Revolution Restaurant, Durham

Though he'd earned accolades working in four- and five-star hotels and other upscale restaurants, Jim Anile longed for the creative freedom to break down boundaries with his cuisine. So he opened Revolution, where he serves as owner and executive chef. Here, he presides over a menu of contemporary dishes that not only put new spins on American classics but also draw from his experience working in Asia, London, and across the United States.

After a complimentary valet steers cars or unicycles to parking, diners indulge in small plates of beer-braised mussels or minty lamb sausage with fried pear and wildflower honey. Larger plates are piled with delights such as duck two ways (citrus-glazed breast and confit) and "Mom's meatballs," which dignify a traditional favorite with roasted red pepper, feta, and cucumber yogurt. The stark white furnishings and throwback accents of paisley wallpaper and antique mirrors mimic Anile's commitment to modernized classics. At the custom-made, white-marble bar, diners can enjoy dinner and indulge in one of Revolution's signature cocktails such as the Cuban dark and stormy with Thai chili-infused rum.