Friends of Eater Share Their Most Disappointing Meal of 2016

As we put a cap on 2016, Eater surveyed a group of friends, writers, and all around experts for their take on the past year. We asked them eight questions: from top standbys to top newcomers, from best meals to restaurants they’ve broken up with. All will be answered by the time we turn off the lights at the end of the 2016. Responses are related in no particular order; all are cut, pasted, and (mostly) unedited herein. Readers, please do add your survey answers in the comments.

Carla Torres (Ocean Drive): A meal I've chosen to erase from my memory is the Prey pop-up that took up residence on the rooftop of the 1 Hotel. Expectations were set high with a James Beard award-winning chef and endangered species but it was abysmal at best. We ended up playing dare to see who was going to try something next and I think I cried from disgust and trying to not spit out a piece of some thing that was puffing up in my mouth, and not in a sexy way.

Laine Doss (Miami New Times): Pretty much every meal I've had in South Beach this year except for Upland (service wise). Come on, restaurateurs -- time to up your game service-wise. If I have to wait 30 minutes for water...or a menu...I'm not a happy camper.

Evan Benn (Indulge Miami): On a flight to Madrid, I ordered a kosher meal in coach, because I read somewhere that if you do that, the food is better than the regular meal that they serve to the rest of the suckers. Not true! A stale bagel, frozen OJ and nine hours later, I arrived in Spain hangry.

Giovanny Gutierrez (Chat Chow TV/Eater Miami Contributor): Ninebark in Napa Valley.

Matthew Meltzer (Thrillist Miami): Fi'Lia at the SLS in Brickell. Since I'm kinda new to the food scene, I keep waiting to go somewhere where Michael Schwartz's food lives up to what everyone keeps gushing over. Thought this might be it but...well whaddya know. More overpriced nondescript Italian food. Which Miami needed like we needed another condo tower.

Steven Scharf (The Chowfather): Next question.

Sara Liss (Miami.com): French 27. Given the high prices and hyped chef the food and experience fell short. And now that the place has closed it's easy to see why.

Olee Fowler (Eater Miami): Our meal at Ninebark was pretty terrible, not all the wine I drank in Sonoma that day could make the meal taste good.