Food Writers Sum Up the 2018 Restaurant World in One Word

As is Eater’s annual tradition, we’re closing out 2018 by surveying local food writers (including our own staff and contributors) on various restaurant-related topics, and we’re publishing their responses in these final days of the year. Readers, please feel free to chime in with your own thoughts in the comment section below.

Today’s question: Sum up the 2018 restaurant world in one word.

Caron Golden, San Diego Foodstuff: UTC

Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune: Overstuffed. Too many similar (and chain) restaurants serving the same food.

Candice Woo, Eater: Safe.

Michele Parente, San Diego Union-Tribune: Underwhelming.

Frank Sabatini, San Diego Uptown News: Showy.

Michael Gardiner, San Diego CityBeat: Lemmings. If something was working in 2016 and 2017 then 2018 was the year the restaurant industry piled on en masse.

Jackie Bryant, Eater: Changing.

Ann Wycoff, San Diego Magazine: Promising