Put political buzz and party affiliation aside—this year the spotlight focuses on the top independent operators in state capitals throughout the U.S. As a starting point, FSR sought nominations from state and local restaurant associations. A number of factors contributed to the reasons these restaurants were recommended: Food, beverage, and hospitality were clearly considerations, as were community engagement and giving back to the industry.
See All 100 Independents in a Sortable Chart.
While there were some capital cities where one or two restaurants dominated, in most cases we received a long list of worthy contenders. Curating the list down to the 100 most notable was a labor of love and arduous research, but the end result is a collection of notable restaurants that range from landmark destinations with generations of family ownership to newcomers boasting edgy chefs and innovative cuisine.
See last year’s story on the Top 100 Independents
From a gem hidden in a tiny airport terminal in Augusta, Maine, to a soul food mecca built by its owner’s hands in Jackson, Mississippi, the Top 100 Indies are helping to grow capital cities into culinary destinations. Granted, some of the state capitals have already left their mark on food maps across the nation—booming markets like Atlanta, Denver, Boston, and Austin, Texas. Others, such as Pierre, South Dakota, Frankfort, Kentucky, and Helena, Montana, have smaller populations but feature local restaurants ingrained in the city’s proud culinary history.
All of these restaurants are strong players in their cities and have garnered local, regional, and, in some cases, national recognition.
Eastside Grille
Montgomery, Alabama
Opened: February 2003
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $15
Menu: American Grill
Owners: Eric Duggan and Mitch Johnston
Chef: Mimi Faulkner
The Rookery Café
Juneau, Alaska
Opened: November 2010
Annual Sales: $1 to $1.5 million
Average Check: $21
Menu: Inventive and Elevated Alaskan Cuisine
Owners: Chef Beau Schooler and Travis Smith
Known for adventurous cuisine that captures the spirit of Alaska, native game, and locally sourced ingredients, The Rookery Café brings upscale-casual dining to the city’s historic downtown. Alaskan Reindeer heart tartare, anyone?
Salt
Juneau, Alaska
Opened: January 2014
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $40
Menu: Alaskan Seafood
Owner: Kristopher Schwartz
Chef: Lionel Uddipa
Ocotillo Restaurant & Bar
Phoenix
Opened: September 2015
Annual Sales: $4.5 to $5 million
Average Check: $28
Menu: New American Seasonal
Chef/Owners: Sacha Levine, Walt Sterling
Ten
Phoenix
Opened: August 2014
Annual Sales: $750,000
Average Check: $40
Menu: Classic America
Chef/Owners: Jeff Hostenske and Brian Feirstein
Big Orange
Little Rock, Arkansas
Opened: July 2013
Annual Sales: $3.9 million
Average Check: $22.50
Menu: New American
Owner(s): Chefs John Beachboard and Scott McGehee, partner Russ McDonough
Big Orange is committed to executing an ambitious menu that highlights original burgers (there’s a new one every month) with an emphasis on local products. The restaurant also operates with a focus on infrastructure, organization, career building, community relationships, and consistency. Big Orange is one of the largest purchasers of Arkansas products and produce in the state.
One Eleven at the Capital
Little Rock, Arkansas
Opened: August 2014
Average Check: Breakfast $16, Lunch $23, Dinner $75
Menu: Contemporary and Upscale Americana
Owners: Warren and Harriet Stephens
Chef Joël Antunes led One Eleven to a semifinalist nod for James Beard: Best New Restaurant in 2015.
South on Main
Little Rock, Arkansas
Opened: August 2013
Annual Sales: $1.2 million
Average Check: Lunch $12, Dinner $28
Menu: Creative Southern
Chef/Owner: Matthew Bell
Billed as the place where literary lifestyle pub The Oxford American magazine transitions “from the page to the stage,” diners can get lost in the performances—as well as in the creative take on Southern dishes.
The Kitchen Restaurant
Sacramento, California
Opened: May 1991
Average Check: $135
Menu: Farm to Fork
Owner: Selland Family Restaurants
Chef: Kelly McCown
The Kitchen serves a seasonal, mostly local, demonstration dinner. Guests can visit the kitchen and wine cellar, and chat to chefs. At “intermission,” they’re invited to sample food at the chefs’ stations. Awarded the AAA Five Diamond Award five years running.
Paragary’s
Sacramento, California
Opened: 1983
Annual Sales: $3 million
Average Check: $50
Menu: Seasonal Cuisine
Owners: Chef Kurt Spataro, and Randy and Stacy Paragary
Paragary’s has been serving fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients since its conception 33 years ago. In 2015, Paragary’s reopened after being closed a year for an extensive renovation. The restaurant is a local landmark, with a patio that features three waterfalls, a fireplace, and two 60-year-old olive trees.
Fruition
Denver
Opened: February 2007
Annual Sales: Over $1 million
Average Check: $65
Menu: Sophisticated Comfort Food
Chef/Owner: Alex Seidel
At this neighborhood restaurant, guests are treated to produce and hand-crafted cheeses courtesy of Chef Seidel’s own dairy farm.
