The All-Time Eater 38

"When the Eater team set out to crown the most influential restaurants of the past two decades, we spent a lot of time debating how exactly to define the idea of influence, particularly from a national perspective. After all, restaurants that make shock waves locally don't always move the needle when it comes to dining culture more broadly, and places that are breathlessly covered in glossy publications don't necessarily resonate with those who live in and dine out frequently in that city."

"The resulting list of 38 (a nod to Eater's signature number, one that was arbitrarily chosen in the site's early days) spans the country from Honolulu to Philadelphia. It includes fine dining temples and pie shops. Some of the restaurateurs featured on the list run one extremely wonderful place; others oversee entire empires. A few grandes dames share an opening year with Eater, while others are a mere three years old."

Eater mapped at least 160,000 restaurants over 20 years and identified those with tangible national impact. A council of more than 20 experts, along with staff and a contributing editor, nominated restaurants that shaped the dining conversation. Selection was limited to establishments opened in 2005 or later, excluding earlier pioneers and many notable local fixtures while allowing influential spots that have since closed. The final group of 38 spans the country from Honolulu to Philadelphia and includes fine dining temples, casual pie shops, singular standouts, and restaurateurs who oversee multi-venue empires.

Read at Eater