The Best Traditional Restaurant in Every State

The buckle of the barbecue belt, Alabama takes a couple of different approaches to this succulent smoked meat, depending on what part of the state you’re in. But when George and Paulette Archibald first started serving their hickory-smoked ribs out of this small Northport joint in 1962, folks lined up around the cinder-block building, including legendary University of Alabama coach Bear Bryant.

Now with two locations and three generations of Archibald pit masters at the helm, the family eatery serves those same highly acclaimed ribs, pulled pork and other delicacies—like wings, fried catfish and whiting—along with a host of homemade sides and desserts.

Since the 1700s, immigrants have been coming from the Philippines to America’s coldest state and bringing their foods with them. Today, there are more than 30,000 Filipinos in Alaska—along with stellar restaurants that serve up traditional Filipino fare. A community staple since the 1940s, family-owned and -operated Diaz Cafe in Ketchikan represents Alaska’s largest minority and delights locals in an otherwise cruise-ship-saturated area with the likes of generously sized lumpia and “the best sweet-and-sour spare ribs ever,” according to one customer review. There’s nothing fancy here, just great Filipino and Chinese American cuisine at an affordable price, all made with love.

Part of the UNESCO gastronomy list, Tucson boasts myriad historically significant culinary must-visit sites. But none outshine Arizona’s first Mexican restaurant, El Charro. Monica Flin opened the restaurant in 1922 (as the story goes, she’d later accidentally invent the chimichanga), and it has served up Sonoran- and Tucson-style Mexican food ever since.

Chef, author and Flin’s great-grandniece, Carlotta Flores, continues the legacy with acclaimed dishes such as Carlotta’s Chicken Mole, tableside guacamole made from fresh avocados, and tamales that can be shipped straight to your door. The restaurant, which now has five area locations, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022. When you visit, order the 1922, a margarita made with Cazadores Añejo (also established in 1922), triple sec and lime.

The OG of cheese dip, Arkansas takes its claim pretty seriously. Just don’t confuse the classic dish—little more than processed cheese, Ro-Tel and a smidge of taco seasoning—with queso unless you’re ready for a heated debate with your Texas friends. (But y’all can duke it out at the World Cheese Dip Championships in Little Rock each October.)

You can hardly sling a block of Velveeta without hitting a restaurant serving up this liquid gold, but Stoby’s Restaurant in Conway and Russellville is the real deal. Order a cheese dip to start (it took home second place at the championships), then dig into a loaded sandwich. If you just can’t get enough, stock up on Stoby’s cheese dip at area supermarkets.

Widely known as the farm-to-table movement’s matriarch, chef and food activist Alice Waters opened Berkeley’s Chez Panisse in 1971 with a rotating menu of freshly harvested food in response to the upswing in commodity crops and processed food. Epitomizing Californian cuisine with a mission to create beautiful dishes sourced as close as its own backyard, Chez Panisse continues to serve as a hub for sustainable agriculture in a state responsible for more than $33 billion in yearly agricultural revenue.

The menu changes daily, but at press time, it featured delicacies like Smoked San Francisco black cod, California halibut tartare and Grilled Paine Farm squab. So if you’d like to explore where, exactly, your food comes from—and have cash to drop on what will be a pricey but spectacular meal—take a road trip through California and taste for yourself.

Just southwest of Denver, in Red Rocks country, Morrison is home to a full-scale adobe replica of Bent’s Fort, a famous fur-trading outpost from the 1840s. “The Fort is noteworthy because it has maintained a commitment to explaining and serving Western food to a worldwide audience, including many United States presidents and foreign leaders,” says culinary historian Adrian Miller, author of The President’s Kitchen Cabinet. Serving more buffalo than any other independent eatery since the 1960s, The Fort Restaurant finds inspiration in traders, trappers and First Americans from the 1800s.

Its menu is packed with wild game dishes like Roasted Bison Marrow Bones, William Bent’s Grilled Quail and Elk St. Vrain, along with not-so-traditional homemade desserts, such as its signature Negrita—Myers’s rum whipped into dark chocolate and served in a chocolate cup.

