Charming port city Mobile has a growing reputation for great food and Dauphin’s is especially lauded for its regional seafood infused with rich Creole flavours. It’s located on the 34th floor of a skyscraper with floor-to-ceiling windows framing views over the city. For a very special occasion, book the private dining option – a table for six right in the kitchen.
Even the journey to this mountaintop restaurant is special. An aerial tram glides above valleys with views of glaciers and Turnagain Arm, part of Cook Inlet. You can continue to gaze at the scenery throughout the meal as tables are positioned by the huge windows. Seven Glaciers is known for seafood, though customers also rave about the steak – and, of course, the views.
Customers love the top-notch service and laid-back vibe at this family-owned restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale. The seasonally-led menu at Cafe Monarch includes tender filet mignon, charred octopus and vegetarian options like porcini risotto. And, because it’s prix-fixe, there are less likely to be arguments over the bill (unless someone orders the most expensive wine...).
A serene ambience is all well and good but some places can just feel too quiet – especially when you’re celebrating. Enter South on Main, which is at once an upscale restaurant and a lively performance venue. Local and global music acts provide the soundtrack to delicious shareable dishes like fried green tomatoes, crawfish mac 'n' cheese, and pork and ginger wontons.
On any given evening, the dining room at the beloved waterfront hotel Little River Inn is likely to be filled with people celebrating anniversaries, birthdays, engagements or reunions. This is the kind of place that, once visited, is revisited again and again. It's probably because of the views (it’s just steps from the shores of the Pacific), the cosy atmosphere and signature seafood dishes like abalone fritters and green-lip mussels.
There’s no simple way to get to Beano’s Cabin in Beaver Creek resort but all routes are spectacular. During winter, a snowcat-driven sleigh whisks your group to the cosy, chic spot, tucked away in a mountaintop meadow. In summer, you can arrive by shuttle or (far more fun) horseback, then enjoy dishes like pumpkin soup and venison.
The Whelk is a favourite waterside spot specialising in fresh, sustainable and deliciously prepared seafood. It perches by the Saugatuck River and customers rave about happy hour oysters and Creole flavours. Groups of eight or more can book the special Dinner with Friends option for family-style whole roasted meats and sides.
Old-school Italian spot Vincente’s is beloved for its flair and, erm, flare – the bananas Foster dessert, flambéed tableside, is a real crowd-pleaser that keeps people coming back. The restaurant is warm and unpretentious which makes it the perfect choice for a relaxed get-together which feels that little bit more special.
You can take a water taxi or stroll along the city’s Riverwalk to reach Ulele, whose menu is all about making the best from seasonal ingredients. Try the rich chilli soup with alligator, wild boar, duck, beef and wild venison. It’s a huge space but each section, from the waterside patio to the main dining room, feels intimate and cosy, which makes it a favourite for celebrations.
The elegant appearance of this 18th-century Georgian mansion, attached to popular B&B Planters Inn, is enough to imbue a meal with a sense of occasion. Thankfully The Olde Pink House feels just as special inside, with Southern cuisine served in grand, softly-lit rooms filled with art and antiques. Customers love the blue crab beignets and BLT salad.
This upscale spot celebrates the best of Hawaiian cuisine, with fine-dining food served with zero pretension. At MW Restaurant, you'll find dishes such as pig tacos, and unagi and butterfish arancini which are elegantly presented and packed with flavour. People especially adore the 'creamsicle' crème brûlée, infused with tropical fruit, and the elegant afternoon tea.
The potato capital scrubs up pretty nicely at Chandlers, where nightly live jazz and impeccably mixed martinis add to the elegant ambiance. People rave it’s the best Boise spot for a celebration and it’s known for perfectly prepared steaks and delicious seafood.
The Windy City has a vibrant, dynamic food scene but, if we have to pick a favourite for a special gathering, it’s this upscale but low-key restaurant in the swanky Gold Coast district. Maple & Ash is all sepia lighting, dark accents and ingredients infused with smoke and fire. The huge round tables and sharing options make it perfect for bigger groups. People praise the decadent fire-roasted seafood tower.
