The 2016 FSR Top 100 Indies highlights leading independent operators in state capitals throughout the U.S. The chart below includes data on each restaurant’s annual sales, the year it opened, and its average dinner check per diner. When specific data was unavailable, the sales are estimated (e) or clarified as Not Available. The ranking can be sorted by any of these data points to view restaurants by sales, age, or average check. See the full story with restaurants ranked alphabetically by state.
Restaurant | Location | Annual Sales | Opened | Average Check |
Albany Pump Station & C.H. Evans Brewing | Albany, New York | Not Available | 1999 | $50–$75 |
O'Learys Seafood | Annapolis, Maryland | $1 to $2 million | 1983 | $50–$60 |
Preserve | Annapolis, Maryland | $1 to $2 million | 2015 | $35 |
Vin 909 Winecafé | Annapolis, Maryland | $1 to $2 million | 2011 | $30 |
Gunshow | Atlanta | $2.5 million | 2013 | $75 |
Bacchanalia | Atlanta | Not Available | 1993 | $75 (e) |
Sweet Chilli Thai | Augusta, Maine | Under $1 million | 2008 | $10–$15 |
Barley Swine | Austin, Texas | Over $2.5 million | 2010 | $72 |
Launderette | Austin, Texas | Not Available | 2015 | $39(e) |
Olamaie | Austin, Texas | Not Available | 2014 | $50(e) |
Ruffino's | Baton Rouge, Louisianna | $6.4 million | 1998 | $50 |
City Pork Brasserie and Bar | Baton Rouge, Louisianna | Not Available | 2014 | $38 (e) |
Juban's | Baton Rouge, Louisianna | Not Available | 1983 | $49(e) |
Peacock Alley | Bismarck, North Dakota | Over $2 million | 1933 | $28 |
Bardenay Restaurant | Boise, Idaho | Over $10 million | 1999 | $22 |
Chandler's | Boise, Idaho | $6 million | 2007 | $78 |
Berryhill & Co. | Boise, Idaho | $1.5 million | 1998 | $40 (e) |
State & Lemp | Boise, Idaho | $500,000 | 2013 | $75 |
Davio's | Boston | Over $10 million | 1985 | $100–$150 |
Myers + Chang | Boston | Not Available | 2007 | $33(e) |
Café at Adele's | Carson City, Nevada | $1.5 to $2 million | 1977 | $40 |
Noah's Eclectic Bistro | Charleson, West Virginia | Under $1 million | 2012 | $50 |
Bluegrass Kitchen | Charleston, West Virginia | $1 to $2 million | 2005 | $24 |
The Albany | Cheyenne, Wyoming | Not Available | 1942 | $25–$30(e) |
Mr. Friendly's New Southern | Columbia, South Carolina | $1 to $2 million | 1995 | $40–$50 |
Terra | Columbia, South Carolina | $1 to $2 million | 2006 | $40–$50 |
Refectory | Columbus, Ohio | $3 million | 1976 | $60 |
Barcelona Restaurant & Bar | Columbus, Ohio | Not Available | 1996 | $48(e) |
The Barley House | Concord, New Hampshire | $2.5 million | 2000 | $28 |
Granite Restaurant & Bar | Concord, New Hampshire | $1.3 million | 2007 | $45 |
Vesta Dipping Grill | Denver | $4 million | 1997 | $47 |
Rioja | Denver | $3 to $5 million | 2004 | $69 |
TAG | Denver | $3.3 million | 2009 | $55 |
Mizuna | Denver | $1 to $2 million | 2001 | $120 |
Fruition | Denver | Over $1 million | 2007 | $65 |
Centro | Des Moines, Iowa | Over $2 million | 2012 | $40 |
Proof | Des Moines, Iowa | Under $1 million | 2008 | $30–$50 |
Restaurant 55 | Dover, Delaware | $1.4 million | 2010 | $18–$30 (e) |
Cool Springs Fish Bar & Restaurant | Dover, Delaware | $1.3 million | 1999 | $35–$45 |
Garcia's | Frankfort, Kentucky | $1.5 million | 2004 | $10 |
Staxx | Frankfort, Kentucky | $1.3 million | 2011 | $12 |
Mangia Qua & Suba Tapas Bar | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Approaching $2 million | 2002 | $55 |
What If Café | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Under $1 million | 1999 | $18–$25 |
Firebox | Hartford, Connecticut | Approaching $2 million | 2007 | $40–$50 |
Lucca's Italian | Helena, Montana | Under $1 million | 2006 | $44 |
MW Restaurant | Honolulu | Over $3 million | 2013 | $55 |
Helena's Hawaiian Food | Honolulu | Under $1 million | 1946 | $15–$20 |
