This French brasserie is part of Stephen Starr’s stable (as is its next-door neighbor Makoto) and a very Parisian addition to the Bal Harbour Shops complex in Miami.

Website: lezoo.com

Address: 9700 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour, Fla.

Phone number: 305-602-9663

Number of seats: 200

Entrée price range: $20-$30

Popular dishes: Mushroom tart with pioppini mushrooms and truffled pecorino; lobster tartine with avocado, lemon and herbs; warm shrimp salad with lemon beurre blanc and avocado; salmon Provençal with fennel, orange, artichokes and Taggiasca olives

What others say: “A good French brasserie can be transportive, mimicking the sights, aromas and flavors of a meal in Paris’ 8th Arrondissement. A mediocre one can be a sad parade of brown, sodden food.

I’m happy to report that Le Zoo, new at Bal Harbour Shops from Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr, is a good brasserie. A very good one.” — Evan S. Benn, Miami Herald

The interior

Trout

The team behind the Korean favorite Bbbop in Dallas took over an old auto repair shop in nearby Richardson, Texas, and dedicated it to fried chicken of a kind that became an instant classic at the other restaurant — only this time with more prominence.

Website: chickenmoto.com

Address: 2069 N Central Expy #200, Richardson, Tex.

Phone number: 469-248-0092

Number of seats: 140

Entrée price range: $8-$25

Popular dishes: The Full Bird: fried chicken either naked or with sweet and spicy chile glaze or soy ginger, with two sides and Texas toast; elotes corn on the cobb: corn wheels, Korean pepper aïoli, cotija cheese, cilantro and lime; chicken cracklin’: crispy fried chicken skins tossed with Asian-Cajun spice blend

What others say: “This style of chicken, unlike its Southern-fried counterpart, is somewhat light. The skin is a brittle crispiness around juicy meat. The argument continues on whether or not the skin is fried chicken's best part, but it’s more likely to come out the winner in this version, which is probably why you can get a serving of fried chicken skins for an appetizer.” — Taylor Danser, Dallas Observer

The bar

Fried chicken with sides

This large, airy restaurant lures diners and drinkers to a lavishly designed rooftop setting in San Diego’s Gaslamp District.

Website: rusticroot.com

Address: 535 Fifth Ave., San Diego

Phone number: 619-232-1747

Number of seats: 150 inside and 100 on the rooftop

Entrée price range: $19-$55

Popular dishes: Crispy free-range chicken breast with butter beans, sweet potato purée and honey habanero mustard; lobster pappardelle with oven roasted tomato, spinach, corn, chile pepper, sherry cream and breadcrumbs; Table Smoked Tomahawk: 16-oz. bone-in rib eye with potato fondant, pearl onion and red wine demi

What others say: “Rustic Root is one of my favorite spots in Gaslamp. Great food, amazing rooftop overlooking 5th, good bar scene, and overall just a fun time.” — Yelp comment

Lobster pappardelle

The dining room

This somewhat rare “neighborhood restaurant” in Las Vegas takes a bit of French bistro and a bit of American tavern and, with a nod to its namesake chef Andre Rochat (a formative fine-dining chef in Vegas), keeps it simple while showing a mind for splashy details.

Website: andresbistroandbar.com/

Address: 6115 S. Fort Apache Rd., Suite 112, Las Vegas, Nev.

Phone number: 702-798-7151

Number of seats: 120 in the dining room, 12 at the bar, 20 on the patio, plus 50 in private dining

Entrée price range: $12-$31

Popular dishes: Escargots de Bourgogne with French snails, garlic butter and herbs; 6-oz. filet, flat iron or New York strip steak with sides such as duck fat garlic fries or green beans with almonds; moules frites with Prince Edward Island mussels, tomatoes concassées, garlic, parsley and Pernod Ricard

What others say: “If you’re missing the original Andre’s, the inviting and comfortable new version could be your new favorite spot. Andre’s Bistro & Bar is destination dining no matter where you reside.” — Jim Begley, Las Vegas Weekly

The bar

Escargots de Bourgogne

In Omaha, Neb., vegan food abounds with a spirit of refined fun and play at this discerning and creative favorite.

