Our Favorite Meals of 2024: Part One
For the 13th year, we have asked some folks to recap their favorite meal of the calendar year. Part one features 10 contributors talking about meals they've had locally and around the world.
We’ve been asking people about their favorite meals for 13 years now and it’s still one of our favorite annual traditions. For those who are not familiar, here’s the deal. We simply ask some friends of Eats, new and old, to send us some words about a memorable meal of the calendar year.
The meal write ups we receive range from home cooked meals with family, trips to Michelin star restaurants in Europe, a local dive bar and everything in between. We hope you enjoy the following meals, the people who wrote these descriptions took time out of their busy lives to share with us meals that made them happy in 2024.
Additionally, we make an effort to reach out to people that we either admire or genuinely enjoy their work and recommend you check out their social media accounts or businesses. All are linked below.
Jess Forster
Partner/Sommelier at Waxlight Bar a Vin, 6x Contributor
I traveled a lot this year. Mostly for "work," some for pleasure, all of it highly enjoyable & fulfilling. My standouts include the following, in chronological order.
Dinner at Pico (pictured above) in Los Alamos on the last night of the Court of Master Somelier's Women Sommelier Symposium in Santa Barbara. Sitting alongside 20+ women- business owners, farmers, sommeliers, journalists, photographers, it was the perfect send off after an immersive wine trip through Santa Barbara County that I will remember forever.
I finally got to eat at Four Horsemen in Brooklyn and it is beyond worthy of ALL the hype.
Brunch at the Loyalist in Chicago, where I ignored my lactose intolerance & gladly suffered the consequences. That meal was anchored by late night bar food at some dive bar, dressed in our finest black tie attire following the JBF awards.
Small plates at Vin Mon Lapin & dinner at Le Vin Papillon in Montreal on our annual summer vacation. Showing up 15 minutes before opening to snag a walk-in spot at the #1 restaurant in Canada is highly recommended and the best decision Ed and I made that trip.
Dinner with new friends at the Marigold Club in Houston during the JBF Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Summit. Caviar toast and caviar bumps on french fries for the win!
Oysters and wine at Thames Street Oyster House in Baltimore for a "girls weekend" with my best friend, capping the end of my travels for 2024.
I realize how fortunate I am to have had all of these incredible experiences in just one year- it was a whirlwind, but certainly one for the books!
Pete Lembo
Head Coach of UB Football Team, First time Contributor!
As a relative newcomer to Western New York and with my hectic coaching schedule, I certainly have not gotten out to as many dining establishments as I hope to in the coming months. Jen and I are very grateful for the warm reception we have received from the wonderful genuine people in Buffalo.
Our weekly date night spot is the bar at Falletta’s Restaurant, on the border of Amherst and Clarence, where owner’s Mike and Chuck Falletta make everyone feel like part of their family. You can always count on seeing some familiar faces in Falletta’s – maybe even an occasional appearance from legendary sportswriter Vic Carucci. And while the folks there are interested in the Bulls winning football games, everyone in this Cheer’s style environment cares far more about you as a person. I often kickoff with the lobster cakes and the Luiga’s salad followed by the chicken parmigiana with Rigatoni and carrots.
Dessert is likely to be whatever Chuck was inclined to make earlier that day. The strawberry shortcake is absolutely incredible when it’s available. The steaks at Falletta’s are also excellent, so a New York Strip with mushrooms and spinach is always a nice change up.
If you see Jen and I there this off season, please say hello! Go Bulls!
Tom Burtless
Eats Contributor & Singer of Humble Braggers, 9x Contributor
In Buffalo: While we didn't get out a ton this past year we did manage to have some amazing meals across WNY. My highlight was our meal at Prescott's Provisions for my wife Alex's birthday just a few weeks after giving birth to our son Will. It was one of our first meals out of the house sans Will and it was nice to be able to enjoy some time just the two of us. From our oysters to our steak, everything was phenomenal. Prescott’s, in my opinion, is easily in the top 3 best restaurants of WNY and has held that for a few years now.
At Home: With a recently renovated kitchen as of last August, Alex and I have felt the need to put it to work this past year. Alex in particular has tried her hand at some heartier meals - pot roast, beef stew, roasted chicken with root vegetables. But all of these wonderful meals pale in comparison to her bolognese (pictured above) which, I can confidently say, has been mastered in recent months. For the sake of transparency I haven't had much bolognese outside of our home but at this point I don't really see the need to.
Outside Buffalo: My highlight for meals outside of the city would be Fat Rabbit (pictured above) in St. Catharines. Alex had been dying to go and we finally made the trip this past year. The food and vibe were incredible - a butcher shop with a great menu. Sitting close to the meat case entitled us to see exactly which steak would become our meal.
