Unbiased hotel reviews are Andrew Harper’s foundation, but we also take pride (and pleasure) in reviewing restaurants. When we dine, we follow our usual protocol of paying full price and not declaring our identity. It’s especially satisfying to see a new, under-the-radar restaurant that we’ve endorsed become a hit. This year, we’ve given awards to venues ranging from a Japanese restaurant in a 17th-century Parisian mansion to a romantic Italian spot in Tasmania. The list below represents 2024’s best dining experiences outside of those in hotels we recommended.

Bar Le Côte

Los Olivos, California

We booked a late reservation at Bar Le Côte in the tiny town of Los Olivos and arrived to a lively scene of tables packed with revelers. We ordered the affordable chef’s tasting menu, beginning with a seafood platter of delicate and creamy Morro Bay oysters, light-as-air Santa Barbara uni and peel-and-eat shrimp poached with a delectable blend of Middle Eastern spices. Highlights of the Basque-inspired menu included the curiously delicious raw scallops with dill flower and the olive oil cake we ate for dessert, topped with strawberries and a basil whipped cream. The food and atmosphere made a most compelling combination.