America's Best New Restaurants 2014: The 50 Nominees Are Here!
In the past year, thousands of restaurants opened in America—and after just as many air miles, BA's Andrew Knowlton chose 50 as his favorites. (See the 2016 list here.) They range from oyster bars and diner revivals to a Mekong-Mississippi mashup and a Texas-style brasserie. But the one thing they have in common is this: flat-out deliciousness. Which of these 50 nominees will make our Hot 10 list of the absolute best new restaurants in America? Check back August 19 to find out. Update: We've got a winner! (And here's the 2015 list!)
Jennifer Olson2/51Acorn: Denver
The best way to experience Acorn? Grab a seat at the bar in this soaring industrial space—all exposed brick, concrete floors, and sculptural ductwork—and go deep on the creative, seasonal cocktail list while simultaneously working your way through the small plates and larger, shareable entrées. As at Oak, its sister spot in Boulder, the menu is defined by a wood-burning oven: Local ingredients ranging from summer squash to bone marrow to a 36-ounce rib eye all get cozy with the fire, with predictably tasty results.
What to Order: Rosie's Return (gin, rosé, rose water…); lamb "shawarma" with watermelon, cucumber, and feta; oak-grilled chicken with bread pudding
We Love: That the former 19th-century foundry that houses Acorn is also an artisan food market, with a bakery, a butcher, a coffee roaster, and more food-geek essentials.
3350 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, CO —> Map It!
720-542-3721
denveracorn.com
Make a Reservation on OpenTableClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Jennifer Olson
Kristin Teig3/51Alden & Harlow: Cambridge, MA
Located next to the historic Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, Alden & Harlow’s vibe is more Brooklyn than Boston—in all the best ways. Dim lighting, subway-tiled walls, reclaimed wood, and vintage signs set the cozy scene, where well-heeled Cambridge locals, overworked students, and tenured professors chow down on a mix of high/low deliciousness like chips and three-onion dip and the restaurant’s coveted “secret” burger, made from a custom house blend of beef and served with salted onions, Little Gem lettuce, and melty cheddar.
What to Order: Stone fruit and house pancetta; beef heart tartare; chicken-fried rabbit with celery, apple, blue cheese, and chile oil
We Love: That even though they are on the menu, A&H serves only 30 of those "secret" burgers a night, often selling out by 8:00 p.m.
40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA —> Map It!
617-864-2100
aldenharlow.com
Make a Reservation on OpenTableClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Kristin Teig
John Sconzo4/51Birch: Providence, RI
Dinner here is essentially a private show. Just 18 customers can squeeze around the sleek, U-shaped wood bar, where chef Ben Sukle, breaking out on his own after presiding over the sprawling grandeur of The Dorrance, a previous Top 50 Nominee of 2012, turns out food that's as ambitious as it is personal—Wagyu beef from a good friend of his in Vermont, say, or a gussied-up Rhode Island johnnycake. Go for the four-course prix fixe, a deal at $49.
What to Order: The menu changes frequently, but cross your fingers for the roasted carrot with grilled quahog or the sea-rocket-caper-topped raw Rhode Island beef.
We Love: The daily "Point Judith by-catch"; a testament to Sukle's relationship with local fisheries, it features underdogs like weakfish, cunner fish, or scup—all of which taste way better than they sound.
200 Washington Street, Providence, RI —> Map It!
401-272-3105
birchrestaurant.com Click here to see all 50 nominees as a list.Photo: John Sconzo
David Rosendorf5/51Blackbrick Chinese: Miami
With his thoughtful spins on classic take-out flavors (think pastrami wonton soup, kung pao chicken with rabbit instead of bird), chef Richard Hales ups the Chinese food and dim sum game in Midtown Miami. The graffitied interior (complete with hanging portraits of Chuck Norris, Keith Richards, and Bruce Lee) is playful and laid-back, but the real draw is the drop-dead, seriously delicious food. And with fresh, inventive dishes like smacked cucumber pungent with smoked garlic or lobster fried rice, it's hard to go wrong with any of them—just pick your fire level and dive in.
What to Order: Pan-fried pork cheek dumplings; rib eye with black bean sauce and cumin tots; Sichuan twice-cooked brussels sprouts
We Love: Jenny Hales's (a.k.a. "Wife Hales" on the menu) homemade waffle fortune cookies with quirky sayings: "To truly find yourself you should play hide-and-seek alone."
