The Leopard

Of the 28,000 restaurants in the United States, Canada, and Mexico that earn AAA ratings, only 2.7% make the Four Diamond list—The Leopard is one of these lauded eateries. Chef Zach Conover calls his menu “eclectic,” and the way he mixes American, French, and Japanese flavors corroborates his assertion.

Vidalia onions add a more earthy sweetness to the peach jam that bedecks a Kobe short-rib appetizer, while hazelnuts, shallots, and butter enhance the richness of escargot. Entrees uphold the elegance that first courses establish with white-chocolate-glazed king salmon, Delmonico steak topped with blue cheese, and veal-stuffed rabbit.

The ambience is decidedly upscale, staying true to the restaurant's title with splashes of Leopard print throughout. No seats in the house are more interactive than the dozen chairs that surround chef’s table, where groups of 8–12 can watch as the chef prepares an original five- or seven-course lunch or dinner. The dress code is business casual, meaning that jeans shouldn't be worn unless they are lined with pending grant proposals.