If 2022 restaurant openings are anything to go by, there’s never been a better time to dine out across the United States and Canada. Restaurants around the continent returned in full force for the first time since the 2020 pandemic shutdown and are showcasing their region’s bounty and culinary diversity.
In Philadelphia, a new showstopper is bringing western African food into the mainstream; Mexican and Korean food go hand-in-hand at an exciting new restaurant in Denver; and a swanky Filipino restaurant in Montreal with an accompanying speakeasy showcases just how dynamic the city’s restaurant scene is right now. Here are 15 restaurants across the U.S. and Canada worth jumping on a reservation for.
Seattle: Shama
To introduce Seattle to the flavors of his home country, owner and sommelier Hamid Majdi welcomes people to Shama, a modern Moroccan spot. The restaurant opened in March in the heart of Pike Place Market. Chic but cozy, the main dining room has bold, blue walls, while the glass-encased atrium offers dining under string lights. The house specialty is a book-ahead, family-style meal that includes méchoui—slow-roasted local lamb shoulder with Moroccan saffron rub—and a variety of side dishes such as saffron rice and market vegetables. You can’t go wrong with any of the entrees, including Moroccan couscous with vegetables, sharmoula-baked fish of the day, and lamb shank with ras-al-hanout, prunes, sesame seeds, and roasted almonds. — Jay Friedman
The full list of Seattle’s must-book restaurants right now
Atlanta: Casa Robles
Chef Laura Orellana’s lived experience comes to life at Casa Robles, a tapas and tacos restaurant that opened in June. Orellana was born in El Salvador, spent time in Guatemala, and trained to be a chef in Spain—and she’s brought food from all those countries together at her Atlanta spot. Expect dishes such as langostinos in a garlic sauce and traditional albondigas (meatballs), plus Salvadoran pupusas. Grab a seat in the vibrant interior, featuring a mix of blacks, reds, and blues, and a buzzy Latin soundtrack. Don’t leave without ordering a pisco sour, and finish with the chef’s favorite dessert: Corn cake with caramel popcorn and corn ice cream. — Su-Jit Lin
The full list of Atlanta’s must-book restaurants right now
Boston: Moëca
Seafood lovers, rejoice: the owners of beloved Italian restaurant Giulia cast some love on the region’s oceanic bounty at Moëca. The new neighborhood spot from well-traveled chef and owner Michael Pagliarini and his wife Pam Ralston, which opened this August, will offer a raw seafood bar featuring Asian and Latin American flavors and an extensive wine list that spans Spain, Portugal, and France (including Champagne). While the fresh catch in Boston varies—translation: the menu will rotate more frequently than most—that means there’s more opportunity for creativity from chef de cuisine Brian Gianpoalo, who’s been with Pagliarini and his team for almost a decade. Expect grilled prawns, cuttlefish risotto, and the meal for which the restaurant is named: In the Venetian dialect, moeca is a delectable soft-shell crab. — Carley Thornell-Wade
The full list of Boston’s must-book restaurants right now
Miami: Klaw
After a five-year wait, Klaw finally opened its doors in Edgewater this July, revealing a bayfront rooftop bar and a luxurious, two-story restaurant serving standout surf-and-turf. Start with cocktails, such as mignonette brine martinis and fancy old fashioneds, on the sixth-floor rooftop while enjoying marina and South Beach views. Then move downstairs to the stately dining area, where you’ll notice a tank of live king crabs that are flown in weekly from Norway’s Barents Sea. Klaw’s star dish is presented tableside and each crab claw is carefully cracked before its covered in a garlicky, buttery sauce. There are also gorgeous, marbled cuts of aging beef, carefully selected from cattle farms around the country. — Amber Love Bond
The full list of Miami’s must-book restaurants right now
Denver: Wild Taco
