USA TODAY 10Best
10 best new restaurants in the US that you need to try in 2024
Best New Restaurant (2024)
It's been estimated that there are more than 1 million restaurants in the United States, according to the National Restaurant Association, with hundreds of new options opening up each year.
To find the best, we asked a panel of food and travel experts to nominate their 20 favorite new restaurants to open in the past year. Then, readers voted for their top picks to determine the winners. Here are the 10 best new restaurants, ranging from chef-driven fast casual concepts to high-end dining with a focus on hyper-local and sustainable ingredients.
- The Oakville Grill & Cellar - Chicago, Illinois
- The Farmhouse Bistro - Poolesville, Maryland
- Asador Bastian - Chicago, Illinois
- Cut 132 - Columbus, Ohio
- Pigeon and Whale - New Orleans, Louisiana
- Kiddo - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Indigenous Eats - Spokane, Washington
- Naxos Taverna - Las Vegas, Nevada
- Regina's Westside - Asheville, North Carolina
- Otto's High Dive - Orlando, Florida
Photo courtesy of David Borzkowski
No. 10:
The Oakville Grill & Cellar brings the best wines of California to Chicago's Fulton Market District. The menu is inspired by farms and ranches in California and the Midwest and features outstanding plates like grilled heirloom artichokes, oak wood-grilled wagyu steaks, and West Coast petrale sole. The drink menu features a staggering array of the best Napa wines to complement your meal.
Photo courtesy of Anna Kim / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 9:
The Farmhouse Bistro at The Crossvines is an artisanal restaurant set in the hillsides of Poolesville, Maryland. Come here for the pork ribeye, served with Swiss chard, rhubarb compote, and Marsh Hen Mill grits, and pair it with a wine flight from Crossvines' own superb estate collection. Sit outdoors by a wood fire pit looking out at 380 acres of verdant countryside and you'll not only have a great meal, but one soothing city escape as well.
No. 8:
From chef Doug Psaltis, Asador Bastian in Chicago is a chophouse with Basque influences. Set in the Flair House, an 1800s historic townhouse, you'll be wowed by some of the world's finest boutique beef. Indulge in their white truffles from Alba in season or sample the spontaneous chef's menu that celebrates the best of San Sebastian in the Basque Country. This is a carnivore's paradise.
No. 7:
Aptly named, at Cut 132, only the best steaks make the cut. This Columbus eatery celebrates the tradition of an American steakhouse, but without the stuffiness, and it features unique takes on fine meats to go with the contemporary interior design. Short ribs are made with Korean spices, you can top your tomahawk steak or wagyu beef with peppercorn cognac cream or chimichurri, and they do some amazing crafted drinks, like the Yoga School Dropout, which is a pineapple mule made with Wheatley vodka, pineapple puree, lime, ginger beer, and mint.
Photo courtesy of AntonioGuillem / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 6:
Freret Street is the home of Pigeon and Whale, which has brought the charm and flavors of New England to New Orleans. With an interior design that looks like the inside of a ship, you'll feel as though you're at sea, and you might be overwhelmed by the choice of seafood on offer, which comes not only from the Gulf, but from waters around the world. They offer a raw bar, Maine lobster, grilled octopus, caviar service, and whimsical desserts.
No. 5:
Philadelphia's Kiddo Restaurant highlights the agricultural bounty of Pennsylvania, featuring vegetable-focused cuisine made with seasonal produce. Come to the Washington Square eatery to sample spinach and ricotta rotolo or the elegant coriander-crusted duck breast with pear, sorrel, and hazelnuts, or visit for brunch to indulge in sourdough Dutch baby pancakes with pears and maple syrup.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Platero
No. 4:
Spokane's Indigenous Eats specializes in Native American comfort food, serving up traditional frybread made from a recipe passed down by the owner's mother. In addition to getting your frybread topped with huckleberry sauce, you can build your own taco, rice bowl, or totcho entree, with frybread, wild rice, corn chips, or tater tots serving as the base. It can be topped with your choice of beans, a protein (bison, beef, or chicken), and your choice of sauce, all of which gets smothered with plenty of cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, onion, lettuce, and tomato.
