Dining Coverage Highlights Awards, Destinations and Reopenings
Dining Coverage Highlights Awards, Destinations and Reopenings
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Key Points
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Yelp said it ranked restaurants by the volume and ratings of reviews from its Elite Squad members, using businesses listed in its broad “Mexican” category. The category can overlap with others, such as Latin American and seafood, which helps explain why some Arizona picks were Mexican food-adjacent breakfast or brunch spots.
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The Star Inn, led by chef Andrew Pern, has been part of Britain’s culinary scene for 30 years, was among the UK’s early gastropubs and has held a Michelin star in most years since 2002. The AA praised its seasonal, hyperlocal cooking and “old-school dining” while retaining the pub’s rustic character.
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Blowing Rock’s recommended dining options include the daily changing menu at The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge Inn, for which Southern Living advises booking about a month ahead, and The Speckled Trout, known for serving mountain trout in multiple preparations. Nearby attractions include Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and Doc’s Rocks! Gem Mine.
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Brasserie Zédel’s glamorous appeal is paired with comparatively accessible pricing: its set menu costs £16.95. The 240-seat underground dining room features live jazz and French classics and occupies a former Regent Palace Hotel space that was redesigned in the early 1930s with Jazz Age styling.
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At Saffron’s soft opening, notable dishes and drinks included the Simsim cocktail, made with coconut, pineapple, lime, sesame rum and tahini; glazed carrots; muhamara with house-made pita; whipped labneh and poached fig pizza; and large dill-seasoned white beans.
The restaurant world is celebrating excellence across regional awards, travel destinations, and bold reopenings. Yelp ranked 100 best Mexican restaurants in the US and Canada, placing 10 Arizona establishments on the list—six in the Phoenix area—with The Tamale Store hitting No. 41. Meanwhile, AA Hospitality Awards named England's The Star Inn its best restaurant, while Time Out crowned London's art deco Brasserie Zédel the capital's most glamorous dining spot.
Notable restaurant openings and pivots are reshaping dining scenes. In Minneapolis, chefs Sameh and Saed Wadi opened Palestinian-inspired Saffron in the former Young Joni space. London's Soho seafood restaurants are emphasizing transparency about catch origins and supply chains. Meanwhile, Southern Living recommended Blowing Rock, North Carolina, as a travel destination for its mountain setting, wineries, and restaurants.
Arizona's Rising Mexican Food Scene
Yelp ranked restaurants using review volume and ratings from its Elite Squad members, focusing on businesses listed under "Mexican" category. The category overlaps with Latin American and seafood, which explains why some Arizona picks were breakfast or brunch spots. Phoenix New Times reported six Valley establishments made the 100-restaurant list nationally. The Tamale Store ranked highest among Phoenix entries at No. 41.
The Star Inn's 30 Years of British Culinary Leadership
Chef Andrew Pern's The Star Inn earned AA 2026's top restaurant honor after three decades shaping Britain's food scene. The Yorkshire gastropub held a Michelin star in most years since 2002. AA praised its seasonal, hyperlocal cooking and "old-school dining" style while maintaining rustic character. Pern is also promoting affordable autumn dining centered on seasonal produce and traditional roasts across his venues.
Brasserie Zédel's Glamour Meets Affordability in London
Time Out named London's Brasserie Zédel the capital's most glamorous restaurant. The 240-seat underground dining room features live jazz, French classics, and Jazz Age styling from its 1930s redesign in a former Regent Palace Hotel space. Its set menu costs just £16.95, pairing accessible pricing with high-end ambiance. This combination makes fine dining achievable for more London diners seeking elegance and entertainment.
Saffron and Emerging Palestinian Dining in Minneapolis
Palestinian-inspired Saffron opened in Minneapolis at the former Young Joni space under chefs Sameh and Saed Wadi. The soft opening menu featured the Simsim cocktail with coconut, pineapple, lime, sesame rum and tahini. Standout dishes included glazed carrots, muhamara with house-made pita, whipped labneh with poached fig pizza, and large dill-seasoned white beans. The restaurant brings fresh Mediterranean flavors and traditional Palestinian cooking techniques to the Midwest.
Blowing Rock's Mountain Dining and Tourism Appeal
Southern Living recommended Blowing Rock, North Carolina, for its mountain-town setting, wineries, and restaurants. The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge Inn features a daily changing menu—book about a month ahead. The Speckled Trout serves mountain trout in multiple preparations. Nearby attractions include Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and Doc's Rocks! Gem Mine. The destination appeals to travelers seeking both quality dining and scenic mountain experiences.
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