Get tacos with an international kick, margaritas, and a vibrant atmosphere at this new place opened in April by co-owners Rico Aragon, Flor Aragon, and Yoon Terry. Here, diners get traditional Mexican fare with local and Korean accents thanks to the owners’ backgrounds. That means elk or buffalo tacos, dishes laced with kimchi, bulgogi tacos, and grilled cactus. Give the poke nachos, chicken and waffle, and birria chile relleno a try, too; it’s all fiery, fresh and craveable. Don’t miss the taco Tuesday special, when it’s two hard-shell tacos and a margarita for $10. — Linnea Covington
The full list of Denver’s must-book restaurants right now
Philadelphia: Amina
This striking newcomer draws inspiration from the flavors of the American south as well as western Africa. Amina, which is named after a Nigerian warrior queen according to owner Felicia Wilson, opened in May. Chef Darryl Harmon, formerly of Philadelphia’s Water Works and the Lure Group restaurants in New York City, paid close attention to food traditions from these regions while bringing whimsy to the plates. For example, the restaurant’s popular candied yams are garnished with graham crackers. Other dishes, such as the hot chicken sandwich, are spicier, seasoned with fiery Nigerian flavors. Don’t miss the potent signature cocktails, including a passion fruit margarita. — Joy Manning
The full list of Philly’s must-book restaurants right now
New York City: HAGS
One of the hottest restaurant openings across the country in 2022, the queer and trans-owned HAGS opened in July spotlighting five-course vegan ($145) and omnivore ($155) set menus. HAGS is part of a small, but growing group of openly queer restaurants across the country, and co-owners Camille Lindsley and chef Telly Justice further demonstrate their inclusivity by hosting pay-what-you-can Sunday dinners. Current highlights of the seasonal menu include a butter-poached lobster, tomatoes topped with an emulsion of fava beans and sesame oil, and a chocolate panna cotta with cocoa jam. The stylish, intimate space seats 20 at booths with tables and at the bar. — Tanay Warerkar
The full list of NYC’s must-book restaurants right now
Los Angeles: Saffy’s
Bestia and Bavel veterans Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis debuted their latest ode to Middle Eastern cuisine in June. The chefs named the East Hollywood restaurant after their daughter, Saffy, and have set it up as a casual spot where eating with your hands is encouraged. Opt for one of the wraps stuffed with kebabs, falafel, or shawarma. Or go for the house favorite, the turmeric mussels, which are served in a coconut cream broth studded with grated carrots, sliced habanero peppers, and scallions. Sop it up with the flatbread served alongside the dish. Pull up a chair at the curved, 16-seat bar and order one of Saffy’s playful cocktails such as the cherry limeade with tequila, calamansi juice, cherry-lime soda, and a cherry on top. — Kristin Braswell
The full list of Los Angeles’s must-book restaurants right now
Fort Worth: Caterina’s
A new Tim Love restaurant in the Dallas area is always splashy news, but the celebrity chef has outdone himself with this fine-dining Italian spot, a late July opening in the Stockyards. Each person who enters the tasteful, dimly lit space receives a locked pouch for their cell phone—and it won’t unlock until it’s time to leave. Complimentary sparkling wine kicks off the meal, cocktails are prepared tableside, and all of the pasta—order the lobster with ravioli and ask about the phenomenal off-menu meatballs—is freshly made in-house. — Diana Spechler
The full list of Dallas’s must-book restaurants right now
Nashville: The Electric Jane
Opened in early 2022, The Electric Jane is a stylish, modern-day supper club and live entertainment hybrid. Co-owned by hospitality vets Jason Scoppa and Sam Bakhshandehpour, the place brims with retro influences: Teal tufted banquettes surround a Carrara marble hexagon bar, octagon mirrors line the walls, and there are plenty of mismatched velvet couches and chairs. The menu, complete with brunch, supper, and late-night bites, offers contemporary, globally influenced fare such as tuna crispy rice, edamame falafel, and steak tartare. Pair your plates with any of the drinks on the expansive beer, wine, and cocktail selection and you’ve got a potent combination for an unforgettable evening. — Kellie Walton Benz