3451 NE 1st Avenue, Miami, FL —> Map It!
305-573-8886
midtownchinese.comClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: David Rosendorf
Kevin Marple/Courtesy CBD Provisions6/51CBD Provisions: Dallas
CBD Provisions filters big flavors through a local/seasonal lens to create a modern Texas brasserie that has us seriously questioning our devotion to Austin's better-hyped food scene. The menu nods to the local bounty, featuring regional meat and produce—you're just as likely to find yourself snacking on zippy house-fermented okra as you are ultra-porky pig's tails. The space is huge, with soaring ceilings, exposed brick, and salvaged wood. Look for us hunkered down over CBD's Berkshire pork-head carnitas, a dish that represents the cooking at its best: funky, elevated nose-to-tail eating with a decidedly fresh feel.
What to Order: Nduja pimento cheese toast; black-eyed pea hummus; butcher's steak with mole poblano
We Love: That CBD Provisions does indeed make its own provisions—jars of pickled vegetables line the walls of the space.
1530 Main Street, Dallas, TX —> Map It!
214-261-4500
cbdprovisions.com
Make a Reservation on OpenTableClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Kevin Marple/Courtesy CBD Provisions
Peter Frank Edwards7/51Central Provisions: Portland, ME
Central Provisions is everything you'd expect from a great (little) restaurant in a great (little) food town like Portland: Chef Christopher Gould is über-conscientious about sourcing, ensuring the impeccable quality of each local strawberry, cut of lamb, and—this being Maine—seafood delivery. The menu runs the gamut from Thai-inspired Chicken Bo Ssäm to Italian-ish trofie pasta with arugula pesto, but our favorite way to experience Central Provisions is at the salvaged-wood chef's counter, watching Gould's intricate crudo preparations—informed by his days working at Boston restaurateur Ken Oringer's sushi bar, Uni—fly out of the kitchen.
What to Order: Any crudo (fluke ceviche, yellowfin tuna, tuna tartare…); Spanish mackerel with cherry jus; local mushrooms with nam prik
We Love: How the barstool seats are covered with recycled burlap bags from Central Provisions's coffee roaster.
414 Fore Street, Portland, ME —> Map It!
207-805-1085
central-provisions.comClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Peter Frank Edwards
Andrea Weir8/51Coltivare: Houston
We're longtime fans of Coltivare's parent business—Revival Market—and its house-made charcuterie. Now chefs Ryan Pera and Morgan Weber have added this locally minded "pizza and garden" spot to their Houston empire, serving small plates, salads, pasta, pizza, and full-on entrées. While the salumi is spectacular (Revival's nduja should be on any cured-meat "must list"), don't overlook the veggie-driven dishes: Most of the produce comes from the stunning back garden and is notable even when playing backup for, say, a Texas-sized tagliata.
What to Order: Any of the pizzas (especially the Texas 1015 with clams); cavatelli with garden vegetables; grilled broccoli salad
We Love: That the 3,000-square-foot garden is open to the public, so take a stroll through the salad greens and herbs while you wait for a table (and you will likely wait).
3320 White Oak Drive, Houston, Texas —> Map It!
713-637-4095
coltivarehouston.comClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Andrea Weir
Scott Martin9/51Cured: San Antonio
If the name didn't tip you off, the glass aging room that dominates the front of the gorgeously restored former Pearl Brewery offices should clue you in: Order the thoughtful, amazing-looking charcuterie. But the name has a double meaning; chef Steve McHugh recently recovered from lymphoma. With his carefully prepared, hearty American dishes served in an elegant, turn-of-the-last-century industrial space, Cured is a victory in more ways than one.
What to Order: The charcuterie board, starring items like smoked duck ham, lamb and citrus terrine, and whipped pork butter for the bread. (One dollar from the sale of each board goes to charity.)
We Love: That original elements from the 1904 brewery are getting a second life; a hand-washing sink is now a bottle station, and the original vault holds precious booze.
306 Pearl Parkway, San Antonio, TX —> Map It!
210-314-3929
curedatpearl.com
Make a Reservation on OpenTableClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Scott Martin
Allison E. Jones10/51Davenport: Portland, OR
Lauded for his casual long-lunch spot Evoe, a three-person operation connected to a gourmet market that is a Bon Appétit must-stop when in PDX, chef Kevin Gibson has brought his rustic cooking to full-service Davenport. Decor is minimal, but there are at least 20 plates on the menu at all times (about twice that at Evoe), and whether it's nutty roasted favas with crispy mortadella or a bracing seafood salad, we’re usually tempted to order them all. Pay special attention to vegetable dishes—Gibson does them exceptionally well.