Nothing screams New England quite like the lobster roll, a dish invented in the Nutmeg State in 1929. Guilford Lobster Pound, owned by one of the last remaining lobstermen on the Long Island Sound, carries on the tradition with its fresher-than-fresh “Connecticut Style” roll. It’s loaded with fresh-picked lobster meat and paired with a side of hot butter for dipping. Other standout items include the clear-broth clam chowder and, for the little ones, a classic hot dog. And whatever you do, don’t skip the clear-broth clam chowder.

You’ll also soak up views of nearby Faulkner Island, Grass Island and protected salt marsh wildlife from the restaurant’s waterfront deck. A word to the wise, though: This spot is only open seasonally, so make sure to visit during the warmer months.

Founded in 1960 in Rehoboth Beach by then-17-year-old Dominick Pulieri, Grotto Pizza went on to become one of the most successful pizzerias in the United States, and in 2015, it was inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame. Known for their swirls of sweet tomato sauce and cheddar cheese, the pies draw crowds from surrounding states and are now served up in locations throughout Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. It might not be as famous as a New York slice, but it’s undoubtedly some of America’s best pizza.

What started as a small corner cafe in a Tampa community steeped in Spanish tradition has since ballooned into the largest Spanish restaurant in the world. Founded in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Columbia Restaurant is the state’s oldest eatery, and more than 100 years later, the same family still runs its seven locations.

Throughout its long history, the restaurant has lured guests from all walks of life (including celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Liza Minnelli) with flamenco dancers, live music and an expansive menu of traditional Spanish favorites, such as tapas and paella.

Atlanta may be known as the home of civil rights leaders like the late John Lewis and musicians like Gladys Knight, but its Black history reaches well beyond the American South. In fact, the city has one of the nation’s largest Ethiopian populations, creating a diverse southern diaspora within its traditional restaurant scene. From Ethiopian-inspired artwork to authentic dishes like kintot—a blend of lamb, goat, beef, onions, peppers and garlic served with injera bread for dipping—everything about Piassa Restaurant & Mart will make you feel as though you’ve been transported to Addis Ababa.

A thoughtful list of Ethiopian wines, along with tej (honey wine) and other traditional Ethiopian libations, makes for great pairings. Each Sunday, there’s a traditional Ethiopian coffee service, during which the servers are dressed in authentic clothing, and it’s an experience you won’t want to miss.

Helena Chock opened her humble Hawaiian eatery in Honolulu in 1946, sharing her classic Hawaiian recipes with locals while introducing tourists to fare that would eventually earn her a James Beard Award in 2000. Her grandson, Craig Katsuyoshi, currently helms Helena’s Hawaiian Food with the same loving attention that Chock did all those years ago.

You’ll feel like you’re at a real-life luau as you sample traditional dishes, starting with a small side of poi, a nutrition-packed staple derived from taro root. Move on to Kalua Pig, which the restaurant cooks using an ancient technique and an underground oven called an imu. The menu features an array of other traditional dishes from Hawaii—all are worth a taste, but make sure you save room for haupia, a coconut milk pudding that locals love.

As the Gold Rush compelled a growing number of European immigrants to head westward during the 19th century, Basque sheepherders made their way to the Boise Mountains, creating one of the largest American Basque populations. Enjoy Spanish-style pintxos (Basque for tapas) at The Basque Market, which features delicious menu items such as croquetas, fried bites of creamy bechamel.

There’s also a large selection of Basque wines and other culinary products, including sheepherder bread, for purchase. If the market piques your interest in Basque culture, mark your calendar for Boise’s annual San Inazio festival, which takes place within the city’s Basque Block each July.

Located in the heart of Chicago’s River North neighborhood, Gene & Georgetti is the Windy City‘s oldest steakhouse. Inside, you’ll find an old-school atmosphere—red leather chairs, white tablecloths and walls lined with photos of famous patrons. A Chicago institution since 1941, Gene & Georgetti is beloved for its traditional Italian dishes, including chicken Vesuvio, eggplant parmesan, homemade lasagna and, of course, huge and flavorful steaks.

Home to the nation’s first female self-made millionaire (Madam C.J. Walker, who built her fortune in the beauty industry in the early 1900s) and the world’s largest one-day sporting event (the Indianapolis 500, naturally), Indianapolis shares a wealth of stories of historic proportions. St. Elmo Steak House is part of that narrative. Founded in 1902, the city’s oldest steakhouse is still in its original location.

