2019 James Beard Award Winning Restaurants and Chefs

by The OpenTable team

Updated 04 May 2020

At OpenTable, we’ve got the right restaurant for anything – including an award-winning meal. The James Beard Foundation announced the honorees of its annual awards on May 6th, and we’re thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments. Join us in raising a glass to – and snagging a reservation at – the 2019 James Beard Award winners.

Boka

4.8

4.8 (7166)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Lincoln Park

About the restaurant

Partners Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm took home the Outstanding Restaurateur award for their collection of acclaimed eateries including BOKA, Girl & the Goat, Momotaro, and more. Two of Chicago’s most respected operators and visionaries, their forward-thinking restaurants continue to stand out in the city’s stellar dining scene, thanks to their dedication to detail and distinction.

Top review

Brendan

Dined 4 days ago

Incredible food - the beef tartare was zesty and delicious, beef short ribs had body but could still be cut by a butter knife, and the oat financier dessert was a delightful, lightly salty, perfectly balanced dessert - all incredible. The beef short ribs had some of the best umami flavor I've ever had thanks to the roasted puree (I think celery?) they put on the dish. Great drinks as well, try the Bella & Beatrice if you like gin at all.

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Popular dish

Roasted Chicken

Popular dish

Black Truffle Roasted Chicken

Popular dish

Dark Chocolate

Parachute

4.6

4.6 (1716)

$31 to $50

Korean

Avondale

About the restaurant

Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark serve fare from the heart, or rather, hearts. The married couple has melded Korean and American cuisines together to the delight of diners and critics, one of whom called it the most exciting restaurant to open in Chicago in 2014. The menu changes daily (save for the delightful baked potato bing bread) but expect excellence in every bite from the two new Best Chef: Great Lakes winners as these two cultures mix and mingle in creative, flavorful dishes.

Top review

Anne

Dined on 22 Mar 2024

We LOVED everything we ate at Parachute. We shared the Korean fried chicken, haemul pajeon, 30 day dry aged bulgogi, yukgaejang, and s'mores patbingsu. The vibe ws really fun and our service was great. When they open again, I'm certain they will bring the same care and expertise to another excellent experience.

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Experience

Private Dinner Nook for up to 9 People!

Young Joni

4.7

4.7 (808)

$31 to $50

Pizzeria

Northeast Minneapolis

About the restaurant

Look out, New York. The Twin Cities are coming for you and your pizza. Best Chef: Midwest winner Ann Kim developed her palate for East Coast pies as a college student and brought that passion for them (along with some Korean flair) to Minneapolis, opening two pizza-focused eateries and, more recently, Young Joni. The almost-instant hotspot features pizza, but also Asian flavors in the way of Thai sausage skewers and pork belly ssäm.

Top review

Barb

Dined 2 days ago

Great server - fabulous food - attentive staff - we WILL be back!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Experience

NYE Celebration Dinner

Experience

Chef's Counter

Uni

4.5

4.5 (2252)

$50 and over

Contemporary Asian

Back Bay

About the restaurant

File this under “Local Boy Makes Good.” East Boston native Tony Messina completed his culinary education and training in and around Boston at some of the area’s finest restaurants, including AKA Sushi, Clio, and Menton. As his star rose and opportunity knocked, he partnered with Ken Oringer at UNI and has continued to shine in his own backyard, where he regularly earns accolades, including UNI being named the best restaurant in the city. Order the lubina (and thank us later).

Top review

EricVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Omakase is the way to go if you can afford it —with sake pairings!

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Experience

Take-Kase: Edomae Style Nigiri Omakase

Canlis

4.7

4.7 (2749)

$50 and over

Northwest

Demoland

About the restaurant

Canlis has a storied and starry (four of them from The Seattle Times) history in its nearly 70 years in business. When the baton of executive chef is passed down, the decision is not taken lightly. In 2013, Brady Williams became the sixth-ever chef at Canlis, and, six years later, has been named Best Chef: Northwest. Chef Williams ensures that he remains true to the Canlis spirit in ways old and new, from crafting the signature salad to bringing Asian influences back to the menu.

Top review

Excellentexperience

Dined on 10 June 2017

First, I want to say that service there is EXCELLENT! I have had the best service everyone I go there. The best patt was when my daughter was able to go into the kitchen and choose her ice cream with th e server. Nice touch! With that said, the selection of food was less to be desired... or more of a select taste. Presentation was excellent however. We will reserve a return visit for sure... when we are up for trying something out of norm.

Snackbar

4.6

4.6 (414)

$31 to $50

Southern

Oxford

About the restaurant

It took multiple nominations and a decade of dazzling diners at this Oxford destination beloved by foodies, but Viswesh Bhatt captured the award for Best Chef: South for his cooking at Snackbar. His menu is French bistro fare with a north Mississippi point of view (you’ll find French onion soup alongside rabbit and andouille gumbo and housemade charcuterie served with southern flourishes, like spicy BBQ sauce). The experience is definitely more than a snack.

Top review

JoshVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Snackbar is, by far, the best restaurant in Oxford and is on our list of the best places we’ve been in the last few years. Stellar service (especially Johnny—an Oxford treasure), amazing bar program, and extraordinary food. Can’t say enough about it.

Providence

4.9

4.9 (4393)

$50 and over

Seafood

Hollywood

About the restaurant

This sustainability-first seafood temple has long been ahead of the curve when they started serving nearly 14 years ago, and, after years of tireless pursuit, chef Michael Cimarusti earned the Best Chef: West award. He grew up fishing and then developed his culinary skills alongside legendary chefs, such as Larry Forgione and Paul Bocuse, ultimately wedding his hobby and his profession at Providence. His win comes after multiple nominations and decades in pursuit of perfection. Don’t miss the iconic uni egg.

Top review

JamesVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Fires on all cylinders - service (!!), food (!!!) and atmosphere. You are treated like friends, not royalty, with service that’s approachable and masterful without being overly solicitous. Each dish represents the best version of its ingredients and introduces you to flavors you didn’t think possible. Yes, it is a pricey night out but I’d take one dinner here over three dinners at a place that’s…fine.

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Experience

La Vigilia Celebration

Experience

New Year's Eve Celebration

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