Most years, only a handful of new restaurants rise to a truly noteworthy level, but this was a great year for new culinary experiences.

Some spots were long anticipated and worth the wait, such as a high-profile restaurant at The Pearl and an American-style steakhouse from the owners of the city’s finest Brazilian churrascaria. Others appeared out of a sense of serendipity and surprised with wonderful flavors, such as a kombucha bar that serves great dishes that happen to be vegan and a mezcal bar that offers interior Mexican street foods executed with chef-trained precision.