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 the unusually succinct description of the city's dining scene in one word. 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 Was the Best Dining Neighborhood in Miami in 2011?
The Chowfather, blogger: Sunny Isles/NMB Corridor- Naoe, Yakko-San & Chef Philip Ho with Makoto down the road.
Frodnesor, blogger: If we can call Midtown / Design District one neighborhood, that's my choice.
Ryan Roman, blogger: No new neighborhood seemed to emerge this year (I'm looking at you, Wynwood) but the Beach has experienced a resurgence (The Dutch, Tudor House, and the soon-to-be-opened Michael Schwartz restaurant at The Raleigh). I'm going to make a bold prediction for 2012 (or more like 2015): Little Haiti. Take a drive up and down Northeast 2nd Avenue and you'll see. Great neighborhood for restaurants, especially those without big budgets (pop-up, anyone?).
Angelo Elia, owner/chef Casa D'Angelo: Nowhere specific, Miami offers many options in every neighborhood.
Aaron Brooks, chef, Edge, Steak & Bar: I have had some great food in Midtown... Sustain, Gigi, Sugarcane lots of cool spots there.
Geoffrey Zakarian, chef/owner Tudor House: I would now have to say South Beach.
Mario Tolentino, chef de cuisine of BLT Steak at The Betsy-South Beach: Midtown
Shareef Malnik, owner/The Forge:I like what I’m hearing about Purdy, but unfortunately I’ve been too busy to do any grazing there yet.
Miguel Aguilar, chef, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar: Midtown.
Dewey LoSasso, executive chef, The Forge: Midtown
Ivo Mazzon, executive chef of Joey’s Italian CaféMidtown
Richard Hales, chef/owner Sakaya Kitchen et al.: Midtown, of course.
Chef Jeremiah, gastroPod: The streets of Miami.
Jonathan Lazar, co-owner Sustain Restaurant + Bar: Midtown
Gabriel Fenton, executive chef Bourbon Steak: Midtown is the hot spot for sure
Louis Aguirre, anchor, Deco Drive: Midtown, Design District, Upper East Side.
Josh Marcus, chef/owner Chow Down Grill(s): Sobe makes a comeback.
John Kunkel, owner Lime, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar: South Beach.
