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The 50 Best organization dropped its new “North America’s 50 Best Restaurants List” last week at the Wynn Las Vegas. The list spans the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean (Mexico and Central America fall under the Latin America’s 50 Best list).
Of course, I had to peruse it. And of course, it wasn’t hard to guess where most of the restaurants hailed from: New York, California and Canada. Plenty of great restaurants, but the list doesn’t feel broadly representative.
No Boston. No Atlanta. No Seattle. No Houston. And for the Midwest? A measly two restaurants made the cut—and both (predictably) from Chicago. Smyth and Kasama are undeniably worthy, but they’re lonely representatives of a 12-state region with plenty of vibrant food cities: Minneapolis–St. Paul, Kansas City, Cincinnati. You get the picture.
Detroit’s Ladder 4 snagged a “Resy One To Watch Award,” but it’s a small consolation. Once again, the middle of the country is treated like flyover country for dining.
"Eater’s” Matthew Kang, who covered the event, points out that the list is positive in a few ways:
- Voters weren’t given strict criteria, which allowed for casual spots to shine.
- The new list improves U.S. odds on the “World’s 50 Best.”
- It’s just the beginning.
Fair enough. But Kang is an L.A.-based writer. And I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say: Californians don’t know what it’s like to be invisible.
So I dug a bit into the voting process. The Academy is divided into eight regions, including the Midwest. Each Academy member votes for eight restaurants: up to five in their home state or province, and at least three outside it. I also discovered from reading the “Eater” article that one-third of voters are chefs and restaurant owners, which potentially raises questions about allegiances.
I have my own questions:
- Who are these voters?
- Where do they live?
- And how long will it take for a restaurant in Wisconsin or Minnesota to finally crack the list?
If I’m honest, part of me doesn’t mind if our Midwest gems remain a secret. But the other part of me is tired of Chicago, New York and L.A. having all the damn fun. That feels pretty 1995.
Here’s hoping the next list finally catches up with the times.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.