There’s never been a better time to be a fan of food and fine wine! We recently announced this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Award honorees, and we can now count more than 3,700 award winners around the world. With so many dining destinations to visit, where does a culinary enthusiast start looking? One tasty option is to begin with previous Award of Excellence–winning restaurants that expanded their wine lists and enhanced their dining experiences over the past year, gaining them a 2024 promotion to the next level: Best of Award of Excellence.
That includes the 13 restaurants below. Located across the United States, their beverage programs are worth seeking out, whether you’d like to pair your wine with noodles, French Moroccan cuisine, brasserie fare or a picturesque seaside atmosphere. It’s time to find your wine bliss, and these restaurants are delicious places to start!
For more great wine-and-dining spots around the world, explore the many other Wine Spectator Restaurant Award–winning establishments for 2024, including the four new Grand Award winners that are now among the more than 95 restaurants that hold our highest honor.
Do you have a favorite you’d like to see in one of our Restaurant Guides? Send your recommendations to restaurantawards@mshanken.com. We want to hear from you!
The Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina
5 Main St., Tiburon, CA
Telephone (415) 366-4088
Website bungalowkitchen.com
Best of Award of Excellence
Leading chef and restaurateur Michael Mina and his Mina Group opened the Bungalow Kitchen in 2021 as a clubhouse-meets-restaurant. Since then, as Mina continues to grow his portfolio, the restaurant has become a destination for wine lovers in the seaside fishing town of Tiburon, Calif., not far from San Francisco. Housed in a 10,000-square-foot beach bungalow, the restaurant space blends American Craftsman influences with industrial elements across its dining room (the Sun Room) and its game room, which features a pool table.
What’s on the Menu
Executive chef Daniela Vergara’s seafood-focused menu emphasizes local and seasonal cuisine with snacks like tuna tartare, lobster toast and maitake mushroom tempura. Raw shellfish is also available, along with heartier options like salt-baked sea bream and a lobster pot pie. Or indulge in the six-course tasting menu ($125 per person, and an additional $80 for wine pairings), which shows influences from Mina’s acclaimed Bourbon Steak restaurants. It includes dishes like ahi tuna au poivre, gratinée of truffle macaroni and cheese and citrus olive oil cake with Sicilian pistachios and fruit from the farmer’s market.
Wine List Highlights
Mina Group corporate wine director Jeremy Shanker has assembled a program of about 450 labels, and lead sommelier Ian MacDonald oversees wine operations on the restaurant floor. This list is smaller and more eclectic than the more “traditional” or “regionally focused” lists at other Mina restaurants. There are substantial selections of Champagne, Prosecco and West Coast bubbly, plus white wines from Austria, Germany and France. The red list is heavy on California Cabernet, Merlot and Pinot Noir from wineries like DuMol and Burgess, with additional bottles from Burgundy, the Rhône Valley and Italy throughout the 3,000-bottle inventory.
Clover Hill
20 Columbia Place, Brooklyn, NY
Telephone (347) 457-6850
Website cloverhillbk.com
Best of Award of Excellence
It’s no secret that Brooklyn is home to some of New York City’s most exciting and innovative fine-dining spots, and a significant number are owned and led by professionals who just so happen to be fans of wine (and it shows on the beverage list). That’s exactly the case at Clover Hill in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District, which partners Clay Castillo (the general manager), Charlie Mitchell (the executive chef) and Gabriel Merino founded in 2019 in a 20-seat dining room with tin ceilings and white brick walls.
What’s on the Menu
Mitchell’s American-cuisine prix-fixe menu ($225 per person) is seasonal and seafood focused. Recent preparations have included Hokkaido scallop, Samegawa karei (flat fish), shima aji (white trevally fish), mushroom tuiles with a nori tarlet and a dish of potato and caviar. For meat, look to the dry-aged Rohan duck or the saddle of Colorado lamb.
