2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence Recipients — Page 18

Mugen is Honolulu's most credentialed tasting-menu restaurant, holding a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating, AAA 5 Diamond, an 86-point La Liste score. Chef Colin Sato's five-course menu uses Hawaiian-sourced ingredients; Kona kampachi, local poke; to build a kitchen identity that is distinctly of place. At $66+ per head before wine, it is the right call for a special-occasion dinner, but book four to eight weeks ahead.

Book The Dining Room for a polished Madison dinner where seasonality, wine pairings, a formal historic-room setting matter. It is strongest for anniversaries, date nights, client meals, weaker for takeout or casual dining. The $130-per-person level makes sense when using the full experience, not just stopping in for a simple meal.

Gui Steakhouse brings a Korean-inflected perspective to the Midtown steakhouse format, with aged USDA Prime and Japanese wagyu cuts alongside wagyu fried rice, dan dan noodles, Alaskan king crab. It is the strongest option for a special occasion dinner near the Theater District, holds up as a destination in its own right. Booking is easy and the menu works for groups with mixed preferences.

Authentique is the stronger pick when the night is about wine rather than a mapped-out menu. Its 2022 World's Best Wine Lists 3-Star recognition gives it a clear reason to book in East Nashville, but the lack of verified cuisine, pricing, off-premise detail makes it a weaker choice for takeout, delivery, or dietary planning.

Piccolo Restaurant of Huntington is the right call for a polished Italian-American dinner when warmth, menu range, wine credibility matter. The $$$$ price tier makes it more of a date-night or occasion pick than a casual fallback, but the 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and long Huntington history give the booking a solid reason to justify the spend.

Mamie Bistro is a good fit for a stylish, casual Moscow meal when you want French and Mediterranean bistro cooking without a formal tasting-menu setup. Book it for small groups, dates or flexible all-day dining; skip it if the occasion needs a quiet private room or a highly choreographed special-occasion format.

Book LaFrida Restaurant if a resort-based dinner inside Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach is the point: convenient, planned, better suited to a special evening than a casual Cabo crawl. Compare downtown-style alternatives first if the group wants more movement, clearer cuisine positioning, or a less hotel-centered night.

Fortezza Ristorante is the Niwot pick for a relaxed celebration when wine matters more than scene-chasing. Its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (2026) gives it a clearer trust signal than routine neighborhood choices, while easy booking makes it practical for a date, small business dinner, or anniversary. Cross-shop if the group wants sushi, pizza, curry, or a faster casual meal.

Book Ka'ana Kitchen when convenience in Wailea matters more than chasing a destination-format meal. Dinner is the stronger use case for a resort evening, while daytime works better as a practical stop around beach or hotel plans. Cross-shop Feast at Mōkapu Lu'au for a planned event meal and Whale's Tale for something lighter.

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.

The Capital Grille is the practical Lyndhurst pick for a polished steakhouse meal, especially for celebrations, business dinners, wine-focused occasions. Expect American steakhouse and seafood cooking, business casual dress, recommended reservations, a spend around $75 per person. It is worth it when the room and service style matter as much as the plate.

Choose Kork Wine Bar for a Georgetown date night or small celebration built around wine, Neapolitan-style pizza, shared plates. The value is strongest for guests who want a broad by-the-glass list and a relaxed room, not a formal tasting menu or full-dinner production.

1913 is an easy London, Ontario pick when the group wants a visually distinct room and a flexible bar-led evening rather than a tightly planned food destination. Order food selectively, not as the whole reason to go; the safer use case is drinks, atmosphere, a low-friction return visit.

Forepaugh’s is worth booking when the occasion calls for a historic Saint Paul room, wine-friendly pacing and a more formal New American dinner. Go for the tasting-menu rhythm if the mansion setting is part of the plan; choose à la carte if the night is lower commitment. Dinner is the stronger play, especially for date nights and visiting guests.

