Friends of Eater Name Their Top Restaurant Newcomers of 2015

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 eight questions running the gamut from restaurant standbys to biggest restaurant grievances. All will be answered by the time we turn off the lights at the end of the 2015. 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 are the top restaurant newcomers of 2015?

Amanda Faison, 5280 Magazine food editor

Bar Fausto, Bar Dough, and Dos Santos, but you also can't talk about 2015 without mentioning Avanti. Hop Alley snuck in under the wire!

Andra Zeppelin, Eater Denver editor

Hop Alley is my number one choice even though it is so young. The RINo spot owned by Tommy Lee of Uncle is original, heartfelt, and so thoughtful in every single aspect. Cho77 and Bar Dough are tied for second in my heart. For drinks, I love the additions of the Occidental and Bar Fausto. It's been a good year!

Ruth Tobias, Thrillist contributing writer

Rebel, Ototo, and Bar Dough. All three blew my mind in different ways. That's a lot of different mind-blowing.

Jessie Levine, Eater Denver contributor

Cho77, Finn's Manor, Bar Dough.

Lori Midson, Zagat Denver editor

Cho77, Bar Dough, Rebel, Hop Alley, Blue Island Oyster Bar (great to see Cherry Creek on the rebound), Owlbear Barbecue (major kudos to Karl Fallenius for bringing kick-ass smoked meats to Denver), Avanti Food & Beverage and Osaka Ramen. And it's so good to see Sean Kelly back in action at Desmond Bar & Grill. Four words: The mussels are magnificent.

Linnea Covington, freelance writer, Westword contributor

Top of my list is Blue Pan, I can't get enough of their Detroit-style pizza.

Gigi Sukin, CoBiz and Eater Denver contributor

Telegraph, Dos Santos, Bar Fausto

Brittany Werges, 303 Magazine food editor

There were a lot of great new places this year, but my top newcomers are ones that took risks. The first would have to be Avanti Food & Beverage for its collective eatery concept. They got a lot of talented people under one roof and gave some awesome chefs the ability to test out some cool ideas. The whole incubator notion for new restaurants is really smart for a growing dining scene. Next, Rebel restaurant really pushed some boundaries with their menu. They opened with a whole lamb's head on their menu, for heaven sakes! It's been cool watching Denver embrace them. Finally, Black Eye Coffee really impressed me with its triple threat Cap Hill location. The coffee shop/restaurant/bar is absolutely beautiful and I find myself frequenting the place at almost all hours of the day.

Maya Silver, Dining Out Magazine writer

Cho77, Abejas, Wild Standard, and Avanti.

Adam Larkey, Eater Denver photographer

Bar Dough, Bar Fausto, Hop Alley, Rebel, Globe Hall and Bacon Social House

William Porter, Denver Post restaurant critic

Milk & Honey, Dos Santos

Megan Barber, Curbed Ski editor

Bar Dough. I just can't get enough of this place. I also eat weekly at Avanti. And Cho77 is my go to for the chicken curry. Also love Old Major's new chicken sandwiches at lunch.

Jennifer Murphy, freelance writer, AFAR contributor

Mercantile Dining & Provisions, Cart Driver, Ophelia's, Osaka Ramen.

Grace Boyle, Eater Denver contributor

Globe Hall, Nocturne, Wild Standard (in Boulder), and Cho77.

Rebecca Treon, freelance writer, Denver Post contributor

New World Cheese, Blackbelly Market, and the Avanti complex.

Rachel Greiman, Eater Denver contributor

My favorite new addition is Cho77. I love the funkiness of the space and the surprises on the menu. Also, very randomly, my favorite new coffee in all of Denver is the E.T. from Carbon.