Originally Posted by
gfunkdave
Outside of major metropolitan areas I don't think there's enough demand for high end dining to really support a diverse restaurant population. There are a few exceptions - California wine country comes to mind. Not to over generalize, but I think many Americans are less interested in fine dining than many Europeans. Most people I know who don't live in a big city consider Applebee's a fancy restaurant.
I think it's a question of quality/frequency. Most people here don't eat out that often but when they do it is an occasion and they want a nice experience that transcends the food alone. That's why dinners sometime last for hours and no one would ever think about rushing you out. You're probably right, but I've always wondered if you could put a great restaurant out in the middle of nowhere in the USA and get enough people to make the journey to support it.