Score! 12 Restaurants for Bar Snacks That Raise the Bar

January 8, 2019 by Nevin Martell Leave a Comment

We love nachos, wings, and sliders, but sometimes we yearn for more elevated fare when we’re hanging out at the bar. Thankfully, chefs are coming to the rescue by putting high-end spins on some of our favorite sports bar foods. Here are 12 restaurants for bar snacks that are next-level. Need to watch the big game while you nosh? Don’t miss our round-up of restaurants for sports lovers. And, even if you’re not near any of these spots, you can always find the right restaurant on OpenTable.com for any occasion or craving.

The Smith–U Street, Washington, D.C.
What could possibly make a mound of freshly fried potato chips taste even better? Dousing them with blue cheese fondue, of course! Betcha can’t eat just one. Make a reservation at The Smith–U Street.

Bud & Marilyn’s, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nashville hot buns taste as sassy as they sound. Fried hot chicken is dressed up with ranch, pickles, and pickle brine slaw. All that’s missing is the honky-tonk soundtrack. Make a reservation at Bud & Marilyn’s.

BeetleCat, Atlanta Georgia
Double deep-frying chicken wings keeps them crispy and light. They’re tossed in chili sauce to add a punch of pepper. Sesame buttermilk dressing arrives on the side for dunking. Make a reservation at BeetleCat.

Azabu, Miami Beach, Florida
Generous chunks of slipper lobster get tempura battered and frizzled golden. Dip the savory orbs into spicy mayo and roll them in tiny rice cracker pearls. Guaranteed to be the bite of the night. Make a reservation at Azabu.

Merriman’s Fish House, Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii
You’ve never had a quesadilla like this. That’s because it’s packed with Kalua pig and sweet onions. Plunge a triangle into the memorable kimchi mango sweet chili sauce. Make a reservation at Merriman’s Fish House.

Del Frisco’s Grille, Rockville, Maryland
This reminds us of the fancy baked brie mom used to make for her book club back in the day. In this modernized iteration, a round of warm goat cheese is topped with pomegranate seeds, roasted dates, apricot jam, and crushed pistachios. Mom would surely approve. Make a reservation at Del Frisco’s Grille.

Mirabelle, Washington, D.C.
These aren’t your average tacos. The shells are made from dried bananas and then filled with foie gras parfait and gooseberry preserves. Guaranteed to elevate your #TacoTuesday game. Make a reservation at Mirabelle.

Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
American Wagyu is the foundation of this hot dog inspired by Korean galbi barbecue. The ballpark play features pickled vegetables and chili paste instead of the usual mustard and relish. It’s a home run! Make a reservation at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar.

Westlight, Brooklyn, New York
Potato skins get kicked up a notch – or two. They’re topped off with Kaluga caviar and a dollop of yuzu-accented Hollandaise. Talk about ova the top! Make a reservation at Westlight.

Go Team! 20 Top Restaurants for Sports Lovers Who Love to Eat

January 7, 2019 by Kelly Merritt Leave a Comment

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The pairing of sports and decadent cuisine has become a mainstay for OpenTable diners, who have discovered they don’t have to sacrifice fabulous food for the love of the game. Sports can transform a city and draw festive crowds to restaurants. The unofficial nighttime sports mayor of the Charlotte, North Carolina, Joanna Nix has been an ardent Carolina Panthers supporter for years and attended the Super Bowl with them. At her sprawling Nikko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, she went from having four televisions to 15 to meet diner demand for all sports, all the time. “Instead of staying home, these days everyone who loves sports goes out,” said Nix, whose South End eatery is central to all the stadiums including Panthers football, Hornets basketball, NASCAR races and the Hall of Fame. “We don’t have a mountain or ocean, but we are a sports town.”

During sporting events, Nix has a waiting list for her private dining rooms where her patrons gather at game time, watching the 85-inch screen with platters of sushi for noshing and imbibing on Nix’s curated sake collection. There are televisions at the bar and a viewing area in the lobby with chances high that diners will run into star athletes who frequent Nikko. “Like Nikko, when you mix fine dining with being sports friendly, the atmosphere is social and therapeutic,” said Nix. “You can’t buy with money the feeling you get cheering along with other fans in the spirit of watching sports together – it’s a little classy, a little sporty, and lots of fun.”

When the score is tied and leftovers are anything but appealing, fabulous eats and fellowship await at these restaurants for sports lovers. Leave the lifeless, bagged chips and jars of mass-produced cheese dip behind and venture out. Not near any of these spots? Find the right restaurant near you on OpenTable.com.

