Just weeks after Eater released its picks for the best new spots of 2016, Bon Appetit has done the same, revealing its annual Hot 10, a list it says was culled from meals eaten across more than 5,700 miles and 40 U.S. cities this year. Here, in rank order, are the restaurants it deemed don’t-miss.
A tough restaurant to find, confounding even Google, this French spot has the ethereal vibe of a “living movie,” notes Bon Appetit, with dishes that skew French but have a hint of Japanese influence, such as sake-steamed mussels and escargot tempura.
James Beard-nominated chefs Elliott Moss and Meherwan Irani teamed up to open this barbecue joint, which boasts a focus on local ingredients and whole-hog cooking. The concept also made headlines earlier this week when it was visited by vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine.
Sister restaurant to tasting menu spot Contra, this inconspicuous wine bar, a James Beard Award finalist, will leave diners having “accidentally eaten one of the best meals [they] can remember,” Bon Appetit says.
Open just Thursday through Monday, this dinner-only spot serves up dishes heavy on seafood as well as Italian influences.
As its name implies, barbacoa is the star of the show at this eatery, which got its start as a food truck. Though barbacoa is offered just three days a week, Bon Appetit notes, a variety of tortas tide diners over during the days between.
Situated in an unassuming strip mall, Baroo—a James Beard Award semifinalist—has received praise for its inventive, futuristic food. Fermented ingredients are central to the menu, which features kimchee, pickled vegetables and housemade kombucha.
This family-style Spanish spot serves up locally sourced small plates and charcuterie just blocks away from chef Justin Severino’s other concept—Mediterranean-inspired Cure.
Run by chefs Carrie and Rupert Blease, Michelin-starred Lord Stanley prepares a menu inspired by British and European cuisines, offering an $83 tasting menu as well as a la carte options.
This Filipino spot began as a passion project but has grown into a beloved local eatery, notes Bon Appetit. Though it serves groups no larger than four, the spot offers just 24 seats, often leading wait times to be upward of an hour.
Though its food is high-brow, this concept—a James Beard Award finalist—has a cozy, casual appeal, Bon Appetit notes; rather than enter through the front door, guests walk up the driveway and through a garage door, like they’re “visiting an old friend.” It’s also part charity, funneling profits to The Giving Kitchen, which aids industry workers in need.