50 Best Restaurants in America 2022

Could a mom-and-pop shop that serves locally sourced Korean-influenced, Basque-inspired fare tucked beside a McDonald’s be the most intriguing new dining option in wine country? Owners Heidy He and Josh Smookler closed their wildly popular ramen spot in New York City during the pandemic and opened Animo on a dime. They found instant success, thanks to plates like chargrilled whole turbot, long-aged ribeye and kimchee fried rice with pastrami. There’s also a killer soju selection. Animo embodies the hospitality and sense of discovery that people seek when they visit wine country.