Friends of Eater Name the Top Newcomers of 2014

Q: What was the top newcomer of 2014 — the restaurants you returned to most.

Don Chareunsy, Senior Editor, Arts + Entertainment, Las Vegas Sun: Kerry Simon’s Carson Kitchen in Downtown Las Vegas. Three words: Fried chicken skins. Chef Brian Massie’s Hearthstone is a really good thing for Red Rock Resort. And I’m a fan of the French fare at Daniel Boulud and David Middleton’s DB Brasserie at The Venetian.

Brock Radke, food and drink editor for Las Vegas Weekly: DB Brasserie. Bazaar Meat and Cleo and Ku Noodle. Yusho. Carson Kitchen. Japanese Cuisine by Omae. Mercadito. Jinya. Pot Liquor.

Jim Begley, freelance food and drink writer for Las Vegas Weekly, Desert Companion, Las Vegas Magazine and sundry publications: Sporting Life Bar again – who would’ve thought bar food could be this good? David Clawson Restaurant – completely worth the drive to Arizona for an incredible, yet casual, dining experience. Yusho – if it were in Chinatown (or honestly, even Cosmopolitan for that matter) it’d be overwhelmed with crowds; alas, it’s in a forgotten corner of Monte Carlo. Bazaar Meat – so much more than meat and SO good it’s worth traversing SLS for. Japanese Kitchen by OMAE – a precise Japanese kaiseki almost rivaling Raku. Almost.

JoAnna Haugen, Las Vegas contributing editor, Travel Weekly: Carson Kitchen, Yusho and Perch.

Mitchell Wilburn, VegasChatter: Carson Kitchen, definitely.  Really changed downtown dining in a flash.  Hearthstone was really impressive as well.

E.C. Gladstone, About.com/GoVegas (Guest Contributor); JackColton.com (Dining & Drinking Editor); NowImHungry.com (Titanium Overlord): Carson Kitchen, obviously. MTO Café, District One and El Dorado also make me happy to be in Las Vegas and hungry. But there are also many smaller neighborhood places doing simple things well-French bakeries, taco shops, Asian coffeehouses...

Bob Barnes, Editorial Director of The Las Vegas Food & Beverage Professional,
Las Vegas Reporter for Gayot and Regional Correspondent for Celebrator Beer News: Carson Kitchen—Kerry Simon lends his awesomeness to Downtown; Giada—acclaimed TV personality and cookbook author Giada De Laurentiis gives us the opportunity to experience her recipes (if you can score a reservation); DB Brasserie—the welcome return of Daniel Boulud to Vegas shows the French master along with proven Executive Chef David Middleton can deliver fine dining excellence in a casual yet refined atmosphere; Japanese Cuisine by Omae—Chef Takeshi Omae demonstrates why he is a Michelin-star chef and that you don’t have to be on the Strip to attract a star chef.

Michael G. Uzmann, Doctor, Blogger, Wandering Diner: Hearthstone, David Clawson Restaurant, Griddle Café, Yusho

Scott Roeben, Vital Vegas: Giada at Cromwell is killing it, of course, and it's every bit as good as people say it is. Looking forward to her next effort at Caesars Palace. Cleo at SLS Las Vegas is consistently good. Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen & Bar at The Linq exceeds all expectations. Carson Kitchen, downtown, is solid and a great value from chef Kerry Simon.

Robin Leach, gossip columnist for the Las Vegas Sun: DB BRASSERIE AT VENETIAN, GIADA AT THE CROMWELL, MERCADITO AT RED ROCK, THE NEW CHICAGO CHEF'S CHINESE RESTAURANT AT THE PALMS.

Amelinda B Lee, photographer for Eater Vegas: Giada, DB Brasserie, and Pot Liquor CAS.

Susan Stapleton, editor of Eater Vegas: District One, DB Brasserie, Yusho, David Clawson Restaurant and Japanese Cuisine by Omae.