Atmosphere, menu, taste, and service. These are the components that comprise a good restaurant. But what determines the best restaurants?
Well, USA Today set out to answer that question and discovered 44 of the best restaurants in the country, offering incredible ambiance, masterful menus, and some of the best flavors in 2025. The list includes barbecue in Alabama, seafood in Florida, and Italian food in New York.
So, what Ohio restaurants made the list?
The Aperture – Cincinnati, Ohio
Where: 900 E McMillan Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206
What: Mezze-style cuisine, wine and cocktails
“The menu is constantly changing, so there are always surprises. One night, you might find a comforting dish of shell pasta in tomato sauce with Fresno peppers and guanciale ragu. The next might be a beautiful bowl of Carolina Gold rice, heirloom red peas, and pastrami burnt ends tossed in a peppery vinaigrette,” said food critic Keith Pandolfi of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Here’s what Pandolfi said to order at The Aperture:
- Labneh-poached carrot: The chef chars tender labneh-poached carrots in a wood-fired oven and rolls the carrots in Middle Eastern and African spices.
- Wedge salad: Napa cabbage replaces iceberg lettuce in the chef’s wedge salad that’s topped with a mayonnaise-based fish dressing, hard-boiled egg, rye bread crumbs, dill and smoked fermented tuna.
- Oyster mushrooms: This dish is served on a bed of whipped tahini with a little brown butter mixed in.
Agni – Columbus, Ohio
Where: 716 S High Street, Columbus, OH 43206
What: A Bengali-American fine-dining restaurant
According to USA Today food reviewer Bob Vitale of the Columbus Dispatch, this restaurant is a “course-by-course trip around the world with meticulously prepared, beautifully plated dishes that take you to a place that’s meaningful to chef-owner Avishar Barua or his team.”
Here’s what to order:
- Phuchka or panipuri: A crispy shell filled with chickpeas and other crispy bits. Comes with two dipping sauces.
- French fry burnt ends: Boiled, dried and fried french fries served with tasty pieces of beef belly.
- For dessert, try the ice cream sandwich made with a crispy Indian jalebi and masala chai ice cream.
Social at the Stone House in Massillon, Ohio
Where: 824 Lincoln Way E, Massillon, OH 44646
What: Trendy Asian eatery in a historic Stone House building
“When you walk into Social at the Stone House, you realize that this meticulously renovated Romanesque house built in the 1840s is a place to enjoy for any occasion,” said Canton Repository food reviewer Bev Shaffer.
Shaffer suggests ordering a “creative libation, perhaps a hibiscus velvet mule or a luxe mocktail.” She also mentioned that there are five indoor fireplaces available for a cozy gathering while sampling one of the many legendary Asian fusion dishes.
Specifically, Shaffer said to order:
- A handheld like the artichoke bruschetta or braised short rib sliders
- Try a large plate of the bourbon-glazed pork chop or the Thai-style shrimp
- For dessert, try the cinnamon-sugar doughnuts
Other restaurants on USA Today’s Best Restaurant list
Here are some of the other restaurants on USA Today’s 2025 Best Restaurant list:
- Bicyclette Cookshop in Naples, Florida
- Ta’Carbon in Glendale, Arizona
- Pearl & Horn in Pensacola, Florida
- Swordfish Grill in Cortez, Florida
- Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot in Selma, Alabama
- Quebedeaux’s Cajun Cafe in Pineville, Louisiana
- A Dopo in Knoxville, Tennessee
- Bad Idea in Nashville, Tennessee
- The Taco Stop in Fort Collins, Colorado
