We rarely harp on once-in-a-lifetime meals, because they are just like that, something you can only experience once in a lifetime. While many affordable local gems and expensive chef table dining experiences can be found across the country, finding a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience—a restaurant worth visiting—can be more challenging.
We have searched online reviews and publications for real once-in-a-lifetime restaurants in every state. In addition, while some of these options are luxurious and sophisticated, requiring months-long waiting lists or hours-long queues to be seated, other options are simply broken walls and restaurants that deserve as much praise as high-end restaurants. Read on for the best once-in-a-lifetime meals in each state. (Also, if you are looking for a unique dinner, check out the best themed restaurants in each state.)
Bright Star is the oldest family-owned restaurant in Alabama, opened in 1907. This restaurant specializes in Greek-style steak and seafood, southern comfort classics and fried food. The restaurant’s review included many repeated "excellent" words, including "Excellent food, great service, great ribeye steak. Cheesecake is great. Will be back soon" from Tripadvisor.com
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Every June Tordrillo Mountain Lodge invites guests to participate in fly fishing of Alaska King Salmon in the midnight sun. After you catch the fish, the hotel’s chef will prepare the fish for you, while you can also enjoy other Alaskan cuisine. You will never experience it anywhere else.
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Cafe Monarch is located in Old Town Scottsdale and was once listed as one of the 25 best restaurants in the United States. The multi-course menu is constantly changing, highlighting local delicacies and seasonality, but may include roasted cauliflower soup, coffee skin venison, and optional $500 caviar tasting. A reviewer said: "We have had the privilege of having dinner here twice. It was perfect in every way; the food, atmosphere, attention to detail and amazing service. This restaurant is the one we have been to The best European Michelin restaurant."
Although it may not be fancy, Jones' Bar-BQ Diner is worth a visit to experience the true history. The restaurant only serves one thing, the roast pork barbecue sandwich on Wonder Bread. But when you dine at the oldest black-owned restaurant in the country, you will be immersed in history. Due to a fire in early 2021, the local gem turned into a national sensation-it even won the James Beard Award-and is returning to operation.
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Nobu is one of the most difficult hotels in California to book, and for good reason. The chefs are using some of the freshest fish to make authentic Japanese dishes. An outstanding dish is the famous black cod, which is marinated in a miso-based marinade for several days and then cooked to perfection. A recent diner said: "Absolutely life-changing experience and the best dinner we have ever had. We made the chef's 9-course omakase, what a lovely and whimsical adventure. Every dish was carefully crafted. Prepared, complicated and unique."
The Fort is an award-winning restaurant in Morrison, Colorado. The premium menu specializes in unique game dishes such as elk, buffalo and quail, which guests can taste together on The Fort Game Plate. Other favorites on the menu include grilled bison bone marrow and Rocky Mountain oysters.
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Union League Cafe seems to have returned to the old Parisian cafes. Guests can choose the chef’s tasting menu or a la carte menu, including charred octopus and blue cheese crispy filet steak. "This restaurant exceeded expectations in many ways," one critic said. "Modern French preparations are amazing." Don't skip the Soufflé dessert of the day.
The guests of The Dog House feel like they are back in the 1950s. They can often see waiting in line to have a chance to eat hot dogs at the narrow counter and pay only in cash. Each hot dog is put in a freshly baked hoagie roll. If you don’t like hot dogs, you can consider one of the cheese steaks, which is also a favorite of the locals. One commenter gushed: "This place has no frills, but it's very good. Counter service is what you will get. Consistency is their service."
Little Palm Island Resort and Spa is a private island resort that offers exclusive dinners on a real sandbar. The five-course menu includes delicacies such as caviar, as well as any other dishes available to chef Brendan Mica and the team.
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On the banks of the Chattahoochee River, you will find canoes. This restaurant is famous for its peaceful waterside location and high-end American menu. The dishes change with the seasons, but fans’ favorites are duck and beef burgers, topped with an egg, spinach and pickled onions, and served with truffle fries. A returning customer praised this restaurant, "This is my 10th time visiting Canoe. Time and time again, Canoe won my vote and became the best restaurant in Atlanta."
