These Restaurants Are The Most Fascinating In CA, Food Site Says

LOS ANGELES, CA — Diners who want both good food and a restaurant that tells a story should head to Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood and Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino, according to a food site's inventory of "The Most Fascinating Restaurant In Every State."

Food Love, whose content includes recipes, food news, and opinion pieces, ranked the selections. Some states had more than one restaurant in the ranking. Illinois had three, and Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maine and New York each had two on the list.

Musso & Frank Grill ranked ninth among the 58 restaurants on the list.

"The worn leather booths of this Hollywood landmark could tell more than a few tales," Food Love wrote. "Established in 1919, Musso's has long been a favorite with the A-list, and it's seen everyone from Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe to William Faulkner and F. Scott Fitzgerald pass through its doors. The menu has barely changed since it first opened; expect classic dishes like chicken pot pie, tender steaks, oyster stew, and Welsh rarebit."

Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino ranked 33rd. The eatery opened in 1937.

"Some say that Taco Bell wouldn't exist without Mitla Cafe – although they’ll also tell you that Taco Bell is nowhere near as good," Food Love wrote. "Glen Bell, who would go on to found the chain, once worked across the street from this Mexican eatery; he eventually befriended its owners and patrons, and he took inspiration from the café’s fried tortillas with simple fillings."

The selections were based on user reviews, awards and accolades, and first-hand experience by members of the Food Love team.

“There are countless restaurants in America that tell a story – whether it's because they were beloved by presidents or film stars, because they reflect the state's own fascinating history, or because they were the birthplace of a dish that went on to become iconic," Food Love wrote.

Tennessee's Prince's Hot Chicken in Nashville topped the ranking. As the story goes, its spicy fried chicken "was invented after Thornton Prince's scorned lover tried to take revenge on him by adding a significant amount of chili and spice to his favorite fried chicken," the site said. "Far from hating it, he loved it – and he spent his time perfecting the recipe before opening his own restaurant."

Rounding out the top five were:

No. 2 Gianni's at the Villa, in Miami, Florida, housed in the mansion where fashion designer Gianni Versace lived – and died;

No. 3 Katz's Delicatessen in New York City, founded in 1888 and featured in films and television shows, including the famous Meg Ryan scene in "When Harry Met Sally";

No. 4 Golden Steer Steakhouse in Las Vegas, Nevada, whose famous diners have included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio and Natalie Wood; and

No. 5 The Griswold Inn In Essex, Connecticut, built in 1776 to house shipyard workers who worked on the first warship for the American Revolution and steeped in local and national history since.