Top 100 Restaurants In US for Service

In recognition of how vital service is to the dining experience, OpenTable, Inc., a provider of free, real-time online restaurant reservations for diners and reservation and guest management solutions...
Top 100 Restaurants In US for Service
Written by Mike Tuttle
  • In recognition of how vital service is to the dining experience, OpenTable, Inc., a provider of free, real-time online restaurant reservations for diners and reservation and guest management solutions for restaurants, has announced the 2012 Diners’ Choice Award winners for the 100 restaurants in the United States providing the best service. These awards reflect the combined opinions of nearly 5 million reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 12,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

    Regionally, the honorees span 29 states and Washington, D.C. The South reinforces the notion of southern hospitality, with 22 restaurants in the region being singled out for best service. The Northeast boasts 15 winning restaurants, including 10 in New York alone. The Pacific region accounts for 14 winners, 10 of which are in California, as does the Mid-Atlantic, with six restaurants in Virginia claiming spots. Eleven winners come from the Great Lakes Region, four of which are in the Twin Cities area. The Pacific Northwest and the Southwest follow with seven honorees apiece. The Rocky Mountain States count five winners, while the Central Plains has four, three of which are in Missouri. One restaurant in Hawaii also earned a nod.

    Superior service can be found across a number of cuisines. Restaurants serving American food, however, account for 40 winners. French restaurants earned 25 places on the list. Steakhouses followed with 17 spots. Seven Italian restaurants are among the winners. Other cuisines include continental, global international, Japanese, seafood, and sushi.

    “The most memorable part of a meal may not be just what’s on your plate, but also, that exceptional staffer who goes the extra step to ensure an enjoyable dining experience,” says Caroline Potter, OpenTable’s Chief Dining Officer. “These winning restaurants understand this concept and have consciously created a culture of hospitality that is embraced by both front and back of house professionals. Whether it’s a grand gesture, such as a tour of the kitchen, or a simple one, like a warm smile from an attentive server, diners are coming away from these restaurants feeling special.”

    The Diners’ Choice Awards for the top 100 restaurants providing the best service are generated from nearly 5 million reviews collected from verified OpenTable diners between February 2011 and January 2012. All restaurants with a minimum number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. Qualifying restaurants were then scored and sorted according to the highest average rating in the service category.

    Based on this methodology, the following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, comprise the top 100 restaurants with the best service in the U.S. according to OpenTable diners.

