Three restaurants have been added to AAA’s list of Five Diamond establishments, the travel service’s top dining honor, the company announced Thursday.
The restaurants added to the list this year are:
New York City tasting menu spot Atera, which was heralded by judges for its exclusive chef’s table and innovative visual presentations of its dishes that are “a treat for all the senses.”
Coast, which is located in a seaside inn in Watch Hill, R.I., and features a menu that changes daily and is made up of ingredients from local purveyors. The restaurant was upgraded from its previous Four Diamond rating.
Chicago’s Oriole, which elevates its multicourse menus with a “brightly illuminated display kitchen” so diners can watch as each plate is prepared.
Just 67 North American restaurants out of the 32,000 operations inspected annually by AAA currently hold the Five Diamond rating.
AAA’s inspectors noticed this year that many fine-dining restaurants are taking on a more casual atmosphere.
“High-end restaurants are adopting simple, streamlined decor and, thanks in part to the popularity of cooking shows and competitions, some continue to highlight lively open kitchen designs that allow guests to watch and even interact with culinary staff,” AAA said in a statement.
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