Wandering Tastes

Girl & The Goat

Some people love lists whether it’s a to do list or of places to visit or restaurants to dine. For the latter, you’re in luck because The Daily Meal has just unveiled its third annual ranking of the 101 Best Restaurants in America.

Under the helm of editorial director, Colman Andrews, an eight-time James beard award winner and global authority on food and wine, the report takes on a massive feat – narrowing down the United States’ most eaten-at, talked-about, highly-rated restaurants, to a slim list of just 101. This year nearly 200 panelists participated in the voting process, including Tom Sietsema, Ben Lerer and Robin Leach.

What makes the list so influential, sweeping both culinary and consumer media in past years, is that it gives food lovers, travelers and everyday Americans, an exemplary guide to America’s dining scene. How often does one question where they should dine out when traveling to a new city? How little do we know about our own cities’ dining royalty? And what is categorically THE best restaurant in country? This ranking can be treated as the culinary bucket list of America. These are the places to eat and be seen, to indulge and pay homage…if at least for 2013.

To be exceedingly fair, according to The Daily Meal, the ranking gives equal weight to highbrow eateries like The French Laundry in Napa Valley (#1), and the less expensive, sometimes greasy institutions like Shake Shack in New York (#11).  According to their panelists, if it’s good food, it’s fair game.

Methodology

Sauteed Green Beans at Girl and the Goat

So how did The Daily Meal come up with its list? Here is how they explained it to us:

The first step was a nomination process. An illustrious panel of nearly 200 judges (comprised primarily of restaurant critics, food and lifestyle writers and assorted bloggers, from across the country) examined past years’ winners and offered nominations for new restaurants to be considered. Next, The Daily Meal’s editors added their nominations and prepared a survey that allowed participants to vote for their favorites.

The voting — based on cuisine, region, and a number of specific factors, including formality (of food and atmosphere), level of “buzz,” and price range — narrowed the list to 101. As was the case last year, the spectrum of restaurants ranged from chef-driven neighborhood spots and avant-garde restaurants to iconic casual establishments. Each restaurant had the chance to be voted on three times during the survey. Finally, the percentage scores from each category were averaged to arrive at the final ranking.

Without further adieu…

101 Best Restaurants in America for 2013 – TOP 30, Descending

30) Bar Tartine, San Francisco
29) Masa, New York City
28) August, New Orleans
27) Mission Chinese Food, San Francisco
26) Franklin BBQ, Austin, Texas
25) Joël Robuchon, Las Vegas
24) Husk, Charleston, S.C.
23) Bouchon Bistro, Yountville, Calif.
22) Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles
21) Gotham Bar and Grill, New York City
20) Animal, Los Angeles
19) Zuni Café, San Francisco
18) Commander’s Palace, New Orleans
17) Per Se, New York City
16) Del Posto, New York City
15) Chez Panisse, Berkeley, Calif.
14) Alinea, Chicago
13) Daniel, New York City
12) Jean Georges, New York City
11) Shake Shack, New York City
10) Cochon, New Orleans
9) Girl & the Goat, Chicago
8) Babbo, New York City
7) ABC Kitchen, New York City
6) Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, N.Y.
5) Eleven Madison Park, New York City
4) Momofuku Ssäm Bar, New York City
3) Le Bernardin, New York City
2) Gramercy Tavern, New York City
1) The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif.

For the entire list of 101 best U.S.A. restaurants, complete with a slideshow of images from the restaurants, click here.

I’ve dined at Girl & The Goat and will admit those Sauteed Green Beans were the best green beans I’ve had in my life so I’m delighted Stephanie Izard’s restaurant made it to the top 10.

Want to get involved in the social media conversation? Use #101BestRestaurants on twitter and join the conversation. Let others know if you feel your local restaurant was missed or whether you agree with who made the top 101 restaurants in the United States.

Megy Karydes is founder of Wandering Tastes, a lifestyle and travel site that is meant to inspire adventure and exploration through traveling and food. She’s also a regular contribute to 10best.com which is part of the USA Today Travel family and the Foodie TravelingMom contributor.