OpenTable Names Its Top 50 U.S. Restaurants 'For Foodies'

Online restaurant reservation site OpenTable has announced its Top 50 "Fit for Foodies" restaurants. The below list was compiled from over 10 million reviews submitted by diners between September 2010 and August 2011.

Crowd-sourced lists can sometimes be troublesome. But this list narrows in on a lot of great spots, though you'll be hard-pressed to find a restaurant on this list that hasn't already gotten its fair share of accolades. They may not be under-the-radar spots, but there's often a reason that a place stays popular after it's been discovered. (Hint: that means the food is good!)

Abattoir – Atlanta, Georgia
Ad Hoc – Yountville, California
Aldea – New York, New York
Annisa – New York, New York
Bergamot – Somerville, Massachusetts
Bibou – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Blackbird – Chicago, Illinois
Blue Hill – New York, New York
Bonsoireé – Chicago, Illinois
Camino – Oakland, California
Canteen – San Francisco, California
Cascina Spinasse – Seattle, Washington
Coi – San Francisco, California
Commis – Oakland, California
Commonwealth – San Francisco, California
Craigie on Main – Cambridge, Massachusetts
Dirt Candy – New York, New York
FIG – Charleston, South Carolina
Fond – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Forage – Salt Lake City, Utah
Frances – San Francisco, California
Frasca Food and Wine – Boulder, Colorado
The French Laundry – Napa, California
Gather – Berkeley, California
Girl & The Goat – Chicago, Illinois
Graham Elliot – Chicago, Illinois
Hatfields – Los Angeles, California
Haute Dish – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Hungry Mother – Cambridge, Massachusetts
Local 127 – Cincinnati, Ohio
Menton – Boston, Massachusetts
Mistral Kitchen – Seattle, Washington
noca – Phoenix, Arizona
o ya – Boston, Massachusetts
Osteria Mozza – Los Angeles, California
Park Kitchen – Portland, Oregon
Piccolo – Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Publican – Chicago, Illinois
Range – San Francisco, California
Saffron Restaurant & Lounge – San Francisco, California
Saison – San Francisco, California
Sprout – Chicago, Illinois
Spur Gastropub – Seattle, Washington
Staple & Fancy Mercantile – Seattle, Washington
The Tasting Kitchen – Venice, California
Tilth – Seattle, Washington
Ubuntu – Napa, California
wd-50 – New York, New York
Wexler’s – San Francisco, California

Comments

[CAhye]

12:10 PM on 09/26/2011

going to canteen in a few weeks, cant wait!!

[mokachyna]

11:53 AM on 09/23/2011

There's not one restaurant on this list in Washington, DC...why am I not surprised.

[kwaut lizard]

02:10 PM on 09/23/2011

There must be something noteworthy. Really?

[mokachyna]

03:57 PM on 09/23/2011

There are some pretty good restaurants in DC but they're all so expensive. We don't have that many "hole in the wall" places with amazing somewhat inexpensive food like New York, Chicago and Philly. It's getting better though.

[gemini68]

10:31 AM on 09/23/2011

Its good to see so many Chicago restaurants on the list.

[wineguy3333]

06:45 PM on 09/22/2011

These are all great restaurants but how can what is arguably the greatest restaurant in America, Alinea in Chicago not be on the list. It is for the ultra foodie.

[summerwind08234]

01:49 PM on 09/22/2011

Nothing in Vegas?

[plazmaorb]

02:37 PM on 09/22/2011

Vegas isnt all its cracked up to be.. they have a lot of expensive places to eat but nothing really cutting edge or different.

[kwaut lizard]

02:11 PM on 09/23/2011

That's odd as most of Vegas' restaurant­s are subsidized by the room rates of the hotels they reside in. You'd think they'd be getting jiggy with their food. How many buffets can you eat? Thomas Keller's place isn't any good?

[CAhye]

12:09 PM on 09/26/2011

disagree, the food in vegas is amazing. from classic to cutting edge. its the best food from all around the world. you must not be eating in the right places!!

[lirbro]

11:54 AM on 09/22/2011

I would believe Open Table over Michelin any day. Should've taken their suggestion over a recent night out at a Chicago restaurant. Open Table stated exactly what we experienced, mediocre food, and bad service. Michelin had rated it highly. On the other hand, glad Open Table has given Blackbird its due. Excellent food and service.

