Good food is everywhere, but some restaurants truly stand out as great.
To find the best restaurant each state has to offer, we sifted through our list of the Best Restaurants in America, The Daily Meal's 101 Best Restaurants in America list, James Beard award nominations, expert reviews, and local recommendations, paying particular attention to fine-dining establishments.
Did we get your state right? Let us know in the comments.
ALABAMA: Highlands Bar and Grill
Location: Birmingham
Chef: Frank and Pardis Stitt
Though they use French techniques, chefs Frank and Pardis Stitt still infuse southern comfort into every meal at Highlands Bar and Grill. The menu changes daily to incorporate seasonal ingredients, and the restaurant was a James Beard Outstanding Restaurants semifinalist as well as one of OpenTable's top 100 restaurants for 2013.
ALASKA: Jens' Restaurant
Location: Anchorage
Chef: Jens Hansen
Consistently rated the top spot for seafood in Anchorage, Jens' Restaurant was named best overall, best ambiance, and best food, among others, by OpenTable. Not only are the ingredients fresh from the sea, but the menu is too — Chef Hansen updates the selection seasonally to incorporate regional specialties from his most recent travels.
For a lower-key experience, guests can stop by the adjacent wine bar, which features a full menu and more than 40 varieties of wine.
ARIZONA: Kai
Location: Chandler
Chef: Conor Favre
Kai— which means "seed" in the Pima language — serves up a winning combination of modern techniques and traditional Native American flavors. Two tasting menus are available for guests who want to try it all: "Short Story" for $135 and "Journey" for $225.
Kai took the No. 8 spot on OpenTable's Best Restaurants of America list for 2014 and is a AAA Five Diamond Award recipient. The restaurant also has near perfect scores on both Zagat (87/90) and OpenTable (4.9/5).
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