Mizuna
Denver
Opened: April 2001
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $120
Menu: French
Owner: Bonanno Concepts, Frank and Jacqueline Bonanno
Chefs: Frank Bonanno and Ty Leon
Mizuna describes itself as “the biggest food laboratory in Colorado,” where the menu changes monthly and there is “a marriage between science and epicuria.”
Rioja
Denver
Opened: November 2004
Annual Sales: $3 to $5 million
Average Check: $69
Owners: Chef Jennifer Jasinski and Beth Gruitch
It was the right city, right time, when Rioja came on the scene a dozen years ago. Now, Chef Jasinski has added three more restaurants to her downtown empire and helped make Denver a dining destination with national recognition.
TAG
Denver
Opened: May 2009
Annual Sales: $3.3 million
Average Check: $55
Menu: Continental Social Food featuring small plates of Hawaiian and Pan-Asian Cuisine
Chef/Owner: Troy Guard
TAG’s Continental social food hearkens back to the heritage of owner and executive chef Troy Guard and his Hawaiian roots, with a nod to Pan-Asian and Hawaiian inspirations using local Colorado ingredients that meld classic and contemporary styles.
Vesta Dipping Grill
Denver
Opened: July 1997
Annual Sales: $4 million
Average Check: $47
Menu: World Grill Cuisine
Owners: Josh and Jen Wolkon
Vesta Dipping Grill has won awards ranging from Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence five years in a row to being named among Denver’s “10 Most Important Restaurants” according to Thrillist. This chef-driven concept is undergoing a transition, however: Chef Brandon Foster, who was a fixture at Vesta for 11 years and helmed the kitchen since 2012, left in May to lead Project Angel Heart, a nonprofit that provides nutritious meals to people with life-threatening illnesses.
Firebox
Hartford, Connecticut
Opened: 2007
Annual Sales: Almost $2 million
Average Check: $40–$50
Menu: Seasonal Farm to Table
Owner: The Melville Charitable Trust
Chef: Tony Camilleri
At Firebox, the message goes beyond the food: the restaurant’s profits are donated to Billings Forge Community Works, a non-profit that invests in Hartford’s Frog Hollow neighborhood. The menu—an eclectic mix of small and large seasonal plates—lists all of its local vendors.
Grants Restaurant & Bar
West Hartford, Connecticut
Opened: July 2001
Annual Sales: $4 to $5 million
Average Check: $40–$45
Menu: Contemporary American
Chef/Owner: Billy Grant
Restaurateur Billy Grant, who has received three invitations to cook at the James Beard House in New York City, is the name behind Restaurant Bricco, BG Catering, and Grants in the West Hartford area, as well as Bricco Trattoria on the east side.
Cool Springs Fish Bar & Restaurant
Dover, Delaware
Opened: December 1999
Annual Sales: $1.3 million
Average Check: $35–$45
Menu: Old-Fashioned Fish House
Chef/Owner: Dennis J. Forbes
Seven varieties of fish come into the restaurant daily, sourced locally from fishermen in Maryland and North Carolina, but prime rib is the No. 1 bestseller. The restaurant, open for dinner five days a week, recently underwent a major remodel, which was unveiled in May. Chef Forbes opened a second restaurant next door, Restaurant 55, in 2010.
Restaurant 55
Dover, Delaware
Opened: November 2010
Annual Sales: $1.4 million
Average Check: $18–$30 (e)
Menu: Craft Beer and Burgers
Owners: Desiree DiAntonio and her father, Dennis Forbes
Bella Bella
Tallahassee, Florida
Opened: September 2001
Annual Sales: $1.5 million
Average Check: $17
Menu: Italian
Chef/Owner: Marc Schwartz
The Edison
Tallahassee, Florida
Opened: September 2015
Average Check: $30 (e)
Menu: New American
Owners: Adam Corey and Ryan Grindler
Chef: John Minas
Housed in a historic electric company building that was built in the 1920s, The Edison is the latest addition to the Tallahassee Hospitality Group, which also owns 101 Restaurant and three cocktail lounges. At The Edison, Chef Minas serves internationally inspired dishes in a dramatic setting with panoramic views of Cascades Park.
Bacchanalia
Atlanta
Opened: 1993
Average Check: $75 (e)
Menu: New American Farm to Table
Owners: Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison
Chef: Joseph Schafer
Not a raucous party, as its name suggests, Bacchanalia is Atlanta’s home for contemporary American dishes created by Chef Joseph Schafer. The front of the house is just as impressive as the food coming out of the kitchen: The restaurant was a 2015 semifinalist for the James Beard: Best Service award.
Gunshow
Atlanta
Opened: May 2013
Annual Sales: $2.5 million
Average Check: $75
Menu: Southern-inspired Dim Sum
Chef/Owner: Kevin Gillespie
Chef: Joey Ward
Chef Kevin Gillespie mashes up Southern food and dim sum–style service at Gunshow, where guests pick what they want to eat by choosing from options on rolling trays and carts that are moving through the dining room. Gillespie was a finalist this year for the James Beard Best Chef: Southeast.