Booking is easy; a few days out covers most nights; and the drinks program is worth arriving early for. A reliable choice for food-focused visitors who want serious cooking without the planning effort.

Caretta on the Gulf sits on Mandalay Ave in the heart of Clearwater Beach, offering Gulf views and easy booking that make it a practical first stop for beach visitors. Pricing data is limited, so compare it against nearby waterfront options before committing if value is your priority. Walk-ins are possible, but arrive early on weekends to secure outdoor seating.

Sanderlings is worth booking when the goal is an easy coastal Aptos meal with ocean views, casual dress, seafood-leaning Californian American cooking. At about $50 per person, the value is strongest for sunset dinners, family-friendly celebrations, resort stays, Whiskey on the Water events rather than a chef-driven destination meal.

Eddie Merlot's is worth booking when the occasion calls for an upscale steakhouse with polished service, private-room flexibility, a serious wine signal from its 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. It is strongest for celebrations, client meals, steak-and-seafood dinners where the room matters; for casual weeknight dining, the $$$ spend is harder to justify.

Book Morton’s, The Steakhouse when the brief is a polished Lower Manhattan steakhouse with prime-aged beef, seafood, a formal room, a credible wine program. It is strongest for business dinners, special occasions, after-work bar plans near the World Trade Center, less compelling for diners seeking a chef-led or casual neighborhood meal.

Book Napa Kitchen and Wine for a polished, low-stress Midlothian meal when wine-bar atmosphere and menu range matter. It is especially useful for date nights, weekend daytime meals, mixed groups that need seafood, steak, comfort dishes, a smart-casual room in one place.

Atwater’s is the right Geneva, Illinois pick when the room matters as much as the cooking: a calm hotel dining room, seasonal Contemporary American menu, wine-focused service inside The Herrington Inn & Spa. It is better for date nights, anniversaries, quiet business meals than for takeout or a fast casual dinner.

Fioretta is a practical West Loop dinner pick for a date, client meal, or celebration when an easy booking matters more than chasing a scarce tasting-menu seat. The strongest confirmed signal is its World's Best Wine Lists 2023 1-Star recognition, so it is especially useful for wine-minded dinners.

Book The Vineyard Wine Bar when the goal is a slow, wine-led meal rather than a quick dinner. At about $60 per person, it makes sense for date night or a small celebration, especially if a broad wine selection, bistro plates, a calm room matter more than a cocktail-bar atmosphere.

A practical New Orleans dinner pick for groups who care about the wine side of the meal. Briquette’s strongest reason to book is its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (2026), which makes it more compelling for a wine-led evening than a quick bite or chef-name pilgrimage. Booking difficulty is easy, dinner runs nightly.

Manalu Italian Restaurant is the Frederick pick when the meal should feel settled, wine-aware, more dinner than quick stop. Its World's Best Wine Lists 2025 1-Star listing and Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 2026 make it stronger for date night or a small celebration than for a casual group meal.

Vin Sur Vingt is worth booking when the plan is wine-first, casual, French-bistro leaning rather than chef-driven. The value is strong at about $35 per person, with a 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence supporting the wine-program credibility. Go for an easy Upper West Side date, after-work glass, or relaxed dinner; use takeout selectively rather than as the main reason to choose it.

Diner Ross Steakhouse is a practical center-Strip choice for a steakhouse-style dinner near The LINQ, especially when convenience matters more than a destination meal. Book it for an easy evening plan; compare first for major celebrations, sushi, or a faster casual bite.

Book Ivory Grille Restaurant and Oak Room Lounge for a polished Sedalia dinner when the room matters: anniversaries, date nights, client meals, or family celebrations. At about $45 per person, it is strongest as a classic steak-and-seafood evening with a serious wine program, not as an experimental tasting-menu destination.

Book Française when you want a polished South Perry bistro night without committing to a formal tasting-menu dinner. At about $55 per person, it works well for date nights, repeat neighborhood visits, French-leaning comfort dishes backed by a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence wine program.

