French food has had it rough in recent years. Once upon a time, it was considered the world’s finest, with maybe only Chinese as its nearest competitor. Having a French chef was a sign that a restaurant (or a wealthy individual) knew what fine food was and how to get it.
How times have changed…. Many of the best chefs cooking in U.S. restaurants today have had French training, either in formal cooking schools like the Cordon Bleu or through stints at restaurants in France, but the food they’re cooking might well incorporate flavors from Japan, India, Vietnam, Peru, or Spain, or be just plain old- or new-style American. And the restaurants everybody seems to want to go to, especially in the big coastal capitals, are more likely to be Italian, Mexican, or Korean, than French.
There’s still something about la cuisine française, however. Whether it’s bistro fare like pâté or onion soup or intricate contemporary masterpieces of the kind that might be served at such Michelin three-star places as the French Laundry in Napa Valley or Le Bernardin in Manhattan – or anything in-between – French cooking at its best offers a complexity and subtlety that still pleases our palates, however much we might also enjoy spaghetti alla carbonara, tacos de birria, or bibimbap. (These are the best Michelin three-star restaurants in the world.)
To compile a list of the best French restaurant in every state, 24/7 Tempo consulted reviews and ratings on sites including Gayot, Michelin, Tasting Table, Time Out, Culture Trip, Business Insider, and Yelp, as well as numerous local and regional sources.
In making our final choices, we considered not only various markers of quality (star ratings, effusive critical praise, etc.) but also, insofar as it could be determined, the fidelity each establishment pays to authentic French culinary traditions, whether classical or contemporary.
Sometimes the competition was stiff – as in California, Illinois, New York, Texas, or Nevada, all of which have a wealth of French restaurants to choose from. In other cases (Wyoming, West Virginia, the Dakotas), it was more difficult to find a well-regarded restaurant that served French food exclusively or even primarily, but we eventually came up with credible representatives of the genre for those states too. (If French food just isn’t your thing, however, consider this list of the best Italian restaurant in every state.)
Click here to see the best French restaurant in every state
Alabama: Chez Fonfon
> Location: Birmingham
> Sample dishes: Provençal stuffed zucchini, trout with capers and brown butter, Basque cake with Chantilly cream
Source: Courtesy of Cara H. via Yelp
Alaska: Crow’s Nest
> Location: Anchorage
> Sample dishes: Pork belly rillettes, black cod with sauce Choron, certified Black Angus beef ribeye bordelaise
Source: Courtesy of Laura A. via Yelp
Arizona: Le Sans Souci
> Location: Cave Creek
> Sample dishes: Coquilles St. Jacques, mixed grill à l’anglaise, peach Melba
Source: Courtesy of Bienvenue Restaurant via Facebook
Arkansas: Bienvenue
> Location:Springdale
> Sample dishes:Escargots en croûte, rabbit pithiviers, roasted Cornish hen with Parisian potatoes
Source: Courtesy of Ruth G. via Yelp
California: The French Laundry
> Location:Yountville
> Sample dishes:Rouelle of Dover sole, “prime rib” of Elysian Fields Farm lamb, gougère of cave-aged Comté and black winter truffle “fondue”
Source: Courtesy of French Alpine Bistro via Yelp
Colorado: French Alpine Bistro
> Location:Aspen
> Sample dishes:Steak tartare, cheese fondue, coq au vin
Source: Courtesy of Kay W. via Yelp
Connecticut: Luc’s Café
> Location:Ridgefield
> Sample dishes:Oeufs mayonnaise, pâté de campagne, Hudson Valley duck confit
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Source: Courtesy of Le Cavalier At The Green Room via Yelp
Delaware: Le Cavalier
> Location:Wilmington
> Sample dishes:Salmon à la greque, steak frites, profiteroles
Source: Courtesy of L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Miami via Facebook
Florida: L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
> Location:Miami
> Sample dishes:Crispy langoustine with basil coulis, scallops in cilantro broth, filet mignon
Source: Courtesy of Cafe Alsace via Facebook
Georgia: Café Alsace
> Location:Decatur
> Sample dishes:Tarte flambée, ratatouille en croûte with merguez sausage, crème brûlée
Source: Courtesy of https://www.michelshawaii.com/
Hawaii: Michel’s at the Colony Surf
> Location:Honolulu (O’ahu)
> Sample dishes:Lobster bisque à la Michel’s, chateaubriand for two, Michel’s chocolate soufflé
Source: Courtesy of Bacquet's Restaurant via Facebook
Idaho: Bacquet’s
> Location:Eagle
> Sample dishes:Baked Camembert, salmon champenoise, médaillon de veau chasseur
24/7 Wall St.
