Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we’ve seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven’t been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
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To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Springfield, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
#17. Bamboo House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (102 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 676 Belmont Ave. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Vietnamese- Read more on Yelp
#16. Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ
- Rating: 4.5/5 (739 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 201 Worthington St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Barbeque, Jazz & Blues, Bars- Read more on Yelp
- Best of Mass BBQ: Theodores’ is a historic blues and BBQ landmark in the heart of downtown Springfield
#15. Saray
- Rating: 4.5/5 (211 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 1374 Allen St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Turkish, Middle Eastern, Seafood- Read more on Yelp
#14. Chicked’s Chicken And Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)- Address: 1375 Carew St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Chicken Wings, Wraps- Read more on Yelp
#13. Eat
- Rating: 4.5/5 (187 reviews)- Price level: $- Address: 609 Page Blvd. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Breakfast &; Brunch, New American, Sandwiches- Read more on Yelp
#12. Family Pizzeria and Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (77 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 715 Sumner Ave. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Pizza, Italian, Salad- Read more on Yelp
#11. Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (105 reviews)- Price level: $- Address: 684 Belmont Ave. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Mexican-Read more on Yelp
#10. Salerno Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews)- Price level: $- Address: 747 Liberty St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Pizza- Read more on Yelp
#9. Cornerstone Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (42 reviews)- Price level: $- Address: 1414 Main St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Cafes, Soup, Breakfast &; Brunch- Read more on Yelp
#8. City Jake’s Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)- Price level: $- Address: 1573 Main St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Breakfast &; Brunch, Cafes, Sandwiches- Read more on Yelp
#7. Frigo Gourmet Foods
- Rating: 4.5/5 (175 reviews)- Price level: $- Address: 90 William St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Delis, Italian, Sandwiches- Read more on Yelp
#6. Palazzo Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)- Price level: $- Address: 1350 Main St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Italian, Cafes- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Souper Sweet Sandwich Shop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (54 reviews)- Address: 929 Belmont Ave. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Sandwiches, Salad, Soup-Read more on Yelp
#4. Grannys Baking table
- Rating: 4.5/5 (39 reviews)- Address: 309 Bridge St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Bakeries, Coffee &; Tea, Breakfast &; Brunch-Read more on Yelp
- Granny’s Baking Table closing for a short time after co-owner’s health concerns
#3. Joy Bowl
- Rating: 5.0/5 (128 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 455 Breckwood Blvd. A Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Poke, Asian Fusion, Hawaiian- Read more on Yelp
- Joy Bowl Poke brings Hawaiian fare to Pioneer Valley (review, photos, video)
#2. Nosh Restaurant and Cafè
- Rating: 5.0/5 (68 reviews)- Address: 1341 Main St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Cafes, Breakfast &; Brunch, American- Read more on Yelp
#1. Liberty’s Mediterranean Giant Grinders
- Rating: 5.0/5 (36 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 63 Liberty St. Springfield, Massachusetts - Categories: Mediterranean- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.
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