Every season of Unique Eats ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best seasons of Unique Eats!

We take you to some of the most unique eateries in New York City that are serving up their twist on comfort food staples. A rowdy meatball joint on the lower east side, a bustling restaurant serving knockout chicken and waffles in Brooklyn, an eco-friendly hot dog haven where the chef makes the condiments from scratch, and a burger and fries shack in the middle of the city that boasts lines down the block every day.

Comfort Foods

We'll find out why the burger at Minetta Tavern is the most talked about burger in town and what makes this eatery top everyone's reservation hot list. Plus, starred chef Daniel Boulud takes us inside his first downtown eatery for an international tour of his house-made sausages. And, there's nothing more unique than a restaurant that specializes in every kind of grilled meat imaginable - and it's all you can eat.

Meats

Desserts

These are places where the drink list may be long, but the dining is the real reason to visit. We meet the chef who brought the tradition of gastropubs over from England and experience her nose-to-tail cooking. Then, a gastropub that serves American favorites like hot dogs and tater tots, but this fare is far from the ordinary. Plus, a traditional German-style beer hall that boasts the best home-made charcuterie in town.

Gastropubs

The meals are hand-held at these hotspots, but the unique flavors are the big attraction. Authentic Mexican cuisine pioneer Rick Bayless celebrates Mexico's most beloved street food and snacks, while two brothers bring decadent Italian toasts to one of New York's hippest neighborhoods. A Top Chef winner turns traditional eastern-european cuisine on its head with inspirations from his own Scottish-Israeli heritage. And a former fine dining chef feeds the need for cheese on the streets of LA - one gourmet grilled cheese sandwich at a time.

Hand-Held Eats

Classic American fare gets the royal treatment at these extraordinary spots. Heavy-Metal inspired burgers piled high with the works, mouth-watering, stick-to-your-ribs barbecue in Brooklyn, a downtown L.A. hotspot taking American desserts to new heights, and the creamiest, craziest ice cream creations you can fit on a cone.

Americana

We take you on a gastro-tour of some of the most adventurous efforts in dining today. From a 9-course underground dinner party in Chicago to a double-decker bus serving gourmet comfort food on wheels, to an all-out Beef Seven Ways feast, these unique culinary adventures are not to be missed.

Adventure

Imagination roams free at these amazing dining spots, where food and fantasy meet. A pioneer chef in molecular gastronomy pushes the boundaries between food, science and art at WD-50, while culinary innovator Jose Andres offers up a collection of magical dining experiences entwined in an artistic Spanish-inspired setting at The Bazaar. And get an inside glimpse at an exclusive Hollywood speakeasy, serving "prohibition tea" and tea-inspired tastings to L.A.'s most elite eaters.

Food Fantasy

Take a tour of the most unique places and spaces in dining today - from a food truck serving the most delectable Korean/Mexican dishes on four wheels, to a LEED-certified bowling-alley-cum-music-venue boasting it's own special Blue Ribbon menu, to a locally-inspired private farm table dinner requiring reservations up to a year in advance.

Great Spaces

Classic Italian meets passion, authenticity and innovation at these noteworthy restaurants. Vetri has been called one of the best Italian restaurants in America, presenting simple, fresh, authentic Italian dishes in utterly unique. Chef Nate Appleman, brings gourmet savory and dessert pizzas to Pulino's from brunch to late night, and Porchetta's Sara Jenkins brings this Italian street-food to a tiny Lower East side store front, where "drop-dead-delicious" pork draws a steady stream of the hip and hungry.

Italian

Indulge your weekend cravings at some of the most unique brunch spots from the nation's capitol, to New York, to the Pacific Northwest. Check out a do-it yourself pancake house, savor Italian versions of brunch favorites, dive into over-the-top sweets, and treat yourself to an upscale brunch you won't forget.

Brunch

These are eateries that serve food late into the night, and they are definitely worth staying up late for.

Late-Night Eats

We'll take you from coast to coast to taste the most unique cupcakes in the country. Indulge in artisanal cupcakes paired with beer and wine, stuff yourself with custard-filled cupcakes, take a trip to the frosting bar and create your own unique combination, and take your cupcakes to go...

Cupcakes

We highlight some of the most unique takes on southern home cooking. From fiery hot chicken in Brooklyn, to southern heavies that are actually light and healthy, to a decadent southern Sunday brunch in Portland, and a "Meat and Three" supper in Atlanta you'll want every night of the week.

Southern Favorites

Come see what's between the buns at these burger joints that are taking the American classic to the next level. Whether it's with foie gras in Philly, pimento cheese in Atlanta, umami in Los Angeles or truffles in New York.