Wine List Highlights
France is the main player on head sommelier Debbie Jones’ 421-wine list, which draws from a nearly 2,000-bottle inventory. That includes two pairing options to join Mitchell’s menu, standard (an additional $175) and premium (an additional $495), the latter of which includes selections such as Krug Champagne, Domaine Darviot-Perrin Meursault and Château Mouton-Rothschild Pauillac Le Petit Mouton de Mouton-Rothschild 2019. These join a wide range of other Champagnes, Burgundies and Bordeaux, as well as wines from France’s Loire Valley, Rhône Valley and Jura; Germany’s Mosel; Italy’s Piedmont, Tuscany and Veneto; California; and Oregon, among other regions. The sweet-wine collection is worth perusing for its selection of Yquem (about 10 vintages), Royal Tokaji Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos and more. In addition, Jones offers multiple premium pours via a Coravin preservation system.
Fhima's Minneapolis
40 S. Seventh St., Minneapolis, MN
Telephone (612) 353-4792
Website fhimasmpls.com/
Best of Award of Excellence
Fhima’s Minneapolis is located within what was once a theater-turned-cinema of the 20th century. (It remains one of the oldest restored Art Deco buildings in Minneapolis.) It still features 1930s ceilings in its expansive dining room and central bar space, as well as gilded fixtures and detailed tile and marble work. The restaurant is a passion project of the Fhima family, with patriarch chef David Fhima running the kitchen and his son, Elijah Fhima, managing operations and front of house.
What's on the Menu
David Fhima draws from his French Moroccan, Spanish and Sicilian roots to create a sensory melting pot of a menu, sourcing ingredients from local Minnesota farmers and incorporating his classic French culinary training. One of his signature dishes is the Moroccan “cigars” appetizer: two rolls of flaky phyllo coated in powdered toasted almond and filled with either lamb or vegetables. Guests can always find these on the menu, alongside a rotation of other dishes like apricot and onion chicken tagine with root vegetables; gnocchi with gorgonzola, walnuts and candied pears; and a lamb shank confit with pomegranate.
Wine List Highlights
As wine director, Sean Chartier has stewarded the Fhima family’s personal wine collection into a fully realized program of more than 400 labels. It features a number of well-known names and older vintages across popular categories such as Napa Cabernet, Burgundy and Bordeaux. This include multiple bottlings from Shafer, Dominus Estate, Harlan Estate and Screaming Eagle, with vintages as far back as 1983. Other gems include Château Cheval Blanc’s St.-Emilion 1947 and four vintages of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s prestigious La Tâche bottling.
The French Brasserie Rustique
365 Fifth Ave. S. Suite 103, Naples, FL
Telephone (239) 315-4019
Website thefrenchnaples.com
Best of Award of Excellence
You don’t necessarily need to travel to Paris to experience a taste of Belle Époque charm. If you find yourself hungering for brasserie fare in Naples, Fla., the French Brasserie Rustique is a must-visit. Founded in 2014 by chef and restaurateur Vincenzo Betulia (also the owner of Naples Award of Excellence winner Osteria Tulia), the restaurant is almost a portal to Paris, with its bistro seats, black-and-white tile floors, colorful murals and mirrors. Adding to the atmosphere, guests can dine outdoors beneath arches that recall the Parisian architecture of Baron Haussmann.
What’s on the Menu
As at Osteria Tulia, the cuisine is casual and coastal. Betulia and the kitchen team prepare a range of French plates, including smaller ones like foie gras terrine with fig chutney, beef tartare, escargots de Bourgogne and steamed mussels à la marinière. For entrées, expect Provençal-style branzino with ratatouille, short rib Bourguignon, steak frites and a dish of duck leg confit with duck magret breast.
Wine List Highlights
From 2023 to 2024, beverage director Marcello Palazzi has grown the wine list to about 350 wines, representing some 4,000 bottles in the cellar. France is the star, with several crémant and Champagne selections, as well as Burgundy, Côtes du Rhône, Provence rosé, Banyuls and more. Bordeaux is a main focus, including Suduiraut Sauternes and Tulia’s own St.-Emilion. Rounding out the list are selections from outside France, including Napa Valley Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, Monterey Pinot Noir, Rosso di Montalcino and Argentine Malbec. Using a Coravin preservation system, the team (including sommelier Alain Rabault) also serves rarer wines in the restaurant's speakeasy–private steak house, Rouge, including pours of Latour, Yquem and Sassicaia.
