Restaurant Experts Sum Up 2010 in One Word

As 2010 comes to a close, Eater surveyed a number of industry types, writers, eaters and more. We asked the group eight questions, everything from Restaurant Standbys and Top Newcomers to Single Best Meal and Headline for 2011. Everything will be revealed—cut, pasted, unedited and unadulterated—by the time we check out on Thursday to ring in the New Year.

Q: Describe the 2010 Chicago restaurant scene in one word?

Liz Grossman, Plate: Mobile (as in apps, trucks, chef shuffles)

David Tamarkin, Time Out Chicago: Histrionic

Nick Kindelsperger, Grub Street: smoky

Heather Sperling, Tasting Table: Burgeoning

Julia Kramer, Time Out Chicago: smoke

Penny Pollack, Chicago: Toss up between gastropubs, sandwiches, and cupcakes

Chris LaMorte, Urban Daddy: blogified

Natasha Liberman, a la card: porky

Carly Fisher, The Feast: Dysfunctional family. I guess that's two words. You can roll with Familial if you want.

Emily Fiffer, Daily Candy: Accessible

Chandra Ram, Plate: Thrilling – we have the most exciting dining scene in the country

Alpana Singh, Lettuce Entertain You and Check, Please!: Offal (as in offal-ly good)

Michael Nagrant, New City: Unstoppable

Michael Gebert, Sky Full of Bacon: Manly

Mike Sula, Chicago Reader: pregnant

David Hammond, LTHForum, Sun Times: Poised (i.e., ready to move aggressively forward)

Rodrick Markus, Rare Tea Cellar: Gastro