While St. Elmo serves a fine selection of prime cuts, it’s the shrimp cocktail that has reached legendary status. (Truly: The place sells more than 135,000 shrimp cocktails yearly.) When the downtown restaurant first opened, the horseradish-laced sensation sold for a mere dime. These days, the appetizer goes for significantly more, but it’s worth it for a taste of St. Elmo’s famous cocktail sauce.

Iowa loves the breaded pork tenderloin—so much so that the Iowa Pork Producers Association holds an annual contest for the best pork tenderloin sandwich. In 2025, Hometown Heroes in Grinnell won the coveted title of Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin. Besides having the best breaded pork tenderloin in the entire state, Hometown Heroes has some pretty delicious bar food—including sandwiches like The Pigskin, featuring melted cheddar, provolone and pepper jack cheeses, topped with house-made pulled pork served on grilled Italian bread.

Kansas City–style barbecue isn’t just legendary; it’s the very definition of tradition, dating back to the early 1900s. The food is prevalent throughout the state, but if you’re looking for a can’t-miss meal, stop at award-winning Joe’s Kansas City. Though there are now multiple locations in the state, the original was born in 1996 on the Kansas-Oklahoma state line, in a former gas station near owners Joe and Joy Stehney’s home.

Most renowned for its Z-Man Sandwich—a toasted kaiser roll topped with slow-smoked beef brisket, provolone cheese and crispy onion rings—the restaurant serves plenty of other smoked meats and sides. Anthony Bourdain named Joe’s Kansas City one of the “13 places to eat before you die,” so it’s no wonder the line for a seat snakes out the door.

Situated in Midway, in the heart of bluegrass country, is Holly Hill Inn, helmed by James Beard Award–winning chef Ouita Michel and her husband, Chris Michel. The historic mansion Holly Hill calls home was built in 1845 in Midway and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The moment you step onto the grand steps of this Greek Revival home, you know you’re in for a treat. Featuring food from regional producers, the seasonal dinner and brunch menus offer options like Sweet Pumpkin and Wild Grains Soup and Berry Beef Dry-Aged Cowgirl Ribeye, all of which pair well with an award-winning wine list and a library of more than 100 bourbons from surrounding distilleries. Suffice to say, Holly Hill’s roots run deep within the tradition of Southern hospitality.

What started as a Treme sandwich shop and lottery ticket outlet in 1939 soon became one of the first Black-owned fine-dining spots in the country. Dooky Chase’s was founded in New Orleans by Emily and Dooky Chase in 1941 as a family restaurant and bar, as well as a meeting place for music, entertainment, civil rights discussions and culture. In the late 1940s, Leah Chase—dubbed the Queen of Creole cooking—turned it into the fine-dining spot it is today.

And though Leah passed away a few years ago, joining the ranks of the revered civil rights activists who once graced its halls (including Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall), Dooky Chase’s remains the premier restaurant for authentic Creole cuisine. The Tuesday–Friday lunch buffet features favorites like red beans and rice, gumbo and po’boys, while the expansive menu on Friday and Saturday nights offers a selection of Creole comforts, such as Crawfish Étouffée, Shrimp Clemenceau and the famous Southern Fried Chicken.

“No summer is complete without a trip to the lake. In Maine, we call this going to ‘camp,'” says Erin Magee, author of This Is Camp. Whether you’re headed to camp or a stretch of beach along the Maine coastline, Magee says you can’t go wrong with Bob’s Clam Hut in Kittery. The bar is set high in a state known for its seafood, and this lobster shack delivers with a no-frills setup and fried seafood that’s been making the must-visit list since 1956. After a long day at the beach, pop in for a basket of clams or a lobster roll.

Face it: Admitting you don’t crave crab is a justifiable reason for having your Marylander card revoked. And since so many Maryland restaurants serve the local treat, outsourcing crab is a regular practice. But not at Cantler’s Riverside Inn in Annapolis. The Cantler family has worked in the seafood industry for five generations. So when Jimmy and Linda Cantler opened Cantler’s in 1974, their commitment to locally sourced seafood (no imitation crab meat here!) proved a recipe for success.

While Maryland blue crab is the main event at Cantler’s, local wild-caught rockfish, clams and other fruits de mer draw a crowd regularly. And here’s a perk: The place offers free docking for customers arriving by boat.