RJ Marvin
Co-owner of Barrel + Brine and Fat Sangwich, 7x Contributor
I don’t get out much these days. Sure, I might slip in for a steaming bowl of pho at 99 or duck into Peking Quick One now and then, but it’s been a while since Lina and I settled in for a proper meal at a real restaurant. Honestly, it’s not just the hassle—it’s the time. Those long, lingering dinners just don’t fit into our lives right now.
So when I was asked to contribute to this series, I had to think back to March 2024. Lina and I managed to slip away to Saint Maarten for a few weeks—a place so small you could circle it several times in an afternoon. One morning, we found ourselves perched by the sea, feasting on fresh fruit and stinky, runny cheeses we’d acquired at a tiny fromagerie on the French side of the island. Fueled by that simple breakfast, we hopped into our rental car—clearly designed for someone a quarter my size—with no real plan and no pressing destination.
We eventually came upon Kali’s Beach Bar, tucked just outside of Grand Case. It was a proper beach hut, only a few yards from the sparkling Caribbean Sea. Moments after we pulled into the sandy lot, the skies broke open with a sudden, soaking rain. While others ran to their cars and fled, we stayed put. By the time we reached the bar, it was practically empty—just me, Lina, the owner Kali (chain-smoking joints), and the bartender...Bob Barker.
You’re probably thinking what I was thinking—“There’s no way his name is Bob Barker.” I repeated his name back to him, half-convinced it was a joke. Without missing a beat, he leaned forward and hollered, “COME ON DOWN!”.
Under the tiki hut’s thatched roof, sheltered from what had now turned into a gentle drizzle, we sipped rums infused with tropical fruits and herbs—guavaberry and bay leaf, pineapple, and banana. When the warmth of the liquor finally reached our heads, we realized we needed something to eat. And what better than a red snapper, reeled in by Bob himself just an hour or so earlier?
I’ve always believed a meal’s magic hinges as much on where you enjoy it as on what you taste. When Bob presented that snapper, still crackling from a makeshift drum grill fueled by hot hardwood, it came with sweet plantains, johnny cakes, red beans and rice, and a richly layered creole sauce. It was perfect. The fish was salty and firm, flaking easily between our now-greasy fingers, melting into the sweetness of the plantains and the crispness of the johnny cakes. Each bite was dipped into that impossibly nuanced sauce. We took our time, savoring each mouthful, drunk and happy, feeling completely present in the moment.
We stayed until closing, drifting away only when we had to. By the time we climbed back into that godforsaken tiny car and drove on, we eventually ended up in a piano bar, drinking martinis and getting drunker than we should have been. We finished the night belting out Billy Joel songs with strangers.
I’m updating my passport.
James Pici
Photographer & Founder of Heard, First Time Contributor!
Looking back on this year’s favorite meals, there were countless memorable bites. From the always amazing BBQ at Southern Junction, to the best pizza I have ever had with the Calabrian Crunch from Pizzeria Florian and the creative and delicious artistry from Chef Chris Keller at Oliver’s Cuisine. But the meal that meant the most to me was from Bar Isabel in Toronto.
Last month my wife, Abby, and I took a much-needed three day break to Toronto to spend time together and check out some food spots. Looking for suggestions, I asked one of the best food writers in town, Christa Glennie for her thoughts. The response was Bar Isabel and Bar Raval, two Spanish-influenced tapas bars focusing on Catalan cuisine. This immediately stood out because of how much this cuisine means to us, having met in a Spanish restaurant where we both worked in Portland OR.
When we visited Bar Isabel, pan con Tomate (tomato toast), bellota jamon croquettes, pork secreto, and patatas bravas were staples and must-haves, and they did not disappoint. One of the aspects that I love so much about Spanish cuisine is the heavy emphasis on simplicity and letting the ingredients sing. The pan con tomate was fresh and acidic, the bravas crispy with smokey spice from the sauce, and the secreto melts in your mouth. But it was the jamon croquettes that were especially meaningful to us and my favorite part of the meal.
While working for our chef from Barcelona, Abby was in charge of baking fresh Coca bread and I had switched from the hot line to morning prep so I could focus on starting my photography career. In the morning it would be just the two of us in the restaurant and we would take the bellota croquette batter and spread it on the freshly baked bread for a little 6am treat. Ordering the croquettes from Bar Isabel was like a nice trip down memory lane and what I love so much about food. Its ability to transport you to a different time is truly special.
If you're planning a trip to Toronto or happen to be in the area, I highly recommend checking out Bar Isabel or Bar Raval.