[plazmaorb]

02:38 PM on 09/22/2011

What restaurant did you go to that wasnt all it was cracked up to be? just curious

[ycplum]

11:41 AM on 09/22/2011

I am just curious if there is a correlation between mobile internet device usage and the cities of the restaurant in the top 50. Not trying to "say" anything. I'm a curious type and questions like this pops into my head every once in a while.

[kwaut lizard]

02:03 PM on 09/22/2011

Good call, would probably have some bearing on New Orleans not being represented.

[plazmaorb]

02:40 PM on 09/22/2011

New Orleans isnt that special. if you know what these places are serving.. its cutting edge cuisine.. not stuff that has been made the same way for 50 years... taking it to the next level

[bigod33]

02:20 PM on 09/22/2011

I was thinking the same thing. Northern California seems to be disproportionately represented on the list. It can't be a coincidence that Silicon Valley is in their back yard.

[CaribeAzul]

02:30 PM on 09/22/2011

I don't live in California, but the restaurants listed are all great. The French Laundry in Napa, for example, is always a must, and it takes a while to get a reservation. However, I would like to see suggestions for New Orleans.

[plazmaorb]

02:45 PM on 09/22/2011

What does silicon valley have to do with them getting more nods than other areas? The whole norther CA cuisine thing has it going on cause they can do from farm to table very easily year round, which is something that a lot of places cant do.
Until you have eaten at some of these places, you cant make a judgement on it..

[Kelly Jade]

10:12 AM on 09/22/2011

I just moved right by Sprout in Chicago, I can't wait o try it!!

[metalwire88]

03:36 AM on 09/22/2011

TROTTERS??? Where is Trotters at on this list?!?!

[Kelly Jade]

10:13 AM on 09/22/2011

Probably become too much of a well known name for foodies?

[gemini68]

10:34 AM on 09/23/2011

Trotters is a bit overrated.

[Monicalups]

03:18 AM on 09/22/2011

Where are momofuku, ma peche and jean georges? Booo Hoo!

[BuckyJamesDio]

08:02 PM on 09/21/2011

One in Colorado. YaY!

It's a start. And it's a great place. Been there once and it was quite enjoyable.

I do miss the SF Bay Area for its selection. Cheers to all there.

[catboycolo]

10:07 AM on 09/22/2011

one for the home team!! Unrelated- who names their restaurant after the building where animals are slaughtered ( Abattoir?)

[sunnydee07]

05:49 PM on 09/21/2011

I see that it's a US list so let me add that I used OpenTable to make a reservation at Ensemble in Vancouver, BC. Wonderful restaurant! - following a European trend of high level fine dining in smaller plates that don't break the bank. Newly opened this year by Top Chef Canada winner, Dale Mackay.

[bmcombs]

05:36 PM on 09/21/2011

Interesting. Of course, the best restaurants in the world don't use OpenTable.

However, I do love OpenTable myself. Highly recommend using the 1,000 point guide to choose your next meal. Points add up fast and you get a quick $100 gift certificate to anywhere!

[Jambala99]

04:56 PM on 09/21/2011

Wow!! That's 14.......count em' FOURTEEN restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area voted the best!!!!!! In addition, we have more Michelin stars per capita than ANYONE in the U.S.

It's great to live in the Bay :)

[Edna Crabapple]

05:22 PM on 09/21/2011

"It's great to live in the Bay :) "

Until the ground starts shaking... LOL ;-)

[48thGuy]

05:27 PM on 09/21/2011

And they're all a variation on an Italian theme. BORING! How about German, Polish, Greek, French, Mexican. Your town can't touch that stuff! Good your cuisine sticks to something known, like fish stew and sourdough bread.

[Jambala99]

06:04 PM on 09/21/2011

You obviously don't have a clue what you are talking about do you? We have so many French restaurants I often felt that was ALL we had.....Jardiniere didn't even make the list and it shames most of these. We have tons of killer Mexican in the Mission as well. My buddy goes to a few German places he swears by, but I never liked German food anyway, and the same goes for Polish. Our sushi was not even mentioned, but I would put some of our places up against anyone in the states.........AND we STILL have more Michelin stars that anyone in the U.S......FACT.....

[catboycolo]

10:09 AM on 09/22/2011

Please do your homework before you come to class...