It’s never been more difficult to get reservations at some of America’s hottest restaurants.
Some power brokers broadcast where they’re eating on social media as a badge of honor.
Travel agents and senior hotel staffers shared the buzziest restaurants in seven major US cities.
Remember when the hottest spot in town was a club with a line wrapped around the street corner or a swanky bar frequented by Hollywood celebrities or Wall Street bigwigs?
Well, a new after-hours status symbol has emerged: restaurants.
Restaurants have become hot not just for their food but also for the exclusivity they can offer. Thanks in part to what the New Yorker described as the gamification of restaurant reservations via platforms like Resy and OpenTable, snagging a reservation at a popular joint is nearly impossible.
As a result, a coveted reservation can be a surefire display of social capital, a way to impress friends or business partners with the hard-to-get-into places they’re able to get into.
With social media, it’s easier than ever to broadcast glimpses of your lavish life to the wider public. Millennials and Gen Zers also turn to their For You Pages, the part of TikTok and Instagram where content is recommended based on your interests and engagement, to hunt down the next coveted food joint to add to their bucket lists.
Even though inflation has made restaurants feel more financially burdensome, dining out remains the biggest consumer splurge category among all generations, according to a McKinsey report on consumer sentiment.
The consulting giant’s ConsumerWise Global Sentiment Survey of 4,003 people in May 2024 found that 39% said they planned to splurge on spending at bars and restaurants — the most compared with any other type of expense, including big-ticket items like travel, vehicles, and home electronics.
These findings are bolstered by the most recent US Census data on consumer expenditures, which reports household spending on food away from home rose 20.1% between 2021 and 2022.
Part of the increase is a return to normal after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions shuttered many restaurants. Still, a flurry of demand for hotter, buzzworthy restaurants has spurred new players to enter the field. In January, Yelp reported that over 50,000 new food and drink establishments opened in the US in 2023, a 10% jump from the previous year.
As our social media algorithms churn out endless options, it’s not easy to stay informed about what spots are hot and actually worth splurging on, especially in a major city.
Here, a travel concierge for high-net-worth individuals and hotel concierges share their recommendations for the buzziest and best restaurants to visit for every occasion in seven of the US’ most popular cities, from the perfect restaurant for a romantic evening to the ideal eatery to impress clients.
Take a look, presented in alphabetical order by city.
These are essential restaurants worth stopping by in Austin.
Austin.John Coletti/Getty Images
Four Seasons Austin concierge Elizabeth Bansch shared her recommendations for the Texas capital — a hot spot for tech companies and live music — by email. Bansch is also a member of Les Clefs d’Or USA, a national organization of professional concierges working in four- and five-star hotels across the country.
The one to entertain clients: Jeffrey’s. Bansch recommends this staple Austin steakhouse, where a porterhouse can set you back $205, for business dinners because the staff will do all of the “heavy lifting, leaving you looking like the ultimate host.” The combination of intuitive service and a menu that isn’t convoluted” means that you and your clients are guaranteed an “effortlessly elegant meal.”
The one to wow your friends and family: Pecan Square Café. Bansch said its blend of Californian, Mediterranean, and local dishes is ideal for families because “there is something for everyone.” (An $80 whole-chicken dish that floored some locals seems to have disappeared from the menu.) If you’re coming with kids, Bansch added, make sure they check out the lawn outside while you sit back, sip a cocktail, and await dessert.
The one for date nights: Sammie’s. Romance is on the menu at Sammie’s, which Bansch said offers “the classic Little Italy experience.” It’s cozy; the tables are lined with crisp white tablecloths, and old memorabilia adorns the walls. “You are sure to have an intimate experience and feel like you are a part of the family,” she added.
The local hot spot: Canje. The East Austin restaurant boasts a blend of culinary influences from different parts of the Caribbean, Bansch said. “Think: innovative rum cocktails begging for an umbrella, meats that taste like they’re cooked over an open flame bursting with flavor, and easygoing service that still impresses every time,” she said.
“The Bear” reminded everyone how dynamic Chicago’s food scene is.
Restaurant Miru has views of the Chicago River.Courtesy of Miru
Chef Concierge Philippe Gills and Assistant Chef Concierge David Gonzalez of The Langham hotel in Chicago listed their favorite restaurants in the city. Gills and Gonzalez have a combined 47 years of experience working as concierges.
