As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, and bloggers. We've already covered Best Standbys, Top Newcomers, and 2012 in One Word. Now, it's time for Best Dining Neighborhood. Readers, please add your thoughts to the comments.
[Photo: The Bachelor Farmer, in the North Loop, Trip Advisor]
Q: What was the best dining neighborhood in Minneapolis in 2012?
Stephanie March, food editor/writer, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine: Linden Hills made a bid with the opening of Harriet Brasserie next to Tilia, not to mention all the block parties and the new farmers market (all they need now is a brewery), but I have to go with North Loop at the rising star with Bachelor Farmer, the amazing local foods store Local D' Lish, Fulton Brewery, hardcore Cuzzy's, lunch standby Be'Wiched, the evergreen Bar La Grassa and of course the up and coming Smack Shack and Borough/Parlour. Get. Loft. Now.
Joy Summers, food editor, Lavender Magazine; columnist, City Pages: There's a small area in South Minneapolis that went from having very few restaurants to being packed with destination dining. Piccolo, Patisserie 46, The Lynn on Bryant, George & the Dragon—there's a restaurant for every time of the day and every mood. I'm so jealous I don't live there.
Andrew Zimmern, columnist Mpls.St.Paul Magazine; host, Bizarre Foods; owner, AZ Canteen: South Mpls/Uptown because of the customer base that exists there.
Jay Gabler, writer/editor, The Tangential, writer/editor, TC Daily Planet: I'm an Uptown guy. You've got Eat Street, you've got Lyndale, you've got Hennepin, you've got South Minneapolis access, you've got downtown access. There may be hotter eating neighborhoods just this moment, but Uptown is still the best home base.
Stephanie Meyer, columnist, Minnesota Monthly TC Taste; blogger, Fresh Tart: Gosh, I eat well in all of the city's neighborhoods. Which is perhaps what is noteworthy; interesting, high-quality, skillfully prepared food in just about every neighborhood.
Emily Weiss, writer, City Pages: Uptown/Eat Street followed closely by Kingfield.
Claire Stanford, editor, Eater MPLS: North Loop, for sure. The food and cocktails there are exciting and current.