Helena’s Hawaiian Food
Honolulu
Opened: September 1946
Annual Sales: Under $1 million
Average Check: $15–$20
Menu: Traditional Hawaiian
Owners: Chef Craig Katsuyoshi and Kalei Katsuyoshi
Helena’s was named in the top 100 U.S. restaurants for 2016 by Yelp and in 2000 it won the Regional Classic Award from the James Beard Foundation. Craig Katsuyoshi, the founder’s grandson, runs the restaurant and serves local ingredients using cooking techniques from his Hawaiian heritage.
MW Restaurant
Honolulu
Opened: October 2013
Annual Sales: Over $3 million
Average Check: Lunch $25–$35, Dinner $55
Menu: Upscale Local and Regional Cuisine
Chefs/Owners: Michelle Karr-Ueoka and Wade Ueoka
High Tea in Hawaii seems an incongruous notion, yet once a month MW hosts an afternoon tea featuring a prix fixe menu, $35, of sweet and savory snacks. Known for its Hawaiian cuisine, the restaurant attracts local residents as well as tourists.
Bardenay Restaurant
Boise, Idaho
Opened: 1999
Annual Sales: Over $10 million
Average Check: $22
Menu: Eclectic Pub Fare
Owners: Kevin Settles and Lisa Fraser
Chef: Travis Levi
Bardenay features a fully licensed distillery producing rum, gin, vodka, and fruit liquors. It also has a full bar, and its wine program is a recurring Wine Spectator award-winner. Voted best family restaurant in Boise in 2015, it bills itself as the nation’s first restaurant distillery, and it has three locations—each specializing in distilling different spirits.
Berryhill & Co.
Boise, Idaho
Opened: March 1998
Annual Sales: $1.5 million
Average Check: $40 (e)
Menu: Northwest Cuisine
Chef/Owner: John Berryhill
In January, owner John Berryhill combined Berryhill & Co., which serves Northwestern cuisine punctuated with tastes of the South, and Bacon, a breakfast and lunch spot serving you-know-what in flavors from chocolate to maple rosemary.
Chandler’s
Boise, Idaho
Opened: May 2007
Annual Sales: $6 million
Average Check: $78
Menu: Classic American Steakhouse and Seafood
Owner: Rex Chandler
Chef: Luis Flores
State & Lemp
Boise, Idaho
Opened: October 2013
Annual Sales: $500,000
Average Check: $75
Menu: Contemporary and Eclectic Local
Owners: Remi McManus and Jay Henry
American Harvest Eatery
Springfield, Illinois
Opened: April 2011
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $35
Menu: Modern American, Farm to Table
Owners: August Mrozowski and Sharon Ehrat
Chefs: Jordan and Aurora Coffey
Delicia
Indianapolis
Opened: March 2013
Annual Sales: Over $2 million
Average Check: $42
Menu: New Latin
Owner(s): Nicole Harlan-Oprisu, Rita Oprisu, Tim Oprisu, James Browning, Bill Ficca, and Bryce Hill
Chef: Ricardo Martinez
Using traditional and modern methods of preparation, its cuisine stays true to the style, flavors, and history of the Americas, the Caribbean, and Spain.
Harry & Izzy’s
Indianapolis
Opened: 2007
Annual Sales: Approaching $11 million
Average Check: $40
Menu: Upscale American Grill
Owners: Steve and Craig Huse, Chris Clifford, Tom Browne, and Peyton Manning
A casual rendition of the city’s landmark St. Elmo Steak House, this upscale tavern has three locations in the capital city, including a downtown flagship that houses a cellar with nearly 3,000 bottles of wine.
Milktooth
Indianapolis
Opened: October 2014
Annual Sales: $1 million (e)
Average Check: $19 (e)
Menu: Breakfast and Brunch
Owners: Chef Jonathan Brooks and Ashley Brooks
Housed in a former auto repair shop, filled with rough wood tables and vintage tableware, Milktooth serves brunch—and nothing else—but with a vibrant, bustling vibe. Named a best restaurant by Bon Appétit last year, while Food & Wine named Chef Jonathan Brooks one of America’s best new chefs.
St. Elmo Steak House
Indianapolis
Opened: 1902
Annual Sales: $17.7 million
Average Check: $88
Menu: Classic American Steakhouse
Owners: Steve and Craig Huse
Before steak comes shrimp—some 135,000 shrimp cocktails are served in this landmark restaurant that is the iconic eatery in Indianapolis.
Centro
Des Moines, Iowa
Opened: November 2002
Annual Sales: Over $2 million
Average Check: Lunch $15, Dinner $40
Menu: Italian
Chef/Owner: George Formaro
Chef: Derek Eidson
One of seven concepts in the Orchestrate Hospitality group, this upscale urban Italian eatery is located in a restored Masonic temple that dates to 1911.
Proof
Des Moines, Iowa
Opened: Spring 2008
Annual Sales: Under $1 million
Average Check: $30–$50
Menu: Mediterranean-Inspired Comfort Food
Chef/Owner: Sean Wilson
Three times a semifinalist for James Beard Best Chef: Midwest, Sean Wilson blends Old World charm with locally sourced ingredients to deliver a superior dining experience.
