A Washington, D.C. restaurant named Pineapple and Pearls has made it to the list of Five-Diamond restaurants released by the American Automobile Association (AAA) on Thursday.
Other D.C. restaurants that earned Four Diamonds include Bourbon Steak, Fiola da Fabio Trabocchi, Komi, Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier, and Minibar by Jose Andres.
The list includes only 67 restaurants in North America which were awarded AAA’s distinctive Five Diamond Rating. Only three new restaurants – Atera, COAST, and Oriole – were added to the list this year, according to the AAA press release. These restaurants comprise only 0.2 percent of about 32,000 AAA Inspected & Approved restaurants across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
“To be considered leading edge, chefs must incorporate a laser-focused approach using innovative concepts and menus featuring the finest ingredients,” said Michael Petrone, director of inspections and diamond ratings.
“Diners want to be wowed on multiple levels, so exceptional service is also important, but they’re not necessarily looking for all the formalities that were once synonymous with fine dining,” added Petrone.
Restaurants like Altera in New York City, COAST in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and Oriole in Chicago, Illinois earned Five Diamonds for the first time this past year. Rhode Island’s first Five Diamond restaurant COAST was upgraded to Five Diamonds this year from its previous Four Diamonds.
Over the past 80 years, AAA has used professional inspectors to carry out in-person property evaluations of hotels, offering the “only rating system using comprehensive, on-site professional hotel and restaurant inspections guided by member priorities.”
As a trusted source for about 60 million members, AAA conducts inspections and guides guests on how to make their travel and dining experiences memorable. With its federation of 34 motor clubs and about 1,100 offices across North America, AAA also provides its millions of members with automotive, travel, insurance, and financial services.