28. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Affordability: 74
- Accessibility, diversity, and quality: 21
In a 2019 report, Pittsburgh was actually named the Food City of the Year. From approachability and innovation in dining to accessibility to local farms, Pittsburgh residents are definitely food lovers. It couldn’t be otherwise since the city hosts restaurants with pierogies on their menus and Primanti Brothers locations.
You can even enjoy French food here. Ahh, and don’t forget about cocktails!
27. Columbus, Ohio
- Affordability: 8
- Accessibility, diversity, and quality: 42
Columbus is relatively new on the food scene, and most would call it vibrant and exciting. So, if you want to rate the food experience here, too, make a trip to the Budd Dairy Food Hall, a hall full of foodservice locations, bars, and rooftop seating. The city is also home to young up-and-coming chefs who are starting to make their food specialties visible to the larger public.
Because they want to grab visitors’ attention, you will probably enjoy a whole food experience in a locally owned restaurant. Make sure to grab a beer while being here since Columbus’ craft beer industry is a beer drinker’s dream. Almost 50 breweries are waiting to be explored.
