NEW YORK -- From Vegas to Brooklyn, Saveur magazine's April issue offers a list of "12 restaurants that matter."

The restaurants are:

• Joel Rubuchon in Las Vegas, lauded as "the acclaimed chef's first haute French restaurant on American soil."

• Sportello in Boston, described as "an Italian lunch counter" with pastas renowned for their "delicacy and subtlety of flavor."

• Commander's Palace in New Orleans, "an exuberant example of the glories of New Orleans dining."

• Topolobampo, Chicago's "high temple of Mexican cuisine" where the Obamas were known to dine.

• Canlis in Seattle, "a citadel of luxury" that satisfies yearnings for classics like New York steaks while offering a trendy tasting menu as well.

• Gramercy Tavern in New York City, credited with setting "a new benchmark for New York dining" when it opened in 1994.

• Manresa in Los Gatos, Calif., 50 miles south of San Francisco, known for creativity, intense flavors and artfully arranged plates.

• Watershed in Atlanta, known for classic Southern food.

• Marlow & Sons in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, described as "an eclectic eatery and food shop" known for homemade charcuterie and pate, cheeses, simple dishes and unusual homemade specials.

• Musso and Frank Grill in Los Angeles, a cultural icon on Hollywood Boulevard since 1919.

• Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pecantico Hills, N.Y., "the ultimate farm-to-table restaurant," since it is located on an 80-acre nonprofit farm and education center, the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.

• The Slanted Door in San Francisco, a restaurant founded by a Vietnamese refugee that delivers "beautiful renditions of Vietnamese classics."

First Published: April 18, 2009, 4:00 a.m.