Burgers

If you like ice cream, you will be wowed by these unique treats. How about bourbon and corn flakes flavored scoops at Humphry Slocombe? Or the sweets at Sweet Rose Creamery where everything from the cones to the chocolate chips are made from scratch? And don't forget to visit the Dairy Godmother for unique ice pop flavors like grilled pineapple and pink peppercorn.

Ice Cream

We'll show you unique sandwiches from across the country and the people who make them so special. A Jewish Deli in New York with roots with Montreal is serving up their signature smoked meat. Classically trained French chefs in San Francisco are upgrading some Asian classics while just down the street a hands-on chef from Massachusetts is making everything from scratch. And in Portland, three friends from North Carolina are turning out the best biscuit sandwiches in town.

Sandwiches

Give in to your chocolate cravings at these hotspots that make everything you could ever desire in chocolate! From gourmet confections like chocolate fleur de sel toffee, nostalgic baked treats like whoopie pies, outrageous hand formed chocolate salamis, and chocolate sea salt crostatas. These handmade chocolate treats will tantalize your tastebuds.

Chocolate

These unique eateries churn out some of the best street foods on the planet. Enjoy authentic Thai dishes in Portland. Feast on succulent chicken and porchetta from a rolling rotisserie truck in San Francisco. Bite into coconut jam sandwiches in Los Angeles and grab a Belgian waffle to go in Portland.

Street Food

Farm to table dining has certainly swept the nation, but these locations take the idea of farm to table to the extreme. At Blue Hill at Stone Barns, they take farming to a scientific and educational level, and then turn the fruits of their labor into fine dining. At Dinners at the Farm, you dine under the stars on the very farm where the ingredients were picked moments ago. And at Ubuntu, where the plates are like works of art, even meat eaters eat their vegetables...and love it.

Extreme Farm to Table

Check out creativity at its best at these eateries where it's not just about the food, but also the unique drinks. A java boutique where coffee drinks come in the most unique flavors; A brew pub where the beer menu reads like a book and the ales are used in the dishes too; to Mexican eatery shaking up margaritas and mezcals in unusual combinations, and a prohibition style gin joint where even the ice is carefully crafted.

Drinks

Everything is better with cheese, and these restaurants will show you why. Take a tour of a cheese cave and enjoy a world-renowned fondue and cheesecake in New York. Find out how many cheeses can fit into one macaroni and cheese dish in Connecticut. And enjoy some of the most unique and sought-after grilled cheese sandwiches in San Francisco.

Cheese

Small plates with big flavors are the attraction at these restaurants. Enjoy Peruvian seafood specialties by the bay in San Francisco, Mediterranean favorites in Los Angeles, new twists on low country classics in Charleston, South Carolina, and Japanese grilled bites in New York.

Small Plates

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to dive into some of the most unique seafood dishes. A traditional oyster roast and seafood boil prepared right on the water in Charleston, South Carolina. A New York City restaurant that features twenty-five different mussel pots, complete with French fries and bread to sop up all the unique flavors. A cozy restaurant in the heart of Boston's North End where you can get two different lobster rolls and lobster spaghetti. And Montreal, where a Texas chef adds global flavors to his seafood menu.

Seafood

Find out where all the foodies go to fill their bellies with the best dumplings and noodles in Chicago. Take a seat at the bar and be dazzled by Japanese robata-style cooking in New York City's East Village. Sample creative Chinese cooking like tea-smoked chicken, salt and pepper shrimp and steamed duck egg custards in North Carolina. And step inside a funky retro diner in Boston where a husband and wife team are serving up innovative Cantonese and Taiwanese dishes.

Asian

Deli by day, intimate restaurant at night, Torrisi Italian Specialities in New York's Little Italy neighborhood is celebrating Italian-American food but peppered with many modern and delicious twists. Joan's on Third is the go-to gourmet deli in Los Angeles where you can rub elbows with celebrities while devouring a grilled cheese short rib sandwich. The humble hot dog gets a culinary upgrade at Neal's Deli in North Carolina. And for Jewish delicatessen classics just like bubby used to make, step into Eleven City Diner in Chicago.

Delis

Pull up a barstool at these unique pubs, where the food is delicious and daring. Joe Beef in Montreal for their signature creamy lobster spaghetti, rich Swedish Meatballs and indulgent Foie Gras Double D. Longman & Eagle in Chicago where there is a critically acclaimed gastropub downstairs and a cozy inn upstairs. Citizen Public House in Boston for the Carpetbagger: filet mignon with fried oysters and oyster butter. It's a step back in time at Henry Public in Brooklyn, New York for preprohibition cocktails and comfort foods like braised turkey sandwiches, and made-to-order doughnuts.

