Ladder 4 Named Rising Star in North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025
BY Samir Singh 'Bharat':Chief Editor
LONDON: Ladder 4 has been named the inaugural winner of the Resy One To Watch Award as part of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025. The award celebrates emerging restaurants whose distinctive vision and culinary excellence position them as leaders in the dining world.
Opened in February 2022, Ladder 4 has quickly transformed Detroit’s food scene under the leadership of head chef John Yelinek, co-owners and brothers James and Patrick Cadariu, and general manager Preston Smith. The restaurant is known for sourcing ingredients directly from trusted farmers and showcasing wines from artisanal producers with deep connections to their craft.
The restaurant’s wine program emphasizes low-intervention bottles from small, family-run vineyards worldwide, with a special spotlight on Eastern European and Old World varietals. This approach not only highlights lesser-known grapes but also helps preserve traditional flavors. Meanwhile, Yelinek’s menu draws on comforting “grandma-style” cuisine, elevated with refined bistro techniques and enhanced by produce grown in Ladder 4’s own garden.
William Drew, Director of Content for North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, praised Ladder 4’s philosophy, saying:
“Ladder 4 exemplifies the very spirit of the Resy One To Watch Award, with its unique sense of place and unwavering commitment to authenticity. Through locally inspired flavors, innovative techniques and a deeply personal approach, it has established itself as one of North America’s most exciting restaurants.”
Reacting to the recognition, Chef Yelinek emphasized the significance of the win for Detroit:
“It is rare for us and our peers in Detroit to be recognized on a stage like this. What makes this award meaningful is that the entire city feels like ‘One To Watch.’ Our community is full of dedicated chefs, bartenders, restaurateurs and farmers. When one of us wins, we all win. This honor belongs not just to our team, but to Detroit itself.”
With this accolade, Ladder 4 cements its reputation as a pioneering force in Detroit’s culinary renaissance and a name to watch on the global dining stage.
