Friends of Eater Name Top Newcomers of 2012

Wise Sons Delicatessen [Photo: Eater SF Flickr Pool / spektrograf]

As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, bloggers, and readers. We asked the group eight questions about the highs and lows of San Francisco dining over the past year. Earlier, we asked them about their favorite standby restaurants. The answers to our second question are in no particular order; all responses cut, pasted and unedited, below:

Q: What are the top restaurant newcomers of 2012?

Grant Marek, Thrillist: Rich Table. Wise Sons. Stag's Lunchette. SoMa StrEatFood Park. Copita. If these newcomers were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle characters, they would all be Donatello. Especially Wise Sons.

Paolo Lucchesi, Inside Scoop SF: In addition to the usual (and deserving) suspects -- RichAQProvisions -- I will cast my vote for three late-comers that I expect to frequent very much in the new year: Miss Ollie's, Et Al, and KronnerBurger.

Marcia Gagliardi, Tablehopper: State Bird Provisions, Rich Table, Troya Fillmore, Farina Pizza (people love to hate on it), 1058 Hoagie, St. Vincent, Namu Gaji, and I'm excited to see how Hakkasan takes shape. Capo's is gonna kill it (ha ha). Miss Ollie's in Old Oakland is going to have me crossing the bridge often. And Liholiho Yacht Club is such a great pop-up.

Anna Roth, SF Weekly: I've only been here for half the year but: State Bird, Namu Gaji, St. Vincent, Rich Table, Bar Tartine Sandwich Shop, Craftsman & Wolves, Abbot's Cellar, Plaj, Del Popolo.

Virginia Miller, SF Bay Guardian: At the risk of repeating myself, I'll instead reference my 10 best new openings article, which runs Oct. 2011-2012 as I chose places that had been open at least 2 months. My top three newcomers are AQ, State Bird Provisions and Rich Table, with Craftsmen and Wolves our best new café.

Jonathan Kauffman, Tasting Table: I suspect everyone will say State Bird Provisions, Rich Table, and Craftsman & Wolves, and who am I to disagree? On the no-frills end of the spectrum, I'm pretty happy with Soup Junkie, Shandong Deluxe, and Gajalee. Also the beer lists at Abbott's Cellar and St. Vincent.

Jane Goldman, CHOW.com: State Bird and St. Vincent, and Chocolate Lab. Man, that burnt-caramel ice cream sundae is excruciatingly good. I know everybody loves AQ, but I've had a couple of disappointing meals there.

Josh Sens, San Francisco Magazine: I said it when it opened, before it was blessed by the national glossies, and I still think so now, despite the aforementioned blessing: State Bird Provisions

[EaterWire]