The one to entertain clients: Miru. The Japanese restaurant in the St. Regis Hotel in Chicago seats 280 inside and 180 on its terrace that Gonazalez said has jaw-dropping views of the Chicago River. Highlights include “creative cocktails, fresh seafood,” and a “great atmosphere without being too loud,” he added. Another perk? Every Wednesday and Saturday between Memorial and Labour Day, diners have a prime view of the Navy Pier fireworks display — the perfect way to end a client dinner with a bang.
The one to wow your friends and family: Ever. There’s a reason this restaurant, known for its $325 8- to 10-course set menu, was featured on “The Bear.” Not only is the food sublime, but the dark interiors and curved walls create a sophisticated setting that’s hard to forget, too. Gills said Ever is the place to go for those who don’t mind letting the chef run the evening. “It is not democratic dining,” he said, explaining that every course is calculated and timed to a tee. “Nothing is left to chance.”
The one for date nights: Osteria Langhe. Whether you go for small or large plates, Gonzalez said all the Piemonte Italian dishes are made from scratch with fresh produce. He added, “It’s the kind of restaurant where you’re having dinner, and towards the end of your dinner, Chef will come out and say ‘hello’ and ‘how was your meal?'”
The local hot spot: Yassa African. “A real humble place, but it’s the real deal,” Gills said of the Senegalese restaurant, run by Madieye and Awa Gueye, a husband-and-wife team from the West African country. He praised the menu’s authenticity and said he’s particularly a fan of the $5 jollof rice. Overall, it feels like you’re “being served food by somebody that you’ve known your whole life,” Gills added.
A-listers can’t get enough of these LA restaurants.
Nobu Malibu, pictured here during a July 4 party in 2022, is a regular celebrity haunt.Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for The h.wood Group
Florida-based luxury travel agent Jaclyn Sienna India spoke with BI about her favorite restaurants in Miami.
The one to entertain clients: Nobu Malibu. While not technically in LA, it’s still the best place to impress clients in the area, India said. Opened in 2012 in its current location, Nobu Malibu is a longtime celebrity haunt. Besides having a delicious Japanese-inspired menu and azure Pacific Ocean views, it’s one of the hardest reservations to get in and around LA, she added. Bookings open a month in advance, and “If you can get that, you are definitely exciting the people you are going out with,” India said.
The one to wow your friends and family: Tesse. The West Hollywood French restaurant is India’s top recommendation for a great night out with your loved ones. “It’s got the perfect menu, the perfect food,” she said.
The one for date nights: Giorgio Baldi. For a romantic night out in the City of Angels, India wouldn’t look further than this oceanfront family-owned Italian joint that’s popular with a star-studded crowd, including Rihanna. Whether you manage to snag a reservation inside or out on the patio, India says you’re in for a treat.
The local hot spot: Otafuku. If you’re looking for something that’s a little more casual than the rest of India’s LA recommendations but where the food is just as delicious, Otafuku is the spot. The izakaya, Japanese for an informal dinner and drinks spot, specializes in soba and udon noodles. Without toppings, they range in price from $15 to $21.
If you find yourself in Miami, here are a few status-symbol restaurants to know about.
Within the restaurant, there’s a private omasake bar with space for 10 diners.MILA Miami
India also listed her favorite spots in Miami to recommend to clients of her ultra luxury travel agency, Sienna Charles.
The one to entertain clients: Mila. According to India, the food is “absolutely amazing,” the setting is stunning, and the private 10-seat omakase bar within the private members club is a must-book for client dinners.
The one to wow your friends and family: Cote Korean Steakhouse. Korean barbecue may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Florida, but India says that’s exactly what makes Cote so special, adding that the “interactive nature” of cooking meats on the smokeless grill at your table is perfect for group dining. Unlike its counterpart in NYC, Cote Miami opens for lunch, increasing your chances of securing a reservation.
The one for date nights: Pastis. For India, there’s “nowhere more romantic” to grab a bite in Miami than the French-style brasserie founded by NYC restaurateur Keith McNally. The decor is “chic and really special,” she said, adding that she’s particularly a fan of the al fresco courtyard seaitng unique to the Miami location.
The local hot spot: Versailles. India and her husband love roaming around Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood on Sundays — and Versailles is a local staple they almost always stop by for Cuban food when in the area.”
New Orleans food scene is as vibrant as the city’s nightlife.
GTS Productions/Shutterstock
James Jeffrey is the managing director at The Celestine, a luxury boutique hotel that opened in February in the location where Tennessee Williams wrote “A Streetcar Named Desire.” He shared his top recommendations for New Orleans by email.
