Inside The NY Times' 50 Best Restaurants List, From the Critic Who Helped Build It

The New York Times’ exhaustive search for America’s best restaurants involved 16 reporters, 538 locations, and over 300 years of combined journalism experience. This massive undertaking highlights diverse dining experiences, from the refined tasting menus at Los Angeles’ Jacaranda to the simple, ingredient-focused antojitos at Comal and the unique, cross-diaspora Armenian cuisine at Yeratmas Bakery & Deli. Beyond fine dining, the conversation addresses the practical realities of dining with children and the importance of maintaining a strong, independent point of view. Meanwhile, extreme heat in Southern California forces farmers and chefs to adapt, with restaurants like Perilla incorporating summer produce into fall menus, while farms like Apricot Lane struggle with significant crop loss and the necessity of intensive animal husbandry to protect livestock from record-breaking temperatures.