Crowning the Best Dining Neighborhood of 2017

Every year Eater reaches out to friends who cover the food scene and ask what their best —and worst — meals of the past year have been. Today food critics, bloggers, and seriously culinary fans are weighing in on which restaurants they found themselves returning to time and again. Today we ask, which neighobrhood was ground zero for great dining?

Jason DeRusha,WCCO and Minnesota Monthly

It’s Wayzata! I know! Bellecour might be the best restaurant in Minnesota, the bakery turned Lake Street into an all-day destination, Benedict’s is the first of what I predict will be a wave of breakfast-focused restaurants, Baja Haus is pure California fun. Add that to Cov, 6 Smith, Gianni’s, McCormick’s, Crisp & Green, all Wayzata needs now is a great pizza spot!

Stephanie A. Meyer, culinary coach, blogger

It’s a toss up between NE Minneapolis (Young Joni, Hai Hai, Bardo) and Lowertown St. Paul (Octo, Salty Tart, Saint Dinette), I think. That’s one for each city.

Kevin Kramer

Mecca Bos, GoMn.com

For sheer density and diversity, my vote goes to East Lake Street. Special thanks to James Norton for including me on Heavy Table's excellent East Lake Street Tour. Even re-exploring a tiny portion of the street reminds me what treasures we have lurking right beneath our noses.

Jess Fleming, Pioneer Press

St. Paul, baby. The whole damn city.

Nancy Ngo, Pioneer Press

Selby Avenue

Rebel Donut Bar / Facebook

Amelia Rayno, Star Tribune

In the TC right now, with Young Joni and Hai Hai mere blocks from each other, plus Rebel Donuts, Crepe & Spoon and the new speakeasy in the area, it’s hard to pass up that corner of the northeast.

Joy Summers, Eater Twin Cities

The biggest dining neighborhoods were actually cities. Saint Paul and Wayzata are both making major moves for culinary domination.