The farm to table movement is a hallmark of modern American cuisine, providing an anchor and roots in local identity for some of the country’s finest restaurants.
The phrase is more than a marketing tactic—it connotes a chef’s attention to detail when sourcing ingredients, and reinforces a diner’s connection to the chain of people involved in getting their entree on a plate and placed at their table. Chef Alice Waters is widely regarded as the mother of the farm to table movement, starting in the 1970s, and her famed Northern California restaurant Chez Panisse is the keystone of a trend that now find delicious expression in every state, spotlighting organically grown produce, sustainably caught seafood and thoughtfully raised livestock whose premium meats elevate restaurant meals to full-on dining experiences that celebrate food as a source of community. Here is our selection of the best farm-to-table establishments across the country.
Asheville, North Carolina
Rhubarb | American | Asheville
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2013 , Rhubarb focuses on seasonal dishes made from local ingredients in downtown Asheville.
Signature Dish: Carolina Bison Meatloaf
The Market Place | American | Asheville
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 1979, The Market Place celebrates the region’s agricultural bounty with its farm-to-table dishes in downtown Asheville.
Signature Dish: Sunburst Trout
Sovereign Remedies | American | Asheville
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2014, Sovereign Remedies offers inventive cocktails and farm-to-table dishes in a chic, urban setting in downtown Asheville.
Signature Dish: Pork Schnitzel
Austin, Texas
Odd Duck | American | Austin
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2013, Odd Duck showcases local Texas ingredients in a casual, vibrant atmosphere in the South Lamar neighborhood.
Signature Dish: Sourdough Bread with Chicken Liver Mousse
Dai Due | American | Austin
What Makes It Unique:Founded in 2006 , Dai Due specializes in local meats and produce, deeply rooted in Texas culinary traditions.
Signature Dish: Venison Sausage
Barley Swine| American| Austin
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2010, Barley Swine offers a tasting menu that highlights the season’s best ingredients from Texas farms.
Signature Dish: Smoked Goat with Sweet Potatoes
Charleston, South Carolina
Husk | Southern | Charleston
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2010, Husk celebrates Southern cuisine with a commitment to local sourcing in Charleston’s Historic Downtown.
Signature Dish: Shrimp and Grits
FIG |Southern | Charleston
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2003, FIG highlights Charleston’s local produce with fresh, seasonal dishes in the French Quarter.
Signature Dish: Ricotta Gnocchi
The Obstinate Daughter |Southern-Italian | Sullivan’s Island
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2014, The Obstinate Daughter combines Southern and Italian flavors using ingredients sourced from nearby farms and the ocean.
Signature Dish: Gnocchi alla Romana
New York City, New York
Blue Hill | American | New York
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2000, Blue Hill offers dishes made with ingredients from its own farm, providing a true farm-to-table experience in Greenwich Village.
Signature Dish: Roasted Beet Salad
ABC Kitchen |American | New York
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2010, ABC Kitchen offers a menu that changes with the seasons, focusing on sustainable dining in the Flatiron District.
Signature Dish: Roasted Carrot and Avocado Salad
Loring Place | American | New York
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2016, Loring Place focuses on fresh, seasonal American cuisine with a commitment to local ingredients in Greenwich Village.
Signature Dish: Kale & Mushroom Pizza
Portland, Oregon
Le Pigeon | French-inspired | Portland
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2006, Le Pigeon offers inventive French-inspired dishes using locally sourced ingredients, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere in Portland’s Central Eastside.
Signature Dish: Beef Cheek Bourguignon
Ava Gene’s | Italian | Portland
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2012, Ava Gene’s roots its menu in Italian traditions, focusing on fresh, seasonal produce from the Pacific Northwest.
Signature Dish: Rigatoni alla Gricia
San Francisco, California
Chez Panisse |Californian | Berkeley
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 1971, Chez Panisse is a pioneer in farm-to-table dining, offering a menu that changes daily based on the freshest local ingredients.
Signature Dish: Meyer Lemon Pasta
Nopa | American | San Francisco
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2006, Nopa focuses on organic and locally sourced ingredients in the vibrant Western Addition neighborhood.
Signature Dish: Wood-Grilled Pork Chop
Rich Table | Californian | San Francisco
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2012, Rich Table offers inventive dishes made with Northern California’s finest produce.
Signature Dish: Porcini Doughnuts
Seattle, Washington
The Walrus and the Carpenter | Seafood | Seattle
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 2010, The Walrus and the Carpenter focuses on fresh, locally sourced seafood in Ballard.
Signature Dish: Oysters on the Half Shell
Canlis | American | Seattle
What Makes It Unique: Founded in 1950, Canlis offers fine dining with dishes crafted from local ingredients in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood.
Signature Dish: Canlis Salad
