All Special Reports

Meet the family dynasties leading restaurants into a new generation.

With 15 restaurants on the Top 100 Independents ranking, Las Vegas is home to the highest-grossing concept and plenty of options from celebrity chefs.

In compiling this roundup, we spotted several hotbeds of creativity in bar service and drink menus, chic decor on the cheap, sustainability solutions and hyperlocal marketing.

California is home to 11 of the Top 100 Independents; most of those in the Golden State are split fairly evenly between San Francisco and the Southland.

Popular new offerings from Top 100 restaurants run the gamut, with operators listing drinks, seafood, steaks and more as popular new items.

Here's a look at the highest-grossing independent seafood restaurants in the country.

The top-grossing independent seafood restaurants of the year.

Like most businesses, leading restaurants have to continually work to keep sales growing. Restaurant Business asked the highest-grossing independent restaurant operators how they build business in an increasingly competitive environment.

Over the years, the leading independents ranking has become more geographically diverse. Nevertheless, almost three in 10 Top 100 independents are located in New York City. Here are the highest-volume restaurants in the Big Apple.

The 10 highest-grossing Italian independent restaurants include bar-forward nightclubs, fine-dining destinations, and red sauce and spaghetti giants.

The 11 Top 100 restaurants in California are almost evenly split between San Francisco and Los Angeles/Orange County. Here are the top-grossing independents in the Golden State.