Atlanta's Top Restaurant Standbys in 2014

As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of local restaurant industry folks. This year, we asked the group eight questions running the gamut from meal of the year to top restaurant newcomers. Responses are relayed in no particular order; all are cut, pasted, and (mostly) unedited herein. Readers, please do add your survey answers in the comments.

What were your top restaurant standbys in 2014?

Krista Miller, Atlanta Eats director of content

Home Grown, Gu's Bistro, and Common Quarter were all places I just adored this year. I love comfort food and I've never left those places without a grin on my face.

Zach Meloy, Better Half executive chef/owner

4th & Swift, BoccaLupo, Iberian Pig, Book House, West Egg, Doña Antonia's tamales at the Buford Highway Farmer's Market.

Jason Santamaria, Second Self Beer Company co-founder

Leon's is my Cheers. It's where we first introduced Second Self to the public this fall, and it'll always be a standby for me. I also love Hankook Taqueria for lunch or The Porter, anytime.

E.J. Hodgkinson, King + Duke executive chef

Bocca Lupo, The General Muir, Homegrown.

Craig Richards, St. Cecilia executive chef

No. 246, General Muir, Chai Pani (kid friendly!), One Eared Stag.

Ali Wild, Across the Street owner

Cafe 640 and Babette's — walking distance, great atmosphere, and great food.

Steven Lingenfelter, Illegal Food chef/owner

Gu's bistro and quoc huong banh mi.

Todd Richards, The Pig & The Pearl and The Shed at Glenwood chef/partner

Locally: One Eared Stag by far. We (family) eat there on average once a week. I don't think Robert Fallen gets enough credit for the food that he does; or the restaurant itself.
Driving Distance: 2 Burroughs Larder, Charleston. Every meal I had there was outstanding, with no pretension involved.

Linton Hopkins, chef/restaurateur/empire builder

The bar at Bach, lunch at St. Cecilia, TAKA Sushi.

Alex Brounstein, Grindhouse Killer Burgers owner

For years, Top Flr was always my go-to spot for a great meal or a drink, but this year it all changed the second I sat down at the bar at Kimball House. The cocktails are probably the best in the city, the oysters are plentiful, the staff is super friendly as well as knowledgeable, and the plates of food coming out of the kitchen are beautiful, local, and just amazing. It's a particularly sweet place for happy hour, when the oysters are half price. Hats off to my friend Jesse Smith and all the owners, simply in the fact that they turned a seemingly cursed building into such an amazing place.

Julian Goglia, The Pinewood owner/bartender

My lady and I had a standing weekly reservation at either BoccaLupo or Harper Station throughout the year. We both hope they aren't sick of us.

Zeb Stevenson, Parish executive chef/soon moving to Watershed on Peachtree

4th & Swift, KR SteakBar, La Pastorcita, Gio's Chicken Amalfitano.

Jarrett Stieber, Eat Me Speak Me chef

BoccaLupo and Shoya.

Eli Kirshtein, The Luminary chef/owner

Ladybird, Nam Phong, Kyma.