Inside the First 50 Best North America Restaurant Awards, Where Atomix Took the Top Spot
The debut 50 Best North America Restaurant Awards celebrated a dynamic regional scene defined by cultural breadth, creativity, and exceptional talent from the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.
Photo: Courtesy of Atomix / Evan Sung
The 50 Best ceremony, which annually awards the top 50 restaurants, took place in Las Vegas on September 25, marking the first-ever edition dedicated specifically to North America. Luxury Travel Report was in attendance as 39 American and 11 Canadian restaurants were honored, with Atomix in New York City and Mon Lapin in Montreal claiming the #1 and #2 spots, respectively.
Long considered one of the most influential awards in global dining, 50 Best stands out because it does not rely on formal classifications. Instead, the list highlights the most exceptional dining experiences as voted on by 300 industry professionals. Yet even with all the accolades, one question remains: What does it take to be the best?
That question was posed to William Drew, director of content for 50 Best, during 50Talks, held the day before the ceremony.
“What makes a restaurant ‘the best’ is so subjective, because dining is such a personal experience. For some, it’s a high-end tasting menu, and for others, it’s a neighborhood spot they return to again and again,” Drew told LTR.
“The quality of the food and service matter, of course, but so do aspects like atmosphere, creativity, and even price. Everyone weighs those differently, and that variety of perspectives is what makes the list interesting—and reflective of the way people actually eat.”
This year’s event marked a milestone for the organization, which since 2002 has celebrated excellence through its World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Bars lists. The new regional edition reflects both the maturity and diversity of North America’s culinary scene—something that remains underrepresented on the global stage.
“The food culture is totally different in North America when you think about it,” said Drew. “In the rest of the world, when you visit a country, you almost always end up eating that country’s cuisine—Italian food in Italy, Greek food in Greece, Japanese food in Japan, and so on,” adding that North America cuisine is diverse and constantly involving thanks to global influence. “It blends tradition with innovation in a way that’s uniquely its own.”
That fusion of creativity, cultural depth, and community, he continued, is what sets the region apart. “With so much exceptional talent spanning the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, we saw an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the distinct voices and cultures shaping the food scene here,” he said. “Following the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants over the last 20-plus years, along with the establishment of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, and Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants, launching in North America was a natural next step.”
The North American ranking reflected that breadth, with the United States leading the list, followed by Canada, and two entries from the Caribbean. The cuisines recognized were equally wide-ranging—Dakar Nola, a Senegalese restaurant in New Orleans; Quetzal, a Mexican restaurant in Toronto; Moon Rabbit, a Korean restaurant in Washington, D.C.; and Beba, a Mediterranean spot in Montreal.
That diversity underscores a defining quality of North American dining: its ability to draw from global influences while cultivating a flavor and identity all its own.
