Our Experts Predict the 2020 Restaurant Headlines

As we put a cap on 2019, 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 2019. Responses are related in no particular order; all are cut, pasted, and (mostly) unedited herein. Responses do not necessarily reflect the views of Eater and Eater Miami.

Amber Love Bond (Eater Miami contributor): Really Really Deserving Miami Chef Wins James Beard

Jenny Starr Perez (Indulge Miami): Seafood heavy menus. It’s the right balance to the steak, short rib and duck everything we saw this year.

Giovanny Gutierrez (Chat Chow TV/Eater Miami photographer): Caviar incorporated into Cocktails somehow. A boy can dream…

Curt “Big Daddy” Hollingsworth (Thrillist Miami): “Mar-a-lago to offer $20,000-a-plate dinner specials; Trump denies it’s a fundraiser”

”South Beach braces for an influx of Taco shops after recreational marijuana legalized in Florida”

”Pitbull’s Ocean Drive restaurant to repoen for 11th time as ILoveEritrean305. “

”Local ‘influencer’ asked to leave Biltmore after holding up brunch line for 45 minutes while she took pictures.”

Becky Randel (Freelance restaurant writer): More Israeli & Mediterranean food.

David Rosendorf (Food For Thought): “Downtown Miami Renaissance!” Notwithstanding what I said before about neighborhoods being dead, I think downtown Miami’s time is finally nearly here (of course I’ve been saying this for about 20 years). Niu Kitchen and then Arson jumped in early and are still going strong, ditto for All Day and Fooq’s, and they’ve been joined by a bunch of neat new spots - Balloo, Jaguar Sun, Mama Tried, Lost Boy, with Margot, Bar Lab’s natural wine bar, on its way. And there’s a ton of development along Flagler in the pipeline. Hey, I finally got one of these right last year, so who knows?

Stacy Moya (Eater Miami Contributor): I’m very excited about chef Adrianne Calvo reopening Red Fish at Matheson Hammock. I think the venue is a Miami classic and can’t wait to see it revamped.

Virginia Gil (Time Out Miami): The Michelin Guide comes to Miami.

Alona Martinez (Eater Miami Contributor): Veggie-forward restaurants vs. the quest for the ultimate burger. Who will win?

Sara Liss (Miami.com): Michael Solomonov comes back to Miami (wishful thinking)

Jennifer Agress (Freelance restaurant writer): Little Haiti having a glow up—and thanks to Hometown BBQ, Allapatah getting cooler. I love when good restaurants bring people out of “trendy Miami” and into its more local neighborhoods, and I think 2020 is going to be a good year for both of those.

Kelly Blanco (NBC 6): More Grutman anything

Olee Fowler (Eater Miami): More big name New York City imports set up shop in Allapatah.