The full list of Nashville’s must-book restaurants right now
Phoenix: The Wine Collective
People who scoff at the notion of Arizona-made wines don’t know two things: there are 130 wineries in the state, and samples of many of them are resting in a dark, cool room in Scottsdale, waiting to be paired with top-notch food. At The Wine Collective, learning about varietals is as important as drinking the best local reds, and staff are trained to showcase a good chenin blanc or a misunderstood, locally made tempranillo. Parties and private affairs take place in a 30-seat tasting room with its own retail space, and charcuterie, cheeses, and desserts can be paired with exclusive wines on the dog-friendly patio. — Robrt Pela
The full list of Phoenix’s must-book restaurants right now
Montreal: Tadhana
Restaurateurs Eric Lazaro Magno and Ryan Oabel have built a small Filipino culinary empire in Montreal in recent years. Tadhana, located on a leafy Westmount street, is the latest and fanciest addition to it. The restaurant opened in March, and has a menu with small plates alongside a handful of mains such as a meaty sisig and an oxtail ravioli with bagoong (a fermented fish paste) and peanut sauce. The colorful restaurant, featuring pink and orange-accented walls, is accompanied by a speakeasy-style basement bar, pouring out tropical cocktails with plenty of rum and brandy. — Tim Forster
The full list of Montreal’s must-book restaurants right now
Minneapolis: Owamni by the Sioux Chef
Minneapolis hotspot Owamni was bringing in crowds even before it won the James Beard Award for best new restaurant this past summer. It’s one of the rare full-service Native American restaurants across the country, and co-owners Dana Thompson and chef Sean Sherman serve only indigenous foods that were consumed prior to the arrival of European colonizers. Expect dishes such as trout served with a tepary bean spread, duck sausage, and grilled forest mushrooms. The restaurant debuted on the banks of the Hahawakpa (Mississippi) River in the summer of 2021, and is in a sleek stone building with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the river. There’s plenty of outdoor seating for diners looking to sit in the lush Mill River Park. — Tanay Warerkar
Toronto: Don Alfonso 1890
Don Alfonso 1890, one of the city’s most acclaimed fine-dining restaurants, reopened in a stunning new location in July. The Toronto offshoot of the Amalfi Coast restaurant, which is helmed by a pair of chefs from MICHELIN-starred spots, has had several homes since first opening in Canada in 2018. But Don Alfonso’s new digs on the 38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle are arguably its best location yet. The striking skyline view complements the menu, which earned the restaurant a nod from 50 Top Italy as the best Italian restaurant in the world outside of Italy. Hand-crafted crystal lights and art from notables such as Damien Hirst add hints of luxury, while an open kitchen gives diners a glimpse of executive chef Daniele Corona and his team preparing their signature tasting menu or à la carte items. Highlights include wild rose-scented tagliatelle with caviar and an eel gelato or Ontario lamb agnolotti with black truffle. — Jessica Huras
The full list of Toronto’s must-book restaurants right now
San Francisco: Shuggie’s
Bright yellow walls and green chairs shaped like folded hands welcome diners as they enter Shuggie’s Trash Pie + Natural Wine, a psychedelic pizzeria that opened in San Francisco’s Mission District in April. At Shuggie’s, it’s all about rescuing food waste, something clearly outlined for diners on the menu. Irregular shaped or extra produce, seafood that’s not as commonly consumed, and offcuts of meat all make it into dishes such as a spicy and sticky fish head preparation, a buffalo-style chicken creation featuring wings and gizzards, and the hawt squash pizza featuring sunburnt versions of the vegetable along with tomatillos and fried onions. Ask for a wine recommendation to pair with your pies; owners Kayla Abe and David Murphy have crafted a large selection spotlighting low-intervention options. — Tanay Warerkar
The full list of the Bay Area’s must-book restaurants right now
