RARE Steakhouse
Madison, WI
3 units With locations in Madison, Milwaukee and Washington, D.C., RARE Steakhouse has quickly established itself as one of the premier dining experiences in each market it operates in.
Founding Farmers
Washington, DC
7 units Providing scratch-made, responsibly sourced American food isn’t new. Doing so under an ownership model that brings the farmers to the table—excuse the wordplay—is. The brand is poised to hit 10 units in 2019.
The Ainsworth
New York, NY
7 units All of The Ainsworth’s locations offer classic American fare, signature cocktails, and stimulating decor in a mixed space of restaurant, bar, lounge and events areas.
Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill
Portland, OR
8 units Getting local is the Lion’s specialty—each location caters to its market, with queso in Texas and charcuterie in the Northwest. Giving guests a true gastropub experience is leading the Lion to expand.
Public School On Tap
Woodland Hills, CA
8 units This chef-driven gastropub delivers an education in the art of food and beer. Is it the Bacon Cheddar Tots, known affectionately as “infamous” by the restaurant, that’s pushing the brand to expand?
b Restaurants—burgers.beer.bourbon
Hartford, CT
9 units It has taken b Restaurants the last decade to expand to nine locations, but the next couple of years are heating up for the brand that was founded in 2006 around the belief that great food and drink bring people together.
Babalu
Roswell, GA
9 units After its founding in 2010, Babalu has taken the Southeast by storm using hyper-local produce and products for its made-from-scratch dishes. Each Latin-inspired dish has unique Southern flair.
Zea Rotisserie & Grill
New Orleans, LA
9 units Started in 1997 by three New Orleans chefs inspired by rotisserie cooking in Europe, Zea has continued to turn out fresh menus that delight guests at an affordable price point.
Piola
Miami, FL
10 units The Italian brand landed in the U.S. with its headquarters in Miami and has locations in four states. Piola means “meeting point” in Piedmontese (a Venetian dialect) and is bringing Americans to the table for authentic, artisanal pizza.
Pinstripes Bistro Bowling Bocce
Chicago, IL
10 units Pairing an upscale Italian-American menu with bowling and bocce has been a recipe for success at Pinstripes, which expects to expand to 15 units in 2019.
The Matador
Seattle, WA
11 units Scratch-made Mexican cuisine and an assortment of tequilas are behind the Matador’s drive to develop new markets in its five-state footprint.
Stoney River Steakhouse
Nashville, TN
12 units Beef accounts for 70 percent of sales at Stoney River Steakhouse, a J. Alexander brand that takes its steaks very seriously.
Redlands Grill
Nashville, TN
12 units Another J. Alexander brand, Redlands Grill has been slowly taking over J. Alexander locations, with at least two more on the way this year.
Blue Sushi Sake Grill
Omaha, NE