All Cities

Letter of Recommendation

You know that one restaurant that’s just right because of that one special thing? Yeah, us too. That’s why we’re introducing our newest franchise: Letter of Recommendation. These are tributes to spots that offer something unique — restaurants we can’t live without. They may not be the most buzzy, but they provide something essential.

Header illustration by Pamela Chen

Philadelphia

Fitler Square’s Sally Fields Fame

Suddenly in the awards spotlight, an anti-viral neighborhood pizzeria plots its next act.

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New York

How Takumen Nourishes Me with a Familiar Taste of Home

Because there’s nothing as warm and welcoming as a conversation over a bowl of noodle soup.

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Chicago

Lardon Is the Perfect Place to Feel at Home When You’re Still Figuring Out Chicago

Writer Hannah Howard reflects on the sense of comfort and familiarity she found in Lardon’s cheeses and charcuterie.

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Bistro Campagne exterior

Chicago

How Bistro Campagne Keeps the Romance Alive After Two Decades

The Lincoln Square stalwart has been going strong for 25 years–much to writer Ari Bendersky’s delight.

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Los Angeles

Vandell is the Cocktail Bar Los Feliz Has Been Waiting For

All about the new bar from the team behind Donna’s–and why Los Feliz local Kelly Dobkin is all for it.

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New York

These New York Restaurants Embrace the Art of Japanese Home Cooking

Nothing will replace my mother’s home cooking, but how wonderful it is to feel it stirring my memory, reminding me of what it feels like to come home.

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Washington D.C.

Comfort is at the Heart of Everything Unconventional Diner Stands For

A love for the classics has been key to the restaurant’s staying power.

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Los Angeles

Always Save Room for Dessert at Lasita

Lasita’s dinner service, as well as its new daytime cafe, Kapé, are serving some of L.A.’s most enticing desserts right now

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Philadelphia

At South, the Legacy of Black Excellence — and Jazz — Thrives

“Even after close to a decade, the restaurant’s warm welcome still gives me butterflies.”

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New York

Café Sabarsky Is Manhattan’s Ultimate Coffee Break

The magic of this grand kaffeehaus never fails to enchant and transport you.

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