Imagine you have an Italian-American grandmother who makes the best meatballs around. Now imagine she lives in a Mediterranean-style villa whose patio is strung with twinkly lights. At Mama Carolla's, you can live the dream for the night – it's a warm, elegant spot with incredible food.
Book a table in the upstairs area of Orchard Green for a true sense of occasion. While the downstairs bar area has a more casual vibe, this area is all vaulted ceilings and chandeliers. It's the perfect setting to feast on elegantly prepared dishes like sea scallops with caponata, bouillabaisse and sweet potato gnocchi.
This chic, family-run bistro looks like it’s been airlifted in from Paris and the French-driven menu tastes pretty authentic too. Classic dishes at Café Provence, like moules marinière (mussels in a cream and garlic sauce) and foie gras, are served with Provençal wines. Regular specials include a four-course prix-fixe menu and a weekly changing soufflé.
Chef Edward Lee takes classic Southern cuisine and gives it a fresh, zesty global spin. The tasting menu, which can be combined with whisky, wine or beer pairings, changes seasonally. Expect delicate dishes like eel and pork belly or beef tongue with sauerkraut. It isn’t cheap but many customers agree it’s worth it.
It’s hard to find a bad meal in Louisiana but, for a celebration, it has to be New Orleans – and it has to be Brennan’s, a NOLA icon since 1946. The bright, airy rooms are lovely for dinner while the brunch – with crab-packed omelettes, grits and (a customer favourite) baked apples – is legendary.
At M.C. Perkins Cove, the only way to get closer to the ocean would be to dive right in. This refined yet relaxed restaurant sits right by the Atlantic Ocean, with picture windows keeping the incredible views always in sight. The menu is fittingly fishy, with swordfish, Maine lobster and freshly-caught fish of the day.
A top choice for an extra-special meal, charming Woodberry Kitchen takes its ingredients seriously, sourcing sustainably from Maryland’s abundant farmland and Chesapeake Bay (customers particularly rave about the oysters). The setting is gorgeous too – the rustic-chic interior of this renovated foundry has an open kitchen and, during warmer months, you can sit on the twinkly-lit patio.
You'll want to linger long after the food is gone at Twenty-Eight Atlantic, part of the waterfront Wequassett Resort on the Cape Cod peninsula – the bay views are stunning. The menu is seafood based, as you’d expect, with dishes like parsnip clam chowder and butter-braised lobster winning rave reviews.
Located in a former lumber baron’s mansion, The Whitney has a grand atmosphere but it's hiding a secret. It's been referred to as one of America’s most haunted restaurants and the aptly-named Ghostbar lounge plays on its spooky reputation with regular Paranormal Dinner Tours. The food, including the much-praised beef wellington, is equally otherworldly. If your party is brave enough, this is the place for you.
The vegetables that go into the fresh, seasonal dishes at this chilled-out spot are very locally sourced indeed. Right from The Bachelor Farmer's rooftop garden, in fact. Ingredients are paired with Nordic flavours for dishes like smoked whitefish and Brussels sprouts fried with pork fat, and served in an atmosphere that’s equal parts hip and homely.
City Grocery has been a local and visitor favourite since it opened in 1992, bringing something special to dining in the Magnolia State. It’s all about Southern food with extra flair, so the shrimp and grits are infused with lemon and white wine, and the smoked shrimp dip is beautifully presented with delicate strips of pickled red onion.
Part of Big Cedar Lodge resort, Osage Restaurant’s setting could hardly be more special. Chunky wooden tables surround a roaring cylindrical fireplace while enormous windows frame views of the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake. Its speciality is elevated comfort food dishes like braised short ribs and cauliflower steak. Customers recommend it for sunset views or an indulgent brunch.
The name of this spot might not scream special occasion but the ambience, food and service speak for themselves. Housed in a former train station, Montana Ale Works has won accolades for its seasonally driven menu of bison burgers, local Wagyu beef and blackened mahi tacos. You can only reserve for parties of 20 or more, though there’s plenty of space if you're a smaller group and you can order from the vast craft ale selection while you wait.
