Restaurant Experts Predict 2011 Dining Headlines

Q: Dining world headline prediction for 2011?

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 Best Dining Neighborhood. Everything will be revealed—cut, pasted, unedited and unadulterated—by the time we check out today to ring in the New Year.

Mike Sula, Chicago Reader: Balls: the New Bacon?

Natasha Liberman, a la card: Grant Achatz and Ferran Adrià team up to open ...

Chris LaMorte, Urban Daddy: Soylent Green is people. (But locally grown, organic people. So it’s fine.)

Penny Pollack, Chicago: Scott Harris runs for mayor.

Heather Sperling, Tasting Table: Seafood spots and butcher shops take over the city; the masses finally tire of bacon and cupcakes... (yeah, right)

Nick Kindelsperger, Grub Street: Hmm...have you heard of this guy called Grant Achatz? I have a feeling he might be up to something.

Julia Kramer, Time Out Chicago: "Pat Bruno Loves Pizza"

Liz Grossman, Plate: Millennium Park welcomes permanent chef-driven street cart corner.

Rodrick Markus, Rare Tea Cellar: Afternoon Tea is Back!

David Hammond, LTHForum and Sun Times: More combo butcher shop/restaurants. Rob Levitt (formerly of Mado) is spearheading the local trend in artisanal butchery, followed by Kahan of Blackbird and no doubt others. We may not want to see our food slaughtered, but we’re cool with watching it being sawn up for our dinner.

Michael Gebert, Sky Full of Bacon: CELEBRITY BUTCHER TO OPEN "RESTAURANT"-- New Concept Will Involve Cooking Cuts of Meat For "Diners"

Michael Nagrant, New City: Grahamwich opens! Sub Hed – Graham Elliot serves first sandwich in a sumo-wrestler thong.

Alpana Singh, Lettuce Entertain You and Check, Please!: French food & mood will make a huge comeback in 2011. Dishes, cocktail bars, new restaurants & redesigns will carry a vibe of 1920's Paris. Openings of places where there is
a return to artisanship with specialty stores such as butchers and bakeries.

Chandra Ram, Plate: Grahamwich will open.

Emily Fiffer, Daily Candy: Root Cellar Invasion!

Carly Fisher, The Feast: Next/Aviary Opens, Everyone Suffers Heart Attack