Restaurants

These local restaurants are the best in North America, according to AAA

Just 67 restaurants on the continent have Five Diamond status, and Mass. is home to three of them.

The heirloom tomato salad at Menton. Tamir Kalifa for The Boston Globe

February 15, 2019

2 minutes to read

On Thursday, AAA announced its list of best restaurants in North America, and 14 in Massachusetts made the cut.

The AAA divides its accolades into Four Diamond and Five Diamond categories, with the latter being the highest rating the organization can bestow. Of almost 32,000 AAA Inspected & Approved restaurants, 67 restaurants, or 0.2 percent, lay claim to Five Diamond status.

Massachusetts is home to three Five Diamond establishments, and three additional spots in New England were also honorees.

“Attaining the Five Diamond Rating is an impressive accomplishment,” Michael Petrone, director of AAA Inspections & Diamond Ratings, said in an announcement. “To be considered leading edge, chefs must incorporate a laser-focused approach using innovative concepts and menus featuring the finest ingredients.”

By contrast, 656 restaurants, accounting for 2.1 percent of those approved by AAA, were awarded with Four Diamond status. The announcement described these institutions as offering “a distinctive fine-dining experience, employing creative preparations that are skillfully served amid upscale ambience.”

Massachusetts was included 11 times on the Four Diamond list, including seven in Boston. Around New England, 22 restaurants also made the cut.

Check out the restaurants below.