    Restaurant Name

    City

    State

    Cuisine

    Acqua Restaurant & Wine Bar

    White Bear Lake

    MN

    Italian

    Acquerello

    San Francisco

    CA

    Italian

    Addison at The Grand Del Mar

    San Diego

    CA

    Contemp. French

    Bacchanalia

    Atlanta

    GA

    Contemp. American

    Bibou

    Philadelphia

    PA

    French

    Binkley’s Restaurant

    Cave Creek

    AZ

    Contemp. American

    Bistro L’Hermitage

    Woodbridge

    VA

    French

    Blue Hill at Stone Barns

    Pocantico Hills

    NY

    American

    Bluestem

    Kansas City

    MO

    American

    Bones

    Atlanta

    GA

    Steak

    Cafe Renaissance

    Vienna

    VA

    French

    Canlis

    Seattle

    WA

    Northwest

    Capital Grille – Minneapolis

    Minneapolis

    MN

    Steak

    Castagna

    Portland

    OR

    American

    Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse

    Downers Grove

    IL

    Steak

    Charleston

    Baltimore

    MD

    American

    Charleston Grill

    Charleston

    SC

    American

    Chez Francois – Vermilion

    Vermilion

    OH

    Contemp. French

    Chez Nous French Restaurant

    Humble

    TX

    Contemp. French

    CityZen

    Washington

    DC

    Contemp. American

    Congress

    Austin

    TX

    Contemp. American

    The Copper Door

    Hayesville

    NC

    Steak

    Corbett’s Fine Dining

    Louisville

    KY

    American

    Cyrus

    Healdsburg

    CA

    Contemp. French

    Daniel

    New York

    NY

    French

    Daniel – Lounge Seating

    New York

    NY

    French

    Del Posto

    New York

    NY

    Italian

    Dewz

    Modesto

    CA

    Californian

    The Dining Room – Biltmore Estate

    Asheville

    NC

    Contemp. American

    Eleven Madison Park

    New York

    NY

    American

    Elizabeth on 37th

    Savannah

    GA

    Contemp. American

    Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant

    Forestville

    CA

    Californian

    Fat Canary

    Williamsburg

    VA

    Contemp. American

    Fearrington House Restaurant

    Pittsboro

    NC

    Contemp. American

    Fig Tree

    Charlotte

    NC

    Continental

    Forage

    Salt Lake City

    UT

    Contemp. American

    Fountain Restaurant

    Philadelphia

    PA

    Global, International

    Frasca Food and Wine

    Boulder

    CO

    Italian

    The French Room

    Dallas

    TX

    French

    Genoa Restaurant

    Portland

    OR

    Italian

    Gordon Ramsay at the London

    New York

    NY

    Contemp. French

    The Grill – The Ritz-Carlton

    Naples

    FL

    Steak

    Grouse Mountain Grill

    Avon

    CO

    Contemp. American

    Halls Chophouse

    Charleston

    SC

    Steak

    Hannas Prime Steak

    Rancho Santa Margarita

    CA

    Steak

    Herons

    Cary

    NC

    American

    Highlands Bar & Grill

    Birmingham

    AL

    Southern

    The Hobbit

    Orange

    CA

    Contemp. French

    joan’s in the Park

    Saint Paul

    MN

    American

    Kai – Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort

    Chandler

    AZ

    Southwest

    Killen’s Steakhouse

    Pearland

    TX

    Steak

    The Kitchen Restaurant

    Sacramento

    CA

    Contemp. American

    La Belle Vie

    Minneapolis

    MN

    French

    La Grenouille

    New York

    NY

    French

    La Mer at Halekulani

    Honolulu

    HI

    French

    L’Auberge Chez Francois

    Great Falls

    VA

    French

    Le Bernadin

    New York

    NY

    French

    Les Nomades

    Chicago

    IL

    Contemp. French

    L’Etoile Restaurant

    Madison

    WI

    Contemp. American

    Madrona Manor

    Healdsburg

    CA

    Contemp. American

    Mahogany Prime Omaha

    Omaha

    NE

    Steak

    Marcel’s

    Washington

    DC

    French

    The Melting Pot – Myrtle Beach

    Myrtle Beach

    SC

    Fondue

    Menton

    Boston

    MA

    French

    Michael’s – South Point Casino

    Las Vegas

    NV

    Continental

    Mitchell’s Ocean Club – Easton Town Center

    Columbus

    OH

    Seafood

    Morton’s The Steakhouse – Portland

    Portland

    OR

    Steak

    New York Prime – Myrtle Beach

    Myrtle Beach

    SC

    Steak

    Niche

    St. Louis

    MO

    American

    Nicholas

    Red Bank

    NJ

    Contemp. American

    o ya

    Boston

    MA

    Japanese

    Opus 9 Steakhouse

    Williamsburg

    VA

    Steak

    Orchids at Palm Court – Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

    Cincinnati

    OH

    American

    The Painted Lady

    Newberg

    OR

    Contemp. American

    Palace Arms at the Brown Palace

    Denver

    CO

    Contemp. American

    Peninsula Grill

    Charleston

    SC

    American

    Pepper Tree Restaurant

    Colorado Springs

    CO

    Steak

    Per Se

    New York

    NY

    American

    Plume at the Jefferson Hotel

    Washington

    DC

    Contemp. French

    Rafain Brazilian Steakhouse

    Dallas

    TX

    Brazilian Steakhouse

    The Restaurant at Meadowood

    Saint Helena

    CA

    Californian

    Restaurant Iris

    Memphis

    TN

    French

    Rover’s

    Seattle

    WA

    Contemp. French

    Rudy & Paco Restaurant & Bar

    Galveston

    TX

    Seafood

    Russell’s Steaks, Chops, and More

    Williamsville

    NY

    Steak

    Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Jacksonville

    Jacksonville

    FL

    Steak

    Saint Jacques French Cuisine

    Raleigh

    NC

    French

    Sedgley Place

    Greene

    ME

    Contemp. American

    Sonoma

    Princeton

    MA

    Global, International

    St. John’s Restaurant

    Chattanooga

    TN

    American

    The Steak House at Silver Reef

    Ferndale

    WA

    Steak

    Tony’s – St. Louis

    St. Louis

    MO

    Italian

    TRU

    Chicago

    IL

    French

    Uchi

    Austin

    TX

    Sushi

    Uchiko

    Austin

    TX

    Sushi

    Vetri

    Philadelphia

    PA

    Italian

    Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse – Las Vegas

    Las Vegas

    NV

    Steak

    Vintage Tavern

    Suffolk

    VA

    American

    White Barn Inn

    Kennebunk

    ME

    American

    Woodfire Grill

    Atlanta

    GA

    Contemp. American

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