From a Date Night menu to family-style sharing plates of charcuterie, Wagyu steak and chorizo mac ‘n’ cheese, the offerings at seasonally focused Dolce are designed for special get-togethers. Make sure to leave space for dessert – the brioche bread pudding with raisin compote and vanilla bean ice cream is a favourite.
You can find pretty much any cuisine in Sin City, especially if money is no object, and there’s plenty of choice when you’re celebrating. But we reckon NoMad Restaurant is one of the best, if only for its epic six-person cocktails served in giant chalices. The food is shareable too – try the Rockefeller-style oysters, whole roast chicken with black truffle stuffing, and mac ‘n’ cheese with Alaskan king crab.
Feeling rushed through your meal can really dampen the celebratory mood which is why we love Sugar Hill Inn. Their policy is that the table is yours for the evening, to linger as long as you like over dishes such as baked brie with fig jam, pan-seared scallops and fettuccine primavera.
The setting alone, amid 70,000 acres of countryside grazed by deer, is enough to make a meal at the Walpack Inn feel special. Thankfully, the food lives up to the surrounds. Customer favourites such as freshly-baked bread and prime rib are largely made with homegrown and home-reared produce.
Tucked inside the subtly swanky Rosewood Inn, rustic-chic Anasazi Restaurant is the place to gather for a special meal and a great spot to discover some of the best and freshest New Mexican cuisine. Most of the menu is made with produce from a handful of local farms, with dishes like duck with smoked corn pudding and a special agave tasting menu, where tequilas and mezcals come with a complementary dish.
There’s no better city for a blowout meal than the Big Apple, and perhaps no restaurant so iconic as the Rainbow Room, which has occupied its lofty home on the 65th floor of Art Deco skyscraper 30 Rockefeller Plaza since 1934. Gaze over the most famous of skylines while feasting on dishes like pan-roasted tilefish and platters of crudités and local cheeses. Their brunch service is also spectacular.
An idyllic take on a traditional English village, Relais and Châteaux hotel Fearrington has fields grazed by Belted Galloway cows and a restaurant serving elegantly prepared, seasonal dishes. Your group can book the chef’s tasting menu or choose à la carte dishes like corn soup with peach and prosciutto-wrapped quail, paired with wines from North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley. Don’t miss the legendary hot chocolate soufflé with bitter chocolate sauce.
Top-rated Bismarck restaurant Pirogue Grille has the kind of warm, cosy ambience that makes you instantly feel at home – although you’d be pretty lucky to eat this level of food in your own dining room. The kitchen turns out impeccable plates of parmesan-crusted fish and bison medallions, made with regional produce. Pretty much everything, from bread to stock, is made in-house.
Veritas is the place for a truly memorable meal. Choose tapas-style sharing plates or a tasting menu, devoured in an intimate, stylish dining room. Everything is excellent, from the house-made bread and butter to dishes like burrata with sweet potato or pork belly buns.
The name Vast is an apt description of the views from this restaurant on the 49th floor of the Devon Tower. Huge windows frame downtown buildings, urban parks and the Oklahoma River. Try the best of the spot's New American–style cuisine with the tasting menu, or go all out and book the 10-seater Chef’s Table, tucked in its own room. Reviews single out the tomahawk pork chops and, of course, those views.
Oceanside Stephanie Inn & Dining Room strikes just the right balance between laid-back and utterly luxurious. Tables are arranged around a wood-burning fireplace while chefs work in the open kitchen to produce fresh and vibrant regional cuisine. Dishes change seasonally but are likely to include Pacific Northwest seafood, cheeses and vegetables. The views make the occasion special, too, with arched windows framing the distinctive Haystack Rock.
Altius takes its position very seriously. Perched in Mount Washington, a district famed for its sweeping city views, it’s named after the Latin word for higher. It doesn’t just refer to its location – the food is elevated too. Customers particularly praise the Pennsylvania duck breast, served with a wide selection of organic wines.
