Once again, we’ve gathered an esteemed panel of industry insiders to name the restaurant dishes they enjoyed most over the last year—the ones that literally made them clean their plates. In 2013, these expert eaters sampled from menus close to home and around the country and the world, discovering new tastes and returning to familiar flavors. They sat down to elaborate tasting menus, visited family-run ethnic eateries and stopped at holes-in-the-wall for a special doughnut or pork bun. While tripe, live spot prawns and sea urchin made it to the top of their lists, simple, everyday fare also scored high. This was a big year for pizza, burgers, tacos and roast chicken. Bowls of comfort, like ramen, matzo ball soup and lobster bisque were favorites, too. As one panel member stated, “I live and breathe ‘refined cuisine’ ... and a steady diet of culinary perfection … so when I go out, I enjoy simple, natural and flavorful foods.”
Click here for the full listing of this year's Clean Plate Awards.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.