Located on the Freedom Trail, near Faneuil Hall, Boston’s Union Oyster House is recognized as the nation’s oldest restaurant in continuous operation. Housed in a pre–Revolutionary War building, the historic landmark entered the culinary scene in 1826, dishing up freshly shucked oysters, chowders and other New England staples, just as it does today.

This mother of all culinary legends receives regular accolades and has even hosted famous patrons like Senator Daniel Webster, who regularly indulged in oysters and a tall tumbler of brandy and water during the 1840s and 1850s.

When Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig founded their flagship Jewish deli in 1982, they launched a food family that would soon go beyond one of the state’s best delis. Now, 40 years and 10 businesses later, they also lay claim to one of the best traditional restaurants in Michigan: Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor. The seventh Zingerman’s brand serves traditional, full-flavored American dishes from breakfast through dinner. During the summer months, indulge in signature recipes like creamy mac and cheese and tender pit-smoked barbecue in the Roadhouse Park just outside the restaurant.

Now a Minneapolis landmark, Matt’s Bar & Grill quickly became an institution after opening in 1954. As the story goes, a customer asked founder Matt Bristol to customize a burger with a slice of cheese sandwiched between two beef patties. Bristol exclaimed, “That’s one juicy Lucy.” Today, the burger joint is known for its Jucy Lucy (somewhere along the way, the “i” was dropped), a juicy burger oozing with cheese. If you find it on other menus spelled with the “i,” you’re not getting the real deal, according to Bristol, who continues a friendly burger battle with the nearby 5-8 Club, which also lays claim to the famous molten burger.

Named by Mississippi’s first people, the Choctaw Nation, the city of Pascagoula literally means “bread eater.” You can break bread like a local at Bozo’s Grocery, a community favorite in Jimmy Buffett’s hometown for more than 60 years. Po’boys are on the ready at the quick-serve counter, along with fresh Gulf Coast fish, shrimp and crawfish harvested mere miles away. Grab a bite to eat in, but don’t forget to bring your cooler, because you can purchase seafood by the pound to tide you over till your next Coastal Mississippi visit.

In the small town of Columbia, which is home to three colleges, students and alumni join locals in the ritual of grabbing breakfast at Ernie’s. Ernie Lewis opened the place in 1934. Back then, you and your sweetie could order a “date steak” and still have money left for a show at the Missouri Theatre nearby.

While some things have changed over the restaurant’s 84 years, some have stayed the same, like the original artwork, which was created by Chester Gould, creator of the Dick Tracy comic strip. Gould’s daughter attended Stephens College in the 1940s, and Gould enjoyed Ernie’s Chopped Cow while in town. You can still order it for lunch—you’ll get a burger served with barbecue sauce for less than $5, unless you opt for the double.

More than 27% of Montana residents are of German descent, which calls for a hearty “Prost!” at Bayern Brewery in Missoula. Now in its 35th year, Bayern is the only German brewery in the Rocky Mountains that specializes in Bavarian recipes, and it features the ever-popular Edelweiss Bistro on-site. There, you’ll find Bavarian fare—traditional dishes such as käsespätzle and weisswurst—sourced from area farmers and German producers, making this one-of-a-kind experience a hit. Wash it all down with a Bayern beer, brewed with the big Montana sky as its muse.

Omaha Steaks are famously succulent, but mail-order meat has nothing on the real deal. For the most tender, juicy beef, sink your teeth into an 801 Chophouse steak. Omaha’s premier steakhouse is located within The Paxton hotel, a cornerstone of the city’s Old Market District. Modeled after the steakhouses of the 1920s, this charmer can now be found in cities across the Midwest, where corn and cattle are as American as it gets. Dinner is pricey, so it can be a bit of a splurge night out, but if you’re on a budget, the best traditional restaurant in Nebraska offers a $48 three-course menu on Sunday nights.

Here’s a fascinating Nevada food fact for you: Basque people from France and Spain arrived in Nevada during the Gold Rush, accepting sheepherding jobs in the state’s high desert. During the off-seasons, they came down to traditional Basque boardinghouses, where they enjoyed family-style meals, played traditional games and conversed with others in their native language. The Star Hotel in Elko was opened in 1910 by Pete Jauregui with the goal of offering the sheepherders a home away from home. The renowned beacon continues to be a gathering place for Basques and others who come for the hearty meat, garlic-heavy meals and lively atmosphere. Get there early to catch the ringing of a large bell, which signals that dinner is served.

