Wildfire and Alinea Respectively Win Titles for Popularity and Top Food;
Surveyors Go Green, Service Remains the Industry's Weak Link
NEW YORK, June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual yum-fest known as the Taste
of Chicago is blowing into the Windy City, and in the next two weeks, an
estimated 3 million food lovers will sample the best bites in town. Thanks to
Zagat's 2008/2009 Chicago Restaurants survey, released today, residents and
visitors alike can get the lowdown on the best food the city has to offer
either in book form or via ZAGAT.com or the award-winning mobile website,
ZAGAT.mobi.
"Chicago's culinary scene is continuing to expand," said Tim Zagat,
co-founder of Zagat Survey. "From fresh fusions to small plates, chefs are
raising the bar with unique menu offerings and adventurous food preparations."
Zagat recently served as a guest diner in the finale episode of Bravo's Top
Chef Chicago, and along with his wife and Zagat Survey co-founder, Nina, will
be present at the Taste of Chicago's opening ceremony.
The survey results, containing signature ratings and reviews of 1,089
eateries, are based on the experiences of more than 5,370 food-savvy
residents. The guide also includes ratings and reviews of the best
restaurants in Milwaukee.
On average, the Zagat surveyors dined out 3.1 meals per week; thus, this
year's ratings and reviews are gleaned from roughly 860,000 annual meals worth
of experience. Although the average meal cost in Chicago rose about 2%
annually to $35.17, compared to $33.75 two years ago, 81% percent of
Chicagoans say that they are eating out as much as or more than they did two
years ago. Chicagoans are also tipping more than ever, giving 19.1%, which is
slightly above the national average of 19%.
Favorites: The surveyors indicated that they enjoy new fusion and small
plate menus, but by a 26% plurality prefer Italian food. American at 16%,
French at 12% and Mexican and Japanese each at 11% followed as favorite
cuisines.
Surveyors chose Wildfire, Frontera Grill and Tru as their top three most
popular restaurants. Charlie Trotter's dropped from the number one favorite
last year to the number four place, followed by Gibson's Steakhouse. As for
food ratings, Alinea jumped from fifth place last year to first place.
Tallgrass came in second, Carlos' third, Les Nomades fourth and Topolobampo
fifth.
Newcomers: Among this year's newcomers, in order of food ranking, Old Town
Brasserie came in first, followed by TABLE 52, Otom, Sepia, and Bluprint. In
the works are venues from a number of celebrity chefs including Terrance
Brennan, Alain Ducasse, Todd English, Gordon Ramsay, Joel Robuchon and Marcus
Samuelsson.
The following list shows 2008's winners by cuisine type.
By Cuisines:
American (New) - Alinea Italian - Spiaggia
American (Trad.) - Kuma's Corner Japanese - sushi wabi
Asian (Misc.) - Le Lan Mediterranean - Avec
Barbecue - Smoque BBQ Mexican - Topolobampo
Cajun/Creole - Pappadeaux Middle Eastern - Noon-O-Kabab
Chinese - Lao Nuevo Latino - Nacional 27
Coffee Shop/Diner - Manny's Pizza - Spacca Napoli
Eclectic - Lula Seafood - Spring
French - Tallgrass Small Plates - Avec
French (Bistro) - Barrington Country Spanish/Tapas - Meson Sabika/ Tapas
Greek - Artopolis Valencia
Hot Dogs/Burgers - Hot Doug's Steakhouses - Joe's Seafood
Indian - India House Thai - Arun's
Vegetarian - Green Zebra
Not surprisingly, most of the above restaurants tend to be on the pricey
side, however the guide also includes 80 best buys, led in order by Potbelly
Sandwich, Superdawg, Hot Doug's, Hannah's Bretzel and Margie's Candies.
Greening and Health-Consciousness: Following a national pattern, 64% of
Chicagoans indicate that they consider eating locally grown food to be
important. Likewise, 65% say they are voting for more low-carb, low-fat,
heart-healthy menu items. As for trans fats, 56% feel they should be banned
entirely from restaurants' preparation. A majority are so concerned about
issues of this kind, they are willing to "pay more" for food that is
sustainably raised or organic.
Irritants: As elsewhere in the country, service is by far the biggest
complaint among diners. In Chicago this year, 78% of surveyors cite service
as the most irritating part of dining out, while cumulatively all other
complaints, including noise, food, prices and traffic, amount to only 22% of
complaints. Nina Zagat, Co-Chair of Zagat Survey says that service is clearly
"the biggest problem facing the restaurant industry today."
Milwaukee: Just a car ride across the Wisconsin border, Milwaukee's
culinary scene is flourishing with unique, high-quality dining options.
Residents voted Sanford's New American cuisine an all-around Top Food favorite
while Ristorante Bartolotta, The Riversite, Dream Dance and Mangia followed
closely behind. In a perfect trifecta, Sanford also received highest honors
for Service and Decor.
The Guide in Detail
The guide features expansive ratings and reviews of the best restaurants
in Chicago and Milwaukee, broken out by location, cuisine and special
features, including Singles Scenes, Quick Bites, Outdoor Dining,
Child-Friendly and Celebrity Chefs. The guide also contains useful
neighborhood maps for both cities and a convenient wine chart.
The 2008/2009 Chicago Restaurants guide ($14.95) was edited by Alice Van
Housen, Ann Christenson and Allison Lynn, and is available at bookstores and
other retail outlets, through ZAGAT.com, or by calling 888/371-5440.
About Zagat Survey, LLC
Known as the "burgundy bible," Zagat Survey is the world's most trusted
source for information about where to eat, drink, stay and play around the
globe, and as such has become a symbol of quality. Zagat Survey rates and
reviews airlines, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf,
resorts, shopping, spas, and a range of other entertainment categories in over
100 countries and has been lauded as the "most up-to-date, comprehensive and
reliable guides ever published" and as "a necessity second only to a valid
credit card." Zagat content is available in print, on the Web, on the Palm
and Windows Mobile operating systems, on BlackBerry, on mobile phones, and on
TV. For more information, visit ZAGAT.com.
SOURCE Zagat Survey, LLC
Tiffany Barbalato of Zagat Survey, LLC, +1-212-404-6416, tbarbalato@zagat.com
