In 2025, Charlotte's vibrant restaurant scene saw over 60 closures amid a surge of new openings, with notable losses including longstanding favorites like Bar-B-Q King, JJ’s Red Hots, and Mattie’s Diner, reflecting economic pressures and changing dining trends, though some beloved spots like Fenwick’s have reopened under new ownership.
The Central New York restaurant scene in 2025 saw numerous openings including Middle Eastern coffee shops, burger joints, and fine dining establishments, alongside notable closures of long-standing venues like Inn Between and Prime Steakhouse, with several transitions and rebrandings shaping the local culinary landscape.
Michelin has added 14 new NYC restaurants to its recommended list, with some potential for future awards like stars, as the annual awards ceremony approaches later this year.
Yelp's annual list of the top 100 restaurants in the U.S. for 2024 features only one NYC eatery, CHILI, ranking at number 47, with California and the Sun Belt dominating the list. Tumerico, a vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Tucson, Ariz., claimed the top spot. The list, curated by Yelp's community managers, focuses on local hidden gems and affordable dining experiences, with over 85% of the restaurants offering meals for less than $30 per person. This comes as Time Out named New York the best city in the world for 2024, despite the city's limited representation on Yelp's list.
The New York Times has compiled a list of the 25 best restaurants in Philadelphia, showcasing the diverse and vibrant dining scene in the city. From Italian fine dining at Ambra to traditional Ethiopian fried chicken at Doro Bet, and from Vietnamese specialty coffee at Càphê Roasters to Mexican barbacoa at South Philly Barbacoa, these restaurants offer a range of cuisines and experiences. Other notable mentions include Fiorella for handmade pasta, Friday Saturday Sunday for modern American fare, and Vedge for innovative vegan dishes.