In Bloom
1845 Spring St., Paso Robles, CA
Telephone (805) 286-4344
Website inbloompasorobles.com
Best of Award of Excellence
Extensive plant life and vinyl records find their home in the colorful, eclectic interior of In Bloom in Paso Robles, Calif. Owned and operated by restaurateurs Chris and Nicole Haisma, In Bloom has become a dining destination among the many vineyards and farms of Central California wine country, offering Mexican-influenced, farm-to-table dining.
What's on the Menu
Chef Ron Frazier realizes the Haismas' vision with a menu of farm-fresh Californian fare. Dishes include saffron cavatelli with nduja sausage and snap peas, topped with sofrito, crispy garlic and parmesan, as well as fresh-caught Santa Barbara spot prawns grilled on sticks over binchotan charcoals and glazed with a strawberry and habanero emulsion, all topped with tamarind and cucumber.
Wine List Highlights
The Haismas have been growing the wine program since the restaurant’s opening in 2022, consistently adding wines from new and promising local wineries across Central California, and the list now sits at 300 labels. The Golden State shines with Kistler Chardonnay, Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir, Scarecrow Cabernet and Rhône-style reds from Saxum and Keplinger, among other selections. There is also notable vertical depth within the Châteauneuf-du-Pape selection, with five vintages of Domaine de la Janasse’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes cuvée.
Iris Restaurant
1740 Broadway, New York, NY
Telephone (212) 970-1740
Website irisrestaurant.nyc
Best of Award of Excellence
A beacon of Mediterranean and Aegean cuisine in Manhattan, Iris Restaurant is the creation of JF Restaurants founder John Fraser, the well-known chef behind several Restaurant Award winners, including Best of Award of Excellence winner 701West in New York and Award of Excellence-winner Ardor in Los Angeles. Open since 2021 on Broadway, not far from Central Park South and the Theater District, Iris is both a must-visit for culinary enthusiasts and a breath of fresh air in Midtown.
What’s on the Menu
Fraser’s menus can be easily described as “veggie-forward,” which plays well with the culinary styles of the Mediterranean: Dishes include gnocchi made with Greek manouri cheese and topped with English peas, morels and a walnut chickpea crumble; a signature moussaka with a lightly fiery tomato sauce; and stuffed grape leaves (aka dolmas) accented with citrusy agrumato olive oil and Valencia orange. But, for those inclined, don’t miss out on seafood and meat options like the Maryland soft-shell crab encased in phyllo or the honey- and mastic-glazed lamb chops. Wine lovers heading to a Broadway show should take advantage of Iris’ pre-theater menu Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 6 p.m. ($60 for three courses).
Wine List Highlights
JF Restaurants beverage director Amy Racine oversees Iris’ nearly 400-label wine list, which focuses primarily on Mediterranean regions. There is a strong showing of wines from Greece and Turkey for instance, with Xinomavro- and Öküzgözü-based wines (among others) from wineries like Thymiopoulos and Kavaklıdere. Well-known Italian and French houses also feature, such as Gaja, Boroli and Domaine Leflaive. Alongside the list’s many Aegean wines, all other bottlings are from islands or regions/countries with significant coasts, such as Oregon, the Canary Islands and New York’s Long Island.
Le Bon Nosh
65 Irby Ave., Suite 103, Atlanta, GA
Telephone (404) 835-2007
Website lebonnosh.com
Best of Award of Excellence
Best of Award of Excellence–winner Le Bon Nosh is the creation of chef and owner Forough Vakili. After starting her career as a chemical engineer, Vakili trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris in 2011; in 2021, she opened Le Bon Nosh in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, hoping for it to become a “culinary destination.” Today, it is both a cafe and market in the mornings, serving delights like strawberry Danishes and refreshers like iced ginger plum tea. At night, Le Bon Nosh becomes a Parisian-style wine bar with floor-to-ceiling windows enrobed in marigold curtains and almost Stracciatella-like marble countertops.
