Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America, 2023

[weinoo]

Well, obviously it's a time for lists, as 2023 draws to a close. I'm not a big fan of lists, but since someone already broke the ice, what the heck?! Though I wonder - what if a chef/restaurateur opens a restaurant in December? Why shouldn't that count? Why not wait until 2024 to enlighten us with what was best in 2023? Anyway, I digress...

 

I haven't eaten at Mads' newest, which tops Esquire's list, but I hope to at some point soon.  I like Mads (and even got to work with him once), like his food, like his philosophy about food and no waste. So Ilis is definitely on my list - of places to try. As to the other local (to me) places, I've been to two of them multiple times - they're quite good and are places where spending money doesn't hurt, as it can when one has a bad meal, or receives bad service somewhere else.  That is - they know what they're doing and they understand that the restaurant business is about taking care of customers properly; not every restaurant can say that!

 

Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America 2023

[Margaret Pilgrim]

Not sure I'm dying to tuck my toes under the table with this group, the article's feature shot.

[weinoo]

29 minutes ago, Margaret Pilgrim said:

Not sure I'm dying to tuck my toes under the table with this group, the article's feature shot.

 

I like to plop my toes onto the table.

 

Welcome to the 2020s.

[weinoo]

To expound, I loathe when people keep their hats on inside restaurants, and I loathe even more when people keep their baseball caps on inside restaurants, and when they're on backwards, well - take them out back and dispose of them (the people, not the caps).

 

AND DON'T PUT YOUR HAT ON THE FUCKING BAR!

[weinoo]

I'm wondering which restaurant is the one in the opening picture.

[gfweb]

1 hour ago, Margaret Pilgrim said:

Not sure I'm dying to tuck my toes under the table with this group, the article's feature shot.

 

Not exactly Bemelman's, is it?

[blue_dolphin]

57 minutes ago, weinoo said:

I'm wondering which restaurant is the one in the opening picture.

 

Looks like this one. Nonno's in Houston.   Doesn't seem like it's on the list though. 

Edited to add that this article says they got a mention for pizza. 

 

 

 

Edited November 30, 2023 by blue_dolphin (log)

[Margaret Pilgrim]

Looks like there are few "no nos" at Nonno's.    

Actually, the Nonnos (Italian grandfathers) I have known would flick those hat off you before you could plop yourself on a barstool.

[Dr. Teeth]

Haven’t been to Chang Chang, but have eaten at a number of Peter Changs other places.   He’s been a sort of local darling for a while, and deservedly so, his food is usually elegant and fun at the same time.   Not a lot else near me.   Maybe I could get tot the two in Philadelphia or the one in Somerville when I go to see my parents.

[Alex]

1 hour ago, Dr. Teeth said:

Haven’t been to Chang Chang, but have eaten at a number of Peter Changs other places.   He’s been a sort of local darling for a while, and deservedly so, his food is usually elegant and fun at the same time.   Not a lot else near me.   Maybe I could get tot the two in Philadelphia or the one in Somerville when I go to see my parents.

 

I've been to My Loup in Philly (worth it), and Lehrhaus is on the short list for my April trip to Boston/Cambridge.