a refined approach to Louisiana cooking.

Cote is a Korean steakhouse in New York City's Flatiron district.

FIG is one of Charleston's most consistently recognised dinner restaurants; a Michelin Plate holder with multi-year Opinionated About Dining rankings and. Chef Mike Lata's Lowcountry-informed New American cooking rewards a table booking rather than any off-premise alternative. Open Tuesday through Saturday, dinner only. Book ahead for weekend slots.

Lilia is the most convincing case for casual Italian in New York; Pearl Recommended and ranked #27 on Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America list in 2024. At $$, it delivers pasta and wood-oven seafood that read two price tiers above their cost. Book on a weeknight for the best experience; the room fills fast on weekends and the noise climbs with it.

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.

Torrisi is a restaurant on Mulberry Street in New York City.

Vespertine is a tasting-menu restaurant on Hayden Avenue in Culver City, California.

Kogi BBQ launched the modern food truck movement in 2008 and its Korean short rib tacos remain the reference point for Korean-Mexican fusion in Los Angeles. No reservations needed, no dress code, no bar program; just well-executed street food with genuine credentials. Go for the O.G. Taco, consider the tofu version on a return visit, check truck locations before heading out.

minibar is a tasting-menu restaurant on E Street NW in Washington, DC.

Sarah Grueneberg's West Loop Italian restaurant earns its OAD top-400 ranking and Michelin Plate through consistent, technically precise regional cooking at the $$$ price point. The pasta station counter is the best seat in the house. Book two to four weeks ahead for dinner; lunch is more accessible and delivers the same kitchen quality.

Peter Luger has been dry-aging USDA Prime beef at its Brooklyn address since 1887, the Porterhouse remains the reason to book. Cash only, near-impossible to get on weekends, worth it; particularly for a midweek lunch when the room is calmer. Pearl Recommended in 2025, Michelin Plate, ranked No. 25 on Robb Report's 50 Best Steakhouses in North America.

James Beard Award-winning chef Justin Pichetrungsi transformed a 44-year-old Sherman Oaks neighborhood staple into one of LA's hardest reservations and most nationally decorated Thai kitchens. Michelin Plate, OAD Top 50, LA Times Restaurant of the Year 2022; at $$$, it delivers omakase-level technique at a price point well below the city's fine-dining tier. Book 2–3 weeks out minimum.

Craft has anchored New York's ingredient-driven dining conversation since 2001, earning a place at World's 50 Best (#44 in 2004) through a philosophy that lets market sourcing do the talking. The menu draws heavily from Union Square Greenmarket and rotates with the seasons, while the Flatiron dining room offers the kind of settled, confident atmosphere that comes from two decades of consistent practice. Current Chef Andrew Whitcomb continues that tradition.

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.

Wildair on Orchard Street is one of New York's most consistently ranked casual venues, placing on Opinionated About Dining's North America list every year since 2023. The kitchen delivers technically sharp small plates built to share, paired with a focused natural wine list. Book Friday or Saturday dinner for the full energy of the room; Saturday lunch is the easiest reservation to land.

Gregory Gourdet's debut restaurant brings three-time James Beard Award-winning technique to Haitian Caribbean cuisine at a $$ price point; the full menu is gluten- and dairy-free, the front-of-house depth (dedicated wine director, sommelier) outpaces the price tier. Ranked on OAD's Casual North America list in both 2024 and 2025, this is one of Portland's hardest bookings and one of its clearest yes-book decisions for a serious dinner.

Oriole is a restaurant on West Walnut Street in Chicago.

A strong downtown choice for celebrations, client dinners, polished dates when energy matters more than quiet. Nobu Downtown has the brand-name occasion factor and Robb Report recognition, with easier booking pressure than many high-demand New York rooms, but solo diners or conversation-first groups may prefer a smaller, calmer format.

Girl & The Goat is the strongest shareable-plates bet in Chicago's West Loop for first-timers who want serious cooking without a tasting-menu format or price tag. Chef Stephanie Izard's protein-organized menu anchored by a dedicated goat section has earned three consecutive years of Opinionated About Dining recognition. Book two to three weeks out for weekend evenings; dinner beats Sunday brunch for the full experience.

