Culinary genius is not the only attribute a restaurant needs to make it to our Top 40 list. Destination dining needs to be exciting, intelligent and offer an exceptional experience that truly makes it heads and tails above the rest. Passion is essential because that is at the heart of a chef or restaurateur who can offer us a meal we will never forget. We congratulate our seasoned “old timers” who demonstrate unwavering focus to maintaining culinary quality that wins — and keeps — a loyal audience. And we offer kudos to the thrilling newcomers here who shine with hard-fought achievement, promise and innovation. From the glamorous metropolitan centers of New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Las Vegas to the rustic farmhouses of Maine, the verdant hills of Napa Valley and the tropical shores of Hawaii, each restaurant on our list adds its own unique contributions to the very best of American dining.