Joe's in Fairfield ranked as the Best American Restaurant

Joe's American Bar & Grill general manager says his restaurant's quality lies in its freshness. "There's a freezer - for ice cream," he explains. That and its consistency: Diners want straightforward American staples, and they want them done right, repeatedly. "You think American, you think the red, white and blue, you think handmade burgers," he says. Oh - and diners want plenty of whatever it is they're having. Joe's serves "large portions. It's an American thing," he explains. "It's about value." Joe's holds a Sunday brunch that's popular with families and a happy hour on weekdays that features free food. In warm weather, "we usually put up tents in front of the building to accommodate the volume." For all this, Joe's is "becoming a landmark. A lot of families meet here. A lot of friends meet here."