America’s Most Celebrated Restaurant: The Inn at Little Washington

In the heart of Virginia's picturesque Shenandoah Valley in a storybook setting, The Inn at Little Washington presents a dining experience that is hailed "the gastronomic equivalent of sex." (Thank you, Zagat.) At this splendid country inn, somewhere between the first course of Carpaccio of Baby Lamb with Rosemary Mustard, the second course of Pecan-Crusted Soft Shell Crab Tempura with Italian Mustard Fruit, and the main course of Filet Mignon of Rarish Tuna Capped with Seared Duck Foie Gras on Charred Onions with a Burgundy Butter Sauce, it's not hard to see why this is the country's most exulted culinary destination. Even Alice Waters licks her chops over these entrees. The restaurant's 30 intimate tables are spoiled with an award-winning wine list (the 14,000 bottle cellar includes the finest selections from France and California) and plates that are devised by the legendary Chef Patrick O'Connell, dubbed the "Pope of American Cuisine."

And if you should harbor any doubts about the Inn's gastronomic excellence (God forbid), let's take a quick run through the award list. The first place ever to receive Mobil's 5 stars for its restaurant, and 5 stars for its accommodations. Likewise, a double whammy with AAA: the first joint to earn the prestigious 5 Diamond Award for both room and board. Top 10 Best Restaurants in the World by IHT. Zagat #1 restaurant in the fifty United States. And Travel and Leisure jumped on the band wagon with another #1 in America rating.