Friends of Eater on the Top Restaurant Newcomers of 2014

As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, and bloggers. This year, we asked the group questions running the gamut from meal of the year to top restaurant newcomers, and will be sharing their responses this week. Responses are related in no particular order; all are cut, pasted, and (mostly) unedited herein. Readers, please do add your survey answers in the comments.

Q: What were Philly's top restaurant newcomers in 2014?

Drew Lazor, freelance writer:
Dizengoff, Brigantessa, Kensington Quarters, Stock, V Street

Caroline Russock, food editor at Philadelphia City Paper:
Petruce and Townsend for sure, and while I only managed to make it there once, Abe Fisher is killing it.

Amanda Feifer, phickle.com:
High Street on Market is my very favorite place in the city to eat. I go there for lunch a lot, dinner whenever smothering myself in the best carbs in existence is dietarily viable. Skipping dessert is not an option when that dessert has been created by Sam Kincaid. I stopped baking bread because there's no reason to make an infinitely inferior product when I can stop on my way home from work to buy an Alex Bois creation.

Brigantessa is a knockout. We've shared the majority of the menu items and every bite has been spot on. I also had my first taste of fermented baby eel there which was very tasty and not even remotely intimidating.

All of the Yin/Kulp reboots are favorite places. A.Kitchen is insanely good now. The Fork terroir menu was beautiful and unique, but totally food you want to eat more than you want to stare at it.

Charlie Was a Sinner. Great vibes, great cocktails and very tasty food. It's rare to find a place where both my parents and Brooklynite vegan friends are happy, but this is one.

CookNSolo newbie Abe Fisher is killing it, crushing it, and then some.

Kristina Jenkins, editor at uwishunu:
Philadelphia was inundated with new amazing dining options this year. Hooray, Philly! I particularly love what's coming out of kitchens at V Street, Petruce et al., Dizengoff, Abe Fisher, Laurel, Townsend, and Lo Spiedo.

Hawk Krall, illustrator and sometimes food writer:
Brigantessa, South Philly Barbacoa

Marcos Espinoza, food blogger and co-owner of Side Project Jerky:
Abe Fisher and Dizengoff. CookNSolo is [insert the most intense word followed by "it" you can think of here, e.g., crushing it, destroying it, murdering it, whatevs].

Brian Freedman, food and wine writer, critic at Philly Weekly:
Petruce et al. and Abe Fisher.

Jamie Shanker, editor at Midtown Lunch Philly and food tour guide:
Favorite newcomers for cheap and fast lunch: TT Skewers and Hai Street.

Danya Henninger, food and beer writer, editor of Zagat Philly:
Petruce, Townsend, A.Kitchen, Brigantessa