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Remembering the Biggest Dining Surprises of 2014

As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, and bloggers. We've already covered the restaurant standbys, best newcomers, 2014 in one word, and the best dining neighborhood. Now it's time for the year's best dining surprises. Readers, please leave your thoughts in the comments.code for that is: EOY Small

Antietam.
Antietam.
Michelle and Chris Gerard
Brenna Houck is a Cities Manager for the Eater network. She previously edited Eater Detroit and reported for Eater. You can follow her on the internet at @brennahouck.

Steve Wilke, Editor Hour Detroit: Watching people flock downtown to check out the new spots. Three-hour waits? Really?

Courtney Ochab, Editor Detroit Beer Press: My family and I spent a Sunday downtown shopping at local businesses, sipping coffee from Anthology, and all around enjoying the sights that the city has to offer. We stopped for lunch at Ottava Via for lunch and ordered an array of meat and cheeses, flatbread pizzas, and handcrafted cocktails. Family bonding at its finest.

Victoria Trudeau, Former Editor Eater Detroit: It's shocking that so many new places not only opened, but lived up to the massive hype!

Brenna Houck, Editor Eater Detroit: The bizarre prevalence of pork rinds in high-end meals. Not saying chefs shouldn't make their own pork rinds. After all, they add a nice crispness. I just didn't expect to see them so often on my dinner plate.

Detroit Foodie: Breakfast at Trinosophes.

Chow Down Detroit: All the great Vietnamese restaurants we have in Metro Detroit.

Hannah Lowe, Freelance Journalist: Ramen on the rise. Love all the tasty takes on college dorm staple.

Kat Rembacki, Editor Core Detroit: The sliders and fried brussels sprouts I ate at Bogart'z. This place used to be a bit of a dive bar, but they really stepped up their game in the kitchen this year. Totally unexpected, and really delicious.

Josh Smith, Reader: Revolver.

Ottava Via

1400 Michigan Avenue, , MI 48216 (313) 962-5500 Visit Website

(revolver)

9737 Joseph Campau Avenue, , MI 48212 (313) 757-3093 Visit Website