Magnolia Dogpatch, San Francisco, California
In the newest location from Magnolia Brewing Company, the indoor beer garden at this ultra-cool industrial space is inspired by American picnics and German beer halls. The bleachers and blue metal tables are in high demand, along with the 20 beers on tap and housemade bites like clams baked in the half shell with cioppino relish and herbed bread crumbs and the Magnolia Dogpatch burger made from fresh ground beef with gruyere cheese, shredded lettuce, dill pickle chips, shaved red onion, and house sauce on brioche. Make a reservation at Magnolia Dogpatch.

Bier Markt Esplanade, Toronto, Canada
In addition to the 150 biers (beers) in the house, one of many draws for sports fans to Bier Markt Esplanade is the 16 ft. television that centers the lounge – indeed, the smallest television screen at this game watchers’ paradise is a measly 65 inches with nary a bad seat in the house. There are also 40 local craft biers offered at Bier Markt Esplanade, including the only Goose Island in-house brews outside of the United States, plus European and specialty biers. Frenched chicken wings, poutine with hand-cut frites, pizzas, and a fresh ground chuck burger have become gameday favorites here. Make a reservation at Bier Markt Esplanade.

Nikko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Charlotte, North Carolina
Steps away from the stadium where the Carolina Panthers storm the NFL, Nikko is as much about star watching as sports watching. This is where celebrities go when in town for concerts, plays, and movie shoots, as well as famous football, basketball, and racing athletes who hang out there for a taste of sushi artistry and traditional Asian flavors. Patrons gathering at Nikko for sports events often ask for a ‘sushi prescription’, the Nikko version of a chef’s table. Sushi platters, fun takes on traditional rolls (sexy salmon, OMG, and mango tango rolls, to name a few), gindara saikyo-yaki, Korean kalbi-style grilled ribs, and Nikko bento dinner boxes are all the rage during game time. Make a reservation at Nikko Japanese Sushi Bar and Restaurant.

City Works, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Walls of televisions and more than 90 craft beers on tap at City Works have sports fans returning for every game. The vast seating means patrons won’t miss a minute of the action. This is a place for sharing no matter how large the group – City Works is known for ‘The Works’, a four-pound dish of tater tots, pepper Jack cheese sauce, smoked pork shoulder, blackened chicken, beer-battered shrimp, cheese curds, beans, pickled jalapenos, pico de gallo, sunnyside eggs, ancho sour cream, avocado, and cilantro. Other snacks include duck confit nachos, mussels, and short rib poutine. Make a reservation at City Works.

Moxie’s Grill & Bar, Plano, Texas
Sleek and contemporary is the vibe at Moxie’s Grill & Bar as potstickers and nachos tempt diners from the open kitchen. Moxie’s is also famed for its specialty cocktails like the avocado gimlet with rosemary and olive-infused gin, avocado, simple syrup, and fresh pressed lime, plus a strawberry ghost pepper margarita with ghost pepper-infused tequila, fresh strawberry, Texas orange, and fresh pressed lime. Between beers, spirits, touchdowns, and three-pointers, guests nibble on sushi cones with tempura shrimp, chicken wings, poutine, prime steaks, blackened Mahi Mahi, and chipotle mango chicken. Make a reservation at Moxie’s Grill & Bar.

Dutch & Doc’s, Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago Lakeview neighborhood joint Dutch & Doc’s is every baseball fan’s dream vantage point with views directly onto Wrigley Field, flanked by large windows and framed photos of popular baseball sayings and players. Fans strolling up and down Clark St. make this American brasserie a stop for Buffalo chicken wings, sticky pork ribs, and elotes-inspired corn fritters with domestic and craft beers, a solid wine list, and classic cocktails. Make a reservation at Dutch & Doc’s.

Boulton & Watt, New York, New York
Patrons come here for the signature Boulton & Watt mac and cheese, but it’s also one of New York’s best places to watch sports. Between orders of chicken sliders and taquitos carnitas, diners can watch events on seven televisions and indulge in IPAs, rotating seasonally, and other beers like Modelo and Southern Tier Stout. Make a reservation at Boulton & Watt.

The Sportsbar LIVE! At Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Nothing rouses up a crowd like hockey and in Canada it’s like an alternate sports universe. In Rogers Arena, fans get to root for their favorite team to the tune of thumping audio and visuals of the games and on 100 4K high-definition televisions. This is Vancouver’s longest bar where hockey, football, basketball, and all other major sporting events run the length of the NHL blue line at 90 feet. Bar favorites include sweet chili cauliflower, grilled farmers sausage with sweet onion jam, Canuck burgers, AAA prime rib, and fish n’ chips with fresh and local ingredients. Of course, there are signature cocktails, craft beers, wines and spirits aplenty. Make a reservation at The Sportsbar LIVE! At Rogers Arena.

