Restaurants in this year’s Top 100 Independents ranking brought in about the same in food and beverage revenues as they did the prior two years—$1.8 billion. The number may be the same, but the operating atmosphere definitely was not. Independents faced challenges in labor, real estate and more, all while still competing for consumers’ dollars. Those winning in the tough, competitive market found the key to staying afloat was delivering on the promise of an experience.
Meet the LeadersTop 100
Independents
Top 100 Independents: The Ranking
Click each concept to see more data.
| Rank | Restaurant | Sales | Average Check | City | State | Meals Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe's Stone Crab | $49,413,190 | $120 | Miami Beach | Fla. | 382,000 |
| 2 | MILA | $49,088,032 | $188 | Miami Beach | Fla. | 261,607 |
| 3 | The Boathouse - Orlando | $45,518,663 | $48 | Orlando | Fla. | 992,110 |
| 4 | Old Ebbitt Grill | $40,656,241 | $54 | Washington | D.C. | 1,000,000 |
| 5 | Maple & Ash Chicago | $35,374,343 | $160 | Chicago | Ill. | 191,676 |
| 6 | Komodo Miami | $33,100,102 | $119 | Miami | Fla. | 264,600 |
| 7 | Gibsons Italia | $31,350,839 | $110 | Chicago | Ill. | 297,921 |
| 8 | Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Chicago | $29,836,338 | $99 | Chicago | Ill. | 337,173 |
| 9 | Taste of Texas Restaurant | $29,669,841 | $68 | Houston | Texas | 434,088 |
| 10 | Eleven Madison Park | $29,127,258* | $750* | New York | N.Y. | 39,500 |
| 11 | Makoto | $28,274,001 | $86 | Miami Beach | Fla. | 318,811 |
| 12 | Smith & Wollensky | $28,124,322 | $121 | New York | N.Y. | 257,740 |
| 13 | Le Diplomate | $27,843,297 | $70 | Washington | D.C. | 386,537 |
| 14 | The Hamilton | $27,537,560 | $47 | Washington | D.C. | 582,182 |
| 15 | Castaway | $27,122,662 | $83 | Burbank | Calif. | 233,344 |
| 16 | Top of the World | $25,810,716 | $135 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 190,842 |
| 17 | Nick & Sam's Steakhouse | $25,203,054 | $150 | Dallas | Texas | 174,056 |
| 18 | Pastis NY | $25,067,670 | $76 | New York | N.Y. | 368,275 |
| 19 | Parc | $24,864,818 | $69 | Philadelphia | Pa. | 453,514 |
| 20 | Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Oak Brook | $24,647,526 | $96 | Oak Brook | Ill. | 275,015 |
| 21 | St Elmo Steak House | $24,445,139 | $127 | Indianapolis | Ind. | 187,081 |
| 22 | Rusty Pelican Miami | $24,311,887 | $79 | Miami | Fla. | 219,184 |
| 23 | The Oasis | $23,963,417* | $38* | Austin | Texas | 984,364 |
| 24 | Cafe Americano - Caesars Palace | $23,826,031 | $33 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 708,353 |
| 25 | Maple & Ash Scottsdale | $23,729,634 | $160 | Scottsdale | Ariz. | 144,571 |
| 26 | Original Joe's Westlake | $23,253,763 | $52 | Daly City | Calif. | 440,398 |
| 27 | Papi Steak Miami | $23,200,099 | $229 | Miami Beach | Fla. | 98,100 |
| 28 | Monarch Restaurant | $22,928,561 | $150 | Dallas | Texas | 113,616 |
| 29 | Mayami | $22,856,028 | $115 | Miami | Fla. | 0 |
| 30 | Harris Ranch Resort | $22,854,033 | $34 | Coalinga | Calif. | 658,560 |
| 31 | Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Rosemont | $22,795,509 | $96 | Rosemont | Ill. | 264,911 |
| 32 | Abe & Louie's | $22,428,662 | $197 | Boston | Mass. | 170,814 |
| 33 | Buddakan NYC | $21,792,658 | $103 | New York | N.Y. | 204,957 |
