Best French restaurants in the U.S.

Mélisse, Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica may be on the beach, but Mélisse is a true fine-dining destination, with two Michelin stars and the refined look of smoky purple walls, white tablecloths, and handblown French crystal sculptures. The dining room sets the stage for exquisitely prepared contemporary French-California cuisine that pays homage to the nearby Pacific. Onion soup with coconut and Dungeness crab, Santa Barbara prawns, and Kona abalone are just a few of chef Josiah Citrin’s dishes. The stellar wine list reflects the best of California and France.

Photo courtesy of Melisse

Le Pigeon, Portland, OR
Carnivores and adventurous eaters will appreciate chef Gabriel Rucker’s creations, which add whimsy and decadence to traditional French recipes. Beef-cheek bourguignonne, rabbit-in-a-pig-blanket, and foie gras profiteroles are among the quirky edibles. The chef’s counter puts diners ringside in the busy kitchen, and the brick-wall dining room’s three communal tables are often filled with both locals and international clientele. Le Pigeon’s first cookbook comes out in September 2013—for you try-it-at-home types.

Photo by David Reamer

Les Nomades, Chicago
Linger at this romantic brownstone in Streeterville for a memorable Parisian-style tête-à-tête. The restaurant’s motto declares, “A fresh expression of French cuisine,” and the menu heeds the claim with clever twists on classics such as the sautéed Hudson Valley foie gras, banana water, and Granny Smith apple purée appetizer. The wine list includes an excellent champagne selection, worth a toast whether you’re celebrating or not. lesnomades.net

Photo courtesy of Les Nomades

Joël Robuchon, Las Vegas
Las Vegas has become a serious food town, and no small credit goes to chef Joël Robuchon, who opened two restaurants at the MGM Grand in 2005. His eponymous three-Michelin-star nirvana of refined French food—such as truffled langoustine ravioli or French hen with foie gras—envelops diners in a lush purple dining room with velvet banquettes and dripping chandeliers. Head to the more relaxed L’Atelier next door for steak tartare with fries or Maine lobster salad.

Photo courtesy of Joel Robuchon

Maison Giraud, Los Angeles
Don’t let the simple décor of this Pacific Palisades bistro-bakery combo lower your expectations. Whether you opt for croque monsieur, quiche, or a classic cocotte—a meal served in its own mini casserole—the food here is easygoing and expertly prepared by French-trained chef/owner Alain Giraud, who has helmed some of L.A’s best (Bastide and Anisette). The fresh pain au chocolat is reason enough for an early-morning wake-up call. maison-giraud.com

Photo courtesy of Maison Giraud/ Kamilla Q. Rifkin

Brasserie L’Oustau, Manchester Center, VT
Authenticity and service are always in style at this southern Vermont brasserie, which attracts diners from as far as New York and Canada. Owned by Michel Boyer, a well-respected connoisseur of French gastronomy, this is a real gathering spot where friends and family meet for American interpretations of French food—pommes frites, slow-cooked onion soup, roasted chicken, savory sausages, and vegetables—all sourced locally. brasserieloustau.com

Photo courtesy of Brasserie L'Oustau de Provence

Brasserie by Niche, St. Louis, MO
A pressed-tin ceiling, checkered tablecloths covered with butcher paper, and a buzzing outdoor terrace are the perfect backdrop for James Beard–nominated chef Gerard Craft’s French bistro lineup of onion soup, country pâté, cassoulet, and duck confit—all with ingredients sourced from nearby farms. Romantics take note: this brasserie was formerly Chez Leon, a neighborhood bistro where Craft courted his wife. brasseriebyniche.com

Photo courtesy of Brasserie by Niche

L’Espalier, Boston
A Back Bay staple for more than 30 years, racking up numerous awards along the way, L’Espalier also counts four gorgeous dining rooms that showcase chef-owner Frank McClelland’s New England–French cuisine. Seared Georges Bank scallops and Maine mussels, Maine beef tenderloin with braised short ribs, and grilled Maine lobster with Cape Cod clams are a few of the locavore specialties to be enjoyed. lespalier.com

Anis Café & Bistro, Atlanta
It’s a little ramshackle, and who knows if the Citroën Deux Chevaux parked out front runs, but that’s the charm of this unassuming restaurant hemmed into a side street in Buckhead. French Mediterranean flavors inspire the menu, and on warm summer nights, the patio is the place to be. The refreshing vine-ripe tomato tartare with buffalo mozzarella and baby arugula is pure Provence, as is the gulf shrimp served with tomatoes and tossed in pastis shallot vinaigrette. anisbistro.com

Photo courtesy of Anis Cafe

La Folie, San Francisco
If presentation is an indicator, classically trained chef Roland Passot is still having a blast whipping up French-California dishes that live up to the restaurant’s name (meaning “folly” or “madness”). Prix fixe menus feature duck breast and sautéed Burgundy snails as well as more contemporary dishes like Dungeness crab salad on English pea panna cotta, served with a passion that has made this a Bay Area favorite for 25 years. lafolie.com

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Photo courtesy of La Folie