Remembering Detroit's Biggest Dining Surprises of 2015

As is tradition at Eater, we close out the year by surveying local food writers and our own staff on various restaurant-related topics, and we'll be publishing their responses throughout the week. Readers, feel free to share your thoughts below. Next question: What was the biggest dining surprise of 2015?

Serena Maria Daniels, Dining Editor, Metro Times:

Pho Lucky moving to Midtown was big news for me. The place has been a kind of hidden gem for the past few years, so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they would be expanding into the city proper. Downtown and Midtown have been inundated with very similar concepts. It's refreshing to see more variety thrown into the mix.

Aaron Foley, Author/Editor, BLAC Detroit Magazine:

Remember when The New York Times was getting all kinds of flak for putting peas in everything? There's a fizzy pea drink at Wright & Co. that I love. Peas aren't so bad in things. Give it a try.

Seoung Lee, Blogger, Chow Down Detroit:

Detroit 75 Kitchen Food Truck. Surprisingly, food trucks are actually expensive but Detroit 75 Kitchen is inexpensive and very high quality.

Victoria Trudeau, Eater Contributor:

The number of chef-shuffles was really high this year: Kate Williams leaving Republic/Parks and Rec, Brion Wong leaving Antietam, David Gilbert stepping down at Marais to bring in Garrett Lipar after Torino's surprise closure, James Rigato effectively stepping down at The Root to open Mabel Gray, Brennan Calnin leaving Townhouse...

Melody Baetens, Co-Owner of Small's Bar and Features Reporter, Detroit News:

The large volume of new restaurants that opened this year in Metro Detroit, from fine dining to casual chains.

Brenna Houck, Editor, Eater Detroit:

The closure of Torino and Kate Williams' departure from Republic are neck and neck. Not many people saw those coming.

Dorothy Hernandez, Co-Owner of Sarap Filipino Pop-Up and Managing Editor, Hour Detroit:

Torino shuttering its doors (but yay for Garrett Lipar and David Gilbert teaming up at Marais!).