The one to entertain clients: Doris Metropolitan. To impress clients in NOLA, you want them to feel like they are in NOLA. To do that, Jeffrey said to look no further than Doris Metropolitan, a chic steakhouse that also offers traditional Louisiana seafood. “The setting is really refined, but it is still abundantly clear that you are in a several hundred-year-old French Quarter building,” he said.
The one to wow your friends and family: Sylvain. Located in a 19th-century carriage house, Jeffrey said he’s “never sent a group there and gotten anything less than rave reviews.” He also firmly believes the “quintessential Southern restaurant” is where to go to sip Sazerac, a whiskey or cognac-based cocktail that became popular in NOLA bars in the mid-1800s.
The one for date nights: Jewel of the South. All eyes are on this hot spot off the back of it winning several awards, including a James Beard, earlier this year, Jeffrey said. “An evening in their incredibly romantic dining room or on their courtyard is one of the most romantic settings in New Orleans’ French Quarter, which I think is one of the most romantic neighborhoods in the world,” he added.
The local hot spot: Lilly’s Café. NOLA has a thriving Vietnamese food scene, but Jeffrey’s favorite is Lilly’s Café, a tiny establishment run by Lilly Vuong and her family in the Garden District. “They offer steam buns, Bahn mis, and many other Vietnamese staples,” he said. “But my favorite thing, particularly after a boozy New Orleans night, is to get her combination pho with two Vietnamese egg rolls. “
In NYC, the food scene is ever-evolving, but these restaurants are places to see and be seen.
The late Iris Apfel is one of many famous faces to have visited The Polo Bar in New York City.Lars Niki/Getty Images for HSN
India, who worked in the restaurant industry before becoming a travel agent, also shared recommendations for NYC.
The one to entertain clients: Torrisi. You’ve probably heard about Italian red-sauce joint Carbone, but what makes its sister restaurant even hotter, according to India, is that the dishes are better, the dining area is more intimate, and booking a table is much harder. If you can snag a coveted reservation, India said it’s the perfect “talking point” for clients.
The one to wow your friends and family: Via Carota. Beloved by Taylor Swift and her squad, Via Carota is India’s go-to for a meal shared with family and friends. The Italian, vegetable-forward dishes are “simple and homemade,” and the prices are relatively accessible.
The one for date nights: The Polo Bar. It’s hard to top Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar when it comes to a romantic night in the Big Apple, India said. “I just love how dark it is — and sexy,” she said. The restaurant, which features a 36-seat bar, is also “one of the hardest reservations to get in the city,” so India said it “feels special that you get to eat there.”
The local hot spot: Union Square Café. In NYC, a good restaurant doesn’t stay under the radar for long, India said. So, instead, her top recommendation is a local institution that tourists may have forgotten about. Before striking fast-food gold with Shake Shack, Danny Meyer masterminded Union Square Café as one of NYC’s original farm-to-table restaurants serving New American cuisine made from ingredients sourced from Union Square Greenmarket just a few blocks away.
Food lovers rave about Portland, Maine, a relatively new foodie hot spot in the US. Here are a few places worth checking out.
Portland Brewery Batson River is known for its colorful festive decor during the holiday season.Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
also wondering if portland maine doesn’t fit in, because one in tech/finance/law might not travel there to entertain clients there as often… maybe we do something else with this interview?
Tammara Croman, the general manager of Blind Tiger, a boutique hotel in Portland, Maine, shared her favorite restaurants in the city with BI over email.
The one to entertain clients: Central Provisions. Successful client dinners are all about shared experiences, and few restaurants in Portland are set up to do that as well as Central Provisions, Croman said. The establishment serving dishes inspired by a range of international cuisines got an “exciting and creative menu with an abundance of small plates and shareables that allows for great gathering,” she said.
The one to wow your friends and family: Batson River. According to Croman, this Portland pub food spot is set within a huge brewhouse and has a menu that’s both comforting and elegant, so you can’t go wrong booking for large groups. If you can, she also swears by snagging a reservation during the holidays because the restaurant goes all out with its festive decor.
The one for date nights: Via Vecchia. For a “special night to remember,” Croman recommends this Italian-inspired establishment known for its small plates and dreamy ivy-covered, red-brick exterior.
The local hotspot: Calafia. A newcomer to Portland’s West End neighborhood, Calafia is already making a name for itself. Set within an intimate and bright location, the menu is a blend of Southern Californian and Mexican dishes made with fresh ingredients, Croman said. “I’ve never seen so many colors on one plate,” she added.
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