Row House Restaurant
Topeka, Kansas
Opened: April 2007
Annual Sales: Under $1 million
Average Check: $60
Menu: American Fusion
Chef/Owner: Greg Fox
Kansas-raised Greg Fox’s seasonal menu is always served in prix fixe format, with a salad, soup, three entrée choices, and three dessert choices. A garden in the back supplies fresh herbs, supplemental greens, and vegetables. The building, originally a residence, dates to 1876, and the original footprint remains intact.
Garcia’s
Frankfort, Kentucky
Opened: October 2004
Annual Sales: $1.5 million
Average Check: $10
Menu: Traditional Mexican
Owner(s): Juan Garcia, and Chefs Francisco and Maricella Garcia
Staxx
Frankfort, Kentucky
Opened: May 2011
Annual Sales: $1.3 million
Average Check: $12
Menu: Traditional Barbecue
Owner: Dan Liebman
Chef: Jo Liebman
City Pork Brasserie and Bar
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Opened: December 2014
Average Check: $38 (e)
Menu: Global Louisianan Cuisine
Owners: Chase Lyons and Stephen Hightower
Chef: Ryan Andre
Juban’s
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Opened: 1983
Average Check: $49 (e)
Menu: Cajun-Creole-French Fusion
Owners: Michael Shane Boudreaux and the Juban Family
Chef: Joey Daigle
Ruffino’s
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Opened: October 1998
Annual Sales: $6.4 million
Average Check: $50
Menu: Creole Italian
Owners: Chef Peter Sclafani and Ruffin Rodrigue
Chef: Jeremy Langlois
Ruffino’s serves food with a story, and most of its customers are repeat business. It’s won many awards including Restaurateur of the Year from the Louisiana Restaurant Association, Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, and OpenTable’s Fine Dining Award.
Sweet Chilli Thai
Augusta, Maine
Opened: August 2008
Annual Sales: Under $1 million
Average Check: $10–$15
Menu: Thai
Owners: Suparinya Mungtanya, Ratsada Itthipalakorn, and Chef Pringpanee Itthipalakorn
Chef: Nuttawut Saelun
Visitors arriving at the Augusta airport find dining gem Sweet Chilli Thai in the terminal. It crafts authentic Thai curries, soups, and other traditional dishes—spiced to order—without any MSG.
O’Learys Seafood
Annapolis, Maryland
Opened: April 1983
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $50–$60
Menu: Fine-Dining Seafood
Owner: Wil Peterson
Chef: Ben Janes Sr.
The O’Leary name has held a lot of weight in Annapolis over the decades. Before its current operation and ownership was established, there was the O’Leary’s Fish Market, and then the old version of the current eatery, which regardless of the details, has kept its focus on the water. Fresh seafood drives the business, with dishes like the Crispy Rockfish on the menu year after year.
Preserve
Annapolis, Maryland
Opened: April 2015
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $35
Menu: Casual American
Owners: Chef Jeremy Hoffman, Michelle Hoffman, Matthew Hetrick, and Chris Oland
Husband-and-wife team Jeremy and Michelle Hoffman held some high-profile jobs before deciding to open their own restaurant. Michelle worked as a maître d’ at Danny Meyer’s famed Union Square Café, while Jeremy clocked time at Thomas Keller’s Per Se for two years. At Preserve, pickling and fermentation is a major focus and passion of the restaurant.
Vin 909 Winecafé
Annapolis, Maryland
Opened: April 2011
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $30
Menu: Mediterranean New American
Owner: The Manfredonia Family
Chef: Justin Moore
Davio’s
Boston
Opened: May 1985
Annual Sales: Over $10 million
Average Check: $100–$150
Menu: Northern Italian
Chef/Owner: Steve DiFillippo
Owner Steve DiFillippo believes so strongly that “it’s all about the guest” that he’s written a book with that title. Davio’s also works with fundraisers including the Taste of the NFL to raise money for food banks.
Myers + Chang
Boston
Opened: Fall 2007
Average Check: $33 (e)
Menu: Asian
Owners: Chef Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers
Chef: Karen Akunowicz
Myers + Chang dishes up Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, and Thai fare using lighter sauces, and offering either fun and innovative takes on classic dishes, or creating new dishes that stay true to original flavors. It’s especially inspired by Taiwanese soul food and Southeast Asian street food, all done with a great deal of care.
The Creole
Lansing, Michigan
Opened: December 2015
Annual Sales: $2 million (projected)
Average Check: $65
Menu: Progressive Creole
Owners: Alan Hooper, Aaron Matthews, and Sam Short
Chef: Dan Konopnicki
Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct
St. Paul, Minnesota
Opened: October 2002
Annual Sales: $2.5 million
Average Check: $65
Menu: North American Midwest
Owners: Chef Lenny Russo with K. Mega Hoehn and Kris Maritz
Heartland works with regional farmers who practice humane and sustainable agriculture and pay fair trade and living wages. Whole animals are processed in-house, and the restaurant has a full line of artisanal products including jams, ice creams, breads, and pickled vegetables that it sells in its adjoining market.