| 34 | The Hampton Social Nashville | $21,675,292 | $44 | Nashville | Tenn. | 465,216 |
| 35 | Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn | $20,751,961 | $23 | Frankenmuth | Mich. | 894,495 |
| 36 | Matt's El Rancho | $20,585,884 | $31 | Austin | Texas | 664,060 |
| 37 | Quality Italian | $20,293,464 | $99 | New York | N.Y. | 196,519 |
| 38 | Junior's Restaurant - 49th St | $20,281,198 | $24 | New York | N.Y. | 845,049 |
| 39 | American Social Bar & Kitchen (Tampa) | $20,081,145 | $54 | Tampa | Fla. | 370,863 |
| 40 | Zehnder's of Frankenmuth | $20,051,279 | $20 | Frankenmuth | Mich. | 996,305 |
| 41 | Cafe Americano - Paris Las Vegas | $19,819,246 | $29 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 675,579 |
| 42 | Barry's Downtown Prime | $19,500,000 | $145 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 134,500 |
| 43 | Quality Meats | $19,474,450 | $127 | New York | N.Y. | 159,605 |
| 44 | Bad Roman | $18,411,485 | $88 | New York | N.Y. | 205,841 |
| 45 | Zou Zou's | $18,304,523 | $82 | New York | N.Y. | 150,408 |
| 46 | Old Mill Restaurant | $18,288,641 | $20 | Pigeon Forge | Tenn. | 894,198 |
| 47 | Bob Chinn's Crabhouse | $17,988,455 | $65 | Wheeling | Ill. | 389,422 |
| 48 | Haywire | $17,805,478 | $49 | Plano | Texas | 360,369 |
| 49 | Quality Bistro | $17,324,459 | $110 | New York | N.Y. | 163,456 |
| 50 | Baltaire Restaurant | $17,215,366 | $150 | Los Angeles | Calif. | 130,000 |
| 51 | Cira | $16,365,645 | $67 | Chicago | Ill. | 204,805 |
| 52 | The Choptank Annapolis | $15,980,000 | $65 | Annapolis | Md. | 143,317 |
| 53 | Swift & Sons | $15,958,971 | $129 | Chicago | Ill. | 105,200 |
| 54 | China Live | $15,906,753 | $52 | San Francisco | Calif. | 306,000 |
| 55 | BOA Steakhouse | $15,843,000 | $125 | West Hollywood | Calif. | 126,700 |
| 56 | Prime & Provisions | $15,675,586 | $112 | Chicago | Ill. | 56,171 |
| 57 | Root Down DIA | $15,671,120 | $34 | Denver | Colo. | 300,315 |
| 58 | Original Joe's San Francisco | $15,344,759 | $52 | San Francisco | Calif. | 273,658 |
| 59 | Beauty & Essex Las Vegas | $14,987,127* | $169* | Las Vegas | Nev. | 184,114 |
| 60 | Orange Hill | $14,872,421 | $86 | Orange | Calif. | 130,753 |
| 61 | Quartino Ristorante | $14,724,238 | $34 | Chicago | Ill. | 413,570 |
| 62 | Guard and Grace | $14,500,000 | $150 | Denver | Colo. | 97,000 |
| 63 | Las Brisas Laguna Beach | $14,370,000 | $156 | Laguna Beach | Calif. | 85,500 |
| 64 | Harry & Izzy's Circle Centre | $14,150,617 | $71 | Indianapolis | Ind. | 190,471 |
| 65 | The Ranch at Las Colinas | $14,099,709 | $48 | Irving | Texas | 292,045 |
| 66 | Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House | $14,064,091 | $85 | Chicago | Ill. | 152,590 |
| 67 | Paradise Cove Beach Cafe | $14,041,893 | $55 | Malibu | Calif. | 255,229 |
| 68 | Electric Lemon | $13,978,665 | $74 | New York | N.Y. | 188,642 |
| 69 | 15th St. Fisheries | $13,863,254 | $54 | Fort Lauderdale | Fla. | 314,110 |
| 70 | Bayshore Club | $13,821,005 | $52 | Miami | Fla. | 261,579 |
| 71 | Whiskey Joe's Bar & Grill Tampa | $13,563,366 | $27 | Tampa | Fla. | 282,819 |
| 72 | Clyde's Gallery Place | $13,511,823 | $46 | Washington | D.C. | 317,201 |
| 73 | The Spot | $13,500,000 | $20 | Galveston | Texas | 675,000 |
| 74 | Girl & the Goat | $13,472,690 | $72 | Chicago | Ill. | 157,221 |
