Despite some smaller cities growing their presence, New York City dominates the Top 100 Independents. Here are the 30 highest-grossing independent restaurants in the Big Apple.
These 10 groundbreakers all pushed the envelope during the last 12 months in terms of both design and operation, bending traditions and blurring lines within their typical space to set new directions.
Ten of the Top 100 Independents operate in the windy city, and another three are located in Chicago's suburbs. This list of restaurants is heavy on steakhouses, with some seafood and Italian for good measure.
The leading independent restaurants lured diners with new seafood riffs as well as limited-time or seasonal menu offerings showcasing fresh ingredients.
A dozen new restaurants made their way onto the Top 100 Independents ranking. Some weren't open long enough to make the sales minimum on last year's list. Others' incremental growth did the trick. And in a few cases, owners asked to be considered, and they were spot on.
Five of the highest-grossing independent restaurants in the U.S. are in the nation’s capital, from one of America’s oldest places to talk politics to a newcomer owned by a consortium of family farms.
Of the 12 restaurants among the Top 100 Independents that are located in Chicagoland, nine are in the city and three are in the suburbs. Two of those suburban restaurants—and three in the city—are operated by Gibsons Restaurant Group.