The Best Restaurants in Every Southern State 2017

Birmingham, AlabamaChef Frank Stitt brought farm-to-table dining to Birmingham in 1982, before there was even a moniker for it. Since then, Highlands has only become more fresh and relevant in the Southern dining landscape.

Little Rock, ArkansasChef Tomas Bohm has introduced Little Rock to a different kind of European fare using his Czechoslovakian roots as his guide.

Seaside, FloridaSo many beachfront restaurants rely on the view to make up for lackluster food, but Bud & Alley’s matches sparkling Gulf vistas with delicious bakedoysters and locally caught fish.

Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah found a golden ticket with The Grey. Inside an impeccably renovated, Art Deco-style former Greyhound bus station, chef Mashama Bailey is raising Lowcountry cuisine up high with dishes like Roasted Yardbird and Red Pea Pancakes with Cracklin'.

Lexington, KentuckyIts location across from the Lexington Farmers’ Market makes this spot produce-centric. Owner Debbie Long holds a reputation as horse country’sconsummate hostess.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Bethesda, Maryland This contemporary French bistro brings D.C. dwellers to Bethesda for delicious classics like beef tartare, dry-aged duck, and wild mushroom risotto.And every dish is plated with modern sensibilities.

Oxford, MississippiHaving a drink upstairs on the fabled porch of City Grocery, which overlooks Oxford’s town square, has become a Southern rite of passage.

St. Louis, MissouriChef Kevin Nashan continues to conjure exciting dishes here at the crossroads where Southern ingredients meet Spanish and French cooking techniques.

Kinston, North CarolinaMost folks hadn’t heard of the tiny town of Kinston until Vivian Howard moved back home to open a restaurant. Over a decade later, patrons still flock to it for a taste of Howard’s creative interpretations of local dishes.

Oklahoma City, OklahomaLike a futuristic, fashionable, 1960s diner in Los Angeles, The Drake has made the words “seafood” and “Oklahoma City” as natural of a pairing as the fresh oysters and rosé mignonette.

Charleston, South CarolinaGlobally renowned as a pilgrimage site for Southern food, chef Sean Brock’s Husk, currently in Charleston and Nashville, will open new locations inSavannah, Georgia, and Greenville, South Carolina, later this year.

Nashville, TennesseeInside a former shipping container in Nashville’s Gulch District, you’ll find a staggering whiskey selection alongside chef Matt Bolus’ Italian takes oncountry cooking.

Houston, TexasWhether you believe this to be the home of the first fajitas or not, there’s no denying Ninfa’s as the archetype of Tex-Mex food.

Richmond, VirginiaBoth Pasture and its sister restaurant, Comfort, are love letters to Virginia ingredients and mountain cooking. Pasture takes a few more liberties withtradition, like the Country Captain chicken dish with tomato-curry gravy.

Washington, D.C.With animal heads bagged by Teddy Roosevelt, the Old Ebbitt Grill is as much an unofficial museum off the National Mall as it is a steak-and-oysterhouse.

White Sulphur Springs, West VirginiaThis homage to NBA legend Jerry West is a full-court press, from the 44-ounce porterhouse to the famed lobster mashed potatoes.