Pubs

The beloved American comfort food is raised to new culinary heights. At Jane in Montreal, the thick, sweet, chewy pizza crust is a tribute to their city's bagels and they're covered with wild combinations like macaroni and cheese with meatballs, and smoked meat, cheddar and pickles. At Domenica in New Orleans, pizzas are baked in a wood-burning, rotating oven and some are topped with rare Mangalista pork. Pizza lovers cram into Great Lake in Chicago where they feature only three pizzas, and none of them are deep dish. And Neapolitan-style pizza is celebrated in the most delicious ways at Motorino in Brooklyn, New York.

Pizza

It's a delicious taste of barbecue across America. Whether you like it pulled or chopped, you're guaranteed the best whole hog sandwich made by a legendary pit master in North Carolina. See why people line up early at an Austin eatery that serves the very best Central Texas-style brisket, ribs and something called the "Tipsy Texan." Follow the smoke signals to New Orleans where three Southern brothers cook barbecue tacos and smoked pork cakes in a one hundred year old house. And big global flavors mingle with barbecue at a small restaurant in Williamsburg, New York.

Featuring neighborhood gems that over time have become restaurant legends with a cult following. Willie Mae's Scotch House in New Orleans where they make "America's Best Fried Chicken." Garde Manger in Old Montreal where Chuck Hughes wows his customers with his seafood troughs and lobster poutines. Hominy Grill in South Carolina for the best low country classics morning, noon and night. And Olivia Restaurant where the folks of Austin have their weekend brunch.

Neighborhood Gems

Whether you like it fried, roasted, grilled or smoked, we've got a chicken dish you will want to sink your teeth into. Two different styles of Korean fried chicken are the delicious draw at Crisp in Chicago. Approximately 5000 people come to Wright's Farm in Rhode Island on the weekend for their ten dollar, all-you-can-eat roast chicken dinner. Romados in Montreal specializes in Portuguese rotisserie grilled chicken that's slathered with a top-secret sauce. And at Hill Country in New York, chickens and game hens are smoked with Texas post oak and the chickens are dunked in a sticky sweet and tangy barbecue sauce.

Chicken

If you're hungry for big flavors without breaking the bank, these unique cheap eats will deliver. In the windy city, a honky-tonk whiskey bar serves amazing tacos, and a small restaurant dresses house-made haute hot dogs and sausages with global flavors. In downtown New York, students flock to a delicious Cambodian sandwich shop the size of a dorm room. And in Williamsburg, New York, a quirky Venezuelan restaurant offers seventeen different arepas that will fill you up quickly.

Cheap Eats

You don't have to go all the way to Europe to have the best bistro fare. In Los Angeles, a hip new restaurant updates French bistro classics. In Boston, seafood is highlighted in the famous Provencal dish bouillabaisse. La Fourchette in South Carolina celebrates hearty French countryside dishes.

Bistro

Longing to take that lunch break? These unique restaurants will encourage you to step out of the office and linger over a leisurely lunch. M. Wells in Long Island City, New York looks like a diner, but there is nothing ordinary about the food and atmosphere. At Parish Cafe in Boston, all the sandwiches are created by a famous local chef. At Valencia Luncheria in Norwalk, Connecticut one bite of the arepa or empanada lunch plate will transport you to the beaches of Venezuela. And in New Orleans, time seems to stop at Boucherie Restaurant so that you can enjoy your po' boys and glazed doughnut bread pudding.

Lunch Spots

It's the ultimate guilty pleasure. At La Banquise in Montreal, choose from twenty-five different topping to go with your poutine (French fries, cheese curds and gravy). Also in Montreal, a fish and chips shop that offers different fish and unique batters like orange soda and maple syrup. In Brooklyn, New York fried risotto balls go gourmet with unique sweet and savory fillings. And in Austin, Texas big fat doughnuts are piled high with the craziest combinations like deconstructed peach cobbler and fried chicken and honey butter.

Fried Food

Some of the country's best wine bars are serving innovative small plates to go with your glass or bottle. Simple, rustic Italian dishes shine at Terroir in Tribeca, New York. At the Purple Pig in Chicago, a young chef impresses with his Mediterranean menu. At Cochon Butcher in New Orleans, shop for provisions and then have a delicious bite to eat and a glass of wine to sip. And at Max's Wine Dive in Austin, the portions and flavors of their American comfort food menu is anything but small.

Wine Bars

Forget the traditional hamburger, these meals between with bun are truly unique.

