Food & Drink
The Diner Reviews Are In: OpenTable Reveals the 100 Best Restaurants in America
Published
8 years agoon
SAN FRANCISCO (FNN NEWS) — From impeccable service to one-of-a-kind dining experiences, OpenTable, the world’s leading provider of online restaurant reservations and part of The Priceline Group (NASDAQ: PCLN), today reveals its 100 Best Restaurants in America list for 2017. The list of the 100 Best Restaurants in America reflects the combined opinions of more than 12 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 26,000 restaurants in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
From restaurants with world-renowned chefs to breakthrough newcomers, the complete list showcases a diverse group of restaurants in 24 states and Washington, D.C. California and New York are tied at the top of the list, each boasting 19 winning restaurants, followed by Illinois and Pennsylvania with eight, Washington D.C. with seven and Texas with five. Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, and South Carolina all boast three winners while Hawaii, New Jersey, North Carolinaand Virginia each have two. Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Washington are also represented.
While American, French, and Italian cuisine proved to be the most popular, there is a growing presence of globally inspired cuisines on the list, including Mediterranean, Japanese, Indian and Middle Eastern. The range of cuisines highlighted points to diners’ growing appetites for more exotic flavors and destination-driven offerings.
“While the winning restaurants this year are each distinctive, they all consistently deliver exceptional dishes, impeccable hospitality, and a meal to remember,” says Caroline Potter, OpenTable Chief Dining Officer. “This year’s honorees have risen to the challenge of providing outstanding experiences time and again to a nation of discerning guests.”
The list is generated solely from diner reviews collected between November 1, 2016, and October 31, 2017. All restaurants with a minimum “overall” score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. Qualifying restaurants were then sorted according to a score calculated from each restaurant’s average rating in the “overall” category.
Based on this methodology, the following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, comprise the 100 Best Restaurants in America for 2017 according to OpenTable diners. The complete list may also be viewed at https://www.opentable.com/m/best-restaurants-in-america-for-2017/.
2017 100 Best Restaurants in America
1770 House – East Hampton, New York
Arethusa al Tavolo – Bantam, Connecticut
Atera – New York, New York
Barclay Prime – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Barrique Venice – Venice, California
Bavette’s – Chicago, Illinois
Benu – San Francisco, California
Bida Manda Restaurant and Bar – Raleigh, North Carolina
Bones – Atlanta, Georgia
BONDST – New York, New York
Buccan – Palm Beach, Florida
Café Monarch – Scottsdale, Arizona
Cafe Provence – Prairie Village, Kansas
Charleston – Baltimore, Maryland
Charleston Grill – Charleston, South Carolina
Chez Billy Sud – Washington, D.C.
chi SPACCA – Los Angeles, California
Coppa – Boston, Massachusetts
CRUST – Miami, Florida
Daniel – New York, New York
Del Posto – New York, New York
Double Knot – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fishing With Dynamite – Manhattan Beach, California
Frances – San Francisco, California
Gabriel Kreuther – New York, New York
Geronimo – Santa Fe, New Mexico
Girl & the Goat – Chicago, Illinois
Giulia Restaurant – Cambridge, Massachusetts
Gramercy Tavern – New York, New York
The Grill – The Ritz-Carlton, Naples – Naples, Florida
Halls Chophouse – Charleston, South Carolina
Harold Black – Washington, D.C.
Heirloom Cafe – San Francisco, California
Hersh’s – Baltimore, Maryland
Highlands Bar & Grill – Birmingham, Alabama
The Inn at Little Washington – Washington, Virginia
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab – Multiple Locations
JUNGSIK – New York, New York
Kinship – Washington, D.C.
Koi – West Hollywood, California
Kokkari Estiatorio – San Francisco, California
L’Auberge Chez Francois – Great Falls, Virginia
La Grotta – Atlanta, Georgia
Lahaina Grill – Lahaina, Hawaii
L’Artusi – New York, New York
Le Bilboquet – Dallas – Dallas, Texas
Le Coucou – New York, New York
Le Diplomate – Washington, D.C.
Le Vallauris – Palm Springs, California
Linwoods – Owings Mills, Maryland
Mama’s Fish House – Paia, Hawaii
Marc Forgione – New York, New York
Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier – Washington, D.C.
Marea – New York, New York
Market Restaurant and Bar – Del Mar, California
Mistral – Sherman Oaks – Sherman Oaks, California
The Modern – Bar Room and Dining Room – New York, New York
Momofuku Ko – New York, New York
Neighborhood Services on Lovers Lane – Dallas, Texas
Orchids at Palm Court – Cincinnati, Ohio
Oriole – Chicago, Illinois
Parc – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Per Se – New York, New York
The Polo Bar – New York, New York
Polo Lounge @ The Beverly Hills Hotel – Beverly Hills, California
PRESS – St. Helena, California
Quince – San Francisco, California
Raoul’s – New York, New York
Rasika – Washington, D.C.
Restaurant L – Cincinnati, Ohio
Riccardo Enoteca – Chicago, Illinois
Rich Table – San Francisco, California
RL Restaurant – Chicago, Illinois
RPM Restaurants – Locations
Rudy & Paco Restaurant & Bar – Galveston, Texas
Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Baton Rouge – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Saddle River Inn – Saddle River, New Jersey
Saint Jacques French Cuisine – Raleigh, North Carolina
Shinsei Restaurant – Dallas, Texas
SHU – Sushi House Unico – Bel Air – Bel Air, California
Sotto – Cincinnati, Ohio
Spinasse – Seattle, Washington
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards – Santa Rosa, California
Steve & Cookie’s By the Bay – Margate, New Jersey
Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch – Santa Barbara, California
Sushi Nakazawa – Sushi Bar – New York, New York
The Table at Season To Taste – Cambridge, Massachusetts
Talula’s Garden – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Toscana – Los Angeles, California
Townsend – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
True Food Kitchen – Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
Uchi – Dallas – Dallas, Texas
UMI – Atlanta, Georgia
Upland – New York, New York
Vernick Food & Drink – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Vetri Cucina – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Yvonne’s – Boston, Massachusetts
Zahav – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Zero Restaurant + Bar – Charleston, South Carolina
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FNN Good News & Reviews
FNN Good News & Reviews: Mandola’s Italian Kitchen Opens Third Florida Location in Oldsmar
Published
3 years agoon
September 27, 2022Modeled after an Italian marketplace, Mandola’s Italian Kitchen brings its quick service concept to Oldsmar. Named after famed restaurateur Damian Mandola, who founded Carrabba’s with his nephew Johnny Carrabba, the restaurant’s third Florida location is also co-owned by Paul Avery, the former Chief Operating Officer of Outback Steakhouse.
“While in New York or in the North End of Boston or Providence, Rhode Island, I would go to the Italian areas,” Mandola said. “You have the bakery or you have the gelateria or the cafe, or the deli with all the food products and the cheeses and olive oil and things like that.”
Mandola, who admits his passion lies in the cooking process and fresh ingredients, while Avery is the business mastermind, felt the need to put all of those Italian staples under one roof, so he and his wife opened their first Mandola’s in Austin, TX in 2006. The concept grew rapidly and quickly moved into Florida with its first location in Riverview in 2001 and Carrollwood shortly thereafter.
Guests enter Mandola’s and walk right up to the counter to order where they are greeted by friendly staff who are ready to take them on a culinary journey their taste buds won’t forget. Food is cooked fresh in an open kitchen using the best ingredients and pasta al dente just like Mama Mandola would have prepared it.
The vibrant dining room adorned with red and green chairs, flags from the ceiling, and walls adorned with family photos is a welcome calling. Moments after we were seated, fresh focaccia bread with olive oil and spices for dipping arrived at the table.
Our table ordered the fried mozzarella for the antipasti course. Golden brown triangles with oodles of gooey mozzarella and the best tomato sauce I’ve ever had.
For dinner, we feasted on traditional favorites: eggplant parmigiana with spaghetti and marinara sauce and chicken parmesan served with fettuccine Alfredo. Equally delicious and the portion size left us with barely any room for dessert!