Book La Recette when the wine list is the point of the meal. Its 2026 wine recognition gives it a clearer reason to choose than many general Kristiansand dinner options, though diners who need a defined cuisine style or chef-led format may prefer a more food-forward peer. Booking difficulty is easy, so early evening is the smart window.

A Michelin Plate-recognised traditional Turkish kitchen inside the Divan İstanbul hotel, operating at ₺₺₺ while its peer group charges ₺₺₺₺. The Çilingir Sofrası set menu is the move: mezze-forward, sharing-friendly, anchored by a Turkish wine list with 190 selections. Book a week out for weekdays, two weeks for weekends.

The original José Andrés tapas location in Washington D.C. earns its OAD #632 (2025) ranking and Michelin Plate through consistent kitchen output and a Spain-focused wine list with around 200 selections. At the $$ price tier, it's the most accessible OAD-recognized restaurant in its D.C. peer set. Book a weeknight without much lead time; give the sherry list more attention than you did on your first visit.

Romina is a practical Polanco pick when the goal is an easy, low-pressure dinner rather than a trophy reservation. Book it for convenience, group flexibility, a calmer Mexico City plan; cross-shop nearby peers if you want a clearer seafood, steakhouse, Greek, or party-dinner identity.

The Cork 1794 is the Erie pick for a polished chophouse-style dinner when wine, atmosphere, a broader contemporary American menu matter. Expect smart-casual energy, a dining room suited to occasions, a menu that makes more sense as a full dinner than a quick bite. Its 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is the key trust signal.

Book The Capital Grille when the occasion calls for a formal steakhouse rather than a trend-driven dinner. The value is strongest for celebrations, client meals, date nights where polished service, seafood coverage, wine matter as much as the steak. At $90 per person, it makes more sense for a planned night out than a casual weeknight meal.

Prime & Providence is the West Des Moines pick when dinner calls for a polished steakhouse-and-oyster-bar format rather than a casual American meal. Book it for live-fire beef, shellfish, wine, special-occasion energy; the value is strongest when the table leans into the hearth, oyster bar, wine program.

1833 Kitchen & Bar is a practical dinner pick in Aurora when wine matters, backed by a 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Book it for an evening meal tied to a Finger Lakes itinerary; compare elsewhere if you need a clearly defined cuisine, published pricing, or a lunch plan.

Ditka's is a practical Robinson pick when convenience and broad group appeal matter more than a chef-driven dining experience. It is better suited to easy lunches, family dinners, low-pressure occasions than to diners seeking a clearly defined cuisine, award signal, or destination meal in Pittsburgh.

For winter and peak-season Big Island trips, Merriman’s is a strong Waimea pick when the priority is polished Hawaii Regional Cuisine over resort scenery. Book it for local sourcing, a Wine Spectator-recognized beverage program, a calm upcountry room that works for dates, family meals, special occasions.

Tellers is worth booking when you want Italian food with a real sense of occasion in downtown Oklahoma City. At about $50 per person, the value is strongest in the restored bank hall with pasta, wood-fired pizza, grilled mains, an Italian wine list recognized by Wine Spectator in 2026; takeout is useful, but dining in is the better call.

A Tavola is easiest to recommend for a wine-led Amsterdam dinner rather than a fully pre-planned tasting-menu night. Star Wine List recognition for 2026 is the main trust signal, so book it when the bottle matters; cross-shop R21 for a more defined creative format or Gebr. Hartering for a clearer French-leaning value play.

Eddie V's Prime Seafood is a strong Greenwood pick when the brief is polished seafood, steakhouse-adjacent energy, a wine program with a 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. It is not the value play; solo diners and casual groups should compare Bryan’s Dumpling House or Pint Brothers, while steak-focused occasions should check Shanahan's Steakhouse.

