Florida @ Its Best

| 12/1/2008

Restaurant Editor Chris Sherman, who has been covering Florida restaurants for 20 years, takes over the Golden Spoons from Robert W. Tolf this year. [Photo: Dan Gaye]

Dishes rattled and pots clanged in kitchens across Florida all year; cash registers rang too but not so much. Yet as the economic crises shook some of the best-known restaurants and closed others, hope opened up on other corners. Restauranting was true to its traditions: A very tough business and one that always attracts new talent to take the risks.

So in my first year as keeper of the Golden Spoons at Florida Trend, I’m happy to report that entrepreneurship and innovation are on the front burner. Big-bucks diners can be scarce in high-end restaurants on Wednesday nights, but smart chefs are retooling to offer more catering, small plates and sandwiches, hip cocktails, prix fixe deals and late night snacks.

And, hard as it may be for other industries to believe, major investments kept coming.

Grand hotels and upscale chains continue to move in, and stars of New York, California and food television arrive every month.

So while Golden Spoon winners from Mark Militello’s in south Florida to Johnny Earles’ Criolla’s in Grayton Beach are no longer open, we have dozens more to taste Florida at its best. The bonus for those of us in the diner’s seat is more choices, lower prices and easier reservations. Golden flavors for less silver.

This year, I hand out more than a dozen new Golden Spoons to restaurants and chefs who have delivered fine food, with smart service and sharp decor with staying power since 2006 and singled out two stalwarts to elevate to the Hall of Fame.

The future remains tantalizing, and so I recommend a score of newcomers who have cooked up bright ideas and innovative cooking in all formats over the last two years. Indeed, I had difficulty limiting the best of the new to 20 and will add 100 fresh names to the Florida’s 500 finest listings on FloridaTrend.com.

With polish and a little luck, they could turn to gold in the years to come.

The Great Florida Restaurant Guide features reviews of the 500 Top Restaurants in Florida, including the 20 Best New Restaurants and the updated Golden Spoon list. The guide is available on our website in an easy-to-use form. The enhanced listings are organized by region and include photos and maps to help guide you to the best dining in Florida.

Tags: Dining & Travel