Bully’s Restaurant
Jackson, Mississippi
Opened: September 1982
Annual Sales: $400,000
Average Check: $9
Menu: Southern Soul Food
Owners: Chef Tyrone Bully and Greta Brown Bully
One of five recipients of this year’s James Beard: America’s Classic award, Bully’s has a firm place in Mississippi’s rich culinary history. Chef Tyrone Bully and his father built the restaurant with their own hands in the early 1980s, and his collards, ribs, fried chicken, and catfish are the stuff of legend among fervent locals.
Madison’s Café
Jefferson City, Missouri
Opened: April 1982
Average Check: $20 lunch / $30 dinner
Menu: Northern Italian
Owner: Rob Agee
Chef: Matt Callison
Open for 34 years, Madison’s Café offers relaxed yet elegant dining, which features Italian and American fare with global influences. The menu changes often to reflect seasonable availability and the restaurant’s long-established relationships with local growers and farmers. In addition to using locally sourced products, Madison’s Café uses herbs from its own garden. The restaurant only serves sustainable fish, and offers gluten-free fare and a wide variety of vegetarian choices. The newest menu item, Cioppino, has been added to its signature dish listing. Among other awards, this year the restaurant received the national Talk Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction for the fifth consecutive year; a Jefferson City Magazine poll voted it first place in seven categories and second place in two; Jefferson City News Tribune named it the city’s most romantic restaurant and the best lunch spot in town, and it was awarded the Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor for the fifth straight year.
Lucca’s Italian
Helena, Montana
Opened: June 2006
Annual Sales: Under $1 million
Average Check: $44
Menu: Italian
Owner: Frederick Stout
Chef: Mike Hyyppa
Named The Best Restaurant in Montana by Business Insider in both 2015 and 2016, Lucca’s is a fine-dining dinner-only venue that prides itself on comfort and from-scratch cuisine.
Vincenzo’s
Lincoln, Nebraska
Opened: July 1994
Average Check: $28
Menu: Italian
Owners: Chef Steve Nagle, Mike Frank, Mark Johnson, and Bill Whitley
Café at Adele’s
Carson City, Nevada
Opened: November 1977
Annual Sales: $1.5 to $2 million
Average Check: $40
Menu: New American
Owners: Chef Charlie Abowd and wife Karen
Adele’s has been in the Abowd family since 1977, when Paul and Adele, the parents of current chef and co-owner Charlie, founded the restaurant. Charlie and his wife, Karen, took the reins in 1998 and have stockpiled accolades ever since. That includes a 2005 trip to the James Beard House in New York City to showcase their celebrated locally sourced cuisine, which offers everything from the family’s Falafel recipe to House-Smoked Salmon. However, the couple are best known for their passionate giving to the community, from The Greenhouse Project—Karen’s dream that evolved into an agricultural program at the local high school, providing food to those in need—to the restaurant’s annual Concert Under the Stars, which raises funds for the arts and The Greenhouse Project.
The Barley House
Concord, New Hampshire
Opened: March 2000
Annual Sales: $2.5 million
Average Check: $28
Menu: Gastropub
Chef/Owner: Brian Shea
Granite Restaurant & Bar
Concord, New Hampshire
Opened: 2007
Annual Sales: $1.3 million
Average Check: $45
Menu: New American Farm to Table
Owners: Norman McCloud
Chef: Corey Fletcher
Homestead Inn
Trenton, New Jersey
Opened: 1939
Average Check: $30 (e)
Menu: Italian
Owners: Peter Rosati and Chef Randy Forrester
Georgia
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Opened: June 2014
Annual Sales: $1.5 million
Average Check: $28
Menu: American
Owner: Geronimo Hospitality
Chef: Leroy Alvarado
izanami at Ten Thousand Waves
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Opened: November 2013
Annual Sales: $1.5 million
Average Check: $40
Menu: Southwest American meets Far East
Owner: Duke Klauck
A semifinalist for James Beard: Best New Restaurant in 2014, the accolades just keep mounting for this spa-based eatery that touts more than 40 varieties of sake.
Restaurant Martin
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Opened: September 2009
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: Lunch $22, Dinner $55
Menu: Progressive American
Owner: Chef Martin Rios and wife Jennifer
A native of Guadalajara, Chef Rios started working in Santa Fe restaurants at age 17—as a dishwasher. After graduating from The Culinary Institute of America, his career took off. Now, he and his wife share the acclaimed restaurant and a passion for bettering their community: She is president of The Horse Shelter, and he volunteers with Cooking with Kids.
Albany Pump Station & C.H. Evans Brewing Company
Albany, New York
Opened: 1999
Average Check: $50–$75
Menu: American Pub
Owner: Neil Evans
Chef: Todd Cutler
18 Seaboard
Raleigh, North Carolina
Opened: May 2006
Annual Sales: $2.9 million
Average Check: $25
Menu: Eclectic Contemporary Southern
Owners: Chef Jason Smith, Lauren Smith
Chef Jason Smith and his wife, Lauren, opened 18 Seaboard in 2006 as a simple restaurant that paid tribute to Southern cuisine, local ingredients, and sustainable practices. Today, the team operates three other restaurants in the area, but the downtown flagship spot is said to be the place where movers and shakers meet for lunch.