Between the Bun

We discover amazing Mexican food, with a twist. Dive into a Mexican brunch in Boulder, Colorado. Then find out how one chef in New York is really breaking the mold. Feast on small delicacies in Washington D.C., and then head to Cleveland for a grocery store-turned Mexican food hot spot.

Mexican

When you're out having a drink, you gotta have food to soak it up. So why not dig into something beautifully prepared, utterly unique, and yet still sinfully delicious? Taste a devilish concoction called The New Luther, a hearty and addictive steak and kidney pie, a total twist on chicken wings, and a curious bar snack called Num Nuts.

Bar Food

We travel across the country to visit great getaways where the food is just as worthy of the trip as the lodging itself. From a luxury seaside spa and restaurant, to a romantic getaway nestled in the woods, to a summer camp for grown ups serving unique dishes fresh from the local farms and sea.

Eat & Sleep

Maine is the great American vacation spot, and a fantastic food destination.

Maine Weekend

Excite your palate with a gastronomical weekend in California Wine Country. Indulge in fried chicken at the more casual sister restaurant of a local legend, twirl your fork through unique pasta dishes, make room for amazing Mexican fare done right, and find out how a "Truckstop Deluxe" fits right in, even in the Napa Valley.

Wine Country Weekend

These are eateries that have quickly become famous food destinations. From Ogunquit , Maine, to Cleveland Ohio, to Baltimore Maryland, and San Francisco, these restaurants showcase unique and pioneering dishes that turn first time customers into long-time fans.

Local Legends

You don't need to sacrifice taste to eat cheap at these joints. We're off to Cleveland Ohio for a pulled pork PBLT and squash dumplings; Brooklyn, New York for an outdoor food market with a bevy of satisfying BBQ and biscuits, Washington D.C. for spicy Asian fare, and finally Austin, Texas where the weird tastes wonderful.

Dirt Cheap & Delicious

This takes food back to its roots - cooked by open flames but in new and inspiring ways. We discover the most unique dish to come out of the ashes, dive into Dungeness Crab from a coal stoked grill, savor skewers licked by flames, and devour delights from a wood burning oven.

Food by Fire

Spend a food-filled weekend in Portland, Oregon, where up and coming innovators meet local legends. A breakfast of baked eggs and tomato stew; your favorite comfort foods turned into dumplings; duck crepes and black garlic bread pudding, and Asian street food turned on its head.

Portland Weekend

Forget ordinary pasta with red sauce, in this episode we visit restaurants that are turning out pasta dishes like nothing you've tasted before. Like Cacao Tajarin in San Francisco or Plum Gnocchi in Boulder, plus mouth-watering and unique pasta plates in New York and Seattle.

Pasta

We spend a weekend in the city of Brotherly Love and discover some truly unique eats. From exciting Spanish tapas to gut-busting Philly-style sandwiches, an osteria creating inventive Italian classics and an eatery dedicated to fried chicken and doughnuts -- you'll feel as though you have tasted your way across the world.

Philadelphia Weekend

We travel from the east coast to the west, discovering restaurants that are creating truly innovative dishes with vegetables. This isn't just about a healthy diet, this is about completely changing the way you eat your veggies.

Eat Your Veggies

Dive into the most unique variations of your favorite comfort foods. Double the fun with a pie that's filled with macaroni and cheese, crunch on nachos with a Japanese twist, indulge in doughnuts filled with jelly and fois gras, or end your meal with a good old fashioned chocolate cupcake... with bacon.

Craving Comfort

Take a tour of restaurants with unique takes on seafood standards. In Philadelphia, oysters are smoked with hay, in Portland Oregon you can savor a potpie filled with local fish and shellfish. And how about a fish sandwich like you've never had before? It's all about the ocean's bounty served in the most one-of-a-kind way.

Find out what the buzz is all about at these dining hot spots across the country. From a San Francisco legend where they're taking Chinese food and turning it on its head, to a New York City favorite where American classics get a twist, to a cozy Portland, Oregon favorite where the menu changes every night. After this, you'll be calling for a reservation.

Hot Spots

Join us for a trip down memory lane as we discover restaurants serving dishes that reminiscent of the old days, but with a deliciously modern twist. A renowned chef updates the Asian dishes from his childhood. Another takes good old British pub fare and throws in a curve ball. And then there are savory pies brought to a whole new level, and American BBQ that will reawaken your taste buds.

Nostalgic Noshes

Romantic Spots

Global

We're celebrating the best of all worlds with restaurants that mix different ethnic traditions to create new and unique flavors. A chef in Houston combines Texas tradition with Italian standards. In Las Vegas, burgers are flavored with Asian ingredients. Japanese-Peruvian dishes are all the buzz at a Los Angeles hot spot. It's a mouth-watering journey of culinary mash-ups.