Raíz in Polanco holds back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition (2024 and 2025) and a wine list of 600 bottles at a price point where two courses run $40–$65 per person. The combination of serious contemporary Mexican cooking and a Star Wine List-awarded program makes it one of the stronger value propositions in Mexico City's mid-range dinner tier.

Copinette sits in Midtown East at 891 First Avenue, offering straightforward access in a borough where the hardest tables require weeks of planning. Booking is easy, making it a practical choice for food-focused diners who want flexibility. Confirm sourcing priorities and menu details directly with the restaurant before arriving to gauge whether the kitchen aligns with your expectations.

Battello delivers a waterfront dining experience on Jersey City's Hudson River edge, where the Manhattan skyline view backs up a food program serious enough to justify a full dinner booking. It's easy to reserve by local standards, a weeknight sitting gives you the best version of the room. Check the venue directly for current pricing before you book.

Geronimo is Santa Fe's most credentialed dinner reservation; Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four Diamond. Set inside a 1756 adobe landmark on Canyon Road, Chef Sllin Cruz's seasonally changing Global Eclectic menu earns its $$$+ price point. Book well ahead; this is one of the city's hardest tables to secure.

Manzanita is worth choosing when resort convenience and a polished hotel setting matter more than a destination-restaurant agenda. It is a better fit for hotel guests, special-occasion dinners, low-friction Tahoe meals than for diners seeking a chef-led Truckee benchmark.

Wine Port Aruba is the right call for a polished, wine-led steakhouse dinner in Oranjestad, especially if the table wants a smart-casual room and a special-occasion feel. The $$$$ price tier makes sense when the wine program matters; choose something simpler if speed, beach energy, or a lower-spend meal is the priority.

La Grande Boucherie is a practical Midtown pick for celebrations, dates, business meals when location and schedule flexibility matter. Book it for a polished, central New York City plan; cross-shop Aldo Sohm Wine Bar for wine focus or Bobby Van's Grill for a more direct grill-room alternative.

Old Hickory Steakhouse is the right call for a polished steakhouse dinner inside Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, especially for business meals, resort guests, special occasions. At $90 per person, it makes more sense for dinner than a casual daytime meal, with a 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence supporting the splurge.

A practical Ruidoso choice for a classic steakhouse dinner with seafood options, smart-casual comfort, an easy booking profile. The strongest case is for mixed groups, date nights, later dinners where steak, crab legs, lobster pasta, cocktails, wine, familiar desserts are the point.

A strong downtown pick for anniversaries, client dinners, convention-adjacent steakhouse meals. Book it for premium beef, seafood, wine, private-dining flexibility, a formal business-casual room; skip it if you want a tasting menu or a casual neighborhood dinner.

1000 North is the Jupiter pick for a polished dinner where wine matters more than a tightly scripted tasting-menu format. It suits date nights, client meals, small celebrations; choose UTiki Beach or Calaveras Cantina instead if the priority is casual waterfront energy or easier group value.

Ox Bar & Hearth is a practical Chicago pick for American brunch or a relaxed dinner, not a trophy reservation. Choose it when ease, neighborhood convenience, flexible ordering matter; cross-shop Armitage Alehouse for stronger ambiance or Blue Door Farm Stand for a daytime-leaning American alternative.

The View Restaurant &amp; Lounge at 1535 Broadway offers a rotating panoramic room above Times Square; at its best late at night when the visual payoff is highest. Book it for spectacle rather than serious cooking. Easy to get into compared to New York's culinary flagships, recognised by <em>The Best Things I Ate</em> for good reason.

Hell’s Kitchen is worth it for a high-energy Wharf celebration built around Gordon Ramsay signatures, waterfront atmosphere, an open-kitchen show. It is less compelling as takeout or for a quiet, food-only dinner, because much of the value comes from the room, pacing, cocktails, presentation.

Eddie V's Prime Seafood is worth booking in La Jolla when you want ocean views, a polished seafood-and-steak menu, a lively bar atmosphere rather than a quiet tasting-menu night. At about $75 per person, it works especially well for dates, visiting family, special occasions where flexibility matters.

