What Are AAA Diamond Restaurants?

When planning a trip, many travelers look for comfortable accommodations, memorable experiences and dining options that allow them to fully relax and enjoy their trip. AAA Diamond-designated restaurants can help enhance that experience by offering a higher level of service and quality, as well as peace of mind that their choice of dining will meet expectations.

Earning a AAA Diamond-designation requires meeting detailed standards and maintaining a consistent level of excellence via an in-person inspection by a AAA Inspector. Restaurants that receive this recognition are noted for their attention to detail, quality of ingredients and overall guest experience, reflecting a continued commitment to thoughtful service and well-prepared meals.

If you're planning a trip, you can trust that you'll have a high-quality meal and experience at these locations. Whether you're seeking a AAA Diamond-designated New York City restaurant or the very best restaurants in Los Angeles, AAA Diamond Inspectors have done the leg work ahead of time, so you'll know where to go when you visit.

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The AAA Diamond-designation isn't just a name. It's backed by decades of in-person evaluations and a commitment to excellence by the restaurants and properties that participate in the program.

Whether you're traveling to the Caribbean, enjoying a meal on a day trip close to home or visiting Cancun, Mexico, you'll know where to go to get a superior dining experience. By prioritizing dining at Diamond-designated restaurants, you'll be assured of higher quality offerings when you're traveling.

AAA Inspectors work to conduct anonymous visits to the properties to give them these evaluations. AAA began the process 80 years ago and continues to set the highest standards for locations that meet the official guidelines. These are stringent guidelines created with AAA members in mind.

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To obtain a Diamond-designation, each restaurant must pass inspection on 13 requirements that include categories of cleanliness and condition, management and style of operation and exterior and public areas.

The evaluation for Diamond restaurants includes:

There are many other very specific elements focused on to evaluate each location. Then, a designation is determined based on just how well each location reaches the high standards set. Here's a look at how the Diamond ratings occur:

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You'll find AAA Five Diamond-designated restaurants throughout North America and select locations in the Caribbean and Central America, including Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Below, we share a few restaurants that currently hold a Five Diamond-designation in North America.

Atomix is an upscale Korean restaurant offering a chef's tasting menu and exceptional beverage pairings. You'll find a location led by a husband-and-wife team – Chef Junghyun and manager Ellia Park. The location honors traditional Korean traditions and techniques in everything it creates. With notable awards and recognitions, this upscale, Five Diamond-designated location is nothing short of impressive.

If you're planning a trip to Calistoga, California, a visit to the AAA Five Diamond-designated Auro is in order. An exceptionally designed and well-awarded restaurant, Executive Chef Evan Neumann heads a team of professionals in the kitchen. Known for turning hyper-seasonal Napa Valley ingredients into lavish, seven-course meals of American cuisine, this location is highly refined. There's a mix of French technique, Mexican and Japanese flavors and outstanding talent in each dish.

As sophisticated as expected, Atlas is noted for its artfully created and plated American food made from seasonal ingredients. A sophisticated setting within the St. Regis Atlanta hotel, it's a venue filled with 20th-century upscale features. Led by Chef and Culinary Director Freddy Money, the location is highly sought after. The menu stems from collaborations with select local farms and select international purveyors.

A polished eatery that offers contemporary international fare, Mugen is a secret treasure. If you're traveling to Honolulu and want excellent craft cocktails and exclusive meals, this is a destination to visit. This immersive experience offers an interactive tasting menu, where every course allows you to savor new and innovative flavors. It has a global fusion design, using unique ingredients. Mugen is led by Chef Colin Sato.

Noted for its famed original chef, Emeril's is more than spice. With a Creole menu, it is the only AAA Five Diamond-designated restaurant located in the state. Led by Chef Patron E.J. Lagasse, the son of the food TV star, the location was revitalized in 2021. The team offers a refined, elegant experience. With a focus on modern Creole cooking and preparation methods, this is the type of destination that empowers the taste buds with new, exciting flavors in a beautiful, modern setting.

There's something exquisite about Jungsick, a tour-de-force fusion restaurant that blends European and Asian cuisine together. This fine-dining establishment offers a multi-course menu with elegance and beauty, along with superb cocktails to match. With limited availability and private experiences planned with careful attention, a visit to Jungsick is the perfect celebration of food. With a Korean focus, this restaurant allows you to experience combinations of flavor you simply cannot find anywhere else.

Quite a unique and artful expression of experiences, Jean-Georges Philadelphia allows guests to dine above the clouds with panoramic views of the city. It's located within the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center. With an exclusive menu curated by Chef de Cuisine Colin Henderson, you can expect a truly unforgettable meal featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared by world-class professionals.

Recognized as one of the best fine dining experiences in New England, Aurelia at Castle Hill sits in the historic Agassiz Mansion at Castle Hill Inn. It's tucked into forty acres of property with centuries-old stories. Guests enjoy a view of the Narragansett Bay while enjoying freshly sourced seafood from the Aquidneck Island area. It's filled with history and beauty and the menu is carefully created with precision.

Mixtli is the only Five Diamond-designated restaurant in San Antonio and one of the most satisfying experiences you can have. It takes Mexican cuisine to the next level by mixing its environmental attributes from the Rocky Mountains to the humid jungles. The menu offers a gastronomic tour of the country, providing guests with a whirlwind experience as they enjoy food from coast to coast with traditional appeal. The menu changes often, but it focuses on the history and culture of the Mexican people in its most authentic form.

When you're traveling north of the American border to Quebec, visit Le Hatley Restaurant. Quintessentially French in flavor, Le Hatley Restaurant sits at Manoir Hovey, in the Relais & Châteaux property. Their culinary goal is to take guests on a tour of the seven district seasonal flavor profiles known for this area. From its rivers, lakes, forests and fields, guests enjoy incredible views of the lake and English gardens while enjoying amazing food. It's also highly noted for its exceptional wine offerings and pairings.

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