Friends of Eater Share Their Top Restaurant Newcomers of 2017

As we put a cap on 2017, 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 2017. 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.

Amber Love Bond (Eater Miami contributor):Ghee, Ghee, Ghee! Niven Patel is killing it. Stubborn Seed is obviously another big one for Miami. I'm also kind of loving that 1-800-Lucky slid in at the last minute.

Evan Benn (Indulge Miami): Stubborn Seed, Stiltsville, Madruga Bakery

Giovanny Gutierrez (Chat Chow TV/Eater Miami photographer): Stubborn Seed, no doubt.

Becky Randel (The Daily Meal/People Magazine): Stubborn Seed is excellent top to bottom. The "lettuce wall" is a nice touch and really backs up their local food efforts. Le Sirenuse + The Champagne Bar at the Surf Club have created a drinking and dining option our city simply didn't have previously - sophisticated and glamorous without an ounce of ostentatious Miami "flash".

Belkys Nerey (WSVN 7): sherwood bistro, upland, estefan kitchen

David Rosendorf (Food For Thought): Ghee, Gaijin Izakaya, Dizengoff, No Name Chinese. Upland and Bazaar Mar would be on here except that they were both actually late 2016 openings. But my "to-do" list is really long; there are several 2017 newcomers I haven't gotten to yet.

Matthew Meltzer (Thrillist Miami): Ghee for sure, finally giving Miami a 1,300,000:1, people-to-good-Indian-restaurant ratio. Sherwood's in Little Haiti, if for no other reason than they take the burden of refilling your bread basket off the poor waiters. Etaru and Monkitail were also fantastic, again, if someone else is paying.

Stacy Moya (Eater Miami Contributor): Ghee Indian Kitchen, Bird & Bone, and Stubborn Seed.

Virginia Gil (Time Out Miami): I'd been seeing the sign for Three for what felt like forever, and it was so worth the ridiculously long wait. The place is absolutely gorgeous (reminds me of a Kelly Wearstler design without the crazy Mad Hatter feel) and service is nice, like Chicago nice. I didn't think I'd like the prix-fixe concept but it works well for sharing—and for couples in which the husband is always starving and never wants to let his wife taste his food (hi, honey!).

Carla Torres (Miami New Times): Memorable meals include Stiltsville, Ghee, Shelley's, and Le Sirenuse. Jeremy Ford blew my mind a little bit with what he's doing at Stubborn Seed. Respect.

Olee Fowler (Eater Miami): Stubborn Seed, Stiltsville, and Le Sirenuse.