College Choice, an independent college search and rankings website, published a ranking of the “50 Best Restaurants for Students and Parents in America.”
La Bernardin (New York) leads the ranking, which is based on a compilation of several global and local food ratings, as well as geographic data relating to the proximity of restaurants to major institutions of higher learning. Eleven Madison Park (New York), and Alinea (Chicago) rank second and third, respectively.
The list includes restaurants ranging from 20-course $195 feasts to $20 plate specials and from deep fried beef jerky to pickled turnip with celery leaf, so there will be something to suit the tastes and budget of most college students and their families and friends.
Cities represented include most of the nation's culinary hotspots. Leading the pack is New York City with seven restaurants; Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Chicago with four; and Seattle, Atlanta, and San Francisco with three. Other cities on the list include Austin, Texas; Newberg, Oregon; Portland, Oregon; Washington; Dallas; Boston; Miami; Minneapolis; Charleston, South Carolina; Las Vegas; Boulder, Colorado; Philadelphia; Nashville; Tampa, Florida; and Berkeley, California.
Top college restaurants included in the rankings are (in alphabetical order):
- ABC Kitchen (New York)
- Animal (Los Angeles)
- Aria (Atlanta)
- August (New Orleans)
- Bacchanalia (Atlanta)
- Bern's Steak House (Tampa)
- Blackbird (Chicago)
- Canlis (Seattle)
- Coi (San Francisco)
- Chez Panisse (Berkeley)
- Cochon (New Orleans)
- Commander's Palace (New Orleans)
- Daniel (New York)
- Del Posto (New York)
- Etch (Nashville)
- Fountain Restaurant (Philadelphia)
- Frasca Food and Wine (Boulder)
- Galatoire's Restaurant (New Orleans)
- Girl & the Goat (Chicago)
- Gramercy Tavern (New York)
- Gunshow (Atlanta)
- Husk (Charleston)
- Il Terrazzo Carmine (Seattle)
- Island Creek Oyster Bar (Boston)
- Joll Robuchon Restaurant (Las Vegas)
- La Belle Vie (Minneapolis)
- Le Pigeon (Portland)
- Momofuku Ss‰m Bar (New York)
- NAOE (Miami)
- Next (Chicago)
- Nishino (Seattle)
- NoMad (New York)
- Orso and Winston (Los Angeles)
- o ya (Boston)
- Per Se (New York)
- Pyramid Restaurant & Bar (Dallas)
- qui (Austin)
- Rasika (D.C.)
- Restaurant Gary Danko (San Francisco)
- Roe (Portland)
- State Bird Provisions (San Francisco)
- The Bazaar by JosE AndrEs (Los Angeles)
- The Painted Lady (Newberg, OR)
- The Publican (Chicago)
- Trois Mec (Los Angeles)
- Uchi (Austin)
- Zuni CafE (San Francisco)
