SEATTLE (PRNewswire) — Restaurant discovery app Urbanspoon today released its annual list of the most popular dishes and cuisines of the year and looks forward to the New Year, based on data culled from the app's new Popular Dish feature, user data, reviews, and expert commentary. From the classic filet to the bacon-topped donut, the list reveals American's favorite meals of this year.
Which dishes resonated most with Americans this year, and which restaurants were visited most by diners? Read on for Urbanspoon's most popular dishes and cuisines of 2014:
Top Dishes of the Year:
- Overall Best Dish of the year: Boulevard restaurant in San Francisco captured the honor of serving the best dish of the year, with its Filet Mignon. This classic dish captured the hearts of Urbanspoon users as the highest rated dish overall.
- Best Sandwich: Katz's Pastrami from Katz's Delicatessen in New York. This sandwich is smoked to juicy perfection and hand-carved to diners' specifications.
- Best Noodle: Ramen from Daikokuya in Los Angeles. Urbanspoon users rave about this ramen, made with Kurobuta pork and simmered in a delicious broth.
- Best Pizza: The Omni Pizza from 575 Pizzeria in Amarillo, TX. If you thought the best slice of pizza hails from Chicago or New York, think again! The Omni Pizza is the top-rated pizza on Urbanspoon, made with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, and black olives.
- Best Dessert: Bacon Maple Bar Doughnut from Voodoo Doughnut in Portland. For a calorie overload, try this decadent dessert: a yeast doughnut topped with maple frosting and bacon.
- Best Burger: The Company Burger from The Company Burger in New Orleans. Americans' favorite burger is a classic cheeseburger with two patties, housemade b&b pickles, American cheese, and red onions.
- Best Dumpling: Dumplings from Gourmet Dumpling House in Boston. These dumplings, whether they're in a soup or pan-fried, are the best of the best among Urbanspoon users.
- Best Appetizer: Grilled Monterey Bay Calamari from Delfina in San Francisco. This favorite starter is not fried like most calamari appetizers, but is still a hit on Urbanspoon, and is paired perfectly with a warm white bean salad.
Top Five Cuisines of 2014:
- Tapas: Restaurants featuring this style of smaller Spanish appetizers were some of the most frequented eateries this year by Urbanspoon users.
- Italian: Americans can't get enough classic Italian food, with pasta and pizza joints at the top of this year's list.
- Mediterranean: The Mediterranean diet, which boasts olive oil, vegetables and lean proteins, has been steadily rising in popularity, and the trend has driven a spike in Mediterranean-style restaurants visited on Urbanspoon.
- Southern/Soul: BBQ, grits, and fried chicken are stars this year, with more Americans dining out at Southern and Soul Food restaurants in 2014 than in years past.
- Japanese: Urbanspoon users couldn't get enough ramen, miso, sake, and soba this year, as evidenced by the rise of Japanese restaurant reviews.
And What Foods Will Be the Favorites in 2015?
- Pickled Cauliflower: Pickled and fermented foods are rapidly rising in popularity in reviews, and Urbanspoon predicts next year will be the year of the pickled vegetables.
- Chicken Wings: This isn't your boring roast chicken! 2015 will mark the return of chicken dishes being the spotlight on restaurant menus.
- Smoked Cabbage: It's not just meats that are smoked anymore; Urbanspoon predicts smoked cabbage, and other smoked veggies, will take a top spot next year.
- Artisanal Brittle: Craft and artisanal foods have seen a major comeback, and this favorite candy is sure to make a name for itself in 2015.
- Savory Beignets: Once reserved as a sweet pastry, beignets with savory fillings like smoked shrimp or broccoli and cheese will be a favorite of chefs and diners alike.
About Urbanspoon
Urbanspoon is a leading restaurant discovery app that aggregates reviews from professional food critics, bloggers, and local diners to help people everywhere decide where and what to eat. Available on the web and through its popular iPhone, Android, and Windows applications, Urbanspoon provides reviews for restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Urbanspoon is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IACI). For more information, visit www.urbanspoon.com.