The Katharine Brasserie, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Football Sundays at The Katharine take place in this historic former headquarters of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco empire, now restored into a super-chic eatery and hotel. In what could be a whole new reason to love sports, the Katharine Brasserie offers a jam-packed chili bar with all the fixings. Patrons find it hard to leave The Katharine without an order of the chef’s fried Brussels sprouts with Vadouvan curry aioli or the grilled pork chop with white bean cassoulet and smoked ham hocks. Make a reservation at The Katharine Brasserie.

Brooklyn Chop House, New York, New York
For steak and chop aficionados, Brooklyn Chop House in the Financial District is a more upscale option for tasty treats like dim sum, dry-aged steaks, and burgers on bao buns. The bar boasts an avid sports crowd, plus a private dining area with two televisions in addition to the main dining room. Make a reservation at Brooklyn Chop House.

OpenTable Diners Have Spoken: The 100 Best Restaurants in America 2018 #OpenTable100

December 5, 2018 by OpenTable Leave a Comment

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Millions of dining experiences and reviews later, we’re pleased to share our list of the 100 Best Restaurants in America 2018, according to OpenTable diners. The list is a comprehensive look at the year’s most beloved dining spots culled from more than 12 million verified diner reviews of more than 28,000 restaurants in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

From foodie-favorites with world-renowned chefs to breakthrough hidden gems, the list showcases the platform’s comprehensive network of dining options for every occasion across the country. New York holds the most honorees with 24 winning restaurants followed by California with 15, Illinois with nine and Texas with eight, including Uchi in Dallas (pictured above). Pennsylvania boasts seven winners followed by Washington D.C. with six winners while Florida and Georgia each claim four. New to the list are Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Rhode Island, with standout restaurants including Matsuhisa Denver, Phoenicia, AgriVino, and The Dining Room at Castle Hill Inn, respectively. Additional states represented include Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Washington.

Gabriel Kreuther (amuse bouche, pictured below), chef-owner of his eponymous Manhattan restaurant, said of his inclusion, “We were thrilled when we learned the wonderful news. My team and I have worked tirelessly and relentlessly since we began developing our restaurant vision almost five years ago and are overjoyed by this recognition. I have been a chef in New York City for over twenty years and it’s been an amazing journey for me to be here and to have the recognition from our guests is always the reward. I am so honored to head up such a talented, hard-working, kind-hearted, passionate, and skillful team who go the extra mile until we attain the ultimate experience for our guests.” He added, “Going into this field when I was barely fourteen years old, I was influenced and inspired by my mother and then my uncle who always understood and imparted to me that life is fleeting and therefore, our guests are coming to us to help them create memorable experiences, whether consciously or not. By choosing to dine with us, they are entrusting us with these very special moments in their lives. As the keeper of these occasions, we truly hold them with care each and every day.”

While American and Italian proved to be the most popular cuisines, they were closely followed by French, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern. Hyperlocal cuisines including Californian, Hawaiian, and Tex-Mex are also represented in the list. The diversity of the honorees points to an increase in appetite, from coast to coast, for adventurous eats and more exotic flavors, as well as travel-inspired dishes.

So how exactly does a restaurant land on this list? The list is generated solely from diner reviews collected between November 1, 2017, and October 31, 2018. All restaurants with a minimum “overall” score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. Qualifying restaurants were then sorted according to a score calculated from each restaurant’s average rating in the “overall” category. That overall category score is made up of unique data points (read: our secret sauce), such as overall diner rating, user klout, total number of reviews, and regional overall rating to arrive at…ta-da, the final list! It’s a mouthful, we know, but would you expect anything less from a list that’s all about the best restaurants in the country?

Based on this methodology, the following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, comprise the 100 Best Restaurants in America 2018, according to OpenTable diners:Continue Reading

Neighborhood Gems: Restaurants for a Hip, Casual New Year’s Eve Celebration with Friends

December 4, 2018 by OpenTable Leave a Comment

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If you’re looking for a lo-fi New Year’s Eve celebration that’s less about the pomp and circumstance and more about delicious food, chill ambience, and the company you’re with, check out these neighborhood gems for a fun-yet-low-key way to ring in 2019. Not near any of these spots? With more than 47,000 restaurants on OpenTable, we can help you find the right place to celebrate – whatever kind of experience you’re looking to have. And, if you’re not sure what kind of night you’re craving, check out our New Year’s Eve 2018 Dining Decider for help planning your night, tips, and more.

