America’s hottest 100 restaurants? 25 are in California, 3 in Las Vegas
Who has time to sample and select the 100 hottest restaurants in the U.S.? OpenTable diners, that's who.
Travelers in pursuit of good food will find the "100 Hottest Restaurants in America for 2016" favors California, Florida and New York -- and finds little culinary buzz in the Northwest.
The list includes 25 restaurants in California (West Hollywood eateries get a lot of love), four in Colorado, three in Las Vegas, two in Arizona and one in Oregon. Hard to believe there wasn't one worthy hot spot in Washington state.
In this hot list, restaurants aren't ranked; they're listed in alphabetical order.
Here are places to try near and far in the Golden State:
AsiaSF
San Francisco | Asian cuisine | asiasf.com
Bestia
Los Angeles | Italian | bestiala.com
What did Jonathan Gold think? Leaping flames, natural wines, a thicket of curing meats — that is Bestia. Decibel levels edge into the 90s; it is the noisiest restaurant in Los Angeles. It is also one of the most popular. Read more >>
Cassia
Santa Monica | Asian | cassiala.com
What did Jonathan Gold think? A Vietnamese charcuterie plate? Sure, why not? Delicate terrines, whipped lardo with slivered herbs, smoked duck, air-dried lamb, candied pork belly, ruddy salami flavored with Vietnamese spices — it could make up the filling of the best bánh mì you've ever tasted. Read more >>
E.P. & L.P.
West Hollywood | contemporary Asian | eplosangeles.com
Eight4Nine
Palm Springs | contemporary American | eight4nine.com
Gjelina
Venice | American | gjelina.com
What did Jonathan Gold think? There are a lot of vegetables here: Travis Lett's vaguely Italian cooking has what you might call a co-dependent relationship with the farmers market. Read more >>
High Rooftop Lounge
Venice | tapas/small plates | highvenice.com
ink.
West Hollywood | contemporary American | mvink.com
What did Jonathan Gold think? The murkily lighted Ink flies the modernist flag; deliciousness with a soupçon of strange — soy-cured melon, potato polenta, gooey egg-yolk gnocchi and all. Order the octopus with shaved fennel and a jet-black ocean of ink, and it is as if you have battled the kraken yourself. Read more >>
The Ivy
West Hollywood | Californian | theivyrestaurants.com
Juniper & Ivy
San Diego | American | juniperandivy.com
Kettner Exchange
San Diego | contemporary American | kettnerexchange.com
The Lark Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara | contemporary American | thelarksb.com
Manhattan Beach Post
Manhattan Beach | American | eatmbpost.com
What did Jonathan Gold think? It's exactly the kind of groovy, casual place you'd want to drop by for a plate of shrimp with lentils, blistered green beans or grilled corn with Grist & Toll polenta after a day at the beach. Read more >>
MUA
Oakland | contemporary American | muaoakland.com
The Nest
Indian Wells | Continental | gotothenest.com
The Nice Guy
West Hollywood | Italian | theniceguyla.com
Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila
Hermosa Beach | Mexican | palmillarestaurant.com
Perch LA
Los Angeles | French American | perchla.com
Pump
West Hollywood | Italian | pumprestaurant.com
Republique
Los Angeles | French | republiquela.com
What did Jonathan Gold think? Are you looking for the best French fries in Los Angeles? Because the French fries at République are pretty close: cut in long, perfect blocks from fresh potatoes, steamed, slightly dehydrated in a low-temperature oven and then finally boiled in a bath of beef suet and peanut oil until they are tawny and crisp. Read more >>
Sur Restaurant
West Hollywood | International | surrestaurant.com
The Tropicale
Palm Springs | Californian | thetropicale.com
Toca Madera
West Hollywood | Mexican | tocamadera.com
Ysabel
West Hollywood | contemporary American | ysabel.la
Other restaurants in the West include:
Rose. Rabbit. Lie
Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas | global, international, steak house | rose-rabbit-lie
Tao Restaurant and Nightclub
Las Vegas | Japanese | taolasvegas.com
Culinary Dropout
Tempe, Ariz. | gastro pub | culinarydropout.com
Sumo Maya Mexican-Asian Kitchen
Scottsdale, Ariz. | fusion/eclectic | sumomaya.com
Acorn
Denver | American | denveracorn.com
Izakaya Den
Denver | Japanese | izakayaden.net
Linger
Denver | International | lingerdenver.com
Ophelia's Electric Soapbox
Denver | contemporary | opheliasdenver.com
Departure Restaurant and Lounge
Portland, Ore. | Asian | departureportland.com
The list is based on 5 million reviews from OpenTable users between March 1, 2015, and Feb. 29, 2016, according to an OpenTable statement.
Info: "100 Hottest Restaurants in America for 2016"
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