Illinois: Les Nomades
> Location:Chicago
> Sample dishes:Wild mushroom soup with truffle foam, duo of braised lamb and grilled veal tenderloin with cassoulet beans, warm cherry clafoutis with lemon verbena ice cream
Source: Courtesy of Petite Chou Bistro and Champagne Bar via Facebook
Indiana: Petite Chou Bistro & Champagne Bar
> Location:Indianapolis
> Sample dishes:Duck rillettes, chicken paillard, lobster frites
Iowa: Chez Grace
> Location:Coralville
> Sample dishes:Mesclun salad with goat cheese, pan-seared Hudson Valley foie gras with caramelized pear, steak au poivre
Source: Courtesy of Georges French Bistro via Facebook
Kansas: Georges French Bistro
> Location:Wichita
> Sample dishes:Smoked salmon crêpe, duck à l’orange, chocolate mousse cake
Source: Courtesy of La Folie Lexington via Facebook
Kentucky: La Folie
> Location:Lexington
> Sample dishes:Salade lyonnaise, rosemary chicken, bombe au chocolate
Source: Courtesy of Shannon S. via Yelp
Louisiana: Ciro’s Côte Sud
> Location:New Orleans
> Sample dishes:Moules frites, côtes d’agneau grillées aux herbes de Provence, tarte tatin à la mode
Source: Courtesy of Petite Jacqueline via Facebook
Maine: Petite Jacqueline
> Location:Portland
> Sample dishes:Vichyssoise, trout amandine, pot de crème
Source: Courtesy of La Ferme Restaurant via Facebook
Maryland: La Ferme
> Location:Chevy Chase
> Sample dishes:Crème brûlée au foie gras, grilled Dover sole, sweetbreads in lemon-caper butter sauce
Source: Courtesy of M. F. via Yelp
Massachusetts: Ma Maison
> Location:Boston
> Sample dishes:Uncle Lucien’s country pâté, frogs’ legs provençale, magret of duck with red cherries
Source: Courtesy of The French Lady via Facebook
Michigan: The French Lady
> Location:Detroit
> Sample dishes:Quiche forestière, chicken basquaise, madeleines
Source: Courtesy of Fern K. via Yelp
Minnesota: Meritage
> Location:St. Paul
> Sample dishes:Billi-bi saffron-mussel soup, pommes frites with béarnaise sauce, cherry-glazed magret of duck
Source: Courtesy of Anjou Restaurant via Facebook
Mississippi: Anjou Restaurant
> Location:Ridgeland
> Sample dishes:Savory zucchini beignets, crawfish crêpe, Angus center cut filet with maître d’hôtel butter
Source: Courtesy of Chiara P. via Yelp
Missouri: Café Provençal
> Location:Kirkwood
> Sample dishes:Grated celery root salad, daube de boeuf, tarte au chocolat
Source: Courtesy of 2nd Street Bistro via Facebook
Montana: 2nd Street Bistro
> Location:Livingston
> Sample dishes:Artichoke barigoule, rabbit fricasée, lamb ragoût
Nebraska: Le Voltaire
> Location:Omaha
> Sample dishes:Assiette de charcuterie, côte du porc en croûte de pistache, lemon and lavender gâteau
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Restaurant Guy Savoy via Yelp
Nevada: Guy Savoy
> Location:Las Vegas
> Sample dishes:Artichoke and black truffle soup, quail stuffed with foie gras, chocolate fondant
Source: Courtesy of Bridge Street Bistrot & Wine Bar
New Hampshire: Bridge Street Bistrot & Wine Bar
> Location:Manchester
> Sample dishes:Wild mushroom crêpe, swordfish provençal, apple clafoutis
Source: Courtesy of Brasserie Memere via Yelp
New Jersey: Brasserie Mémère
> Location:
> Sample dishes:Soupe aux carottes, loup de mer à la vapeur, kouign-amann
Source: Courtesy of Tony V. via Yelp
New Mexico: Le Troquet
> Location:Albuquerque
> Sample dishes:Escargots à la bourguignonne, filet de saumon dijonnaise, poulet Cordon Bleu
Source: Courtesy of Nikkie N. via Yelp
New York: Le Bernardin
> Location:New York City