St. Elmo Steak House | Indianapolis | $17.7 million | 1902 | $88 |
Harry & Izzy's | Indianapolis | Almost $11 million | 2007 | $40 |
Delicia | Indianapolis | Over $2 million | 2013 | $42 |
Milktooth | Indianapolis | $1 million (e) | 2014 | $19 |
Bully's Restaurant | Jackson, Mississippi | $400,000 | 1982 | $9 |
Madison's Café | Jefferson City, Missouri | Not Available | 1982 | $30 |
Salt | Juneau, Alaska | $1 to $2 million | 2014 | $40 |
The Rookery Café | Juneau, Alaska | $1 to $1.5 million | 2010 | $21 |
The Creole | Lansing, Michigan | $2 million | 2015 | $65 |
Vincenzo's | Lincoln, Nebraska | Not Available | 1994 | $28 |
Big Orange | Little Rock, Arkansas | $3.9 million | 2013 | $22.50 |
South on Main | Little Rock, Arkansas | $1.2 million | 2013 | $28 |
One Eleven at the Capital | Little Rock, Arkansas | Not Available | 2014 | $75 |
L'Etoile | Madison, Wisconsin | $1 to $2 million | 1976 | $150 |
Harvest | Madison, Wisconsin | $1 to $1.5 million | 2000 | $45–$55 |
Eastside Grille | Montgomery, Alabama | $1 to $2 million | 2003 | $15 |
J Morgan's Steakhouse | Montpelier, Vermont | $2 to $3 million | 1995 | $30–$40 |
Etch | Nashville, Tennessee | $4.2 million | 2012 | $65 |
The 404 Kitchen | Nashville, Tennessee | $1.2 to $1.5 million | 2013 | $80 |
City House | Nashville, Tennessee | Not Available | 2007 | $50(e) |
Cattlemen's Steakhouse | Oklahoma City | Approaching $10 million | 1910 | $26 |
Cheever's Café | Oklahoma City | $3.5 million | 2000 | $35 |
Iron Rabbit | Olympia, Washington | Not Available | 2005 | $42 |
Ocotillo Restaurant & Bar | Phoenix | $4.5 to $5 million | 2015 | $28 |
Ten | Phoenix | $750,000 | 2014 | $40 |
Myril Arch's Cattleman's Club Steakhouse | Pierre, South Dakota | $1 million | 1986 | $20–$25 |
La Minestra | Pierre, South Dakota | Not Available | 1998 | $25 |
Siena | Providence, Rhode Island | Over $2.5 million | 2005 | $40 |
Cook & Brown Public House | Providence, Rhode Island | $800,000 | 2010 | $40–$45 |
Angus Barn | Raleigh, North Carolina | Over $15 million | 1960 | $60 |
18 Seaboard | Raleigh, North Carolina | $2.9 million | 2006 | $25 |
42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill | Raleigh, North Carolina | Not Available | 1987 | $30 |
Death & Taxes | Raleigh, North Carolina | Not Available | 2015 | $65(e) |
Graffiato | Richmond, Virginia | $2.5 to $3 million | 2014 | $40 |
Rappahannock Restaurant | Richmond, Virginia | $2.5 million | 2012 | $45.50 |
L'Opossum | Richmond, Virginia | $1 to $2 million | 2014 | $56 |
Millie's Diner | Richmond, Virginia | $1.5 million | 1989 | $20–$30 |
Paragary's | Sacramento, California | $3 million | 1983 | $50 |
The Kitchen Restaurant | Sacramento, California | Not Available | 1991 | $135 |
Archive Coffee & Bar | Salem, Oregon | $1 million | 2014 | $26 |
Log Haven | Salt Lake City, Utah | $3 million | 1994 | $58 |
The Copper Onion | Salt Lake City, Utah | Not Available | 2010 | $42(e) |
HSL | Salt Lake City, Utah | Not Available | 2016 | $40(e) |
Restaurant Martin | Santa Fe, New Mexico | $1 to $2 million | 2009 | $55 |
Georgia | Santa Fe, New Mexico | $1.5 million | 2014 | $28 |
izanami at Ten Thousand Waves | Santa Fe, New Mexico | $1.5 million | 2013 | $40 |
American Harvest Eatery | Springfield, Illinois | $1 to $2 million | 2011 | $35 |
Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct | St. Paul, Minnesota | $2.5 million | 2002 | $65 |
Bella Bella | Tallahassee, Florida | $1.5 million | 2001 | $17 |
The Edison | Tallahassee, Florida | Not Available | 2015 | $30 (e) |
Row House Restaurant | Topeka, Kansas | Under $1 million | 2007 | $60 |
Homestead Inn | Trenton, New Jersey | Not Available | 1939 | $30(e) |
Grants Restaurant & Bar | West Hartford, Connecticut | $4 to $5 million | 2001 | $40–$45 |