Il Giallo Osteria &amp; Bar is Sandy Springs' most kitchen-serious Italian option on the Roswell Road corridor; an osteria-format room with a bar program that suits date nights and small groups better than casual drop-ins. Booking is easy, the crowd runs local and professional, it's the strongest Italian choice in the immediate area without requiring a drive into the city.

Book Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse for a polished, group-friendly rodízio meal in Irvine, especially if the table wants picanha, a broad grilled-meat rotation, a wine list with real recognition. It is better for celebrations and business dinners than quiet solo meals, the value is strongest for diners who will use the full format.

Bacán holds back-to-back Michelin Plate recognition (2024 and 2025) and runs a French-inflected Latin American menu with a 1,400-bottle wine cellar at $$$ per head. It is the most interesting special occasion dinner in Orlando's Lake Nona corridor; book one to two weeks ahead for weeknights, three weeks for weekends.

Ômo by Jônt is Winter Park's only Michelin-starred restaurant (1 star, 2025), run by chef Ryan Ratino as a contemporary Japanese tasting menu. At $$$$ per head with a serious 250-selection wine program, it is the area's clearest answer for a special occasion dinner. Book four to six weeks out minimum; the room is small and the star will tighten availability.

The Vineyard Rose is a practical Temecula wine-country pick for first-timers who want an easy, composed meal near Rancho California Road. Book it for convenience, calm pacing, flexible daily hours; cross-shop nearby winery restaurants if the occasion needs a stronger culinary identity or a more distinctive setting.

The Capital Grille is the right Louisville booking when the brief is polished steakhouse dining, a business-casual room, a wine-led meal with low risk. Order around the dry-aged beef and classic steakhouse sides; skip it if the group wants a more experimental or casual local restaurant experience.

Dolce Vita Bistro is worth booking when the priority is a polished, low-friction Italian bistro meal with a stronger wine angle than the casual setting suggests. It is a better fit for conversation, mixed-age groups, relaxed occasions than for diners chasing a formal tasting-menu progression or a high-energy Tempe night out.

A large Jersey City waterfront gastropub with skyline views, a lively bar, a broad menu spanning Modern American plates, pizza, sushi. Book it for groups, late-night energy, flexible dining rather than a quiet chef-driven meal.

Levant by Chef Michael White is a strong San Juan pick for a polished, romantic dinner in Condado, especially if the oceanfront resort setting and wine program matter to the decision. Treat it as a dine-in splurge rather than a takeout choice: the value is in the room, pacing, chef pedigree, Eastern Mediterranean format.

Nostrana Ristorante is worth booking for a polished but approachable Italian dinner in Boonton, especially if handmade pasta and Italian wine are the point of the night. Treat it as a dine-in pick rather than a delivery-first choice; the value comes from the cozy room, seasonal cooking, sommelier-led wine focus.

Pastavino is the right Staten Island pick for a polished Italian dinner built around house-made pasta, Roman-style focaccia, wine. It works especially well for dates, family celebrations, larger gatherings, with smart-casual energy and enough structure to feel planned without becoming formal.

Casa Cruz New York is the better pick over a more cuisine-specific peer when the night is about Upper East Side polish and wine, not a tightly defined menu brief. The 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence gives it a credible wine signal; choose it for dates, client dinners, or dressed-up groups, cross-shop Le Bilboquet or The Regency Bar & Grill if you want a clearer French or dining-room lane.

Masso is worth booking in Manama when the priority is a polished, wine-led meal rather than a cuisine-specific craving. Dinner is the stronger play for celebrations and client meals; lunch is useful only if the timing works and the occasion is lower-pressure. Easy booking makes it a practical choice, but larger groups should confirm table fit in advance.

