Chicago's Smyth has been named The Best Restaurant in North America 2026, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, topping the second annual edition of the North America's 50 Best Restaurants list. The recognition cements the city's status as a fine-dining destination and signals continued operator and investor interest in Chicago's upper-tier restaurant scene — a trend worth watching for anyone tracking restaurant industry shifts across the region.
The full list spans restaurants across 20 cities, reflecting a geographically diverse fine-dining landscape that reaches well beyond the traditional New York–Los Angeles axis. Calgary, Alberta's Eight took home the Highest New Entry Award 2026, underscoring how Canadian markets are earning serious recognition on the continental stage. Washington D.C.'s Albi claimed the Highest Climber Award, sponsored by Lee Kum Kee, a signal that the capital's restaurant scene continues its upward trajectory.
Special awards highlighted standout performers across key back- and front-of-house disciplines. Eunji Lee of Lysée in New York City won North America's Best Pastry Chef Award 2026, sponsored by Valrhona, while Aldo Sohm of Le Bernardin and Aldo Sohm Wine Bar — also in New York — received North America's Best Sommelier Award 2026, sponsored by Vik. For operators focused on beverage program development and wine service, Sohm's recognition reinforces the commercial value of investing in world-class sommellerie.
San Francisco claimed two major honors: Corey Lee of Benu received the Estrella Damm Chefs' Choice Award 2026, voted on by peers across the industry, and Atelier Crenn earned the Sustainable Restaurant Award 2026 — a designation that carries increasing weight as guests and investors scrutinize environmental practices. Mashama Bailey of The Grey in Savannah, Georgia, was named North America's Best Female Chef 2026, adding to her already considerable national profile. Legendary chef Emeril Lagasse of Emeril's in New Orleans received the SevenRooms Icon Award, honoring a career that has shaped American culinary culture for decades.
As a sister publication to Food & Beverage Magazine, RHFNews will continue tracking how rankings like North America's 50 Best influence reservation demand, staffing strategies, and supplier partnerships across the hospitality sector.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