Mash-Ups

We're visiting hot spots around the country that are literally spicing it up in the kitchen. From dishes that will set your mouth on fire, to plates with just enough heat to make your eyes water, find out why people keep coming back for more.

Hot & Spicy

Go off the beaten path in this episode and visit extraordinary eateries that are unknown to the average tourist. A rustic Italian restaurant in Staten Island where the nonnas are in charge, a perfect pizza joint outside the bright lights of Las Vegas, a dining destination only for those in the know in Hawaii, and a cool spot for shaved ice under the palm trees.

Off The Grid

Everyone knows Vegas for its bright lights, humming slot machines, and big shows. But if you play your cards right, you can also eat at some of the most interesting, delicious and unique restaurants. We're going on and off the strip to discover those eateries. After this, you'll be convinced to spend an evening outside of the casino.

Vegas

We're taking a trip to the 50th state for an indulgent culinary weekend. Find out which chefs and which restaurants make Hawaii a true foodie destination. From unique takes on traditional Hawaiian seafood to inventive drinks to keep you cool beachside, it's a palate-pleasing trip through paradise.

Polynesian Paradise

Spend 36 hours in Houston with us for a unique culinary tour of the most innovative restaurants. Whether it's big Texas beef plates, or spicy Tex-Mex mash-ups, this is a feast that will have you booking your ticket to the Lone Star State right away.

Houston Weekend

We feature restaurants who are pushing the envelope on some of America's beloved comfort foods. Plan Check in Los Angeles, CA offers the most indulgent burgers, fried chicken, and pastrami sandwiches, plus a unique towering donut dessert. A food truck in Nashville, TN uses big fat biscuits for hearty sweet and savory sandwiches. Cold fried chicken and baked potatoes are transformed into imaginative pizzas at Pete Zaaz in Brooklyn, NY. And in Atlanta, GA guilty pleasures can be found in creative hot dogs, sausages and fries at HD1.

Guilty Pleasures

Yardbird in Miami gives a taste of the true south with its unique fried chicken and fried green tomatoes. Dinic's in Philadelphia's Reading Terminal has been serving up some of the best old school sandwiches to crowds for decades. In New York, old school meats new school at Quality Meats steakhouse, and La Camaronera in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami honors a family seafood tradition.

Old School

Atlanta is a hotbed for unique eats. Heirloom Market BBQ brings together Korean and American barbecue in a quirky roadside eatery. Seafood dishes are brought to delicious new heights at swank newcomer The Optimist. Cozy corner restaurant One Eared Stag serves edgy American food. And Abattoir adds global touches to Southern dishes.

Hotlanta

Americans continues to pine over all things swine. Korean restaurant Palsaik in Los Angeles serves bacon in eight different flavors. Martin's Bar-B-Q in Nashville smokes whole hog right in the center of their dining room. At Cemitas Puebla in Chicago, diners sink their teeth on quesadillas stuffed with chicharones or their signature Mexican sandwich stuffed with sliced deli ham, fried pork and grilled pork. NYC's The Cannibal celebrates nose-to-tail eating with their whole slow-roasted half pig's head, whipped lardo toast and boudin noir sausages.

Swine

Chicago continues to draw hungry foodies from all corners of the country with their innovative restaurants. Publican Quality Meats sells farm-raised meats and housemade charcuterie from their butcher counter, but the real draw is the hearty, meat-filled sandwiches. Yusho creates a buzz with their creative Asian-inspired street food. Antique Taco in Wicker Park offers authentic Mexican tacos and classic American comforts foods with a Mexican twist. Familiar brunch dishes get a fine-dining makeover at the Trenchermen.

Chi-Town

Innovators

Modern Italian

Reinvention

New Asian

Why not sample everything on the menu when it comes in the form of small bites?

Small Bites

Perla in New York City's West Village; Baco Mercat in downtown Los Angeles; Merchants Restaurant in downtown Nashville.

Hot Lunch Spots

Balaboosta in NYC; Riff's Fine Street Food in Nashville; Cook's Torta in L.A.; Pecking Order in Chicago.

Ethnic Eats

Krescendo's Finoccio Flower Power Pizza; Court Street Grocers' deli sandwich; La Vara's Spanish food; Pies-n-Thighs' fried chicken.

Brooklyn Rising

Unique Eats is a TV series on Cooking Channel about various restaurants across the United States and their signature dishes. The show features talking head interviews with various chefs and food critics who give their judgement about the foods. Each episode focuses on one theme, such as "comfort foods" or "desserts".

The Best Seasons of Unique Eats

The Best Seasons of Unique Eats

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6