Neighboring Vermont may be the top maple syrup producer in the country, but New Hampshire is no slouch, and there’s no better place to appreciate its contribution than at Polly’s Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill. In the 1930s, Polly and Wilfred Dexter opened the restaurant as a way to grow their maple business. It stayed in the family and has become one of New England’s favorite breakfast joints.

Housed in an 1830s building boasting views of the New Hampshire countryside, Polly’s still grinds its own flour for the acclaimed buckwheat, cornmeal, oatmeal buttermilk, gingerbread and whole wheat pancakes, all served with granulated maple sugar and maple spread that’s produced on the farm using a process perfected when the joint first opened.

You can’t talk old-school Atlantic City without talking about gentlemen’s clubs of years gone by. Knife & Fork Inn was established in 1912 by the Atlantic City mayor at the time, William Riddle, Commodore Louis Kuehnle and their cronies as an exclusive men’s drinking and dining club with a special “ladies lounge” located upstairs. Women were prohibited from entering until summoned by the men.

Let’s just say more than a few barriers have been busted in the century since. The Ladies Lounge welcomes all who care to take in those gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean, while the main dining room warmly invites guests (yes, women as well) to a feast of sustainable surf and turf (think: king salmon with warm potato salad, and Short Rib Bourguignon) surrounded by decor that evokes yesteryear. Bonus: After dinner, you can stroll one of the best beach boardwalks in America.

A go-to institution for Southwestern fare since 1953, The Shed features the best that Northern New Mexico has to offer, both in cuisine and hospitality. This traditional restaurant, located in historic Santa Fe, is family-owned and -operated and helmed by the third generation of Carswells. The menu is extensive, ranging from traditional posole (a stew of nixtamal corn, lean pork, coarse red chile, garlic and oregano) and tamales to kale salad and chilled raspberry soup. You’ll want to savor The Shed’s enchiladas, but leave room for desserts like fresh lemon soufflé as well.

Any vegetarian worth their weight in kale most likely owns one of the bestselling Moosewood cookbooks. While you could whip up a few recipes at home, eating them at the restaurant they hail from makes for a bucket-list-worthy occasion. Located in the Finger Lakes region of Ithaca, Moosewood Restaurant could easily be considered health food’s mothership.

The menu caters to veggie lovers—you’ll find Dinosaur Kale Salad, Spicy Coconut Curry and Lemon Tahini Broccoli—but even carnivores will enjoy the fresh flavors and selection of Finger Lake wines. You’ll swear you hear the tunes of Woodstock dancing in your head.

Historic Wilmington’s Seabird may not have a legendary history, but this relative newcomer is championing an essential connection to Wilmington’s culinary land and seascapes. Celebrating the Atlantic’s bounty of fresh seafood, the restaurant serves up locally caught fish, including barbecue oysters, swordfish schnitzel and fried smoked catfish. Wash it all down with wine or a craft beer, then plan how you’ll spend the rest of your days in this beach community (we suggest beginner surfing lessons).

Known for its knoephla soup, a potato-rich, German-style dumpling soup that warms the locals during North Dakota’s brutal winter months, Kroll’s Diner has been welcoming guests with down-home fare since 1969. Guests get a kick out of the Kroll’s ladies, sassy older women who sternly say the restaurant’s tagline—”sit down and eat”—in its humorous commercials. And they go wild for the traditional diner fare served at its four 24-hour locations, in Fargo, Bismarck, Mandan and Minot.

Famous for its Mediterranean-style chili featuring notes of earthy cinnamon and a mound of spaghetti, Cincinnati is the place to go for a thick, meaty bowl of the spicy stuff. Cincinnati chili culture is alive and well at Price Hill Chili, where the iconic food shows up throughout the menu. Order it by the bowl in one of five different ways, or eat it atop a hot dog or in a chili cheese sandwich.

A fixture in the city since 1962, this traditional restaurant in Ohio features a packed menu that offers something for everyone (including salads for the health-conscious). Grab a table in the Golden Fleece Lounge, where you can order cocktails and catch a Bengals game on the multiple large-screen TVs while demolishing a bowl of chili.

