This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

USA's Most Iconic Restaurants!

Do you travel for business or pleasure around the United States? If you are regularly traveling on short trips, it can become time consuming to constantly have to look up good places to grab a meal. Plus you want to go “the” restaurant that best epitomizes the special cuisine of the area. If you want a first-class meal it’s always good to follow Zagat’s recommendations. Tim Zagat says that these restaurants selected “embody the essence of each city”. Travelers return consistently to these cities’ iconic restaurants. These are places where a famous dish, local cuisine, decor, service or history makes an out-of-towner feel as though they're a part of the city or even a regular customer. Even a chain restaurant can be iconic. Please contact us to add an “iconic” restaurant of your own. Check out this list and call us to check on availability and best prices for you. If you have an unusual restaurant to add to this list, contact me at: 203-221-3171, 888-499-7245, email us at: egreenwald@cruiseplanners.com.

15 ICONIC RESTAURANTS BY CITY

Restaurant guidebook and online publisher Zagat names iconic restaurants in or near 15 major cities. The cost is the average for dinner for one person with a drink and a tip:

Find out what's happening in Westportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Atlanta

The Colonnade, $22

Find out what's happening in Westportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Colonnade is known for it’s exceptional service, Southern fried chicken, fish, and country vegetables. This family owned and operated restaurant makes Atlanta’s favorite homemade yeast rolls and pies.

http://colonnadeatl.com/

Austin (Driftwood, Texas)

The Salt Lick, $24

The roots of The Salt Lick run back to the mid 1800’s. This restaurant is well known for it’s old-fashioned barbeque taste. The bbq is phenomenal and the staff is very friendly.

http://www.saltlickbbq.com/

Boston

Parker's Restaurant, $47

The restaurant is located inside the Omni Park House hotel and is an award-winning restaurant. It is the birthplace of the Boston cream pie, Parker House rolls, and Boston Scrod. The Waterford crystal chandeliers and the ornate hand carved woodwork of this Grand Dame restaurant serve as a reminder of the days when Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and other prominent literary figures dined here as members of the Saturday club. Since the late 1800’s, this venerable restaurant has built quite a prominent culinary legacy. Two cultural icons spent time on the Parker House staff: Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh served as a baker in the bakeshop from 1912-1913 and Malcolm X was a busboy in the early 1940’s during the Pearl Harbor invasion. 

Chicago

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, $66

This restaurant embodies the big city dining experience. The locals are the heart and soul of Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, enjoying the food, service, and entertainment. This restaurant is housed in the space made famous by Streisand and Sinatra’s performances.

http://www.gibsonssteakhouse.com/

Honolulu

Alan Wong's, $79

The various ethnic roots of Hawaii continue to inspire new dishes featuring local flavors and locally grown products. Alan Wong’s has naturally evolved into a place of learning, appreciation and service to our community. The restaurant represents Hawaii’s culture— its land, its culture, its people, and its future. An important (and enjoyable) responsibility the restaurant has in the community is to serve as a link and advocate for local farmers, growers, ranchers and producers.

http://www.alanwongs.com/

Las Vegas

The Golden Steer, $72

Over the years, the restaurant has expanded by annexing the neighboring shops and in the 70's by adding in a larger bar with an old Victorian ambiance reminiscent of the Gold Rush era of San Francisco. In the 90's, the redecorating was completed to reflect the new century, but still retained the ambiance of the "Old Las Vegas" days when Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. were but a few of the regular customers. The Golden Steer Steakhouse is also known for many famous and infamous customers such as: Tony "The Ant" Spilatro, Natalie Wood, Al Hirt, Nat "King" Cole, Joe DiMaggio, Elvis Presley, and Mario Andretti. Though many changes have taken place over the years, one of the core elements of the Golden Steer Steakhouse has been the longevity of the staff and their level of experience. Some of the staff members have been working there for over 40 years.

http://goldensteersteakhouselasvegas.com/

Los Angeles

Spago, $80

This restaurant is acknowledged as the spark that ignited the Las Vegas culinary phenomenon, Spago is the preeminent trendsetter in cuisine, service, and style. The international wine list and specialty cocktails from Spago’s bar enhance the menu and make this a prime venue for celebrity spotting.