“A lot of these are Mama Mandola’s recipes,” he said. “Chicken parmesan is our favorite and our biggest seller. For me, my favorite is my mom’s spaghetti and meatballs. It reminds me of Sundays at my mom’s and we had all the family together.”
No matter what you are in the mood for, the menu features a plethora of salads (with homemade dressing) antipasti, pizza, pasta, and chicken dishes like chicken marsala with a wine reduction from the Lombardi Family in Sicily, as well as daily specials like linguine with clam sauce, and brasato, beef short rib, slow-braised with red wine, aromatic vegetables, and fresh herbs.

Thirsty? No worries. In addition to traditional Italian sodas, sparkling waters, and soft drinks, Mandola’s also offers beer, wine on tap, and specialty drinks such as sangria, bellinis, frose, mimosas, and spritz from the bar.

If we could offer one very valuable piece of advice, it is to save room for dessert! The bakery is a can’t-miss at Mandola’s, with fresh pastries made daily including Italian cookies like lemon ricotta, famous cannolis, specialty cakes, tiramisu, and who could forget sorbetto and gelato?
My guest and I couldn’t decide on one flavor each, so we went with a combo of lemon and raspberry, and almond with cookies and cream. Let’s just say we both agreed it was as good as the ones we enjoyed in Italy.

Mandola’s Italian Kitchen is located at 3138 Tampa Rd, Oldsmar, FL, and is open for lunch and dinner and plans to open future locations in nearby Odessa, Orlando, and Jacksonville as well.
The restaurant is perfect for a family dinner, or date night, or if you want to stop in and grab a coffee and dessert that’s an excellent idea as well!





