What makes a restaurant great? What is it about an establishment that makes us excited
enough to tell everyone we know that they must eat there? Perhaps it's the service, or maybe the impeccable food. Maybe it's known for its high price tag, or it offers an evening unlike any other, or maybe you just spent formative college years eating a certain sandwich after-hours, and desperately want someone else to validate a practice you once held dear.
Regardless of the qualifications, there are some restaurants you simply have to experience. The nature of a bucket list is that it consists of to-be-checked items you either want to do, or you want to do again; it doesn't discriminate between aspirational, unaffected, and obvious.
Is our system for inclusion sound? Mostly! We're not proclaiming these best in class (though some certainly are) -- the only thing these places truly have in common is that members of our nationwide stable of writers and editors deemed the overall experience -- yes, the food, but not just the food -- so spectacular in its singularity that it's worthy of telling others to seek out before they kick the bucket.
Ultimately, this is about passion. And sliced beef. Feel free to print this out, and amend it in the comments. Good luck. See you on the other side. https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/best-restaurants-us-bucket-list/food-and-drink
