Top 5: Restaurants on the East Coast

From the seafood of the Maine coast to Philadelphia’s cheesesteaks and the crabs and hot peppers of the Chesapeake Bay, the northeastern United States makes for a great foodie tour.

The East Coast contains many of the country’s largest and oldest cities, most of which include a rich cultural heritage resulting in a cultural melting pot displayed in its culinary scene. For those looking for great food and culinary highlights, we have you covered. Take a look at the top five restaurants on the East Coast.

Daniel, New York City

A grown-up restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Daniel Boulud’s flagship restaurant Daniel maintains high standards of service and cuisine. The French cuisine is superb, and the menu changes daily. If you are lucky enough to score a reservation, you can sample dishes as party of a four-course, $142 or seven-course, $234 fixed-price menu. When dining here, make sure you have jackets and an expense account.

FIG, Charleston, S.C.

This downtown Charleston, S.C., gem serves seasonally inspired food using locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. The chef offers a rotating menu of simple, yet refined classics like fish stew Provencal and suckling pig, and Carolina Gold rice with shishito, broccoli shoots and Napa cabbage — and emphasizes local seafood. The cuisine may appear simple, but with the freshest, highest-quality ingredients available, the food speaks for itself.

O Ya, Boston, Mass.

Chef Tim Cushman brings innovative sushi and related new Japanese fare to O Ya’s menu. Accompanied by a large choice of excellent sake and wine, the restaurant hosts guests in an understated dining room whose simplicity contradicts the complexity of flavors on the plate. The North End sanctuary offers dishes like Hamachi with yuzu soy marinated Chilean sea urchin; Ora king salmon with unfiltered wheat soy moromi and Kona kanpachi with jalapeno sauce, sesame, apple and myoga. Try to snag a seat at the counter for an unforgettable experience and watch the food be created in front of you.

Vetri, Philadelphia

In this jewel box of a place, now nearly 20 years old, Marc Vetri offers diners sophisticated, handcrafted Italian and Italianate specialties, served only in the form of six-course, $155 tasting menus. Available items are listed under Antipasti, Pasta, Secondi and Dolce — all served with precision and grace. The wine cellar offers more than 2,500 bottles to choose from.

Peter Luger, Brooklyn

Located off the beaten path of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood, you’ll find Peter Luger’s. Don’t ask for a menu, simply order the tomato and onion salad, thick-cut bacon, creamed spinach, hash browns, steak for two and apple strudel with extra schlag. Sure the waitstaff may be a bit abrupt in this casual German-styled steakhouse open since 1887, but that’s part of the show. The main attraction is the steak, among the best you’ll find in New York City. It’s dry-aged and butchered on-site, and when it’s presented your jaw will drop. Use the steak sauce to dip everything besides the steak. Be sure to bring a debit card or drop a wad of cash, as no credit cards are accepted.