USA Today 10 Best, 1/2/2025
USA TODAY Reader’s Choice Awards has recognized KOAST Restaurant in Wailea Village Center as No. 1 in their WHERE TO EAT
Find your new favorite dining spot
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It’s been estimated that there are more than 700,000 restaurants in the United States, according to the National Restaurant Association, with thousands of new options opening up each year.
To find the best, we asked a panel of food and travel experts to nominate their 20 favorite new restaurants to open in the past year and a half. Then, readers voted for their top picks to determine the winners. Here are the 10 best new restaurants, ranging from quick and delicious eateries to sophisticated cultural immersions.
No. 1: Koast
Wailea, Hawaii
Photo courtesy of Rachel Olsson
Koast, located in the Wailea area of Maui, has a motto of “come as you are,” and the restaurant’s sleek yet laid-back atmosphere is suitable for both casual and formal occasions. Chef Chris Cosentino brings his expertise (he is a former “Top Chef Masters” winner and James Beard nominee) to the eclectic menu that features everything from whole fried fish to innovative small bites like charred octopus toast and crispy calamari with pig’s ear.
No. 2: Carmelo’s
Covington, Kentucky
Photo courtesy of Carmelo’s Restaurant
Located in an 1850s office building in downtown Covington, Carmelo’s is an intimate and stylish dining venue focused on Italian American comfort cuisine. The menu features tried-and-true classics like eggplant parmigiana, mushroom marsala, and tiramisu. Carmelo’s is the first collaboration between owners Mitch Arens and Billy Grise, the latter of which named the restaurant for his Sicilian-born great grandfather.
No. 3: Squares & Fare
Somers Point, New Jersey
Photo courtesy of Dominic Russo
Since opening, this humble pizza joint has garnered rave reviews, with some declaring it the best Sicilian-style pie in the state of New Jersey and beyond. The square pies have flaky, thick crusts to support toppings like house-made truffle vodka sauce, burrata, and organic truffle oil. Squares & Fare focuses on top-quality ingredients such as the 24-month aged parmigiano, Cobram Estate olive oil, and scratch-made sauces. The friendly, personal service also keeps customers coming back.
No. 4: Via Cassia
Hudson, New York
Photo courtesy of Via Cassia
Via Cassia is helmed by husband-and-wife duo Gaetano and Meigan Arnone. As the former chef de cuisine at Babbo in New York, chef Gaetano brings his deep knowledge of Northern Italian cuisine to the pasta-heavy menu, all of which is made in house. There is an extensive Italian wine list as well as antipasti, formaggi, and salumi options. The rustic interiors feel like a modern take on an Italian farmhouse, and the warm hospitality highlights the neighborhood trattoria feel.
No. 5: The Frybread Lounge
Scottsdale, Arizona
Photo courtesy of Heather Tracy
Located in Old Town Scottsdale, The Frybread Lounge is an Indigenous gastropub helmed by renowned chef Darryl Montana of the Tohono O’odham Nation. The menu is based on fry bread, a flour-and-lard-based staple of the Indigenous Southwestern diet. Frybread is utilized in sweet and savory dishes like the hearty bison burger and the tacos piled high with beans. The fry bread entrees are menu mainstays, but diners rave about the rotating weekly specials.
No. 6: Coco Deck Kitchen + Bar Lahaina
Lahaina, Hawaii
Photo courtesy of Photographer Erika Meadows
On Maui’s West Shore, Coco Deck Kitchen + Bar serves eclectic fusion cuisine in a laid-back oceanfront setting. Chef Alvin Savella, a Lahaina local, has created a family-friendly sports bar offering lunch and dinner menus featuring local seafood. The extensive menu includes customer favorites like ceviche, coco-crusted mahi, and funky fries. Check out the “I Caught a Fish” option, where diners can have the chef cook their catch.
No. 7: Dogwood Southern Table and Bar
Charlotte, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Lauren Rubinstein
Dogwood Southern Table and Bar, located inside the Westin Charlotte, is a local favorite serving contemporary Carolina cuisine. The restaurant partners with area purveyors and farmers to provide a menu heavy on fresh, seasonal ingredients while highlighting Southern favorites like shrimp and grits, duck with dumplings, and baked pimento cheese. The sophisticated dining space features an expansive bar and lounge area serving a curated list of craft cocktails and a wine list focused on organic and sustainable varieties.
No. 8: Uncle Ray’s Chicken Rice
New York City, New York
Photo courtesy of Ben Hon
Uncle Ray’s is a tribute to the national dish of Singapore, Hainanese chicken rice. Owner and chef Raymond Kiang relies on a family recipe of chicken rice, serving whole poached or roasted chicken accompanied by fragrant lemongrass and pandan rice as well as sides like Chinese broccoli and coffee pork ribs. Located in Hell’s Kitchen, Uncle Ray’s is a casual spot to enjoy comforting food steeped in tradition.
No. 9: Barometer Waterfront Grille
Orange Beach, Alabama
Photo courtesy of Barometer Waterfront Grille
Barometer Waterfront Grille in Orange Beach, Alabama, serves seafood favorites and craft cocktails in an inspiring waterside setting with gorgeous views. The coastal-inspired cuisine uses locally sourced ingredients, including fresh-caught seafood like Gulf shrimp and grouper, and diners cite the blackened redfish and seared ahi tuna as favorite dishes. Barometer Waterfront Grille has indoor and outdoor seating, a lively bar, and a family-friendly vibe suited for all ages.
No. 10: 855-ALOHA
Honolulu, Hawaii
855-ALOHA captures the spirit of Waikiki during its golden age of the 1960s. Located inside Romer House Waikiki, 855-ALOHA celebrates iconic local flavors inspired by nostalgic island dishes. Chef Bradley Dodson draws from culinary traditions and infuses them with a modern twist in dishes served family style, like the Chinatown Chili Crisp Chicken and the Kalbi Ribs. The restaurant’s name is a callback to the phone booths that once populated the island, where anyone could dial 855-ALOHA and reach a global operator.