10 Insanely Great Restaurants That Are Worth the Schlep

July 25, 2014

You know you’re a foodie if: You save up for shopping sprees at gourmet food shops. You follow buzz-worthy new restaurants on Twitter before they even open. You’re an Elite reviewer on Yelp. Oh, yeah – and you’re willing to leave the city just to chase down that perfect meal.

Believe it or not, there are some pretty amazing restaurants out there that are a little farther away than a subway ride. If you finally scored that coveted, out-of-town reservation, it’s time to bust out of your urban confines and out onto the open road – jump into a Zipcar and you’ll be right on your way to a culinary adventure.

1. Talula's Table, Kennett Square, PA: Talula's Table is a folksy gourmet farm store by day, and one of Pennsylvania's most exclusive restaurants by night. Unlike some primo restaurants, Taula's doesn't rely on white tablecloths or a pinkies-up policy that lend this restaurant its allure: Rather, it's the fact that its Farm Table can be booked for just one seating of 10-12 per night. If you're lucky enough to make the cut, prepare for the eight-course tasting menu of your dreams.

Photo courtesy of David Snyder/Flickr
2. The French Laundry, Yountville, CA: Having borne the mantle of "Best Restaurant in the United States," Thomas Keller's now-legendary French Laundry is a real destination eatery. That's also a euphemistic way of saying that it's, ahem, a bit of a schlep from San Francisco to Yountville, Napa Valley. Still, the vineyard views are almost as rewarding as the food, which restaurant critics have described as next-level delicious. Actually, no, that was us. Never mind.

Photo courtesy of TKRG
3. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, NY: Convincing New Yorkers to willingly leave the five boroughs is about as difficult as finding a subway station with A/C, but mention "Blue Hill at Stone Barns" to any urban foodie and their ears will perk right up. This Hudson Valley eatery is about as authentically farm-to-table as it gets, given that it's actually located on farm grounds – and it's only an hour's drive north.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Young Photographer
4. Restaurant Beck, Depoe Bay, OR: Portland's got a lot going for it, but it doesn't have rugged coastal views, or foraged seafood pulled fresh from the water before you. For that, only Restaurant Beck in rural Depoe Bay will do. Chef Justin Wills (see above) plates up only the freshest seasonal dishes. Even if you're not a seafood lover, though, you'll get consolation plates like pork shoulder with crispy braised red cabbage, roasted stonefruit, lobster mushrooms, licorice root, and compressed apples. Tough luck.

Photo courtesy of Jannie Huang
5. Aubergine, Carmel, CA: Accessible from San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Cruz, ocean-side Carmel is a draw for its views – and for Aubergine. Helmed by Executive Chef Justin Cogley – who Food & Wine named Best New Chef – the restaurant focuses on "sophisticated modern California cuisine." And no, that doesn't mean that the tasting menu's just kale, granola, and kombucha. Like that abalone dish, above? That'll make your mind melt.

Photo courtesy of Aubergine
6. Inn at Little Washington, Washington, VA: Tired of rubbing shoulders with one too many lobbyists at D.C.'s favorite dining locales? Simple: just drive an hour and a half outside of the city. In bucolic Virginia you'll find the storied Inn at Little Washington. While you're not dining on dishes like artichoke tortellini with orange-pernod essence, as in the photo above, you may want to take a peek into the kitchen: yes, the chefs are all wearing Dalmatian-print pants.

Photo courtesy of Inn at Little Washington
7. The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Wallard, TN: In a venue that's attractive enough to be featured on Pinterest boards everywhere, Tennessee's The Barn at Blackberry Farm really does conduct its dining service in a barn. But don't fret: the venue is low on hay and high on exceptionally fresh New American cooking. Dishes like a slow-cooked farm egg with smoked mountain trout, chives, and crispy potatoes will feel like a (very fancy) communion with nature.

Photo courtesy of Beall + Thomas Photography
8. Vie, Western Springs, IL: Vie may be located in the Chicago suburb of Western Springs, but step inside this chic dining room and you'll feel like you're dining in downtown. Having worked at bona fide Chicago legends like Charlie Trotter's and Blackbird, Chef Paul Virant brings a savvy, locally oriented approach to Vie, where seasonal ingredients are sourced from the area's farms. Sample dishes like the sarde in soar (sweet and sour sardines) and squid ink ciabatta above – and you’ll never again hate on the 'burbs.

Photo courtesy of Gourmandj/Flickr
9. The Herbfarm, Woodinville, WA: Long before everyone and your mother got excited about being a locavore, the founders at The Herbfarm, located just 30 minutes outside of Seattle, were filling their menu with the region's bounty. Today, the restaurant (which sources local and artisanal ingredients more than ever) is flourishing. Just book an early reservation if you've got to head back to town – dinners here can clock in at 4+ hours.

Photo courtesy of Ron Zimmerman/The Herbfarm
10. Blue Ginger, Wellesley, MA: Boston's Chinatown may have its fair share of delicious restaurants, but for truly exceptional Asian food, you may want to motor over to Blue Ginger in Wellesley. Long a neighborhood staple, the restaurant puts a high-end spin on exotic flavors like the fromage dessert with rhubarb or sake-miso marinated sablefish with wasabi oil, soy-lime syrup, and vegetarian soba noodle sushi. It's a (literal) mouthful.