53 By The Sea Restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows on the outside, offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The menu is full of locally grown seasonal ingredients, delicacies from the nearby ocean and hand-cut meat. If you can't get to this place to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in Waikiki, then go there for a once-in-a-lifetime brunch.
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Beverly's is famous for its Northwest cuisine. The restaurant’s signature dishes include potato skin Alaska flounder and filet steak with morel mushroom pepper sauce. Before dinner, consider participating in the 4:30 PM wine cellar tour and tasting. "It will never disappoint," said one critic. "A unique and exquisite restaurant with spectacular lake views from the 7th floor of the hotel. It has the largest wine cellar and selection in the Northwest. This is a Extraordinary restaurant, creative and luxurious menu
Smyth in Chicago is a two-Michelin star restaurant that focuses on the gift of the ocean. Every evening, the restaurant provides guests with a two-and-a-half-hour meal, with prices ranging from US$240 to US$265. One commenter said unceasingly: "This is really an experience. You are not here to eat, you will experience the top flavor, atmosphere and service. You will feel very special"
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Artisan is a restaurant that has won the AAA Four Diamond Award. The cuisine from the farm to the table is the star here. The menu includes classic steakhouse dishes such as ribeye and garlic mashed potatoes, as well as more modern dishes such as miso sea bass with jasmine rice and lotus root. Critics didn’t say enough about this restaurant, including “I thought it would be pleasantly surprised by what my friends said about it...but it exceeded my expectations.”
At the Bluff Lake Catfish Farm, you can dine while watching the waterfall that flows into Bluff Lake. The beautiful scenery only comes out of the kitchen, and you can see the crispy fried catfish on almost every table. But, good luck in finding it, one critic said, “This is “somewhere in Iowa” because you won’t find it without having heard of it and being told how to get to it. ."
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You don't often think of high-end restaurants going with Kansas, but at Fedeli's, that's how you are. Located in the centre of Topeka, this modern Italian restaurant serving handmade pasta serves a variety of cuisines, from homemade cooked food to fresh seafood and night-time gnocchi specialities. Critics praised the restaurant, and one of them wrote: “The food is very good. Very delicious and large portions. The food exceeded our expectations. It is also very good value for money.”
Matt Winn's Steakhouse is located on the sixth floor of Churchill Downs. Every table has a magnificent view of the racecourse that hosts the Kentucky Derby every year. Guests can choose from more than 100 kinds of rare bourbon whiskeys to start their meal, and then take a seafood cart, which has a variety of delicacies from the ocean. "The experience from start to finish is great. There is no other place in the surrounding area at this level. If you haven't tried it yet, you missed it," one critic said.
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Brennan's has been a staple of New Orleans since 1946, turning back time. This restaurant invented Bananas Foster, and it’s still prepared at the table 75 years later. As one critic said, “When you enter this restaurant, every bit of charm is poured out! The service and the atmosphere complement each other, and the background is piano music.”
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Walkers Maine is a warm and pleasant restaurant whose comfortable environment is only overshadowed by the food. There are a variety of foods on the menu, including lumpia, Maine flounder ceviche, and assorted wood fired pork chops. One critic praised, "From start to finish, this place is top-notch. The atmosphere, staff, food...everything is just right. I have eaten in amazing places all over the world and this place has won its reputation. Position at the top."
Baltimore is the hometown of Alma Cocina Latina, and Venezuelan cuisine is the star here. This restaurant serves a variety of cuisines, from traditional appetizers to full-fried branzino with mango salad as the main course. "If you are looking for delicious cocktails and Latin cuisine with modern and unexpected flavors, I strongly and strongly recommend Alma Cocina...Run, don’t walk, prepare yourself a delicious and unique meal, you won’t regret it ," a critic who said fascinated.