The oldest continually operated restaurant in the state (it opened in 1910), this casual American classic builds all its menus (yes, even breakfast) on steak, steak and more steak. You’ll find it within Oklahoma City’s historic Stockyards City, a fun place to visit after you’ve eaten your fill at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. Try the hand-cut, USDA Prime and Choice cuts of beef, or get adventurous and order the lamb fries. But be warned: The latter is a gracious way of denoting lamb testicles. And though beef rules the menu, there are fish options if you’re looking for a lighter meal.

This iconic Northeast Portland Italian restaurant still uses the same recipe for its pizza dough as it did when it opened in 1959, topping its famous pies with Alfredo, artichoke hearts and everything in between. Amalfi’s is worth a trip for the pizza alone, but you’ll also find a slate of pasta dishes, red-sauce staples, cocktails and scoops of spumoni for dessert. Make sure to dip into the market to pick up fresh, house-made foods, local delicacies, products imported from Italy and wine by the bottle.

Philadelphia’s culinary history is more than the sum of its steak-and-cheese parts. With that in mind, chef and archaeologist Jill Weber set out to create a tribute to those left out of certain American history stories. She founded Rex at the Royal as an homage to the Southern Black chefs who moved to the city a century ago, during the Great Migration, and adapted their foods, including many from the South Carolina Lowcountry, Georgia and the Mid-Atlantic.

One such chef, Harry Franklyn Hall, grew to fame in Philly and went on to pen 300 Ways to Cook and Serve Shellfish, which served as an inspiration for the menu at Rex at the Royal. Stop by for dishes like shrimp and grits, braised collard greens, frogmore stew and the must-order She Crab Soup.

One in five Rhode Island inhabitants claims Italian roots, so it should come as no surprise that the best traditional restaurant in Rhode Island offers a taste of the motherland. Since the 1980s, chef-owners Johanne Killeen and George Germon have offered guests at Providence’s Al Forno restaurant dishes that reflect the area’s bounty, with ingredients plucked from New England farms and waters. The riverfront restaurant’s signature is its array of grilled pizzas, but other hits include the Dirty Steak with Hot Fanny Sauce, Clams Al Forno and made-to-order desserts (just try passing on the hand-churned ice cream).

For a quarter of a century, Soby’s has been synonymous with Greenville’s food scene. The restaurant has served up “new Southern” cuisine since 1997, with many of those original dishes still appearing on the menu today. More than 3 million guests have savored the restaurant’s Southern cuisine (it’s whipped up more than 5 million garlic-and-cheddar biscuits since opening day), and they’ve placed countless orders for shrimp and grits, pimiento cheese, fried green tomatoes, meatloaf and other regional staples.

For miles and miles along I-90, as you head toward the dramatic landscape of Badlands National Park, a series of vintage billboards greets drivers. They’ve led the way to Wall Drug, situated smack-dab in “the geographical center of nowhere,” for more than 80 years. Since 1931, Wall Drug has served as an oasis for weary South Dakota travelers in the town of Wall, which has only about 800 year-round residents.

Ads promising travelers free, ice-cold water helped keep the business afloat throughout the Great Depression and now serve as iconic reminders of Wall Drug’s long history. Its compound comprises shops and other attractions, but the restaurant is the crowning jewel. It’s known for, among other things, a legendary hot beef sandwich, served with mashed potatoes and gravy. And it’s all surprisingly affordable, with 5-cent coffee on the menu. (Yes, you read that right—5 cents!) So grab a coffee and one of the popular homemade doughnuts, or head over to the Soda Fountain ice cream shop for a treat.

The meat-and-three concept (pick your meat, then add three fixings) is as much a part of the Southern food experience as biscuits and cornbread, and it has deep roots in Nashville, where it’s believed to have first surfaced when farm work transitioned to city life. No trip to the city is complete without a visit to Arnold’s Country Kitchen. For more than three decades, the Arnold family has served staples like fried chicken, collards, mac and cheese, banana pudding and fresh-baked pies.

As chef and owner Kahlil Arnold says, “It’s the melting pot of Nashville.” As you wait in line, you’re as likely to see a country music star as you are a volunteer from the nearby homeless shelter. Still, it’s the attention to quality ingredients and the love poured into each dish that keeps people coming back to this James Beard Award–winning Music City star.