Photo courtesy of Emily Sternberg Photography
1. Talula's Table, Kennett Square, PA: Talula's Table is a folksy gourmet farm store by day, and one of Pennsylvania's most exclusive restaurants by night. Unlike some primo restaurants, Taula's doesn't rely on white tablecloths or a pinkies-up policy that lend this restaurant its allure: Rather, it's the fact that its Farm Table can be booked for just one seating of 10-12 per night. If you're lucky enough to make the cut, prepare for the eight-course tasting menu of your dreams.

Photo courtesy of David Snyder/Flickr
2. The French Laundry, Yountville, CA: Having borne the mantle of "Best Restaurant in the United States," Thomas Keller's now-legendary French Laundry is a real destination eatery. That's also a euphemistic way of saying that it's, ahem, a bit of a schlep from San Francisco to Yountville, Napa Valley. Still, the vineyard views are almost as rewarding as the food, which restaurant critics have described as next-level delicious. Actually, no, that was us. Never mind.

Photo courtesy of TKRG
3. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, NY: Convincing New Yorkers to willingly leave the five boroughs is about as difficult as finding a subway station with A/C, but mention "Blue Hill at Stone Barns" to any urban foodie and their ears will perk right up. This Hudson Valley eatery is about as authentically farm-to-table as it gets, given that it's actually located on farm grounds – and it's only an hour's drive north.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Young Photographer
4. Restaurant Beck, Depoe Bay, OR: Portland's got a lot going for it, but it doesn't have rugged coastal views, or foraged seafood pulled fresh from the water before you. For that, only Restaurant Beck in rural Depoe Bay will do. Chef Justin Wills (see above) plates up only the freshest seasonal dishes. Even if you're not a seafood lover, though, you'll get consolation plates like pork shoulder with crispy braised red cabbage, roasted stonefruit, lobster mushrooms, licorice root, and compressed apples. Tough luck.

Photo courtesy of Jannie Huang
5. Aubergine, Carmel, CA: Accessible from San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Cruz, ocean-side Carmel is a draw for its views – and for Aubergine. Helmed by Executive Chef Justin Cogley – who Food & Wine named Best New Chef – the restaurant focuses on "sophisticated modern California cuisine." And no, that doesn't mean that the tasting menu's just kale, granola, and kombucha. Like that abalone dish, above? That'll make your mind melt.

Photo courtesy of Aubergine
6. Inn at Little Washington, Washington, VA: Tired of rubbing shoulders with one too many lobbyists at D.C.'s favorite dining locales? Simple: just drive an hour and a half outside of the city. In bucolic Virginia you'll find the storied Inn at Little Washington. While you're not dining on dishes like artichoke tortellini with orange-pernod essence, as in the photo above, you may want to take a peek into the kitchen: yes, the chefs are all wearing Dalmatian-print pants.

Photo courtesy of Inn at Little Washington
7. The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Wallard, TN: In a venue that's attractive enough to be featured on Pinterest boards everywhere, Tennessee's The Barn at Blackberry Farm really does conduct its dining service in a barn. But don't fret: the venue is low on hay and high on exceptionally fresh New American cooking. Dishes like a slow-cooked farm egg with smoked mountain trout, chives, and crispy potatoes will feel like a (very fancy) communion with nature.

Photo courtesy of Beall + Thomas Photography
8. Vie, Western Springs, IL: Vie may be located in the Chicago suburb of Western Springs, but step inside this chic dining room and you'll feel like you're dining in downtown. Having worked at bona fide Chicago legends like Charlie Trotter's and Blackbird, Chef Paul Virant brings a savvy, locally oriented approach to Vie, where seasonal ingredients are sourced from the area's farms. Sample dishes like the sarde in soar (sweet and sour sardines) and squid ink ciabatta above – and you’ll never again hate on the 'burbs.

Photo courtesy of Gourmandj/Flickr
9. The Herbfarm, Woodinville, WA: Long before everyone and your mother got excited about being a locavore, the founders at The Herbfarm, located just 30 minutes outside of Seattle, were filling their menu with the region's bounty. Today, the restaurant (which sources local and artisanal ingredients more than ever) is flourishing. Just book an early reservation if you've got to head back to town – dinners here can clock in at 4+ hours.

Photo courtesy of Ron Zimmerman/The Herbfarm
10. Blue Ginger, Wellesley, MA: Boston's Chinatown may have its fair share of delicious restaurants, but for truly exceptional Asian food, you may want to motor over to Blue Ginger in Wellesley. Long a neighborhood staple, the restaurant puts a high-end spin on exotic flavors like the fromage dessert with rhubarb or sake-miso marinated sablefish with wasabi oil, soy-lime syrup, and vegetarian soba noodle sushi. It's a (literal) mouthful.

Photo courtesy of Emily Sternberg Photography