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Enjoy a private dinner for two at Newburyport Rear Range Lighthouse, overlooking the harbour and nearby quaint towns. The top of the lighthouse has been transformed into a small restaurant, which can be rented out for up to four people, with meals brought by local chefs and favorite restaurants.
Whitney, a restaurant converted from a historic Victorian mansion, also happens to be haunted. The four-course menu is full of American classics such as Beef Wellington, Lobster Bisque and Bread Pudding. One critic said: "The service is great, the food is great, and the overall experience is unique and enjoyable! We have a dance party!"
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Kaiseki Furukawa is a modern Japanese kitchen and bar where diners can enjoy a multi-course meal every night. The seasonal tasting of every 10 dishes is carried out at the chef’s tasting counter on the second floor, where you can enjoy wine and delicacies in a private environment. One diner admitted to being deeply moved by the experience, saying, "It was such a wonderful experience, so special, and I was almost a little excited. This is the best Japanese food, and it's worth saving for a special occasion."
Vestige is famous for its ever-changing chef tasting menu. The menu includes American and Japanese fusion foods made with locally sourced sustainable ingredients. One critic called it "the dream of a gourmet", "We have a menu prepared by the chef, and every dish surprises us. The dishes are all Michelin stars. Don't miss this place!"
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St. Louis is where you can find lucky accomplices. The restaurant is known for its high-end dining menus, without the stuffiness of many high-end restaurants. It is said that the guest’s favorite grilled pork neck on the menu is served with assorted salsa maca and tomato sauce. A reviewer also praised some of the other items, saying, "This place is amazing! The food, service and feel are really great. We really like dining there-our favorite is the mushroom plate and tripe. Heavens. Ah. I still dream of them."
Since 1983, Cafe Kandahar has been providing the best delicacies and seasonal ingredients to the people of Montana, building a menu with the concept of "deliberately crafted cuisine". Some of the restaurant’s favorite dishes include rhubarb pork belly and candied ginger, and bison tenderloin with mushrooms and blue cheese. One reviewer could not accept this place, "I rarely give reviews, but two months later I still give this meal to my husband, including the matching specific dishes and wine. If so, please get forest mushrooms, horses De La Cream, Montana Chevrolet, Thyme Pastry. It’s amazing."
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For eighty years, Ole's Big Game Steakhouse has been a great place in Nebraska. This quirky restaurant serves basic bar food such as burgers and sandwiches, but you will really come here to enjoy the delightful weird decorations, such as the full-size polar bear in the glass cabinet and the giraffe staring at the table. "This place is great, stopped for a bite during a road trip and was very impressed! Super super cool place and great food! You won't be disappointed if you try the top-quality rib sandwich," a critic said. Absolutely.
Dine in the dark at the Blackout restaurant in Las Vegas, offering you a seven-course meal in total darkness. The only people who can be seen in this restaurant are the waiters who all wear night vision goggles. "This is a truly unique experience. If you are a foodie and love to take risks and try new things, then this is your best choice." One critic said.
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Take the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train for a two-hour train journey, while enjoying a five-course meal, while admiring the sights and sounds of everything happening around you. The menu includes dishes such as Creole Shrimp Cakes and Butternut Squash Wontons. "Just like in the past! Great waiters! Delicious food! Accommodation for special dietary needs! Definitely adventure after adventure," a diner admired.
Since 2016, Aarzu has been serving modern, high-end Indian cuisine at Freehold. The restaurant serves everything from smoked quail eggs and duck tortillas to goat cheese beetroot tiki and smoked tomato chicken tiki. If you like Indian food, you must try this place. According to the critic, "This is my absolute favorite Indian restaurant in New Jersey. I have been here many times and the food is special every time. Over the years. I have been bringing many of our friends here, and each of them loves it."
