10 of the Best Small Restaurants in America

Art of the Table

Seattle , WashingtonIt takes 2.5 - 3 hour to complete the 7 - 10 courses at this farm - to - mesa restaurant . Though the menu change daily , some recent offer have included Skagit River Ranch pickled gripe glossa , cauliflower risotto , and a roast carmine white pepper soup with fennel pollen welt emollient , chili oil , and chive . Surely you ’re thinking , this restaurant must have a ism ? It does : “ Put out your speech sound , wipe out your Pisces the Fishes skin , slurp your broth , gnaw at your bone , eat your micro - greens , lick your plate , corrode your tall mallow rind , have a cocktail , try everything , apply your finger’s breadth when applicable , hold onto your silverware , enjoy your time here . ” Yes , sir .

Beast

Mr. Pollo

San Francisco , CADon’t be surprised when there ’s a strain of hungry dining compartment - wannabes at this teeny 15 - seat spot in San Francisco ’s Mission District . Once you ’re inner , the often hour - plus - long waiting will be worth it , with a $ 30 four - course dinner including dish like fig , fry pork belly with beans and Spanish radish , poach sole with beurre blanc , octopus confit with parsnip puree , lilac-colored panna cotta , and , of course , their legendary arepas . patriotic locals are already angry that this story is about to make their dinner plan at this hole - in - the - paries precious stone that much toilsome to come by .

E by Jose Andres

Las Vegas , NevadaBigger seems to always be better in Vegas , but hidden behind Jaleo at the Cosmopolitan Hotel is Chef Andres ’ secret dining room , sit only eight people at a time , just twice a dark . At $ 195 per person excluding wine coupling ( which are upwards of $ 350 ) and mental reservation that must be made via e-mail three months ahead of time , it ’s pretty labor intensive . But with 21 courses , all that effort and cash may be worth it . specially if you won vauntingly earlier in the day .

Talula’s Table

Philadelphia , PAIf you score a reservation exactly one year in advance ( and can commit to bringing 10 - 12 people ) , you could sit at the “ farm table ” of one of Philly ’s most sought - after dining spots ( a chef ’s table of 4 - 8 is by invite only ) . The eight - course taste menu runs $ 108 plus a $ 25 corkage fee ( yes , it ’s BYOB ) , and the menu changes every four to six weeks , to keep it as seasonally current as possible . knockout include braised suckling lamb , watercress soup , and ocean scallop crudo with a pickled pasteurized ball . And if you ’re travel just for the repast , the restaurant internet site ( talulastable ) offer hotel options and a promise to help out with “ foodie activities . ”

Naoe

Miami , FloridaOnly eight people are lucky enough to posture at chef Kevin Cory ’s communal tabular array eatery , where visitor ( over age 12 only ) are told to earmark 2 - 3 hr for a sushi and Japanese culinary art dinner party and pay $ 200 plus 20 % serve direction for a chef ’s choice bill of fare . fan rave about dishes like “ ocean cucumber entrails ” but if that ’s not your bag , check that to email over your dietetic petition at least 10 days in improvement of your repast . Of of course , your dietary petition better not include allergies to gluten , shellfish , rice , mushroom , ball , or sugar , because those wo n’t be tolerated . Sorry , gluten - free junky , this is not the spot for you .

Petit Trois

Los Angeles , CAFoodie TV lover will recognize Chef Ludo Lefebvre from shows like Top Chef Masters and The Taste , but you do n’t need to be conversant with the Gallic chef to appreciate the dish at this teeny bistro . With just 22 sideboard behind ( but plenty of mirror on the walls to make the space feel bigger ) , Petit Trois offers the kind of dishes ( onion plant soup with Gruyere and Emmental cheese , pantry escargot , exclusive meunière ) that are so authentic you might not involve to fling on that Air France flight of stairs after all .

The Old Place

Cornell , CaliforniaSelf - name as “ the size of it of the shoebox , ” this kinsperson - run steakhouse and eating place is n’t try on to be something it ’s not . guest have to go outside to use a toilet facility , brook a flashy dining room , and obtain a seat at just five booths and three tables . The Old Place extend three seatings ( 5 , 6:30 , and 8:30 ) , but because they do n’t have too much storage space or even a freezer , you may only eat what is as impertinent as it get . offer often admit wild boar , elk , local lobster , and their version of mac & cheese made of egg noodle , goat cheese , parmesan , and mozzarella . Kraft it is not .

The Catbird Seat

Nashville , TNThere ’s not much in the fashion of a fare at this 32 - fundament restaurant , which is basically chef stations and a giant table overlooking their prowess . Most visitant retrieve of the eating house as theater as much as a dining experience . It ’s not trashy ( Zagat lists the price at $ 158 , though it can go up or down depending on wine-coloured pairings with the savor menu ) but advanced dishes let in the like of umami crust kick with shiso and eggplant , Italian rice of sunflower seeds , fermented sun tooth root , duck’s egg egg chawanmushi style , and seaweed spaghetti .

Momofuku Ko

New York , NYJust 23 seats are useable at legendary chef David Chang ’s restaurant where a $ 175 dinner realize an eater about 18 modest class . reservation are only accepted within 15 days , which feels like Chang ’s way to endear himself to real New Yorkers and not holidaymaker . As if he necessitate something other than Elysian Fields lamb coat in pickled onion plant blossoms , or the cultivated carrot and cardamom methamphetamine ointment to lure topical anesthetic in .