Leading figures from across the culinary world convened in New Orleans for North America's 50 Best Restaurants 2026, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, where Smyth in Chicago, Illinois, was named The Best Restaurant in North America 2026. Hosted at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, the ceremony celebrated the breadth and excellence of the region's dining scene, with standout restaurants and industry leaders from across the region recognized both in the list's second edition and within the special and pre-announced award categories.

Smyth, led by husband-and-wife chefs John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, has been named The Best Restaurant in North America 2026, rising from No.4 on the inaugural 2025 list. What sets Smyth apart is its deeply personal approach to cooking, rooted in a tight network of growers and purveyors. The result is an ever-evolving tasting experience that feels both intimate and precise, and one in which each dish reflects the season of the time.

Following Smyth in the top 10 is Eight (No.2) in Calgary, named The Best Restaurant in West Canada 2026, and Restaurant Pearl Morissette (No.3) in Lincoln, awarded The Best Restaurant in Central Canada 2026. Dakar NOLA (No.4) in New Orleans is awarded The Best Restaurant in South USA 2026, Mon Lapin (No.5) from Montreal is The Best Restaurant in East Canada 2026, and Albi (No.6) from Washington DC, is also recognized as The Best Restaurant in Northeast USA 2026. Atomix (No.7) in New York City, Quetzal (No.8) in Toronto, Tanière3 (No.9) in Quebec City, and César (No.10) in New York City complete the top 10. Overall, the list includes 14 restaurants from Canada and 36 from the United States.

Eighteen new restaurants join the 1-50 list this year, including Eight (No.2) in Calgary, Edulis (No.25) in Toronto, Avize (No.29) in Atlanta, Acamaya (No.30) in New Orleans, Addison by William Bradley (No.31) in San Diego, Sabayon (No.34) in Montreal, and AnnaLena (No.35) in Vancouver. From New York City, new entries include Kabawa (No.14), Torrisi (No.38), Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi (No.39), Semma (No.41), and Gramercy Tavern (No.43). Lastly, Pascual (No.42) in Washington DC, Sons & Daughters (No.45) in San Francisco, Somni (No.46) in Los Angeles, Wild Blue (No.47) in Whistler, The Pine (No.48) in Collingwood, and Diane's Place (No.50) in Minneapolis all make their debut on this year's list. This year also sees six new cities represented on the list: Atlanta, Calgary, Collingwood, Minneapolis, San Diego, and Whistler.

Faye Huggett, Director of Community for North America's 50 Best Restaurants, says: "The second edition of North America's 50 Best Restaurants celebrates the extraordinary diversity, creativity, and excellence that define the region's dining scene. From pioneering dining institutions to bold new voices, the list reflects the depth and dynamism of North America's rich culinary landscape. Congratulations to Smyth, crowned The Best Restaurant in North America 2026, and to all the chefs and teams whose passion and creativity continue to push the industry forward."