What to Order: Padrón chiles (an Evoe staple); grilled calamari with almond, chard, green garlic, and greens; fritto misto
We Love: How the simple drinks menu—a few classic cocktails, a few beers, and a selection of wines—keeps the focus on the fab food.
2215 East Burnside Street, Portland, OR —> Map It!
503-236-8747
davenportpdx.comClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Allison E. Jones
Scott Suchman11/51Eat the Rich, Mockingbird Hill, Southern Efficiency: Washington, DC
Drinksmaster Derek Brown has brought our nation's capital a trio of alluring bars, each with its own personality. The establishments sit next door to one another in the diverse Shaw neighborhood, which means they're practically built for bar-crawling: Start with a glass of fino and a ham sampler at Sherry-centric Mockingbird Hill, dip into oyster shooters and fresh clams at seafood enclave Eat the Rich, then cap off the night with snacks and whiskey at Southern Efficiency (pictured, left). If only the rest of Washington were this functional.
What to Order: Hand-carved Mangalica ham at Mockingbird Hill; "Redneck Laundry" (domestic caviar with potato chips) at Eat the Rich; sweet bourbon balls at Southern Efficiency
We Love: How Mockingbird Hill doubles as a coffee bar by day, brewing beans from cult roasters like Norway's Tim Wendelboe.
Eat the Rich: 1839 7th Street NW, Washington, D.C.; etrbar.com
Southern Efficiency: 1841 7th Street NW, Washington, D.C.; whiskeyhome.com
Mockingbird Hill: 1843 7th Street NW, Washington, D.C.; drinkmoresherry.com
All bars: 202-316-9396Click here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Scott Suchman
Chrys Rynearson12/51Edmund’s Oast: Charleston, SC
Forget what you know about Charleston restaurants. At this modern temple to craft beer, there's not a gas lamp in sight. The space, big and sun-drenched, isn't even downtown. Grab a beer and start with some of the creative bar snacks and small plates: shishito peppers, homemade jerky, or a sweet-corn custard. Diners at the chef's counter can plot their attack on the cured meats hanging overhead. Go ahead, have another pint—there are more than 40 brews on tap, including house-made picks like Breakfast at the Still, an oatmeal-and-muscovado-sugar creation. Charleston, we hardly knew ya.
What to Order: Smoked bar nuts; fresh ricotta with local bread; heritage chicken with Carolina Gold rice porridge
We Love: How the huge outdoor seating area, with communal tables and actual trees, reminds us we need to come back here in winter.
1081 Morrison Drive, Charleston, SC —> Map It!
843-727-1145
edmundsoast.com
Make a Reservation on OpenTableClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Chrys Rynearson
Matthew Young13/51El Camino: Louisville, KY
After helming the kitchens at Rick Bayless's Topolobampo and Frontera Grill chef Brian Enyart headed south to open a spot of his own in Louisville. The vibe here is Mexi-SoCal, with vintage surf videos playing on a projector screen, Día de los Muertos skeletons decorating the brightly colored dining room, and killer rum and tequila lists—all novel sights in Bourbon Country. The food—queso fundito (more, please!), tortas, and tacos—is equally as fresh.
What to Order__:__ Barbacoa tacos with salsa Mexicana and pickled radish; grilled red chile shrimp with red peanut mole, spinach, and crispy onions; tortilla chips with a sampler of salsas
We Love: That the surf music you hear playing in the background? It's all on vintage vinyl.
1314 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY —> Map It!
502-454-5417
elfreakingcamino.com
Make a Reservation on OpenTableClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Matthew Young
Tuukka Koski14/51Estela: New York City
The food at Ignacio Mattos's downtown restaurant is at once visionary and elusive: The Uruguay-born chef does brilliant things with little-heralded ingredients like…endive and mussels. He makes ricotta dumplings that are on another planet. And then he obscures it all, carefully plating each dish to look as though there's practically nothing to it. Perhaps it's this sense of mystery that makes Estela so intriguing. But more likely, it's that Mattos's food—served in what has quickly become the quintessential bustling, cool, downtown space—is just so consistently, outrageously delicious.
What to Order: Beef tartare with sunchoke; mussels escabeche on toast; ricotta dumplings; panna cotta
We Love: How co-owner Thomas Carter adds another layer to the restaurant with his funky Old World wine list.
47 East Houston Street, New York, NY —> Map It!
212-219-7693
estelanyc.comClick here to see all 50 nominees as a list.
Photo: Tuukka Koski