42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill
Raleigh, North Carolina
Opened: 1987
Average Check: $30
Menu: Seafood
Owners: Brad Hurley and John Vick
Known to locals as one of the best seafood restaurants in the state, it’s also a destination for wine and in 2015 it won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its wine list. Co-owner Brad Hurley has been an active leader in the state’s restaurant industry for decades, and his dinner-only restaurant is where politicians and business leaders gather.
Angus Barn
Raleigh, North Carolina
Opened: June 1960
Annual Sales: Over $15 million
Average Check: $60
Menu: Classic Steakhouse
Owner: Van Eure
A landmark restaurant not only for the state, but also for the entire Southeast region: Diners know to expect the best beef in town, but the wine list is nationally recognized as one of the best in the nation and the hospitality knows no bounds.
Death & Taxes
Raleigh, North Carolina
Opened: June 2015
Average Check: $65 (e)
Menu: New American
Chef/Owner: Ashley Christensen
The latest from James Beard Award-winning chef Ashley Christensen, Death & Taxes focuses on wood-fired cooking and craft cocktails. The restaurant was a finalist for the 2016 James Beard: Best New Restaurant award.
Peacock Alley
Bismarck, North Dakota
Opened: 1933
Annual Sales: Over $2 million
Average Check: $28
Menu: American Grill
Owners: Dale and Melodie Zimmerman
Chef: Dustin Swenningson
The oldest bar and restaurant in North Dakota, located in the historic Patterson building, is a place to be seen in the capital city. U.S. presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson visited the Patterson Hotel, which was built in 1911. Beef is the restaurant’s main draw, with The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association naming the restaurant the Beef Innovator of the Year in 2012. The owners also operate 40 Steak and Seafood, and are opening two new concepts, Loco and Edwinton Brewing, this year.
Barcelona Restaurant & Bar
Columbus, Ohio
Opened: 1996
Average Check: $48 (e)
Menu: Spanish
Owner: Scott Heimlich
Chef: Jacob Hough
Not to be confused with the Barteca Restaurant Group’s similar brand, this Barcelona is a one-of-a-kind independent operation.
Refectory
Columbus, Ohio
Opened: 1976
Annual Sales: $3 million
Average Check: $60
Menu: Classic and Contemporary French
Owner: Kamal Boulos
Chef: Richard Blondin
The Refectory offers a relaxed and elegant space serving contemporary American and classic French cuisine, complemented by more than 700 wines. Open for 40 years, it has received the AAA Four Diamond Award for more than 20 consecutive years, been named among the Top 100 U.S. Restaurants by OpenTable, and the Top 25 for Service by Zagat.
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse
Oklahoma City
Opened: 1910
Annual Sales: Almost $10 million
Average Check: Lunch $14.50, Dinner $26
Menu: Classic Steakhouse
Owner: Dick Stubbs
The stories this restaurant could tell! The history is almost as good as the steaks, and legendary guests run the gamut from real cowboys to movie stars to U.S. presidents. The cows came first, but this is the place that put the city on the map.
Cheever’s Café
Oklahoma City
Opened: April 2000
Annual Sales: $3.5 million
Average Check: $35
Menu: Contemporary Comfort Food
Owners: Keith and Heather Paul
Chef: Robert Hodgkinson
History runs deep at Cheever’s Café. The restaurant—part of A Good Egg Dining Group’s seven concepts—is located in the former home of “Oklahoma Belle Cunningham” and her husband, Lawrence “L.L.” Cheever. The pair owned and operated a flower shop for close to 60 years, dating back to 1927. Belle, in fact, was the first baby born in the newly formed Oklahoma City back in 1912. Keith and Heather Paul purchased the building in 2000 and have continued to honor the heritage, keeping the name as well as the original terrazzo floors.
Archive Coffee & Bar
Salem, Oregon
Opened: December 2014
Annual Sales: $1 million
Average Check: $26
Menu: Seasonal Global Fusion, Specialty Coffee
Owner: Jesse Hayes and Justin Doyle
Chef: Jon McCloud
Archive Coffee & Bar lives a double life: roasting and serving specialty coffee by day, and by night, serving food paired with cocktails, spirits, wine, and beer. The establishment pays meticulous attention to detail in food and beverage with a well-articulated tapas menu. Even the popcorn—a bar snack staple—is prepared with Ginger Thyme Syrup and a cranberry reduction.
Mangia Qua & Suba Tapas Bar
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Opened: Mangia Qua in February 2002 / Suba Tapas Bar in December 2007
Annual Sales: Almost $2 million
Average Check: $55 Mangia Qua / $35 Suba Tapas Bar
Menu: Regional Italian / Spanish Tapas
Owners: Chef Rosemarie Musarra, Staci Basore, and Elide Hower
Two concepts in one restaurant—where the owners take a hands-on approach, grow their own vegetables and herbs, and maintain strong ties in the community.
What If Café
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Opened:1999
Annual Sales: Under $1 million
Average Check: $18–$25
Menu: Continental Mediterranean
Owner: Liz McQuaid
Chef: Ed Monuteaux
Located in a 1917 home, the intimate setting veers elegant. Food is offered in a three-course prix fixe menu, priced $25, or à la carte; the bar program is BYOB.
