The 50 best restaurants in America

A great meal at an outstanding restaurant can be a life-changing experience. But with new places popping up every day, it can be difficult to decide which spots are worth your time — and hard-earned cash.

We combined six noteworthy lists compiled by food critics, experts, and diners to come up with a definitive ranking of the best restaurants in the country.

We gave each restaurant a numerical rating based on how many lists the restaurant appeared on and how high it appeared on lists that were ranked. Restaurants that appeared on multiple lists ranked higher on our list, while restaurants that ranked on only one of these lists ended up closer to the bottom. For restaurants that tied, we broke down the rankings based on reviews, price, and our own editorial discretion. Read the complete breakdown of the methodology here.

The lists we used were The Daily Meal's 101 Best Restaurants in America 2016, OpenTable's 100 Hottest Restaurants in America for 2016, The World's 50 Best Restaurants, the James Beard Foundation's 2016 Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists, Eater's The National 38, and the Michelin Guide.

Read on to check out the best places to eat across America:

SEE ALSO: Here's how we ranked the best restaurants in America

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50. Everest

Chef: J. Joho

Location: Chicago, Illinois

At Everest, which holds one Michelin star, guests can choose between the seven-course degustation menu, the seven-course vegetarian menu, or three- and four-course prix-fixe menus.

Each selection treats guests to elegant French dishes, like magret duck served with marinated turnips, or slow-braised wild sea bass accompanied by artichokes and leeks.

49. Trois Mec

Chef: Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo

Location: Los Angeles, California

At Trois Mec, a collaboration among chefs Ludo Lefebvre, John Shook, and Vinny Dotolo, guests get in by tickets instead of reservations.

You'll need to be a registered user on their website to try and snag a ticket, but once you do, you'll be treated to elegant dishes like Dungeness crab ceviche and beef tenderloin with smoked peanut butter.

48. Highlands Bar and Grill

Chef: Frank and Pardis Stitt

Location: Birmingham, Alabama

Savory dishes and impeccable service has made Highlands Bar and Grill a favorite in Birmingham since it first opened its doors in 1982.

The iconic spot shifts its menu daily to incorporate fresh, seasonal ingredients — think summers filled with okra soft-shell crab and winters of root vegetables and venison — that merge French techniques with Southern flavors.