The Victor, Vancouver, British Columbia
Get the party started early with a festive Champagne brunch at one of the city’s most buzzed-about destinations. Perfect for soaking up the holiday (and the champs!), Victor’s has put together four toasts to toast the occasion. Leave it to James Beard nominees Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla to reinvent French toast. The foie gras French toast features sweet and savory notes with seared Quebec foie gras, foie gras mousse, and cherry gastrique. There’s also the BELT (thick-cut bacon, soft-scrambled eggs, Taleggio, tomatoes, and arugula on a bagel). Other options include smoked salmon and avo toast, plus a brioche French toast with Nutella whipped cream. Make a reservation at The Victor.

Stones Throw, San Francisco, California
The beloved Russian Hill neighborhood spot will be shuttering this month due to a city-mandated seismic retrofit, which will be closing its doors this December after one last dinner on New Year’s Eve. At $130 per person, guests will enjoy a four-course menu that includes a trio of canapes for the table, such as puffed potato and egg with caviar and chives, followed by a first-course selection of baked goat cheese and chicories or smoked Dungeness crab. The second course is family-style winter squash ravioli with aged balsamic and Alba white truffles shaved tableside, and for the third course, guests can choose between the smoked egg with creamy farro and chives, Monterey black cod, or dry-aged New York strip loin. The meal ends on a (bitter)sweet note with frozen white chocolate mousse and chef Tara’s selection of mignardises. Say adieu to this longtime fave and the year that was. Make a reservation at Stone’s Throw.

Rahi, New York, New York
Savor the big flavor from executive chef Chintan Pandya at Indian gem Rahi in the West Village. They’ve got fast, fun starters (served in a New York minute-ish), such as chili cheese toast and lamb loin kebabs, and leisurely entrees to be enjoyed at a slower pace, such as Duck Mangalorean, three cod mango. Raise a glass with one of their creative cocktails including the Tulsi Ji, Jwala, or the popular Gaal Gulabi. Make a reservation at Rahi.

Formento’s, Chicago, Illinois
Located in the Fulton Market District within Chicago’s bustling West Loop, Formento’s is a one-of-a-kind modern Italian restaurant focused on hospitality. Created as a nod to the co-owner’s grandmother, guests will enjoy traditional Italian family recipes, alongside new Italian-American favorites. New Year’s Eve will be an especially special event with a $79 prix fixe menu for guests, with four courses served family-style — perfect for friends looking to have a truly communal dining experience. Make a reservation at Formento’s.

Distrito, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Everybody loves tacos, right? Hit up Distrito, a local favorite in the University City neighborhood, to please your peeps. With no door charge, and food and drink specials all night, this is the perf laid-back restaurant to count down the clock! Think classic casual Mexican taqueria offerings such as tacos, nachos, and guac plus some specials like the party-sized Ultimate Nachos – perfect for munching on while the gang celebrates all night long. Make a reservation at Distrito.

Tsunami-Sugar House, Salt Lake City, Utah
Keep it local, sustainable – and healthful at fun sushi spot Tsunami in the Sugar House area of the SLC. This chef-owned restaurant serves hyper-fresh seafood products (largest specialty fish buyer in the mountain west region), sources its certified Black Angus beef from 44 Farms Ranch and leans on a local network to bring you the best flavors of the region, from Red Rock Brewery to Snake River Farms and 1 Luv Bakery. There’s an array of Asian entrees and an extensive sushi menu with creative rolls – not to mention 40 housemade sauces for all the dipping aficionados. Bonus: Got a gluten-free friend in your group? Tsunami has you (and them) covered. Make a reservation at Tsunami-Sugar House.

L’Artusi, New York, New York
For those looking to enjoy a delicious meal without having to splurge on typical New Year’s Eve prices, L’Artusi is the perfect place to dine, offering their normal a la carte dinner menu throughout the night on New Year’s Eve. This is a perfect pick for hungry friends looking to indulge in handmade pastas like the bavette with Manila clams, Jalapeno, and breadcrumbs, or the decadent Chestnut Pappardelle with wild boar ragu and parmesan. Finish it off with a PB&J sundae with peanut butter gelato, Thomcord grape jam, and graham crackers and wash it down with a glass of Champagne to ring in the new year with old friends! After all, you can kick off clean eating the day after the big night. Make a reservation at L’Artusi.

