Over the last 12 months, I’ve travelled across America for work quite a bit.
As such, the one perk I’ve allowed myself is to eat at great restaurants.
Lots of you have also been great in messaging me about where to eat in your cities.
I thought I should share my favorite restaurants from 10 of the cities I visited.
The wagyu beef skewers don’t just melt in your mouth, they dissipate like cotton candy.
I’ve never had to chew meat less.
So tender that you could brush them across an infant’s forehead to put it to sleep.
Then lick the juice off I guess.
If you’re one of those super alternative parents.
The pastas seemed excellent.
- Neptune Oyster
Boston, MA
Boston is to seafood what the University of Cornell is to unhappiness.
Every time I’m in Boston, I attempt to make a visit to Neptune Oyster.
It’s always packed and the kitchen is impossibly small.
But the food is fresh as hell and filled with flavor.
Go nuts on the oysters.
Grab a flinty bottle of Antarctic-chilled chablis and then work your way through some ceviches or tartares.
The lobster roll is SIZE, which I appreciate as a Mainer.
They do not skimp on this bad boy, so save room if that’s your bucket.
I suppose that was a little over a year ago but I wanted to include it anyway.
I almost apologized to the restaurant for bringing a neanderthal to their classy establishment.
But boy did we have a good time.
But the traditional steaks are going to work quite well too.
Seriously, how people are flocking to this state I’ll never know.
They’re legitimately running out of water.
Second only to air on the list of most important human resources.
- Tornado Steak House
Madison, WI
Alright, this place is a cult classic.
Whatever you do, never sell an inch of this land."
Steak is the play here.
They bring out gigantic bricks of meat and throw an onion ring on top like a little birthday bow.
The sides are very simple but the meat is excellent and the cocktails are legitimate bird baths.
It’s a step back in time.
- Suerte
Austin, TX
The wagyu brisket tacos.
I don’t know what more there is to say.
Except the goat barbacoa.
I think they said they get a goat a week or something and smoke it over a couple days?
Can’t remember, they’ll tell you.
This is high-end, creative Mexican food at its finest.
They have a mezcal and tequila list that could fuel a cartel war for years.
I love everything about this place.
Somehow, this place seems to reach its liveliest point at that hour.
It was PACKED, but they bring the food out insanely fast and feed you everything your heart desires.
If you like dim sum, this is probably the best I’ve ever had.
If you’re ever drunk at a very late hour in Toronto, go to Rol San.
Nonetheless, Ekiben was an unbelievably delicious surprise in the face of my potential demise at gunpoint.
Flavor upon flavor in a tiny box of exploding flavor.
Just ask them what to get, you’re able to’t go wrong.
Maybe the single best bite of chicken I’ve ever had.
When in doubt, go casual.
you might really tell a lot about a restaurant by the quality of their ice.
The plates are small but incredible.
The gnocchi was absolutely nuts.
You just feel relaxed here, knowing you’re going to get insane food.
Plus, the seats are comfortable and the wait staff is very attentive but not in your face.
- Mabel Gray
Detroit, MI
Detroit is another city that carries a rather… lackluster reputation.
Especially when it comes to their restaurant scene.
Whatever it is, Detroit seems to have excellent restaurants.
This statement could not have been more forcefully illustrated by Mabel Gray.
Holy fucking shit, what a restaurant.
This place seems to simply invent everything on the fly.
Specifically, he asked me what sort of cocktails I like.
I’ve tried to make it twice, with mixed results.
I don’t know how to categorize the cuisine here.
They say the chef just decides one week to lean in to Asian fusion.
The next week, it’s Italian-inspired.
Then on to barbecue.
Whatever fits his fancy, they make.
I can’t even recommend a dish because I doubt they’ll have it anymore.
Great vibe, great decor.
This is just the sort of place that might restore Detroit to its former glory.
Needless to say, simply walking around was hard.
Getting a morning coffee was hard.
A city built for those who enjoy the indoors is no place for a boy from Maine.
But then I heard about Spoon and Stable, and I went and sat at the chef’s counter.
Oh, I think that’s mine."
And they hear you, and they can smirk knowing it isn’t yours.
The food is mind-blowing.
The bread and butter are insane.
The pork chop will turn a lifelong vegan loser into a carnivore.
The cocktails are balanced, innovative, and refreshing.
The desserts are NUTS.
Bonus: Rudy Gobert was sitting a few tables away.
The distance between the plate and his mouth meant that every scoop turned his food cold.
This was the best restaurant I’ve been to in the past few years.
If you’re ever in Minneapolis, do whatever you could to go.