Cook & Brown Public House
Providence, Rhode Island
Opened: March 2010
Annual Sales: $800,000
Average Check: $40–$45
Menu: New and Classic Americana
Chef/Owner: Nemo Bolin
The menu changes daily, staying true to seasonality and sincere hospitality.
Siena
Providence, Rhode Island
Opened: March 2005
Annual Sales: Over $2.5 million
Average Check: $40
Menu: Tuscan Italian
Owners: Chef Anthony Tarro and Chris Tarro
Mr. Friendly’s New Southern
Columbia, South Carolina
Opened: 1995
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $40–$50
Menu: New Southern
Owners: Chef Ricky Mollohan and Harold Ham
Mr. Friendly’s, a 10-time Award of Excellence winner from Wine Spectator, opened in the early 1980s as a sandwich and cookie shop. The restaurant began serving refined and innovative Southern cuisine in 1995, focusing on fresh seafood, poultry, wild game, and small-batch spirits, like Bourbon, single-match Scotch, and flavored vodkas. The restaurant’s sister concepts, Cellar on Greene and Solstice Kitchen, are also celebrated locales in the Palmetto State.
Terra
Columbia, South Carolina
Opened: August 2006
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $40–$50
Menu: Contemporary American
Chef/Owner: Mike Davis
Mike Davis’ restaurant has earned a Wine Spectator award each year since opening, including an Award of Excellence in 2015 for its 140 selections focusing on California and Italian varietals. The menu changes daily and dips into Davis’ regional expertise at taking classic local dishes and giving them a modern twist. In 2010, David cooked his Southern Roots dinner at the James Beard House in New York City.
La Minestra
Pierre, South Dakota
Opened: May 1998
Average Check: $25
Menu: Modern American, Greek, and Italian
Owners: Chef Mark Mancuso and Stacey Mancuso
La Minestra is the passion of military veterans Mark and Stacey Mancuso. Mark served 13 years in the U.S. Army, while Stacey was there for seven. The food is from-scratch, such as pasta made daily and hand-cut steaks. Every dish is cooked to order and every sauce, dressing, and sausage is crafted by hand.
Myril Arch’s Cattleman’s Club Steakhouse
Pierre, South Dakota
Opened: February 1986
Annual Sales: $1 million
Average Check: $20–$25
Menu: American Steakhouse
Owner: Cindy Arch
Chef: Rick Farris
Serving the same food that was on the menu in 1986, when founder Myril Arch didn’t have enough money to afford carpet in the restaurant, the Pierre landmark goes through around 60,000 pounds of aged, choice beef a year. Myril’s favorite is a 24-ounce bone-in Ribeye that arrives simply with soup or salad, potato or vegetable, and Texas toast. It’s a no-frills kind of restaurant so popular that it has its own gift shop.
City House
Nashville, Tennessee
Opened: December 2007
Average Check: $50 (e)
Menu: Italian
Chef/Owner: Tandy Wilson
Italian food with Southern influences is served in this former sculptor’s studio on a residential side street. The open kitchen is a favorite. Chef Wilson, winner of this year’s James Beard Best Chef: Southeast award, is often credited with giving Nashville its status as a food town.
Etch
Nashville, Tennessee
Opened: August 2012
Annual Sales: $4.2 million
Average Check: Lunch $24, Dinner $65
Menu: Contemporary Cuisine
Chef/Owner: Deb Paquette
A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and the first woman in Tennessee to qualify as a certified executive chef, owner Deb Paquette has won national accolades and made Nashville her own—as well as a top dining destination across the region. Next up: She’s on track to open a second restaurant, Etc (sans the “h”), later this year.
The 404 Kitchen
Nashville, Tennessee
Opened: October 2013
Annual Sales: $1.2 to $1.5 million
Average Check: $80
Menu: Modern European
Owner: Mark Banks
Chef: Matt Bolus
The focus is on local, seasonal fare: Unsurprising given the rooftop herb garden atop this eatery that’s housed in a recycled shipping container.
Barley Swine
Austin, Texas
Opened: December 2010
Annual Sales: Over $2.5 million
Average Check: $72
Menu: Food Inspired by Farmers
Chef/Owner: Bryce Gilmore
Small space, big taste: Barley Swine has been a commanding presence in the industry ever since it opened five years ago. The restaurant recently expanded from its original 36-seat capacity to 90 seats, including 10 at the Chef’s counter overlooking the kitchen.
Launderette
Austin, Texas
Opened: February 2015
Average Check: $39 (e)
Menu: Mediterranean Bistro
Chef/Owners: Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki
Olamaie
Austin, Texas
Opened: August 2014
Average Check: $50 (e)
Menu: Contemporary Southern
Chef/Owners: Michael Fojtasek and Grae Nonas
The Copper Onion
Salt Lake City, Utah
Opened: 2010
Average Check: $42 (e)
Menu: Local, Seasonal, and Inventive
Owners: Chef Ryan Lowder and wife Colleen
Chef: Jamison Frank
HSL
Salt Lake City, Utah
Opened: April 1, 2016
Annual Sales: Too new to forecast! One to watch!
