Figaretti’s Italian Restaurant in Wheeling, West Virginia, opened in 1949 and is still operated by the same family. | Photo courtesy of James Beard Foundation.
Six long-running restaurants are recipients of the James Beard Foundation’s 2026 America’s Classics Award. The locally owned, multi-generational independents represent distinct regions of the country and are notable for their timeless appeal, quality food and impact on their communities.
“The America’s Classics are national treasures that symbolize the legacy and importance of independent restaurants,” said Dawn Padmore, VP of awards for the James Beard Foundation, in a statement. “Our Classics embody what American food culture is all about and testify to the impact that restaurants and their teams have in our communities—from local economies to a sense of place and the moments where we mark milestones in our lives.”
Here’s a look at the 2026 award winners:
The Serving Spoon, Inglewood, California; Current owners: Justin Johnson and Jessica Bane
This breakfast-and-lunch favorite was founded in 1983 by Harold E. Sparks. In 2004, his daughter Angela and her husband, J.C. Johnson, took over ownership, with the third generation, Sparks’ grandchildren Justin Johnson and Jessica Bane, running it today. The family-owned restaurant has served as a social and cultural anchor for the Black community in Los Angeles for over 40 years.
The menu features combination platters of fried catfish, fried chicken and salmon croquettes served with slabs of buttered cornbread and Southern sides such as grits, macaroni and cheese and candied yams. Grandpa’s recipes, large portions and warm hospitality from the tight-knit staff have built a loyal following of regulars.
Oyster House, Philadelphia; Current owner: Sam Mink
Three generations of the Mink family have been proprietors of Oyster House since 1947, passing from Samuel Mink to his son David, to grandson Sam. Iconic dishes like sherried snapper soup and a combo plate of fried oysters and chicken salad reflect 18th and 19th century Philadelphia seafood restaurants, and the raw bar and lobster rolls are legendary.
But the menu also caters to more modern tastes. Crudos, grilled fish and preps like halibut glazed in black garlic are offered along with the signature crab cakes, fisherman’s stew and butterscotch pudding. Oyster House customers represent a broad swath of Philadelphians, from families to power lunchers and the bar crowd enjoying oysters on the half shell and martinis.
Johnny’s Café, Omaha, Nebraska; Current owners: Sally Kawa, Kari Kawa Harding and Jack Kawa
This 103-year-old Omaha institution has been in the same family for three generations, started by Frank Kawa, a Polish immigrant, in 1922. While steaks are the main attraction, the family’s culinary roots shine through in the Polish vinaigrette (bottled and sold at retail) and a complimentary appetizer of a peppery, spreadable cottage cheese-inspired dip similar to Polish gzik.
Expertly grilled rib-eyes, scratch-made fried onion rings, icy martinis and crème de menthe sundaes define the enduring Midwest steakhouse menu, all served in a comfy dining room. The well-preserved décor, including longhorn door pulls, T-bone shaped joists and saddle bar stools, evokes Nebraska’s ranching heritage.
Eng’s, Kingston, New York; Current owners: Tom and Faye Sit
Eng’s was Kingston’s first Chinese restaurant, founded in 1927 by Jimmi Eng and his son, Paul. Husband-and-wife team Tom and Faye Sit operate the restaurant now, carrying on the Chinese-American tradition with a menu including house-made egg rolls, pu pu platters and Singapore-style chow mei fun noodles.
Tom Sit, now in his 80s, has been at the helm for 50-plus years and continues to work in the restaurant every day. He began at Eng’s as a cook in 1974, having fled China during the Cultural Revolution. He took over ownership of the restaurant a few years later and continues the popular buffet nights and live music program long cherished by Kingston families.
Figaretti’s Italian Restaurant, Wheeling, West Virginia; Current owner: Dino Figaretti
Sicilian immigrant Anna Figaretti started making spaghetti sauce for her Italian neighbors, and the demand for the family recipe prompted her, along with her sons, to open Figaretti’s in 1949. Three generations and nearly 80 years later, the restaurant remains a mecca for authentic Italian food.
Customers come to Figaretti’s for “epic” lasagna and other pastas, house-made sausage and slow-cooked sauces, like the garlic marinara. Steaks and seafood, including the restaurant’s famous black mussels in olive oil and garlic, are also draws. But the restaurant has also earned a well-deserved reputation for its legacy in serving the community by feeding first responders during emergencies and support of the Special Olympics.
Bob Taylor’s Ranch House, Las Vegas; Current owner: Jeff Special
In 1955, Bob Taylor’s Ranch House Supper Club opened northwest of downtown, far away from what would become the glitzy Las Vegas Strip. Bob Taylor himself tended the fire pit, flipping steaks over the mesquite grill. The restaurant’s name was eventually shortened to Bob Taylor’s Ranch House and it claims the honor of being the oldest operating steakhouse in Las Vegas.
The menu is much the same as it was back then: mesquite-grilled steaks, slow-smoked prime rib, shrimp scampi and a selection of hearty entrees. Live fire cooking is a top trend today, but Bob Taylor was there cooking steaks that way decades ago.
This year’s six winners join the more than 100 restaurants across the country that have received the America’s Classic Award since the category’s inception in 1998. They will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 15, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
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