Two Michelin stars and a Black Pearl Diamond make Bao Li Xuan one of Shanghai's most credentialed Cantonese addresses. Set across six jewellery-inspired private rooms in a century-old building beside the Bvlgari Hotel, the kitchen excels at hand-crafted dim sum and Cantonese roasting. Book at least four to six weeks out; demand is high and seat inventory is limited.

View Restaurant works for a smart-casual Oakdale seafood dinner when the waterfront setting matters as much as the plate. Expect about $75 per person, contemporary American seafood with steak options, recommended reservations, a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2026. It is a stronger dine-in choice than an off-premise play.

Book Terrace. Sea View when you want a polished Odesa waterfront meal built around seafood, oysters, Mediterranean ease rather than a formal tasting-menu experience. It is strongest for relaxed special occasions, mixed groups, wine-friendly coastal dining where the setting matters but should not carry the whole meal.

Book Harry’s Savoy Grill for a classic North Wilmington steakhouse meal with enough seafood and wine depth to work for dates, client dinners, family celebrations. Lunch is the easier, more practical play; dinner is better when the meal is the occasion.

Book Mariel when convenience matters and the group wants a polished downtown Boston option with credible wine backing. It is strongest for weekday lunch, after-work dinner, flexible group plans near Post Office Square, less compelling if the night needs a clearly defined tasting format or chef-led destination feel.

Black & blue Steak and Crab brings tablecloth steakhouse format to Wellesley's Central Street, pairing prime cuts with a crab-forward seafood program in a polished dining room that handles both business dinners and special occasions. The kitchen sticks to traditional American steakhouse repertoire; ribeye, filet, king crab, classic sides; without chasing trends, the space offers easier booking and parking than comparable Boston options.

Book Ladera Grill when the meal needs to feel polished without becoming overly formal. The draw is New American steakhouse range, a historic downtown Morgan Hill setting, smart-casual comfort, a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence wine signal that makes the price easier to justify for occasions.

Vintage Year is a strong pick for a composed dinner in Montgomery, especially for groups of four or more that want a sit-down meal with conversation as part of the point. Choose it over more casual peers when the night needs a proper restaurant feel, not just drinks, snacks, or a quick stop.

Alba is a practical Malvern dinner pick when ease matters more than chasing awards or a named chef. Book it for a flexible local night, especially when the group wants a sit-down option that is less defined than Poseidon Asian Cuisine, Main Line Tavern, or Frankie's Fellini Cafe.

Solare in Point Loma holds back-to-back Michelin Plate recognition (2024–2025) and runs one of San Diego's more serious Italian wine lists; 245 selections, 3,800 bottles; at a mid-range price point of $40–$65 per person. For Italian dining with genuine wine depth and consistent kitchen credentials at the $$ tier, it is the most defensible booking in its category in San Diego.

Book AG Steakhouse for a polished waterfront steakhouse dinner in Acworth, especially for date nights, family occasions, or business meals where setting and service matter. The $125-per-person signal makes the most sense if you will use the steak, wine, bourbon, sushi range rather than treating it as a casual steak stop.

Eddie V's Prime Seafood is the right San Antonio choice when the meal needs to feel like a planned dinner rather than a casual stop. Its strongest signal is wine: the restaurant carries a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (2026). Cross-shop J-Prime for steakhouse focus, Wahkee for Chinese seafood, or Sake Cafe for a lighter Japanese-leaning night.

Montrio Bistro is Monterey's most reliable contemporary kitchen at the $$$ tier, holding a Michelin Plate in both 2024 and 2025. Set in a converted firehouse on Calle Principal, it's the downtown anchor that locals and visitors both use; better value than the $$$$ waterfront options and more consistent than most of its same-price peers. Book a few days ahead for weekends.

glöd is a sensible Gangnam pick for a polished modern Western dinner when wine is part of the plan. The $$ price tier, smart-casual room, Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2026 make it a stronger choice for dinner than a rushed lunch, especially if ordering pasta with beef or rack.

