Chef Paul Qui of East Side King in Austin; chef Matt Lightner of New York City's Atera; an innovator keeps it kosher in Philadelphia; a couple's Los Angeles restaurant serves pan-Asian fare.

New York City's Parm serves Italian-American sandwiches; Italian comfort food is paired with beer at a gastropub in Philadelphia; fresh and dried pastas made with unusual ingredients; Italian sausages with a Southern twist.

We love classic dishes, but appreciate when they're uniquely reinvented. The Wakin' and Bakin' Brunch at Eating House in Miami, Florida, has something new for both savory and sweet lovers. Lucy's Fried Chicken in Austin, Texas, spruces up the traditional fried chicken dinner with lots of creative fixings and sides, while Josh's Deli in Surfside, Florida, brings the traditional Jewish deli to a whole new level by reinventing the ubiquitous matzoh ball into gnocchi. And Easy Tiger in Austin combines an artisanal bakery with a beer hall.