What’s on the Menu
While French bistro fare is the inspiration for Le Bon Nosh, Vakili draws from other influences as well. The warming cocotte Provençal is studded with chickpeas and olives and topped with a charred avocado. The lamb meatballs sit in a nest of scalloped potatoes and Swiss chard, with fresh herbs, pine nuts and a drizzle of tahini. And the braised short rib rests on a pool of silky chèvre ranch with grilled gem lettuce. Vakili makes a point of recognizing and supporting local purveyors that practice sustainable techniques, using Grateful Pastures chickens and Decimal Place Farms cheese. Le Bon Nosh is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Friday, with dinner service Tuesday through Sunday. Brunch is offered on weekends.
Wine List Highlights
Over the past year, Vakili has expanded the wine list to more than 500 selections. Le Bon Nosh offers an exclusively French program with an emphasis on biodynamic and organic wines. Burgundy, Beaujolais, Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley dominate the list, with star bottles from the likes of Château Cheval-Blanc, Armand Rousseau and Domaine Faiveley. Le Bon Nosh hosts a “Flight Night” each Thursday evening, where guests can sample three 2-ounce pours of sparkling, white or red wine for $25. Keep an eye on Le Bon Nosh’s calendar for wine dinners from leading wineries and sommeliers, as well as cooking classes.
Majordōmo
1725 Naud St., Los Angeles, CA
Telephone (908) 820-0088
Website majordomo.la
Best of Award of Excellence
Located in a transformed warehouse at the heart of Los Angeles’ Chinatown neighborhood is Majordōmo, a dining concept from celebrity chef and TV personality David Chang and his Momofuku group. Natural light streams in from the floor-to-ceiling windows at the front of the restaurant, which is designed for a seamless flow between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The space features large-scale paintings from Korean American artist David Choe and acrylic-on-wood panels from Taiwanese American artist James Jean, as well as handmade Korean onggi earthenware pots.
What's on the Menu
Inspired by the many food cultures in Los Angeles, the menu weaves Californian influences with Chang’s interpretation of Asian-fusion cuisine. Executive chef Tim Mangun realizes this vision with offerings such as smoked crispy rice with smoked pork belly, preserved lemon, spring peas and perilla, as well as grilled striped bass in a sweet-and-sour sauce with cucumber and fresh orange.
Wine List Highlights
While Majordōmo’s list of more than 500 labels encompasses a variety of regions across the globe, wine director Ryan Kraemer pays particular attention to Rieslings, Grüner Veltliners and Chenin Blancs from Germany and France’s Alsace and Loire Valley. Concentrated and aromatic whites are known as great complements for the flavors of Asian cuisines, and Kraemer has chosen bottles with this in mind, all while featuring well-respected wineries such as Keller, Alzinger, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups and Veyder-Malberg.
Monterey
37 E 50th St., New York, NY
Telephone (212) 377-7171
Website montereybrasserie.com
Best of Award of Excellence
In 2022, Midtown Manhattan received a new brasserie, Monterey, from restaurateur Simon Oren and the hospitality team behind Grand Award winner Nice Matin, Best of Award of Excellence winner Marseille and Award of Excellence winners Nizza and Dagon, as well as new Best of Award of Excellence winner Isabelle’s Osteria. In Monterey, Oren, restaurant partner Dudi Sasson and designer Scott Kester have given the neighborhood a bright and colorful restaurant with terrazzo tile floors, blue banquettes and a marble bartop, recalling the “retro days of Palm Springs” and “Old Glam Hollywood.”
What’s on the Menu
For Monterey’s cuisine, chef and restaurant partner James Tracey mingles European (particularly Mediterranean) and American culinary influences. The results are dishes like an Ibérico pork chop with ginger cabbage, crispy frog legs with spring garlic sauce and lumache pasta with goose and duck ragu, as well as Ossetra caviar, a range of steaks and raw bar options. Carts specializing in prime rib au jus and bananas Foster (flambéed tableside, per tradition) bring even more variety and entertainment.