SoBou, New Orleans, Louisiana
The good times are always rolling at SoBou in NOLA. This modern Creole saloon in the French Quarter is serving up Louisiana street-food inspirted small plates from executive chef Juan Carlos Gonzalez paired with bespoke cocktails, like the Rita Alexander and the Barm Brack Flip, but don’t miss the Grilled Citrus Vieux Carre, crafted with Sazerac Rye, brandy, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Angostura, and Peychaud’s bitters, all infused with grilled local citrus. Plates include pork cheek tamales, beignets, duck confit croquettes, and their famed cherries jubilee and white chocolate bread pudding. Make a reservation at SoBou.

Crab Cellar, Chicago, Illinois
This is surf and turf our way. Since the dress code includes bibs, you don’t even need to overthink your outfit for the night. Feast on buckets of crab and beef tenderloin topped with Roquefort and crispy onions. Wash it back with wine, cocktails, and 18-ounce frosted beer schooners. And there’s a complimentary glass of sparkling wine to help put you in an extra-festive mood. Make a reservation at Crab Cellar.

Empellon Taqueria, New York, New York
Keep it simple and delicious at Alex Stupak’s taco destination in Manhattan’s West Village. It’s business as usual with the regular menu being served (although there’s nothing regular about Stupak’s stupendous tacos – Lobster tacos! Pastrami tacos!). There’s also a happy hour at the bar that evening, from 5:30-7PM. This is the ideal no-fuss, no prix-fixe option that’s perfect for a group that can’t agree on everything – except that tacos should be a major food group. Make a reservation at Empellon Taqueria.

Ema, Chicago, Illinois
Keep it fresh with modern Greek at Ema. Grab your friends, order some fine-yet-affordable wines, and dig into specials like lamb chops with vinaigrette capers and a golden lemon and Greek herb mix, branzino, and more. Guests will receive a complimentary Champagne toast when midnight strikes! Make a reservation at Ema.

Radiator, Washington, D.C.
The choice is yours. Swing by starting at 5PM to order any of Radiator’s signature entrees, like the bucatini with Impossible meatballs and lobster tagliatelle, and then come in at starting at 10PM for “Radiator 54” when the restaurant channel the best 1970s hits complete with disco balls, an open bar with select beer, wine, and cocktails and hors-d’oeuvres from chef Jonathan Dearden and lead bartender Patrick Barrett, all for $54 per person. Get up and “retox” starting at 8AM with Radiator’s “I Want to Brunch with Somebody” New Year’s Day brunch featuring chef’s huevos rancheros, crab beignets, and more plus new brunch cocktails and a happy hour that runs until 10PM. Make a reservation at Radiator.

Beaker & Gray-Wynwood, Miami, Florida
The Wynwood hot spot in the heart of Miami’s coolest zip code awaits you and your crew. The restaurant features a globally-inspired menu, by chef Brian Nasajon, with dishes meant for sharing, from bites like cheeseburger croquettes to plates cold and hot and grilled items, all at prices that won’t break the bank. There’s also a killer cocktail program by bar director Ben Potts — one of the best in the city. Make a reservation at Beaker & Gray-Wynwood.

Pinch Chinese, New York, New York
Celebrate Chinese New Year twice this season by starting things off at Pinch Chinese. This Soho restaurant is great for solo diners and groups seeking a flavor-packed night tucking into soup dumplings, Peking duck with zha jin noodles topped with duck ragu, and more. Explore their list of natural wines and whimsical cocktails like the Panda Panda Panda, while grooving to Top 40 tunes. Make a reservation at Pinch Chinese.

Boqueria, Washington, D.C.
Fact: Tapas makes any meal more fun. Roll up to any of four Boqueria locations in D.C. and Manhattan (Flatiron, Soho, and Upper East Side) for a Spanish New Year’s Eve feast. There are two seatings (6-9PM for $85 pp and 9:30PM -12:30AM for $125 pp) for a family-style dinner that features a shared menu of tapas and celebratory dishes with a selection of unlimited beer, wine, and sangria. Now that’s something to cheers about. Make a reservation at Boqueria.

Wokuni, New York, New York
Hit up this Murray Hill Japanese fave with your friends and dive into an uber-fresh and affordable seafood spread in a sleek setting. There’s sushi, tempura, grilled fish and more, including dishes like Blue Fin tuna chutoro steak and yellowtail carpaccio made with top-quality fish from their own aqua-farm in Nagasaki, Japan. For meat lovers, Wokuni offers options such as the Wokuni steak, a brandy-flambéed washu sirloin, and suki-yaki, a soy-simmered sliced washu beef with asparagus and mushroom. Think outside the bubbles and partake of the expansive selections of sake, shochu, wines, and beers. Before heading home, grab some more sashimi at the retail counter to continue the party at your apartment! Make a reservation at Wokuni.