As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, bloggers, and readers. This year, we asked the group eight questions, from Meal of the Year to Top Standbys. All will be answered by the time we turn off the lights at the end of the week. Responses are related in no particular order; all are cut, pasted and unedited herein.
What are the top restaurant newcomers of 2010?
Ryan Roman, Digester-in-Chief, Miami's Restaurant Power Rankings: Chow Down Grill, Zuma, Gigi, American Noodle Bar. If your stomach can digest tweets, then I guess Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill.
Belkys Nerey, news anchor, WSVN-7: Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill--great service and always a good vibe. Gigi--can't beat it with a stick.
Jose Duran, Web Editor/MiamiNew Times: Gigi. People seem divided on this place, but Gigi has complete revolutionized Miami's mainland dining scene, from late night open hours to a no reservation system (things that normally would sink any eatery).
ErGagit, blogger: Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill.
The Chowfather, blogger: Sakaya Kitchen, Dim Ssam a Go Go and Shake Shack.
LAX2MIA, ex-blogger and self professed Guy That Despises Sucky Food and the People That Like It: Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, Gigi, Morgans, Zuma, Sakaya Kitchen.
Paul Castronovo, host of the Paul and Young Ron show/owner of Castronovo Vineyards: 1500 degrees at the Eden Roc. Farm to Table excellence. With Scarpetta at the Fontainebleu, Mr Chow at the W, and now 1500 degrees at the Eden Roc, hotel dining has gone from, "No way am I eating in the hotel to, Great! We don't have to leave!"
Frodnesor, Food For Thought blogger: Sugarcane; Sakaya Kitchen (OK, opened late December 2009; still was too late for the 2009 year end survey); Gigi; Chow Down Grill. Too early to tell on several others like DB Bistro Moderne, Vino e Olio.
Maria Argüello, Senior Community Manager, Yelp Miami: Sugarcane, Gigi, and Zuma generated a lot of great buzz. Towards the end of the year, Pubbelly and the American Noodle Bar, but I think Chow Down Grill is quietly earning a cult following.
Eleanor Hoh, Wok Star cooking teacher: Chow Down Grill, Sakaya Kitchen, Gigi, Pubbelly.