Website: modernloveomaha.com

Address: 1319 S. 50th St., Omaha, Neb.

Phone number: 402-614-6481

Number of seats: 36

Entrée price range: $14-$18

Popular dishes: Mac & Shews: creamy red pepper cashew cheese, cornmeal crusted tofu, spiced pecans, blackened cauliflower, garlicky kale, and tomato vinaigrette; Surf & Turf: New England clam chowder with herb grilled seitan, seared radish, wilted mustard greens and popcorn cauliflower; Seitan Gyros: shaved seitan, sautéed onions, tzatziki, grilled flatbread, cucumber, tomato, quinoa tabbouleh salad and fatty fries; Kale Caesar With Smoked Tofu: avocado, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, noochy croutons, tahini caper dressing and nutritional yeast

What others say: “In fact, it’s so swanky you might not remember what you’re eating is meat-, dairy- and egg-free.” — Sarah Baker Hansen, Omaha World-Herald

Enchiladas and street corn

Kale pesto gnocchi

This fantasia for pancakes and pancake-related extrapolations in Memphis, Tenn., draws diners from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with dreams of pancakes likely to linger after-hours.

Website: stakspancakes.com

Address: 4615 Poplar Ave Suite #102, Memphis, Tenn.

Phone number: 901-509-2367

Number of seats: 90

Entrée price range: $7-$12

Popular dishes: Cinnamon roll pancakes with a swirl of cinnamon delight and vanilla glaze; pancake beignets with choice of caramel, vanilla or chocolate glaze, filled with sweetened cream cheese; Famous Staks Breakfast Burger: Spicy sausage mixed with ground beef, bacon, hash browns, fried egg, and house made Sriracha mayonnaise on an everything bun, with a side of truffle sweet potato fries, gouda grits, house made chips, hash browns or fruit

What others say: “Here's what you can get from the ‘Sophisticated Staks!’ section: Elvis style; birthday cake; cinnamon roll; Oreo-praline; lemon ricotta; and buckwheat pancakes. In addition, there are 13 add-ins…” — Jennifer Biggs, The Commercial Appeal

Pancakes

Cinnamon roll pancakes

Artisanal pizza and beer abound in Boise, Idaho, thanks in part to this inviting eatery in the neighborhood of Hyde Park.

Website: northendpizzaboise.com

Address: 1513 North 13th St., Boise, Idaho

Phone number: 208-345-5669

Number of seats: 100

Entrée price range: $14-$27 

Popular dishes: The Nena (North End Neighborhood Association) Pizza: Salami, goat cheese, red onion and lemon-dressed arugula on an olive oil base ($1 goes to the North End Neighborhood Association); Hyde House Combo Pizza: Italian sausage, pepperoni, salami, black olive, mushroom and white onion; Hyde and Seek Pizza: Salami, artichoke heart, Roma tomato, feta cheese and arugula on an olive oil base

What others say: “The pizza joint and watering hole became an instant hit for those looking to unwind with a pint or two of draft brew while digging in to a menu that spotlights inventive pizzas, sandwiches, salads and Italian-inspired appetizers.” — Katherine Jones, Idaho Statesmen

The bar

Pizza

Spring vegetable bomba rice

Foie gras parfait

In Washington, D.C., chef Mike Isabella has expanded from other operations focused on Greek and Japanese cuisine for this new hotspot in the Marriott Marquis devoted to Spain and Morocco.

Website: arrozbymic.com

Address: 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.

Phone number: 202-869-3300

Number of seats: 138

Entrée price range: $12-$26 

Popular dishes: Foie gras parfait with salted honey butter, pickled kumquat, sesame praline and ras el hanout; hot smoked bone marrow with pan con tomate and oxtail marmalade; lobster soupy rice with mussels, sea urchin, black bass, tomato escabeche and seaweed montadillo

What others say: “Practice makes perfect, or something approaching it. Just look at the efforts of Mike Isabella, who’s done an increasingly impressive job over the years of feeding us Greek food, starting with Kapnos in Washington, followed by other accents, including Japanese and Korean at Yona in Arlington.” — Tom Sietsema, Washington Post