Magnum Wine Bar holds a 2-Star accreditation from the World of Fine Wine Awards, placing it among Moscow's most credentialed wine-focused venues. Book it for a serious wine-led evening rather than a full dining occasion. Booking is easy, mid-week visits are recommended, the by-the-glass selection is the main event.

Gaetano's Ristorante is a practical Henderson pick for an Italian dinner when the priority is a reliable evening rather than a difficult reservation. Dinner runs nightly from 5-9 PM, making it useful for dates, family celebrations, business meals where simple planning matters.

Dinner-only hours make Anthony's Chophouse a better fit for a planned Sparks evening than a casual drop-in meal. Book it for a date, business dinner, or celebration when a steakhouse format is the point; look to Grand Café, The Grand Buffet, or Uno Más Street Tacos + Spirits when flexibility, variety, or drinks-first energy matters more.

A practical Hell's Kitchen pick when the night should revolve around wine rather than a full restaurant meal. Ardesia Wine Bar is strongest for dates, small celebrations, pre- or post-theater plans, with easy booking and Star Wine List recognition adding confidence for wine-focused drinkers.

Churchill’s Steakhouse is the Spokane pick when the plan is a dine-in steakhouse dinner with wine, not takeout or a quick stop. Its 2026 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence gives a concrete reason to lean into the bottle list, especially for date nights, client dinners, celebrations where the room and pacing matter.

Ranked the #1 steakhouse in North America by Robb Report in 2025, Asador Bastian brings Basque-inspired open-fire cooking to Chicago's River North at a $$ price point that's hard to argue. The txuletón; bone-in ribeye from Galician old dairy cows, dry-aged and grilled over live embers; is the reason to book. A strong Spanish-focused wine list and service that doesn't oversell seal the case for a special occasion dinner.

A strong Fort Lee pick for a dressed-up group dinner, especially if the table wants Latin-Mediterranean plates, sushi, lounge energy, a wine list with outside recognition. It is less compelling for a quiet, tightly focused meal, but worth considering for celebrations where variety and atmosphere matter.

A strong Wauwatosa choice for a date night or celebration when a structured regional Italian dinner sounds better than a casual à la carte meal. The four-course customizable format, intimate historic setting, terrace option, Italian hospitality credentials make it worth considering for diners who want the evening to feel planned without turning formal.

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille is the Raleigh pick when the brief is a polished $$$ steakhouse dinner with a serious wine angle, business-casual dress, occasion-ready service. Book the dining room for celebrations or client meals; use Bar 79 for a lower-commitment return visit built around drinks and Bar Bites.

Mills Tavern is a polished American dinner spot in downtown Providence with a World of Fine Wine 2-Star Accreditation and a seasonally driven menu under chef Edward Bolus. It is one of the more reliable special-occasion choices in the city; serious enough to impress, easy enough to book without weeks of planning. Dinner only, five nights a week from 5 pm.

A Michelin Plate-recognised steakhouse on Denver's 15th Street, A5 delivers on its core promise: precisely sourced cuts, a kitchen that earns its $$$$-tier price, a retro-warm room that rewards repeat visits. Book two to three weeks ahead for weekends, or use the bar at happy hour as a lower-friction entry point. The Denver steak, from Blackhawk Farms anterior chuck, is the dish to build your visit around.

Tía Carmen works when convenience in Indian Wells matters more than a destination-level dining brief. The useful signal is schedule: daily breakfast plus dinner from Wednesday through Sunday. For a more clearly defined restaurant identity, compare it with Carmocha, Grapefruit Basil, The Pink Cabana, or Vicky's of Santa Fe before choosing.

Bootleggers is worth booking for a polished Northwoods dinner, especially if the plan includes steak, wine, a historic lodge setting. At $75 per person, it makes more sense as a special-occasion or trip-anchor meal than a casual stop. Go earlier for a calmer room, or choose Saturday night if live music and a livelier bar are part of the appeal.