The Grill is a Michelin three-star American chophouse inside the landmark Seagram Building, run by Major Food Group with tableside-carved prime rib and a 22,800-bottle wine list. Book four to six weeks out for prime dinner slots; the bar after 9 PM is your best walk-in option. Named to New York Magazine's Best Restaurants list in 2025, it is one of the few $$$$ addresses where the room, service, food all justify the spend.

Lazy Bear is a modern American dinner-party restaurant in San Francisco's Mission District.

Masa is a restaurant at Columbus Circle in New York City.

The most credentialed restaurant in Savannah, The Grey operates inside a restored 1938 Art Deco Greyhound terminal where Chef Mashama Bailey cooks Port City Southern food rooted in the history of the coastal South. She holds the 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef. Book three to four weeks ahead for a table, or target bar seating for faster access. Booking difficulty is high.

Chubby Fish doesn't take reservations and seats just 40 people, but seven years of lines around the block on Coming Street tell you everything about the cooking. James London's daily-catch seafood menu; built around direct relationships with local fisherpeople and recognised on Resy's 2025 Hit List; makes the wait worthwhile. Arrive by 4 p.m., add your name to the list, wait next door.

Albi is a restaurant on Fourth Street SE in Washington, D.C.

Sushi Sho is a restaurant on East 41st Street in New York City.

Spoon & Stable is Minneapolis's strongest argument for booking early: a James Beard Award-winning kitchen applying French technique to Midwestern seasonal ingredients, ranked top-10 in Gourmet Casual Dining in North America by OAD in 2023. Booking difficulty is high; plan at least two to three weeks ahead.

Bestia is the Arts District Italian that has held its ground in Los Angeles since 2012, earning consecutive Michelin Plates and a Pearl Recommended nod for 2025. The kitchen runs on wood-fired cooking, house-made charcuterie, handmade pasta. Booking is hard; allow four to six weeks minimum; but for a first-time LA visitor after serious Italian, it is the right call at $$$$.

Crown Shy is a Michelin-starred Modern American restaurant in Manhattan's Financial District, delivering technically precise cooking at $$$; well below what comparable accolades typically cost in New York. The à la carte format, a 900-selection wine list, a striking Art Deco setting at 70 Pine Street make it one of the city's strongest value cases at this tier. Book at least three weeks out; weekend availability is tight.

Rustic Canyon is Santa Monica's most consistent argument for California seasonal cooking; Michelin Plate recognized, Opinionated About Dining top-ranked, priced at $$$ with a 300-bottle wine list that does not gouge. Book for a special occasion or a serious date; reserve at least two weeks out for weekends. The farmers' market-driven menu changes with the season, making return visits genuinely worthwhile.

Boka is one of Chicago's most credentialled contemporary dining rooms: a Michelin-starred, La Liste-recognised à la carte restaurant from chef Lee Wolen, with a reputation for precise, seasonal cooking and a genuinely strong cocktail programme. It is a hard reservation at $$$$ and dinner-only, but it consistently delivers for special occasions and first-time fine dining visitors to the city.

Sushi Noz is a sushi restaurant on East 78th Street in New York City.

Jônt is a tasting-counter restaurant on 14th Street in Washington, D.C.

Birdie's is a counter-service wine bar and restaurant in East Austin with a 2025 James Beard Award, Michelin Plate, World of Fine Wine 3-Star Accreditation; at $$ food and wine pricing. The daily-changing contemporary American menu and a 250-selection wine list make it one of the strongest value-to-credential ratios in the city. Arrive early; there are no reservations and the queue is real.

Kalaya is the clearest yes in Philadelphia for Southern Thai cooking that operates with real ambition. Chef-owner Nok Suntaranon's Fishtown restaurant is Michelin-recognised, built around house-made pastes and authentic heat, more bookable than its reputation suggests. The bar seats work well for solo diners and walk-ins. Go hungry and stay for the shaved-ice desserts.