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. One might expect us to confine our culinary explorations to fine-dining establishments, but we know that casual meals can be just as memorable as elaborate tasting menus. This year, we’ve given awards to venues ranging from an ambitious Latin-Afro-European restaurant on the Brazilian coast to a converted mansion serving vegetarian fare in India. The list below represents 2025’s best dining experiences outside of those in hotels we recommended.

Atoma
Seattle, Washington

Serving distinctive seasonal cuisine in a Craftsman-style home, this restaurant is well worth the drive from downtown. Chef Johnny Courtney previously worked at Canlis, one of our favorite Seattle restaurants. So, perhaps it’s unsurprising that he created the best meal of our trip. As we sipped glasses of Gosset Grande Réserve Brut and ’70s music played in the background, our food began to arrive. One highlight was a savory fried rosette-shaped cookie, filled with farmer’s cheese and Walla Walla onion jam. But I also relished the main courses, like the bright halibut with nettle gnocchi and green garlic. Knowledgeable servers provided highly professional service during the entirety of our purposefully lengthy stay.

Read our full review of Atoma »