Regularly given rave reviews for its beautifully prepared seafood dishes and waterfront setting, the Boat House makes the most of its riverside location with a wraparound terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room. Everything is sumptuous, from native littleneck clams to lobster fritters, all with views over Mount Hope Bay.
There are only 20 seats in the intimate restaurant of this revered Charleston eatery, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Landmarks. A large group could end up having McCrady's all to themselves. The original dining room is now casual McCrady’s Tavern but the truly special option is the chef’s tasting menu with dishes like 60-day dry-aged beef and mahi-mahi with salsify and seaweed.
Now with locations across the state and in Iowa and Michigan, Minervas started right here in Sioux Falls in 1977, and the original spot remains a favourite place for a celebratory feast. The dining room ticks all the fine dining boxes with crisp white tablecloths and delicious dishes like roasted duck, crab artichoke bake and regionally sourced buffalo burger.
The Barn at Blackberry Farm, in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains, takes farm-to-table to new levels of detail. It’s old-fashioned in the best way, from the fine tablecloths to the impeccable service. The estate’s produce is used in dishes like chicken and grits, walnut-crusted fish and duck heart salad with apple.
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This Wolfgang Puck restaurant enjoys a lofty perch on the 50th floor of Reunion Tower, one of Dallas’ most recognisable buildings. Not that it lets that go to its head. The vibe at Five Sixty is as unpretentious as the food is impressive. Asian-inspired dishes like pork belly bao and lobster spring rolls can be paired with fine wines or sake. There is a dress code and it’s over-21s only, but that just adds to the sense of occasion.
Log Haven is just a few miles outside downtown Salt Lake City but it feels like the middle of nowhere. Located amid a forested idyll with waterfalls and towering pines, it's, unsurprisingly, a favourite for special occasions. Try the cauliflower with Korean spices, or bison steak with smoked chilli broth and sweet potato orzo.
Time your meal with sunset to enjoy this pretty spot, home to Simon Pearce’s glass and pottery workshop, at its best. The restaurant, in a converted 19th-century mill, perches dramatically over Ottauquechee River waterfall, so you can watch the light play on the cascade while tucking into horseradish-crusted cod or sage and sumac tagliatelle. The private dining room, in the loft space above the restaurant, is unbeatable for birthday or anniversary celebrations.
The Obamas have dined here and if it’s good enough to Michelle and Barack, we reckon it’s a decent bet for a memorable meal. The Majestic’s menu takes Virginia’s abundant produce and, with a deft, delicate touch, transforms it into flavoursome dishes like duck breast with parsnip purée and wild mushrooms. Grab a velvet-lined booth and share starters like charred octopus and crab arancini.
Woodinville, home to more than 100 wineries and just a short drive from Seattle, is the ideal destination for a celebration. And there’s no lovelier place to dine than on the light-strung patio of Barking Frog (if it’s chilly, the dining room is pretty nice too). It’s attached to chic hotel Willows Lodge and specialises in seasonal dishes packed with flavour. Expect choices like black cod with green lentils or local radishes served with goat butter.
People love the prix-fixe menu and wine pairings at The Redbook Restaurant, attached to popular Hillbrook Inn & Spa. Dishes such as halibut with baby squash and chicken with heirloom carrots are made with ingredients sourced from local farms, and served in a charming dining room decorated like an elegant library.
Bacchus knows exactly how to show off its stunning surrounds. The conservatory setting with views of Lake Michigan is complemented by dishes like charred octopus and amaretto cake with pear, plus a highly-rated wine list.
Dining at The Granary, part of Spring Creek Ranch, feels a little like having stepped into a picture-perfect postcard. The views across to the snow-cloaked Teton mountains are pinch-yourself beautiful, especially if it’s warm enough to sit on the patio. The rustic-chic dining room lets the setting speak for itself. Grab a table by the huge windows and feast on elk carpaccio and bison fillet.