Lindsay Robson
Founder of Nickel City Pretty & Copper & Steel, 7x Contributor
I’m starting to see a pattern in my favorite meal of the year posts - 2022, 2023, and now 2024 have all been meals that I’ve had with men who I no longer speak to. Each one has been more awful than the last…the men, not the meals. The men may have been terrible, but the meals have been *chef’s kiss* so at least there’s one silver lining?
2024’s meal is more than just a meal, it is a whole ass restaurant (is that allowed?) 2024 was the year that I was introduced to Gia in Toronto. Gia is an entirely plant-based restaurant on Dundas Street, which, fun fact, was named after Gia Carangi who is considered by some to be the very first supermodel.
Now listen, I am a meat eater. I love a good burger but I also love a good vegetable, so I was excited to explore the menu at Gia and see how their meat-alternatives stacked up to the real thing. I am not kidding when I say that I still dream about this meal, and this happened in January, so it’s been a minute. What really bums me out is that Gia’s menu is seasonal and changes often, so I probably will never get to experience this same exact meal ever again, but I’m so happy that I got to experience it this one time.
There’s nothing I love more than ordering a bunch of small plates and sharing them so we get a taste of lots of things, and we did just that. We started the meal with the most fluffy, salty, perfect focaccia I’ve ever had paired with house made maple butter. Next was watermelon radish carpaccio with grapefruit segments and some kind of a chili and citrus and olive oil dressing which blew my friggin mind. Like, I almost licked the damn plate clean, it was so insanely good. Arancini was next, which is one of my favorite things in the world, and they were perfectly warm and crunchy rice balls filled with vegan mozzarella and peas and topped with a spicy tomato sauce. Roasted carrots followed shortly after, and they were sticky and sweet and slightly spicy at the same time. Finally we split the bolognese with a plant-based meat sauce. Vegan meat products have come such a long way as this tasted exactly like the real thing. It was the most warm and comforting and cozy meal that made my heart so happy even though I was sharing company with a mediocre man.
Also beverages! Y’all know I’m the mocktail queen, and they do offer mocktails on the menu. I think I drank three of the Tom Fords- hibiscus, vanilla, lemon, sparkling. Light and refreshing.
I enjoyed this meal so much that I brought another man to this same spot three months later. The meal, although different, was still incredibly perfect. The man, although different, was still incredibly mediocre. How are you 44 years old and still figuring out your dating goals?
I digress. If you’re looking for a great cozy spot the next time you’re in Toronto, head to Gia. Plant-based or not, you’ll have a great meal in a beautiful atmosphere. Just make sure that your company is better than mine.
Brad Rowell
Co-Owner of The Grange, West Rose, Wayland Brewing, Grange Outpost, 11x Contributor
My daughter turned 9 this summer and we went to NYC to celebrate. Her favorite foods are sushi, dumplings, and pasta so we spent 36 hours traversing the city for the best versions of each. For sushi we hit the Michelin starred Sushi Yasuda and it didn't disappoint. For dumplings our favorite spot was Great New York Noodle Town. For our last meal in NYC we had some really nice pasta dishes at Via Carota in the West Village.
In September I was in Philadelphia for the weekend with some friends. Chef Manny and Gina from The Grange both lived there and gave us some great recommendations. My favorites were Royal Izakaya for Sushi and really fun Japanese dishes as well as Angelo's for Philly cheese steaks. The Hype is real.
My local standouts this year were a great late summer meal at Ditondo, a ton of pizzas from Florian, and a meaty meal from Fat Rabbit in St. Catherines.
Go Bills
Courtney Marcello
@biteofbuffalo, 2x Contributor
This past year, my best food experience was at Belcanto in Lisbon. It is a Michelin 2 star restaurant. The moment we walked in, we got a tour of the kitchen and got to see everyone hard at work. We had to order the tasting menu to get the full experience. The tasting menu offered 11 different courses from suckling pig to cod’s swim bladder. The dish that stood out the most was called “the garden of the goose that laid the golden egg.” It was an egg cooked at low temperature covered with a gold leaf, crispy bread and mushrooms.
Each bite was a delightful blend of flavors and textures, leaving me savoring every moment. The ambiance, the attentive service, the exquisite food, and the sommelier made it an unforgettable dining experience that I still dream about.
Puf
Buffalo Based Wrestler, 2x Contributor
To quote Kacey Musgraves, “I’m a big fan of a Dinner with friends in cities where none of us live”.
Traveling for wrestling allows me to have so many of them it’s hard to pick a favorite, whether it be Hawaiian BBQ in Chicago at 1am, Nando’s Peri Peri chicken in Hamilton, Ontario, pretty much anything from a Sheetz at any time of day. Can’t be beat. But this year especially I really made an effort to get together with my friends locally and catch up over some great wings at Nine Eleven Tavern. Closed the place down a few times going with a couple friends and ordering 50 wings HOT, cause they’re the best! Those have to be my favorite meals of the year.
