Yelp Just Released Its First-Ever Best New Restaurants List
Foodies in search of the latest culinary trends can now refer to a new resource: Yelp's Best New Restaurants of 2023 list. Unlike its previous list of the top 100 places to eat in the United States, this collection of 25 restaurants focuses exclusively on those that opened after January 1, 2022. The selection is largely based on ratings and the volume of reviews from between January 1, 2022, and August 7, 2023. However, Yelp also took into account other factors, such as location, and insights from a trend expert who analyzed the reviews to identify the highest-rated and most beloved restaurants.
The 2023 best new restaurant, according to Yelp, is Anima by EDO, a tapas spot in Las Vegas, Nevada. Catalan Chef Oscar Amador Edo, who has led several other restaurants and staged at the renowned Spanish restaurant El Bulli, owns this establishment, his second in Vegas.
Reviewers have praised the meticulous attention to detail, delectable flavors, and innovative takes on tapas. The menu offers hot and cold small plates, pastas, charcuterie platters, and a selection of larger dishes. The website's menus also highlight vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, which are plentiful, including vegetable-forward dishes like the Green Tartare — a mix of zucchini, avocado, and green bell pepper in a pistachio vinaigrette. The plates showcase global influences, with dishes such as smoked hamachi paired with foie gras and green apple teriyaki, and octopus served with black sesame leche de tigre.
Which other new restaurants made the list?
Anima by EDO was not the only Las Vegas eatery to make the list. Ranking at number 22 is The Bedford by Martha Stewart, a restaurant that recreates notable recipes from the culinary icon herself, in a space that pays homage to Stewart's farmhouse. Cities renowned for their culinary prowess also featured on the list, including New York City's Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi, and the Brooklyn location of Laser Wolf. Additionally, the list includes four restaurants from California, two from Atlanta, Georgia, and three from Miami, Florida.
Many restaurants on the list are known for their homemade pastas, creative small plates, and a commitment to using seasonal and local produce. There are also numerous spots with unique concepts and locations. For example, Ellie Bird in Falls Church, Virginia, where chefs Yuan and Carey Tang offer Southeast Asian-inspired dishes such as ground chicken larb gai with fried oysters, and Vietnamese French onion soup with pho broth. Ammoora in Baltimore, Maryland specializes in Syrian cuisine, while Burnin' 99 in North Charleston, South Carolina features all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue and hot pot.