Liven up your winter with a quick trip to these spots that have stellar food, a warm welcome, and a certain off-the-beaten-path appeal.
Cabane à Sucre au Pied de Cochon
Saint-Benoît de Mirabel, Québec
29 miles from Montréal
Martin Picard of Montréal's Au Pied de Cochon celebrates maple syrup season with this "sugar shack" (open March 11 to May) featuring dishes like buckwheat crepes and a smoked-mackerel omelet. 11382 rang de la Fresnière; 450-258-1732; cabaneasucreaupieddecochon.com
The Hil
Palmetto, Georgia
33 miles from Atlanta
Located in a sustainable living community, The Hil serves a mean chicken pot pie with a side of okra stew. 9110 Selborne Lane; 770-463-6040; the-hil.com
June
Peoria Heights, Illinois
155 miles from Chicago
Alinea alum chef Josh Adams has opened a farm-to-table restaurant with a molecular gastronomy twist. Think roasted eggplant pierogi with carrot curry emulsion. 4450 North Prospect Road; 877-682-5863; junerestaurant.com
Justus Drugstore, A Restaurant
Smithville, Missouri
21 miles from Kansas City
At husband and wife Jonathan Justus and Camille Eklof's place set in a former pharmacy, the old soda fountain is now a bar dispensing inventive cocktails and signature dishes, including pork two ways and mead-poached pear. 106 West Main Street; 816-532-2300; drugstorerestaurant.com
The Farmhouse
Bedford, New York
48 miles from New York City
Chef Brian Lewis oversees the luxe Bedford Post inn's two restaurants. The Farmhouse's dinner, including soft farm egg ravioli and buttered Maine lobster with sweet corn pudding, is a meal worth the trip. 954 Old Post Road; 914-234-7800; bedfordpostinn.com
Hen of the Wood
Waterbury, Vermont
27 miles from Burlington
Set in a former gristmill along a brook, this rustic New American restaurant charms. Chef and co-owner Eric Warnstedt's namesake dish, a hen-of-the-woods mushroom tartine with Vermont bacon, is a must-order. 92 Stowe Street; 802-244-7300; henofthewood.com
Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant
Big Sur, California
168 miles from San Francisco
Spectacular views, woodburning-oven pizzas, and butter-braised halibut make this funky spot worth a journey. 47540 Highway 1; 831-667-0520; bigsurbakery.com
Trummer's on Main
Clifton, Virginia
25 miles from Washington, D.C.
Former NYC bartender Stephan Trummer and his wife, Victoria, run this lovely spot where Clayton Miller cooks regional American fare like Dorsey Farm suckling pig. 7134 Main Street; 703-266-1623; trummersonmain.com
New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro
Talent, Oregon
178 miles from Eugene
Vernon and Charlene Rollins (they met at Chez Panisse) run this quirky restaurant serving dishes like blackcod- and-sorrel terrine and grilled Umpqua Valley lamb chops. 2210 South Pacific Highway; 541-535-2779
Town House
Chilhowie, Virginia
128 miles from Winston-Salem, North Carolina
In Chilhowie (population 1,827), former Charlie Trotter chefs John B. Shields and Karen Urie Shields create dishes like beef short ribs with pickled lychee and smoked cucumber. 132 East Main Street; 276-646-8787; townhouseva.com
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