Wine List Highlights
Aviram Turgeman, who oversees the wine programs for Oren’s restaurants, has assembled some 450 labels for Monterey’s wine list, drawing from an inventory of about 3,000 bottles. The list is global, with primary focuses on France (particularly Champagne) and California—an appropriate focus, considering the restaurant’s name. There’s more from Oregon, New York, Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain and farther afield, with leading names throughout, including Willamette Valley’s Ken Wright, Chianti Classico’s Castello di Volpaia and the Finger Lakes’ Ravines. Meanwhile, cocktail lovers have plenty to look forward to; they can even design their own gin drinks, working with the professional manning Monterey’s martini cart.
Oeno Wine Lounge
22 E. Birch Ave., Suite 1, Flagstaff, AZ
Telephone (928) 266-0330
Website oenoeflg.com
Best of Award of Excellence
Restaurateur Dara Wong opened Oeno Wine Lounge in 2021 in the heart of Flagstaff, Ariz., providing a casual atmosphere for enjoying both beer and wine. (It also doubles as a bottle shop.) While Oeno’s sibling restaurant, Shift—where Wong is also the pastry chef—offers a fine-dining atmosphere, Oeno is a more laid-back lounge. Soft ottoman seats and warm earth-tone colors create an inviting space where hundreds of wines are on display to peruse. Oeno also hosts wine-centric events dedicated to demystifying wine for curious consumers.
What’s on the Menu
Chef Christian Lowe prepares casual dishes for guests to share, including cheese boards, dolmas and bruschetta with roasted tomatoes and truffle oil. Looking for something sweet? Lowe offers a dessert board with crystalized ginger, chocolate espresso beans, Limoncello almonds and house-made shortbread, plus a scoop of gelato or sorbet (also made in house). Alternatively, guests can order delivery from the substantial menu at nearby Shift, including dishes like the Cubano burger and barramundi with Normande sauce.
Wine List Highlights
The extensive wine list of 650 bottles is overseen by sommelier Tyler McBride, who gives attention to a vast array of regions and styles. Strengths include Napa Valley, Burgundy, Piedmont and Bordeaux, from which you can find bottles made by Harlan Estate, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leflaive and others. Additionally, there are substantial lists of Champagnes, German Rieslings, Tuscan reds, Spanish Tempranillos, Grenache-based reds, Barolo and more. The list also features ice wine, orange wine and pétillant naturel selections.
The Peacock Mediterranean Grill
Austin Proper 600 W. Second St. Austin, TX
Telephone (512) 628-1410
Website prophotel.com
Best of Award of Excellence
Austin, Texas, isn’t a city short on great dining for wine lovers, and that includes Mediterranean eateries worth visiting. Case in point, the Peacock Mediterranean Grill on the ground floor of the Proper hotel in Downtown Austin. Whether sitting down for lunch or enjoying one of the Peacock’s monthly wine dinners, wine lovers won’t want to miss a meal here (or a stroll by nearby Shoal Creek, afterward). Especially striking is the restaurant’s wall of Portuguese tiles from the 1950s through the 1980s.
What’s on the Menu
Executive chef Julien Hawkins celebrates the flavors of the Mediterranean, particularly Greece, on the Peacock’s menu. (The cuisine also draws from Northern African, Israeli and Lebanese culinary traditions.) Start the meal with a range of dips and mezes, including crispy shallot hummus, wood fire–grilled octopus, tuna crudo, cheese saganaki and multiple labnehs. (There are several vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options). Larger plates include roasted chicken in saffron broth, spiced lamb meatballs, Moroccan curry and wild grouper with chermoula (a Northern African condiment), along with a wide selection of kebabs and other grilled offerings.
Wine List Highlights
The Peacock’s wine list features nearly 550 selections, with close to 4,500 bottles in the inventory. Hotel wine director and sommelier Eamon Pereyra and food and beverage director Sang Aparadh oversee the program, which focuses primarily on France (especially Burgundy) and California, with names like the Côte de Beaune’s Domaines des Comtes Lafon and Napa Valley’s Nickel & Nickel. The list offers many noteworthy bottlings from Champagne, the Rhône Valley, Bordeaux, Italy (particularly Tuscany and Piedmont) and Spain. “Burgundian-style wines are the ideal pairing for our menu, [which] showcases bright, bold and fresh flavors from around the Mediterranean,” says Pereyra. A portion of the list highlights wines from the Mediterranean, with selections from Armenia, Greece, Lebanon and beyond, including a vertical (one of several on the list) of Chateau Musar’s Gaston Hochar cuvée.