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It is said that Tia Sophia's is the birthplace of breakfast burritos, so naturally it becomes a must-visit place. The restaurant only serves breakfast and lunch, so be sure to go early. But be careful when ordering, because as stated on the menu, Tia Sophia's is not responsible for the hot peppers in your meal. Diners love it, and some say: "It's a treat! Tia meets the standard in only three important aspects: delicious food, great location, and friendly, efficient service."
Blue Hill by Stone Barns is a true farm-to-table dining experience in the middle of the Hudson Valley. Chef Dan Barber leads a team that coaxes the best things in this land to provide you with a unique and truly memorable meal. Served in multiple dishes, no two meals are the same, and the service is top-notch. "What an incredible experience," said one critic. "I hope we can explore all the places and farms where the magic happens sooner."
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One restaurant not to be missed in North Carolina is Artisanal. The restaurant is open seasonally from early May to October and cooperates with local organic farms to provide ingredients for the dishes. Each of the three-course menus are carefully planned based on the availability of each night, and will change with the seasons. You need to have a certain amount of adventurous spirit to eat here, but for an impeccable experience, it's worth it. "Banner Elk is already the cutest town, but this restaurant makes it so amazing. This is by far the best farm-to-fresh table restaurant I've been to. Nothing but nonsense Other things. I hope I can give it more than 5 stars," a satisfied customer admired.
Sometimes bar food is exactly what you need, and at Toasted Frog, they provide high-quality bar food. There are many items on the menu, such as fried kimchi wrapped in havarti cheese instead of breadcrumbs, elk burgers with caramelized onion aioli, and wood-fired pizza topped with beef tips and gorgonzola cheese. "Awesome staff! Kimchi is the best I have ever eaten! Never had an elk burger, decided to try it and was not disappointed. Highly recommended," one critic gushed.
American classics and seasonal ingredients are the highlights of Ghostwriter Public House. Once you walk in, you will feel that you are back in the old days when there was no cell phone and email. The menu is full of delicacies, such as mustard eggs with pickles and bacon, passion fruit and honey glazed chicken sandwiches, and steak fries with black garlic steak sauce. "Absolutely amazing. Beautiful and comfortable atmosphere and incredibly delicious food at reasonable prices. The quality of the food is very high and it is made to perfection every time I go," said one critic.
Nonesuch is a small 22-seater restaurant that thrives with its tasting menu experience. The ten-course meal uses ingredients from farms and prairies around the state to create high-end dishes that diners can’t seem to satisfy. "Seriously, this is one of my favorite experiences at OKC. Not only is it a unique dining experience, but the food itself looks like art. I like that the ingredients are actually selected from local chefs. This is the type of food you eat slowly in order to taste and get the full flavor of everything," one guest gushed.
The Painted Lady is located in Newberg, specializing in French American cuisine, offering tasting menus and wine pairings. Dishes on the current tasting menu include basil oil and balsamic gel tomato sorbet, butternut squash pasta, and shrimp and pickled red onion miso custard. One diner said that everything was great, "Really one of the best meals I have ever eaten anywhere (and I have traveled around the world)."
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Altius is an AAA Four Diamond Award-winning restaurant in Pittsburgh, where guests can enjoy seasonal American cuisine and stunning views of the city. The menu is varied in style, from southern spicy crab soup to modern American Chilean sea bass with smoked Gouda mashed purple potato. "The view is epic. Amazing customer service, we have an excellent sommelier who recommended a great wine. Overall value for money. We will be back," a satisfied one Said the customer.
Los Andes is a Peruvian restaurant located in the center of Providence. This restaurant is famous for its lobster paella, ceviche and Peruvian fried seafood, which is paired with fried yucca and plantain chips. Critics call it "Xanadu" and "Taste of Heaven", and they are full of praise for the large portion and unique flavor.
Zero Restaurant and Bar in Charleston brings together seasonal American cuisine and precise techniques to make the dishes sing. The restaurant offers a multi-course tasting menu for guests to enjoy, and weekly live cooking classes led by executive chef Vinson Petrillo. One critic compared it to the best restaurants in the world. He said: “The delicious menu showcases the skills of Chef Petrillo, which is compatible with French Laundry and 11 Madison restaurants (as well as Launceston and George V in London). ) Is not inferior to the quality."
