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 | MILA | $51,115,747 | $188 | Miami | Fla. | 271,461 |
| 2 | The Boathouse - Orlando | $51,108,756 | $51 | Orlando | Fla. | 985,695 |
| 3 | Joe's Stone Crab | $47,688,425 | $120 | Miami Beach | Fla. | 304,000 |
| 4 | Old Ebbitt Grill | $46,922,989 | $97 | Washington | D.C. | 619,137 |
| 5 | Delilah Las Vegas | $40,000,000 | $225 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 180,000 |
| 6 | Taste of Texas | $34,021,980 | $71 | Houston | Texas | 436,041 |
| 7 | Gibsons Italia | $32,062,568 | $114 | Chicago | Ill. | 302,059 |
| 8 | Alexxa's at Paris Las Vegas | $31,256,992 | $83 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 529,481 |
| 9 | Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Chicago | $30,903,527 | $104 | Chicago | Ill. | 329,447 |
| 10 | The Hamilton | $30,197,384 | $51 | Washington | D.C. | 586,470 |
| 11 | Castaway Burbank | $29,523,000 | $83 | Burbank | Calif. | 227,308 |
| 12 | Papi Steak Las Vegas | $29,267,498 | $267 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 116,458 |
| 13 | Makoto | $28,701,628 | $78 | Bal Harbour | Fla. | 311,173 |
| 14 | Smith & Wollensky | $28,273,691 | $121 | New York | N.Y. | 255,306 |
| 15 | Le Diplomate | $27,049,163 | $68 | Washington | D.C. | 405,529 |
| 16 | St. Elmo Steak House | $26,504,333 | $85 | Indianapolis | Ind. | 300,878 |
| 17 | Pastis NY | $26,109,347 | $79 | New York | N.Y. | 396,439 |
| 18 | Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Oak Brook | $25,407,371 | $100 | Oak Brook | Ill. | 283,266 |
| 19 | Original Joe's Westlake | $24,622,987 | $53 | Daly City | Calif. | 450,091 |
| 20 | Parc | $24,314,690 | $49 | Philadelphia | Pa. | 442,250 |
| 21 | Rusty Pelican Miami | $24,105,000 | $79 | Miami | Fla. | 194,896 |
| 22 | Cafe Americano - Caesars Palace | $24,045,909 | $35 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 686,740 |
| 23 | Nick & Sam's Steakhouse | $23,536,354 | $156 | Dallas | Texas | 150,121 |
| 24 | Harris Ranch Resort | $23,459,100 | $62 | Coalinga | Calif. | 635,196 |
| 25 | Top of the World Steakhouse | $23,195,670 | $137 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 169,477 |
| 26 | Komodo Miami | $23,123,930 | $120 | Miami | Fla. | 194,294 |
| 27 | Casadonna | $23,056,814 | $109 | Miami | Fla. | 149,279 |
| 28 | Matt's El Rancho | $22,325,175 | $31 | Texas | Texas | 720,167 |
| 29 | MAYAMI | $22,251,032 | $286 | Miami | Fla. | 75,356 |
| 30 | Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Rosemont | $21,893,212 | $103 | Rosemont | Ill. | 237,519 |
| 31 | Komodo Las Vegas | $21,170,644 | $163 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 142,829 |
| 32 | Abe & Louie's Boston | $20,874,795 | $111 | Boston | Mass. | 151,215 |
| 33 | Bavarian Inn | $20,832,668 | $23 | Frankenmuth | Mich. | 872,063 |
| 34 | Barry's Downtown Prime | $20,500,000 | $145 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 141,400 |
| 35 | Quality Italian | $20,245,488 | $101 | New York | N.Y. | 188,068 |
| 36 | Bad Roman | $20,202,442 | $91 | New York | N.Y. | 234,571 |
| 37 | Cindy's Rooftop | $20,200,261 | $79 | Chicago | Ill. | 248,010 |
| 38 | Delilah Miami | $20,000,000 | $160 | Miami | Fla. | 119,989 |
| 39 | Zehnder's of Frankenmuth | $19,667,935 | $20 | Frankenmuth | Mich. | 962,353 |
| 40 | Buddakan NYC | $19,279,848 | $104 | New York City | N.Y. | 184,866 |
| 41 | Beer Park at Paris Las Vegas | $18,509,208 | $45 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 398,759 |
| 42 | Quality Meats | $18,423,771 | $128 | New York | N.Y. | 149,636 |
| 43 | Bob Chinns Crabhouse | $18,333,921 | $67 | Wheeling | Ill. | 422,310 |
| 44 | The Old Mill Restaurant | $18,321,606 | $20 | Pigeon Forge | Tenn. | 885,640 |
| 45 | Pastis MIA | $18,002,652 | $75 | Miami | Fla. | 241,318 |
| 46 | Zou Zou's | $17,828,354 | $88 | New York | N.Y. | 146,062 |
| 47 | Quality Bistro | $17,809,419 | $106 | New York | N.Y. | 175,030 |
| 48 | Cafe Americano - Paris Las Vegas | $17,802,164 | $35 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 523,594 |
| 49 | Orange Hill | $17,494,000 | $75 | Orange | Calif. | 152,032 |
