An interesting thread, and as usual brings out plenty of info, and some clear personal preferences.

It's too long since I've had the pleasure of dining in the US to offer a credible opinion, but I don't have any unusual recollections, good or bad (ok, one bad, in the well known foodies town of Bandera, Texas ).

The question raised by the OP is, of course, unanswerable in absolute terms.

The best people can do is state their own preferences, and why they are so.

I've had food ranging from good to indifferent to bad in many - but nowhere near all - places around the world, and in general terms, it's all ok (the cuisines and countries that is, some individual establishments have been excellent, some execrable).