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Experts Dish on Their 2012 Restaurant Breakups

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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, 2012 in One Word, Best Restohoods, Biggest Surprises, and Best Meals. Now, Breakups. This is a unique one, since everyone (or, that is, everyone other than us) was so Minnesota Nice that no one would name names. So, readers, we're calling on you. Please add your breakups to the comments.

rye.jpg[Photo: Rye, one of this year's exes, Rye Deli website]

Q: Were there any restaurants that you broke up with in 2012?

Stephanie Meyer, columnist, Minnesota Monthly TC Taste; blogger, Fresh Tart: Yes.

Stephanie March, food editor/writer, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine: Besides Chik Fil-A? No not really. I think they break up with me.

Andrew Zimmern, columnist Mpls.St.Paul Magazine; host, Bizarre Foods; owner, AZ Canteen: No, locally I am in need of an Al-anon meeting for my restaurant life. I keep going back to decent places hoping they will get their shit together and crack into next level of execution but it never happens.

Joy Summers, food editor, Lavender Magazine; columnist, City Pages: No, we're all still on speaking terms.

Emily Weiss, writer, City Pages: No, at least not permanently.

Jay Gabler, writer/editor, The Tangential, writer/editor, TC Daily Planet: I wanted to break up with Liquor Lyle's happy-hour appetizers after they cranked up their prices, but I just don't know how to quit those chicken fingers.

Claire Stanford, editor, Eater MPLS: I so wanted things with Rye to work out, but sometime this year I accepted that it may never change and realized it was time to cut my losses. And it pains me to say it, but I also had a really disappointing meal at Heartland this year—everything, from the cooking to the service, was off, and that's a hefty check for an off meal. We're on a trial separation.