OpenTable Debuts Annual Top 100 Restaurants List Alongside 2023's Biggest Dining Trends

'Tis the season for holiday celebrations – last year, three of the top five biggest dining days for groups happened in December – and our family vineyard made the list!

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As 2023 comes to a close, bringing holiday and year-end celebrations, OpenTable is helping diners select the perfect venue with the debut of its Top 100 Restaurants in America list for 2023. Featuring an updated methodology using OpenTable diner reviews and new metrics, the list uncovers some of the most in-demand restaurants by OpenTable diners this year.

Additionally, OpenTable insights from the year (January 1 – September 30) compared to 2022 reveal shifts in diner behaviors and cravings. Highlights include:

Dining held steady, with vigor for special occasions: While year-round dining remained flat YoY (-1%),2 diners showed renewed interest in dining on special occasions – Valentine's Day and Mother's Day respectively grew 9% and 6% YoY,3 and diner spend for these holidays was up 15% vs. non-holidays this year4 – a positive signal of what to expect for the busy holiday season.

Solo dining is on the rise: With an increase of 4% YoY, it was the largest increase of any party size. Thursday and Friday were the most popular days.

This year, West African, African and Lebanese were among the top trending cuisines: Each saw double digit dining increases, respectively up 72%, 23% and 18% YoY.

Menu items with East Asian ties were increasingly talked about by diners: Diner reviews saw increased mentions of crispy rice (27%), omakase (17%), yuzu (17%), lychee (9%), miso (4%), ramen (4%) and kimchi (2%).

Cocktails were on diners' minds, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic: Diner reviews also revealed increased mentions of mocktail (48%) and non-alcoholic (8%), likely due to a rise of sober and sober-curious lifestyles. In addition, speakeasy saw gains (25%), as well as cocktails made popular on social media: espresso martini (39%), Aperol spritz (27%) and negroni (4%).5

"Diners showed up in full force for occasions like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day this year – we expect this trend will continue through to a strong holiday season for restaurants," said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable."

Diners Have Spoken: OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants for 2023

Three of the top five biggest dining days for groups (6+) last year happened in mid-December, specifically December 10, 16 and 17.6 For year-end celebrations, team dinners, family and friends gatherings big and small, look no further than OpenTable's list of Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2023. Culled from over 12 million diner reviews and dining metrics including diner ratings, percentage of reservations made in advance, and five-star reviews, the list highlights some of the top spots favored by diners this year.

Trends across this year's list include:

California and Florida see the largest share of restaurants: California features 14 restaurants on the list, including newcomer Saffy's and returning favorites Bavel and Bestia in Los Angeles, along with House of Prime Rib and Kokkari Estiatorio in San Francisco. Florida features seven, including new additions like Bern's Steak House in Tampa and Buccan in Palm Beach.

Diners loved these MICHELIN-starred spots: The list includes multiple restaurants recognized by the MICHELIN Guide including Providence in Los Angeles (Two Star), Jeune et Jolie in Carlsbad (One Star), The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford (One Star), Lilac in Tampa (One Star), Stubborn Seed in Miami Beach (One Star) and Girl & the Goat in Chicago (Bib Gourmand).

Over a dozen new cities featured vs. 2022: This year's list sees 63 cities (vs. last year's 47) including Brooklyn, New York (River Cafe); Palm Beach, Florida (Buccan); Anchorage, Alaska (Whisky & Ramen); and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico (Marmalade Restaurant & Wine Bar).

"This year's Top 100 list features neighborhood gems, hotspots like Bad Roman, MICHELIN-starred venues like Jeune et Jolie, and restaurants new to the list from coast-to-coast," said Soo. "We also see representation across the culinary spectrum – with cuisines like Mediterranean, French and Japanese included."

The Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2023 are (in alphabetical order by state/territory): CLICK THE LINK TO SEE THE ENTIRE LIST!