Smyth named top restaurant in North America’s 50 Best 2026 list
7 reported
The 2026 edition of the North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list was announced live at an awards ceremony in New Orleans. Smyth in Chicago was named the No. 1 restaurant in the region, with Eight in Calgary earning the No. 2 spot and Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Lincoln, Canada, coming in third. Last year’s top restaurant, Atomix in New York, slid to seventh place this year. The list includes 36 restaurants from the United States and 14 from Canada, with half of the top 10 from Canada. No Caribbean restaurants made the list this year, after two appeared in 2025. Specialty awards were also given, including the Icon Award to Emeril Lagasse and the One to Watch award to Wildweed in Cincinnati. The global World’s 50 Best List is scheduled to be revealed in November in Abu Dhabi.
What’s reported
Smyth in Chicago was named No. 1 on the 2026 North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
Eight in Calgary was No. 2, and Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Lincoln, Canada, was No. 3.
Last year’s top restaurant, Atomix in New York, fell to No. 7 this year.
The list includes 36 U.S. restaurants and 14 Canadian restaurants.
No Caribbean restaurants made the 2026 list, after two appeared in 2025.
Specialty awards: Wildweed (Cincinnati) won One to Watch; Atelier Crenn (San Francisco) won Sustainable Restaurant; Restaurant Pearl Morissette won Art of Hospitality; Chef Corey Lee of Benu won Chef’s Choice; John Jones of Barbados won Champions of Change; Emeril Lagasse received the Icon Award.
The global World’s 50 Best List will be revealed in November in Abu Dhabi.
Key figures
Smyth (Chicago restaurant)
Eight (Calgary restaurant)
Restaurant Pearl Morissette (Lincoln, Canada restaurant)
Atomix (New York restaurant)
Wildweed (Cincinnati restaurant)
Atelier Crenn (San Francisco restaurant)
Corey Lee (chef of Benu)
John Jones (Barbados)
Emeril Lagasse
Sources: eater.com