Average Check: $40 (e)
Menu: Contemporary American
Owners: Chef Briar Handly with Meagan Nash and Melissa Gray
This is the second concept from Chef Handly and partners Nash and Gray, the first being Handle—30 miles away in Park City. Like its predecessor, HSL promises all things local and fresh, including foraged and seasonal fare.
Log Haven
Salt Lake City, Utah
Opened: October 1994
Annual Sales: $3 million
Average Check: $58
Menu: Contemporary American
Owners: Chef David Jones with Margo Provost, Ian Campbell, and Faith Scheffler
Acclaimed as Utah’s most romantic fine-dining restaurant, Log Haven is situated on 40 private acres in the Wasatch National Forest. It has garnered top Mobil, AAA Four Diamond and Zagat rankings as well as Awards of Excellence from Wine Spectator.
J Morgan’s Steakhouse
Montpelier, Vermont
Opened: April 1995
Annual Sales: $2 to $3 million
Average Check: $30–$40
Menu: American Steakhouse
Chef/Owner: Fred Bashara
In 2011, the restaurant—in a building that once housed a Days Inn—underwent an extensive renovation, basically stripping away everything but the quality menu, which offers high-end steaks and seafood, as well as a locally revered Sunday brunch complete with maple-bourbon-glazed ham and Belgian waffles.
Graffiato
Richmond, Virginia
Opened: September 2014
Annual Sales: $2.5 to $3 million
Average Check: $40
Menu: Italian meets Southern
Chef/Owner: Mike Isabella
In a historic building on the city’s revitalized Broad Street, between the downtown government mecca and the artsy Fan district, Graffiato brings upscale-polished dining with a hip vibe.
L’Opossum
Richmond, Virginia
Opened: August 2014
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $56
Menu: French-Inspired Southern
Chef/Owner: David Shannon
This 50-seat restaurant features Chef Shannon’s 25-plus years of French-inspired Southern professional cooking. The restaurant was a semifinalist for James Beard Best Chef: Midwest this year, and in 2014 was listed in Virginia’s 10 Best Restaurants: A Foodie’s Ultimate Guide.
Millie’s Diner
Richmond, Virginia
Opened: May 1989
Annual Sales: $1.5 million
Average Check: $20–$30 lunch; $30–$40 dinner
Menu: Global Inspirations, Local Ingredients
Owners: Paul Keevil and Lisa Edwards
Chef: Taylor Nucklos
Millie’s Diner is tiny—just 40 seats plus a patio—with a tiny kitchen, too, which just adds to the ambiance of this 1940s-style diner. It may be diner food, but it’s seasonal, local, and globally inspired.
Rappahannock Restaurant
Richmond, Virginia
Opened: December 2012
Annual Sales: $2.5 million
Average Check: $45.50
Menu: Seafood and Local Meats
Owners: Ryan and Travis Croxton
Chef: Dylan Fultineer
Iron Rabbit
Olympia, Washington
Opened: 2005
Average Check: $42
Menu: American
Owner: Christian Skillings
Bluegrass Kitchen
Charleston, West Virginia
Opened: October 2005
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $24
Menu: Elevated Comfort Food
Owners: Keeley and Jonathan Steele
Chef: Kelly Stephens
Noah’s Eclectic Bistro
Charleston, West Virginia
Opened: March 2012
Annual Sales: Under $1 million
Average Check: $50
Menu: Seasonal World Fusion
Chef/Owner: Noah Miller
Eclectic is a fitting word for Chef Noah Miller’s 11-table restaurant. The international menus can change on a whim, and always shy away from standard fare. In May, Chef Miller, a Charleston native who clocked time at Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud in Palm Beach, Florida, held a six-course wine dinner featuring selections sourced from volcanic soil.
Harvest
Madison, Wisconsin
Opened: September 2000
Annual Sales: $1 to $1.5 million
Average Check: $45–$55
Menu: Modern American Farm to Table
Owner: Tami Lax
Chef: Matthew Schieble
L’Etoile
Madison, Wisconsin
Opened: 1976
Annual Sales: $1 to $2 million
Average Check: $150
Menu: Global Cuisine with Old World techniques
Owners: Chef Tory Miller and his sister Traci Miller, with Dianne Christensen, Tracey Solverson, and Krys Wachowiak
The Madison landmark is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Odessa Piper started the restaurant and carried it to national acclaim, winning the James Beard Best Chef: Midwest award in 2002. In 2005, Piper’s chef de cuisine, Tory Miller, purchased the restaurant and has continued that impressive legacy. In 2012, Miller, who now owns Graze, Sujeo, and Estrellón, captured the same award and was a 2016 semifinalist for James Beard: Outstanding Chef.
The Albany
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Opened: 1942
Average Check: $25–$30 (e)
Menu: Hearty Americana
Owners: George and Gus Kallas
Family-owned since 1942 and in the same location for more than 70 years: History is just one reason that The Albany is Cheyenne’s landmark restaurant (and premier watering hole). All steaks and chops are cut in-house, with Prime Rib and Chicken Fried Steak the bestsellers, and the soups, sauces, and gravies are made from scratch. In 1991, the restaurateurs become retailers as well, adding a discount liquor store next door.