When traveling through Custer, be sure to stop at Skogen Kitchen. The restaurant serves global cuisine with a focus on local ingredients. Some of the most popular menu items include fried chicken buns, homemade ravioli with homemade ricotta cheese, and grilled beef cheek with spinach and Manchego cheese. “This is a very refined dining experience, but not artificial. The wine list and dessert wine/port selection are great. The food is great, and overall a great experience,” one critic gushed.
With the theme of Alice in Wonderland, the Rabbit Hole allows diners to go deep into the kitchen of Henry's Restaurant and enjoy dinner inspired by local Tennessee farmers and food artisans. No two menus are the same, so you can go back again and again and get a once-in-a-lifetime experience multiple times. A guest explained, “We walked through the rabbit hole, it was indescribably delicious! This is definitely a trip worth going! You enter the chef’s table through the bookcase door and amaze the people sitting in the restaurant. Endless."
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Emmer and Rye serves food from farm to table, and the menu changes daily according to availability. Tanzhonghe Restaurant serves a variety of modern dishes such as zucchini with green mole and smoked cheddar cheese, as well as chocolate, orange and tomato black garlic ice cream. “Easy to be the 5 most important meals in my life, maybe even #1. The food is great, and the staff are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and excellent people,” a diner praised.
Franck's restaurant prepares French American cuisine in an unpretentious environment. The high-end menu includes dishes such as beet orange with goat cheese, Tamari-Glazed Korbuta pork loin and chocolate hazelnut pie with bourbon ice cream. "The chef is amazing. The service is second to none. Of course it's our favorite place," said a diner.
It's hard to find a table service Chinese restaurant that still makes everything by hand, including dumplings and soup, but that's exactly what A Single Pebble is doing. Everything on the menu is served in a family style, but if you want a more advanced experience, please consider the chef’s tasting dinner. The restaurant was featured on national TV shows and was rated as one of the best Chinese restaurants in the country. One customer said: "I was shocked by the food-even though I read the reviews and they are very popular."
The three blacksmiths are famous for their tasting menus that change weekly. The restaurant is a warm and inviting space where you can enjoy a five-course dinner, including lobster and burrata ravioli, and lamb with olive-picked radish. Critics call it "extraordinary" and "one of the best dinners I have ever had."
Archipelago is a small restaurant, most of the ingredients come from BIPOC and small farms, producers and small businesses dominated by women in the area. The tasting menu includes 9 to 12 dishes, with a focus on transforming seasonal ingredients into American-Philippines fusion food. The reviewer was taken aback and said, “Unsurprisingly, they have had 35 5-star reviews so far. I’m from Jersey City and spent many, many weekends in New York. I experienced quite a few food and tasting menus, and well-planned Experience...I have never experienced anything like this before."
Casual cuisine is the specialty of The Oak. The restaurant overlooks the fertile farmland of the area, and guests can enjoy dishes such as rainbow trout with brown butter and lemon and dried stale filet steak with morel compound butter. "We like everything about this place. The food, atmosphere, and friendly hosts are by far the best in the area. Ask about the history of this place and the 600-year-old oak trees that can be seen from all the floor-to-ceiling windows of the restaurant," one Critics suggest.
San San Wu is a modern American restaurant where the chef works with local suppliers to create amazing dishes. Since the menu is constantly changing, you won’t know what’s actually available until you walk in and sit down, which is part of the fun.
Coop is famous for all kinds of chicken, from fried chicken gizzards to whole roast chicken. Although it looks like a broken wall place, the locals swear it is the best chicken you have ever eaten. "This is listed as a roast chicken restaurant, but it's much more than that! The South American dishes made by Scratch are rich in flavor and attention to detail," said a satisfied customer.
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