The Garcia family first came to the forefront of Fort Worth’s food scene in 1935 with the opening of Joe T. Garcia’s. The memorabilia peppered throughout the James Beard Award–winning restaurant pays homage to that history, as do the original recipes still featured on the menu today. Mainstays include classic fajitas, enchiladas, chimichangas and the extra-strong trademark margarita (two per guest is the limit!). Soak up the mild Texas weather on the oversize patio, which overflows with bright flowers and features a picturesque water fountain.

Calling to mind wildflowers, waterfalls and fine canyon dining, Log Haven is situated on 40 private wooded acres in a historic log mansion within the Wasatch National Forest, just outside Salt Lake City. A haven for lovebirds since opening in 1920, the Utah classic is routinely deemed the most romantic restaurant in the state. Whether you order the grilled quail, the coffee-and-cocoa-rubbed elk strip loin or something else, dinner is guaranteed to be an affair to remember.

When Sonny and Marylou Monroe purchased the Blue Benn Diner in 1973, they didn’t have the foggiest idea of what a legend the eatery would become. Though the Bennington spot served up traditional favorites, it was Sonny’s elevated diner fare and his approach to healthy food (such as falafel and nut burgers) that set this traditional restaurant in Vermont apart from the rest.

After Sonny’s death in 2019, Marylou passed the Blue Benn baton to John Getchell, a Bennington College alum who fondly remembers his college days spent at Vermont’s best diner. After one bite of a signature omelet or hot open-faced sandwich, you’ll know pretty quickly why folks are willing to line up for a seat at Blue Benn Diner.

Opened in 1938, The Regency Room has served ever since as Hotel Roanoke’s cornerstone of culinary tradition, earning a rare AAA Four Diamond designation, one of only three restaurants in the entire state that can make that claim. Loaded with seasonal dishes, the French-inspired Southern menu is best known for the peanut soup, which isn’t actually French at all. The dish, an African staple, eventually became a Virginia classic. The Regency Room’s version is rich, creamy and perfect for dipping the classic spoonbread.

Soak up the Blue Ridge Mountain air and prepare to cut a rug on the dance floor—there’s live entertainment each weekend, making this the perfect date-night destination.

The logging and coal-mining industry brought tons of settlers to Bellingham, Washington, in the 1850s. With a growing population in town, the Horseshoe Cafe opened its doors to these hardy miners in the summer of 1886. Today, they serve up classics like smash burgers and fried chicken sandwiches, or you can opt for the all-day breakfast menu, if that strikes your fancy. Choose between scrumptious options like Biscuits, Bacon and Gravy, or Loaded Hash with bacon, mozzarella, cheddar, green onions and sour cream drizzle. And if you prefer a late-night hangout instead, try the cafe’s Ranch Bar Room, offering happy-hour eats, game-day specials and late-night pool.

Appalachian cuisine is a go-to for many Southern chefs, and its tradition isn’t lost on some of the very ground it was built upon in West Virginia. Kristin and David Billings, the owners of Appalachia Kitchen in Snowshoe, and its chef, Scott MacGregor, proudly source from Appalachian farmers and producers to create a fresh approach to traditional Appalachian cuisine. Located on Snowshoe Mountain in the Corduroy Inn complex, the restaurant offers farm-to-table dishes such as smoked trout tartare, venison meatloaf and fruit cobbler.

Although supper clubs originated in New York City, Wisconsin lays claim to using the nightclub-and-restaurant concept as a cover for its real business: illegal booze during Prohibition. There are more than 250 supper clubs across the Badger State, and one such institution sits just steps from the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison.

The Old Fashioned is regularly recognized for what many consider the best cheese curds in the state, along with a great combination of traditional Wisconsin supper club fare: the walleye sandwich; Wisconsin fondue; a lazy Susan with relishes, smoked fish and mustard; beer cheese soup with popcorn; fish fry; and, of course, local beers and cocktails.

Built in 1902 by Buffalo Bill after he founded the town of Cody, the Irma Hotel is an authentic Wyoming landmark that captures the essence of Western hospitality. It was named after Buffalo Bill’s youngest daughter, Irma, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The restaurant‘s famous cherrywood bar—which stretches the length of the room and is still in use today—was presented to Buffalo Bill by England’s Queen Victoria, who was charmed by the showman’s Wild West show. Locals brag that the prime rib is the best in the West.

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