Friends of Eater Name the Top Newcomers of 2012

As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, bloggers, and readers. We've already covered Best Standbys. Now it's time for best newcomers.

[Photo: The Hart and the Hunter/ Elizabeth Daniels]

Q: What are the top restaurant newcomers of 2012?

Zach Brooks, Midtown Lunch: Hart and the Hunter. The End.

Josh Lurie, Food GPS: The Hart + The Hunter seamlessly melds two of my favorite genres: Southern comfort food and seasonal California cooking. The food's unfussy and the flavors are bold.

Eddie Lin, Deep End Dining: Plan Check, UMAMIcatessen, Tar & Roses, The Parish, Bestia, Hart and the Hunter, Post & Beam, BierBeisl, M.A.K.E., 54Twenty by Kyle Schutte.

Katherine Kims, associate editor, Time Out Los Angeles: Tar & Roses, Alma and Bestia.

Lesley Barger Suter, dine editor, LAmag: Baco Mercat, the Parish, Bierbeisl.

Jeff Miller, LA editor, Thrillist: This year's been a weird year -- I feel like I haven't gone to many of the restaurants I'm most excited about (Hart & The Hunter/The Parish/etc.) I loved the food I had at Superba Snack Bar when I was there for brunch, so I'll definitely put that in the running as I'm sure many other people will -- I also had a great meal at Bestia, and I'm excited to see how that menu develops.

Maggie Nemser, founder, Blackboard Eats: Alma, Shunji, BierBeisl, Gusto, Sycamore Kitchen, 800 Degrees, Tar & Roses.

Brigham Yen, DTLA RISING with Brigham Yen: Baco Mercat and Maccheroni Republic.

Jason Kessler, Bon Appetit contributor: Gusto, The Parish, Superba Snack Bar.

Esther Tseng, e*starLA: The Parish, Hart & The Hunter, Alma, Bar Amá.

Tony Chen, contributor, Eater LA: Tar & Roses, Papilles, Bestia.

Matthew Kang, contributor, Eater LA: Mo-Chica, Hart & the Hunter, The Corner Door, Cognoscenti Coffee, Caulfield's.

Daniela Galarza, contributor, Eater LA: Sycamore Kitchen. Black Hogg. The Hart and The Hunter.

Kat Odell, editor, Eater LA: Superba Snack Bar, Salumi Night at Mozza, The Hart and the Hunter, BierBeisl, Osteria Drago, Sycamore Kitchen, Mo-Chica.