| 50 | American Social Bar & Kitchen | $17,486,570 | $52 | Tampa | Fla. | 335,442 |
| 51 | Chayo Mexican Kitchen | $17,425,304 | $40 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 412,731 |
| 52 | Gekko Miami | $17,340,048 | $128 | Miami | Fla. | 91,965 |
| 53 | Original Joe's - San Francisco | $16,831,407 | $52 | San Francisco | Calif. | 286,097 |
| 54 | Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House | $16,780,358 | $86 | Chicago | Ill. | 183,153 |
| 55 | Haywire | $16,543,097 | $48 | Plano | Texas | 341,852 |
| 56 | The Choptank Annapolis | $16,537,914 | $63 | Annapolis | Md. | 222,976 |
| 57 | Quartino Ristorante | $16,369,681 | $35 | Chicago | Ill. | 450,858 |
| 58 | Cabo Wabo Cantina | $16,244,037 | $46 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 375,510 |
| 59 | China Live | $16,099,339 | $54 | San Francisco | Calif. | 320,000 |
| 60 | Swift & Sons | $15,807,168 | $143 | Chicago | Ill. | 94,447 |
| 61 | Cira | $15,786,141 | $54 | Chicago | Ill. | 244,686 |
| 62 | Harry & Izzy's Circle Centre | $15,441,107 | $56 | Indianapolis | Ind. | 262,454 |
| 63 | Tony's Pizza Napoletana | $15,433,129 | $31 | San Francisco | Calif. | 290,871 |
| 64 | Papi Steak Miami | $15,069,825 | $201 | Miami Beach | Fla. | 67,937 |
| 65 | The Ranch at Las Colinas | $14,520,244 | $47 | Irving | Texas | 309,719 |
| 66 | LUXBAR | $14,082,126 | $43 | Chicago | Ill. | 289,352 |
| 67 | Lombardi Cucina Italiano | $14,052,395 | $91 | Houston | Texas | 160,741 |
| 68 | Girl & the Goat | $14,042,077 | $81 | Chicago | Ill. | 144,867 |
| 69 | The Mexican | $14,034,996 | $85 | Dallas | Texas | 156,907 |
| 70 | Momotaro | $13,889,334 | $80 | Chicago | Ill. | 144,317 |
| 71 | Anthony's Runway 84 | $13,827,928 | $118 | Fort Lauderdale | Fla. | 117,185 |
| 72 | The Fish Hopper | $13,803,406 | $63 | Monterey | Calif. | 216,088 |
| 73 | Electric Lemon | $13,773,969 | $84 | New York City | N.Y. | 163,571 |
| 74 | Tower Oaks Lodge | $13,367,659 | $51 | Rockville | Md. | 270,889 |
| 75 | Oxford Exchange | $13,301,610 | $47 | Tampa | Fla. | 281,323 |
| 76 | Clyde's of Gallery Place | $13,290,748 | $46 | Washington | D.C. | 229,000 |
| 77 | Mercato della Pescheria | $13,202,872 | $57 | Las Vegas | Nev. | 242,155 |
| 78 | Harpoon Hanna's Restaurant and Tiki Bar | $13,174,030 | $34 | Fenwick Island | Del. | 394,096 |
| 79 | Bistro 31 | $12,911,662 | $87 | Highland Park | Texas | 145,291 |
| 80 | Alla Vita | $12,908,323 | $62 | Chicago | Ill. | 176,251 |
| 81 | 15th Street Fisheries | $12,903,325 | $51 | Fort Lauderdale | Fla. | 301,500 |
| 82 | Whiskey Joe's Tampa | $12,874,000 | $27 | Tampa | Fla. | 256,081 |
| 83 | Bayshore Club | $12,741,777 | $51 | Miami | Fla. | 249,318 |
| 84 | The Spot | $12,700,000 | $24 | Galveston | Texas | 529,000 |
| 85 | Joe's on Newbury | $12,636,166 | $40 | Boston | Mass. | 231,446 |
| 86 | Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar | $12,193,341 | $35 | Charleston | S.C. | 298,806 |
| 87 | Blackbird Modern Asian | $12,098,863 | $51 | Jupiter | Fla. | 385,000 |
| 88 | Atlantic Fish Co. | $12,035,703 | $74 | Boston | Mass. | 151,215 |
| 89 | Delilah Los Angeles | $12,000,000 | $131 | Los Angeles | Calif. | 92,124 |
| 90 | AVA MediterrAegean | $11,918,927 | $105 | Winter Park | Fla. | 113,937 |
| 91 | Rick's Boatyard | $11,908,571 | $96 | Indianapolis | Ind. | 255,276 |
| 92 | Willow Creek Farm | $11,837,276 | $58 | Broadlands | Va. | 228,750 |
| 93 | Old Fisherman's Grotto | $11,708,780 | $51 | Monterey | Calif. | 213,059 |
| 94 | Lona Cocina & Tequileria | $11,674,598 | $32 | Fort Lauderdale | Fla. | 361,219 |
| 95 | Kyle G's Prime Seafood and Steaks | $11,588,060 | $88 | Jensen Beach | Fla. | 163,959 |
| 96 | Barclay Prime | $11,535,017 | $209 | Philadelphia | Pa. | 65,596 |
| 97 | Scoma's Restaurant | $11,461,220 | $62 | San Francisco | Calif. | 183,890 |
| 98 | Le Coucou | $11,159,541 | $212 | New York | N.Y. | 55,749 |
| 99 | Odyssey | $11,148,000 | $61 | Granada Hills | Calif. | 77,801 |
| 100 | Laser Wolf Brooklyn | $11,116,941 | $83 | Brooklyn | N.Y. | 120,182 |
*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