Photo courtesy of Clint Jenkins
No. 3:
Never thought you'd be savoring elevated Greek taverna food in Las Vegas? Guess again. At Naxos Taverna, you'll sample the best of contemporary Greek fare. Seafood is the real deal here, and the restaurant's Kallisto Oyster Bar showcases more than 25 types of fish and multiple varieties of oysters. They also feature a prix fixe menu at times, with a choice of first course, entree, and dessert. Try the superb lobster and crab diavolo followed by an indulgent baklava cheesecake before you head out to hit the slots.
Photo courtesy of Mike Bellame
No. 2:
At Regina's Westside, chef Kat Fitzgerald serves up Southern comfort food classics, with staples like biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, and fried chicken and waffles. The Asheville, North Carolina, eatery is mainly a lunchtime fixture, but also serves dinner from Thursday to Saturday. Many of the recipes here are an ode to the strong women who have influenced the cuisine: the mothers, grandmothers, and aunts who perfected and passed down these recipes. Make sure to ask about the daily specials.
Photo courtesy of Otto's High Dive
No. 1:
At Otto's High Dive in Orlando, you've got a bar, cafe, and eatery all in one. This Cuban restaurant was awarded a Bib Gourmand by Michelin and features Floridian and Cuban cuisine with tropical influences. Step in for lechon asado (roasted pork) or ropa vieja (braised short rib), and make sure to show up early for their weekday happy hours, where you can knock down Cuba Libre highballs, classic mojitos, or other well-mixed libations.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Brandon Withrow
Brandon Withrow is a travel journalist based in... Read More
Brandon Withrow is a travel journalist based in Northwest Ohio, covering ecotourism, wildlife, outdoor adventures, and eco-friendly stays, as well as the secrets of underrated cities. He appears in The Daily Beast, BBC Travel, Canadian Geographic, Business Insider, The Hill, and Sierra Magazine. You can find him at www.brandonwithrow.com, @bwithrow on Twitter, and @bgwithrow on Instagram.
Brandon Withrow
Brandon Withrow is a travel journalist based in Northwest Ohio, covering ecotourism, wildlife, outdoor adventures, and eco-friendly stays, as well as the secrets of underrated cities. He appears in The Daily Beast, BBC Travel, Canadian Geographic, Business Insider, The Hill, and Sierra Magazine. You can find him at www.brandonwithrow.com, @bwithrow on Twitter, and @bgwithrow on Instagram.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home... Read More
Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). In her best Chicagoese, Jacky asks, "Who has the time or money to blow on hotels, attractions, restaurants, exhibits and activities that blow?"
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). In her best Chicagoese, Jacky asks, "Who has the time or money to blow on hotels, attractions, restaurants, exhibits and activities that blow?"
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50... Read More
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com.
Karon Warren
For more than 20 years, Karon Warren has traveled... Read More
For more than 20 years, Karon Warren has traveled the globe, searching for adventure, unique personalities and a new perspective on the world. Whenever possible, she brings along her husband and two children, ages 18 and 14. Karon has been published in a variety of media, including FamilyVacationCritic.com, USA Today, Best Life's Travelicious, CruiseCritic.com, Trivago, and AAA Carolina's GO. Karon also is the author of "100 Things to Do in the North Georgia Mountains Before You Die." Karon lives in North Georgia with her family, where they enjoy such outdoor recreation as hiking and geocaching.
Karon Warren
For more than 20 years, Karon Warren has traveled the globe, searching for adventure, unique personalities and a new perspective on the world. Whenever possible, she brings along her husband and two children, ages 18 and 14. Karon has been published in a variety of media, including FamilyVacationCritic.com, USA Today, Best Life's Travelicious, CruiseCritic.com, Trivago, and AAA Carolina's GO. Karon also is the author of "100 Things to Do in the North Georgia Mountains Before You Die." Karon lives in North Georgia with her family, where they enjoy such outdoor recreation as hiking and geocaching.
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion... Read More
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