http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/fine-dining/9044

Miami

Joe's Stone Crab, $68

For 101 years, visits to Miami have not been complete without stopping in to Joe’s. This restaurant is well known for their potato dishes, special cole slaw, and world-famous Key lime pie.

http://www.joesstonecrab.com/index.html

New Orleans

Galatoire's Restaurant, $64

Even after 100 years, ageless New Orleans favorites grace her menu just as they did in 1905. Galatoire’s traditions have been preserved with little change through the decades. This restaurant wins multiple awards every year. 

http://www.galatoires.com/

New York

The Four Seasons, $102

Credited with introducing seasonally-changing menus to America, The Four Seasons opened in 1959 and is one of the most talked about restaurants in the world. The Pool Room is airy and romantic and serves an a la carte menu of what New York Magazine called “surprisingly adventurous new flavors and marvelous pairings,” as well as the deal-of-the-decade $59 three-course menu that changes seasonally to satisfy any palate. Known for its legendary power lunch, the Grill Room is more masculine with luminous French walnut-paneled walls and soaring two-story windows. It features an unfussy menu of Maryland crabmeat cakes, burgers, perfectly grilled fish, impressive rack of lamb and the filet of bison that GQ Magazine gave its “dish of the year” award.

http://www.fourseasonsrestaurant.com/

Orlando

Victoria & Albert's, $136

The ultimate in fine dining at the Walt Disneyworld Resort and one of the finest restaurants in the Southeast, Victoria & Albert’s features Modern American cuisine with exquisite products sourced from around the world – truffles from Italy, the finest caviar, fresh herbs from Ohio, beef from Japan, poulet rouge from North Carolina, oysters from North Florida. Recipient of AAA’s highest achievement, the Five Diamond Award, “Forbes Travel Guide” Four Star rating and glowing reviews from Zagat and others, the restaurant in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa evokes another era when dining was an elegant ritual.

http://victoria-alberts.com/

Philadelphia

City Tavern, $41

This restaurant gives off the experience of an authentic 18th century American culinary history. The City Tavern’s goal is to interpret and deliver the culinary experience inspired by the customs and foods of the 18th century Colonial America. The tavern has won various awards and is one of Philadelphia’s finest restaurants.

http://www.citytavern.com/

Portland, Ore.

Jake's Famous Crawfish, $38

Considered one of the top ten seafood restaurants in the nation and has been a downtown landmark for Portland for more than 110 years. Enjoy salmon roasted on a cedar plank, Oregon Dungeness crab, Chinook salmon stuffed with crab, shrimp and brie, great pastas, poultry dishes and an excellent selection of prime steaks. The bar at Jake's Famous Crawfish has long been a popular gathering spot with visitors and locals.

http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/Locations/portland-oregon/portland-oregon/SW12thAve.aspx

San Francisco

Swan Oyster Depot, $35

Well known for their fresh seafood since 1912. The Swan Oyster Depot has the feel of history, family, and great food. This restaurant is a fish market that any seafood lover must visit.

Washington

Old Ebbitt Grill, $32

 

Old Ebbitt Grill is just steps from The White House and museums in downtown Washington. Established in 1856, it was a favorite of Presidents Grant, Cleveland, Harding and Theodore Roosevelt and is still a popular meeting spot for political insiders, journalists, celebrities and theatergoers.

http://www.ebbitt.com/main/home.cfm?Section=Main&Category=About_the_Ebbitt

At Eva’s Best Travel and Cruises, we get to know you, your interests and desires and customize your trip. With our affiliation with Cruise Planners and American Express Travel, our wonderful team of over 350 travel partners, all vetted through American Express for their high quality and service, will match the lowest publish price and give you the most amenities. You will save a lot of time, money and frustration as we counsel and advise you on your dream vacation. Call us at: 203-221-3171, 888-499-7245, egreenwald@cruiseplanners.com, text us at: 203-554-4462, check our website at: http://www.EvasBestTravelAndCruises.com.

If you wish to be on our email list, just email us at: egreenwald@cruiseplanners.com

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?