Vast
333 W. Sheridan Ave. 49th Floor, Oklahoma City, OK
Telephone (405) 702-7262
Website vastokc.com
Best of Award of Excellence
In Oklahoma City, it would be difficult to match the stunning views enjoyed by guests at Vast, on the 49th and 50th floors of the Devon Energy Center skyscraper, nearly 750 feet above ground. Founded in 2012, Vast received its first Restaurant Award in 2023, and it continues to impress with its California-centered wine program and distinctive, locally focused American cuisine. That’s not to mention its scheduled events, like the upcoming “Wine for the People: French Wines” on July 25, leading up to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
What’s on the Menu
Executive chef Paul Langer gives local ingredients a spotlight on Vast’s contemporary American menu, which features carpaccio of beef from Oklahoma’s NoName Ranch, butternut squash in the style of steak au poivre, herb-marinated chicken with panzanella and a pan-seared rack of lamb with seasonal vegetables, as well as several steaks from NoName Ranch and Creekstone Farms. Langer also offers a five-course tasting menu ($115, and an additional $55 for optional wine pairings); a four-course vegan menu is available as well ($70, and $40 for optional wine pairings).
Wine List Highlights
General manager and wine director Evan Askey oversees the approximately 450-label wine program, which encompasses some 200 wineries across a nearly 3,000-bottle inventory. (About 125 wines are offered separately for the restaurant’s banquet and tasting-menu pairings.) There’s plenty for fans of Golden State wines (along with great whisky and Cognac), with Edna Valley Chardonnay from Mount Eden Vineyards, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Honig, Yountville Merlot from Tamber Bey and more. Rounding out the list are selections of Sonoma Pinot Noir, Oregon Chardonnay, U.S. bubbly, Champagne, Prosecco, Cava and more. The restaurant also offers more than 15 wines in half-bottles and nearly 20 in large-format bottles, along with a significant selection of Port.
Wine Dive + Kitchen Lawrence
741 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, KS
Telephone (785) 764-0036
Website winedivelk.com
Best of Award of Excellence
The team behind Wine Dive + Kitchen is on a mission to bring great wine to Kansas. There are locations in Wichita and Manhattan, Kan., as well as a Best of Award of Excellence–winning Wine Dive + Kitchen in Lawrence, the latest to open. As the home of the main University of Kansas campus, Lawrence is a quaint college town, filled with fantastic museums and parks. “We’ve always had Lawrence in our sights,” sommelier and co-owner Brad Steven told Wine Spectator in 2022, when the restaurant opened. “I went to school there, and it’s very close to Kansas City … we wanted to get a little farther north to reach new customers.”
What’s on the Menu
At the Lawrence location, chef Bryan Sparling prepares a menu with a vibrant mix of regional American dishes: Sparling encrusts jumbo Key West shrimp with coconut, serving the dish with orange marmalade and mango salsa. Pretzels and beer cheese are elevated with cottonwood cheddar, gruyère and the local Yakimaniac IPA from Free State Beer. And Sparling prepares braised, thick-cut bacon with blackberries and jalapenos. Beyond these, classic entrees and heartier dishes include coq au vin, wild boar ragu and miso-glazed cod.
Wine List Highlights
The global, 360-label Wine Dive list is built to educate, with particular attention paid to American and French bottlings. The restaurant team offers each wine on the by-the-glass list as either a full glass or as a smaller taste. To give customers the language to find what they want, the bottle list is organized by aromas and body rather than region. Whether you go for a glass or a bottle, expect noteworthy names throughout, like Matthiasson in Napa Valley, Quilceda Creek in Washington state and Château La Nerthe in the Rhône Valley.
Edited by Chris Cardoso, Collin Dreizen, Julia Larson and Olivia Nolan
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