> Sample dishes:Warm scallop “tartare” with caviar, poached lobster with truffled gnocchi, pistachio praliné
Source: Courtesy of Paul N. via Yelp
North Carolina: Bouchon
> Location:Asheville
> Sample dishes:Assiette de deux pâtés maison, poulet rôti au thym, pain perdu à la mode
Source: Courtesy of Birdie H. via Yelp
North Dakota: Maxwell’s Restaurant & Bar
> Location:Fargo
> Sample dishes:Red wine/tomato/basil bisque, bison meatballs with vermouth cream sauce, grilled New Zealand lamb rack
Source: Courtesy of Elise C. via Yelp
Ohio: L’Albatros Brasserie
> Location:Cleveland
> Sample dishes:Chicken liver and foie gras mousseline, bouillabaisse for two, pig’s feet with sauce béarnaise
Source: Courtesy of Fait Maison via Facebook
Oklahoma: Fait Maison French Restaurant
> Location:Edmond
> Sample dishes:Provençal fish stew, organic chicken breast with sauce Albuféra, signature millefeuille with pistachio cream and raspberries
Source: Courtesy of Caleb G. via Yelp
Oregon: St. Jack
> Location:Portland
> Sample dishes:Pâté en croûte, moules marinière, peach blancmange
Source: Courtesy of Rina D. via Yelp
Pennsylvania: Forsythia
> Location:Philadelphia
> Sample dishes:Duck confit omelette, salt meadow lamb crépinette, brown butter financier
Source: Courtesy of Justin C. via Yelp
Rhode Island: Pot au Feu
> Location:Providence
> Sample dishes:Truffle-scented wild mushroom pâté, marinated chicken livers lyonnaise, pot au feu
Source: Courtesy of Misha C. via Yelp
South Carolina: Ville Sainte Bistro
> Location:Mount Pleasant
> Sample dishes:Frogs’ legs in white wine garlic sauce, ravioli dauphinoise, pan-seared flounder with brown butter lemon sauce
Source: Courtesy of Enigma Restaurant via Facebook
South Dakota: Enigma Restaurant
> Location:Rapid City
> Sample dishes:Mushrooms Avignon, steak frites with sauce Madagascar, chocolate lava cake
Source: Courtesy of Nikhil R. via Yelp
Tennessee: Once Upon a Time in France
> Location:Nashville
> Sample dishes:Velouté of lobster with truffles, steak tartare, jumbo shrimp à la Marseillaise
Source: Courtesy of Chez Nous via Facebook
Texas: Chez Nous
> Location:Humble
> Sample dishes:Soupe à l’oignon, roasted rack of young New Zealand lamb with Dijon-rosemary crust, passion fruit-raspberry soufflé
Source: Courtesy of Courchevel Bistro via Yelp
Utah: Courchevel Bistro
> Location:Park City
> Sample dishes:Smoked trout rillettes, Mary’s chicken ballotine, chocolate tart with Chartreuse ice cream
Source: Courtesy of Chad V. via Yelp
Vermont: Bistro de Margot
> Location:Burlington
> Sample dishes:Foie gras and lobster crème brûlée, medallions of monkfish with chanterelles, Paris-Brest
Source: Courtesy of Katie A. via Yelp
Virginia: L’Auberge Chez François
> Location:Great Falls
> Sample dishes:Warm oysters with béarnaise, vegetable Napoléon, grilled duck breast with Grand Marnier sauce
Washington: Le Pichet
> Location:Seattle
> Sample dishes:Assiette of Bayonne ham, brandade de morue nîmoise, roast chicken with favas and fennel for two
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of The French Goat via Facebook
West Virginia: The French Goat
> Location:Lewisburg
> Sample dishes:Endive salad, pan-roasted chicken with Mediterranean spices, buttermilk blancmange
Source: Courtesy of Lis H. via Yelp
Wisconsin: Cadre
> Location:Madison
> Sample dishes:Escargots, daube de boeuf, gâteau Basque
Source: Courtesy of The Bistro
Wyoming: The Bistro
> Location:Jackson Hole
> Sample dishes:Frisée aux lardons, coq au vin, venison filet with wild mushrooms and blackberry jus
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