| 75 | Momotaro | $13,378,732 | $111 | Chicago | Ill. | 101,267 |
| 76 | Bistro 31 | $13,282,000 | $85 | Dallas | Texas | 155,680 |
| 77 | Tony's Pizza Napoletana | $13,246,590 | $31 | San Francisco | Calif. | 422,611 |
| 78 | Joe's on Newbury | $13,002,176 | $69 | Boston | Mass. | 276,022 |
| 79 | Anthony's Runway 84 | $13,000,000 | $120 | Fort Lauderdale | Fla. | 108,000 |
| 80 | Cabo Wabo Cantina | $12,976,111* | $59* | Las Vegas | Nev. | 450,000 |
| 81 | Junior's Restaurant - Brooklyn | $12,834,816 | $24 | Brooklyn | N.Y. | 534,784 |
| 82 | Barclay Prime | $12,733,676 | $119 | Philadelphia | Pa. | 62,008 |
| 83 | Le Coucou | $12,546,981 | $194 | New York | N.Y. | 58,545 |
| 84 | Timberline Steaks and Grille | $12,545,688 | $38 | Denver | Colo. | 254,754 |
| 85 | The Fish Hopper | $12,491,631 | $73 | Monterey | Calif. | 192,898 |
| 86 | Alla Vita | $12,421,617 | $61 | Chicago | Ill. | 172,529 |
| 87 | Mercato della Pescheria - Las Vegas | $12,320,402 | $55 | Las Veags | Nev. | 221,286 |
| 88 | Tower Oaks Lodge | $12,284,775 | $44 | Rockville | Md. | 249,566 |
| 89 | Mother Wolf LA | $12,137,862* | $150 | Los Angeles | Calif. | 78,000 |
| 90 | Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar | $11,969,928 | $43 | Charleston | S.C. | 321,636 |
| 91 | Del Mar | $11,953,576 | $119 | Naples | Fla. | 99,938 |
| 92 | Atlantic Fish Co. | $11,946,069 | $118 | Boston | Mass. | 162,314 |
| 93 | El Vez PA | $11,810,769 | $57 | Philadelphia | Pa. | 267,301 |
| 94 | Harpoon Hanna's Restaurant and Tiki Bar | $11,791,734 | $34 | Fenwick Island | Del. | 343,982 |
| 95 | Rick's Boatyard | $11,633,820 | $42 | Indianapolis | Ind. | 275,525 |
| 96 | Scoma's Restaurant | $11,609,589 | $62 | San Francisco | Calif. | 185,044 |
| 97 | Blackbird Modern Asian | $11,578,940 | $58 | Jupiter | Fla. | 193,582 |
| 98 | Mi Vida | $11,573,789 | $57 | Washington | D.C. | 192,000 |
| 99 | Kyle G's Prime Seafood and Steaks | $11,500,000 | $65 | Jensen Beach | Fla. | 350,000 |
| 100 | Old Fisherman's Grotto | $11,203,719 | $52 | Monterey | Calif. | 226,162 |
*RB estimate
Methodology
RB’s Top 100 Independents ranking is a measure of the highest-grossing independent restaurants. Only restaurant concepts with no more than five locations are considered “independents” for the purpose of this list (although it’s possible a restaurant that shares a name with a chain but is owned and operated separately would qualify, such as Smith & Wollensky in New York City). Rankings are based on gross 2017 food and beverage sales. Information was gathered through surveys. When data wasn’t provided, sales were estimated based on public information, similar concepts and other factors.
Did we miss your restaurant? If your operation had food and beverage sales above $10 million, we want to know about it. Please contact Sara Rush Wirth at swirth@winsightmedia.com to be included in the next Top 100 Independents survey.
Independents managing changeHow they do it
Steakhouse resurgence
Several newer steakhouses made the list for the first time this year, while legacy steak concepts managed to remain on, too. In fact, 31 of this year's Top 100 Independents are steakhouses. They deliver on what modern consumers are looking for: an experience. Here, a look at that experience within the walls of newcomer Swift & Sons in Chicago.
Top steakhouses