Honorable mention to the GOAT, Ilio DiPaolo’s in Blasdell. Their Veloce lunch special on Friday is always phenomenal!
Anthony Petrilli
Chef/Co-owner of West Rose, 3x Contributor
2024 was a great year for meals in my life. My fiancé and I ate at our first Michelin starred restaurant together, enjoyed our first omakase together, slurped down noodles of all shapes and sizes, made memories around a table and friends across the bar.
Food is great…duh. But eating isn’t dining. You eat to fuel the fire, you dine to feed the soul. I couldn’t tell you the better half of all the dishes I loved this year, but I know l loved them (I have the handles to prove it). What I can do is describe some of my favourite dining experiences.
I traveled to Florida a lot in 2024, Orlando specifically. It’s not all Disney and theme parks, err…maybe it is , maybe it isn’t. Disney and theme parks to Orlando are what snow storms and chicken wings are to Buffalo. They’re what we’re known for but they’re not the best parts of us. The population of Orlando, with its strong immigrant influx and over 74 million tourists annually, forge a strong (though transient) and transformative community, both of which stir the pot of hospitality in one of the most tourism-driven cities in the world. With that much humanity around, there’s going to be good food and good people to share it with.
In Winter Garden, we had an amazing omakase dinner at Norigami - an unassuming 8-seat sushi bar in the middle of the Plant Street Market. 10 courses of delicious morsels of fish and rice. The Toro with parmigiana, pickled mustard seed and truffle puree was exceptional. Excitedly chatting with Chef David throughout our meal, he told us they were going to be celebrated for the retention of their Bib Gourmand the very next night. Rightfully so.
Capa (pictured above) is the Spanish steakhouse on the top floor of Four Seasons Resort at Walt Disney World (sheeeeesh). This was a celebratory meal for us, and the patio gave an unexpectedly amazing vantage point for fireworks from two of the four Disney parks. It was hard to tell when our eyes lit up more, during the champagne blasts across the night sky or as our courses arrived. Pan con Tomate, Braised Octopus, Patatas Bravas, Prawn & Squid Paella…all were outstanding. We didn’t know what to expect for our first Michelin-starred meal, but we were not disappointed.
The Ravenous Pig in Winter Park (two respective neighborhoods in Orlando named Winter Garden AND Winter Park smack dab in the middle of the sunshine state…who was the city planner behind that?!) was an incredible experience. Our server was great and led us through our meal with professionalism and grace. Smoked Salmon Dip, Oysters, Beef Tartare, and the perfect bottle of wine.
Kaya in Lake Eola Heights is a Filippino restaurant nestled into a converted house. I love that. There’s something about a restaurant built into the bones of a house. It beams of hospitality, quite literally inviting guests into their home to share in their table and their traditions. Lumpiang Shanghai, Sugpo & Laing (tiger prawns and collards), Pancit Sotanghon (mung bean noodles with mushroom jus), ordering and eating with abandon and a sense of wonderment that excites. We don’t find a lot of Filipino dishes here in WNY, so I ventured gleefully into something new.
Closer to home, that same feel is found at Vern’s in Rochester. Designed like a house and with service that feels as friendly as it is elevated, it’s hard not to feel front and center at an awesome nightly house party. From the Japanese Sweet Potatoes with kimchi ranch to the pizza and pasta “al giorno”, all nestled into the stories and the laughter around the table, it’s a place where I want to let shadows grow long behind my glass and stay into the night.
Frankie’s in Burlington, Vermont, is yet another home-turned- restaurant that was so cozy and inviting. We sat at the bar, and the bar manager Max took exceptional care of us. A small yet curated dinner menu that changes daily, we wanted everything but stuck to our initial yearnings. Roasted Oysters, Littleneck Clams with braised leeks, Smoked Swordfish - and you never forget your first Creamee. We got to stay, drink wine from bottles that would not survive the weekend away, and chat well after close with the staff as they were winding down from their work week. They were gracious and welcoming to two hospitalians visiting a new place.
Back in Buffalo, I think back to the first time I got to dine at Southern Junction. It’s always been difficult to get to Ryan’s food with schedules that never aligned, but once I entered that hallowed space and took my first bites at the bar, I knew I’d remember it. You can’t take a lackluster taste of anything if you tried. It’s all outstanding.
I’m a big Pizza lover. I love making it, I love eating it, I love having it made for me and I love sharing it. The destination pizza game in Buffalo has really had a glow up in recent years. Grab a seat, see a friendly face and get a pie fresh and hot out of the oven. Have a chat while it cools, let the aroma waft your way as the anticipation mounts, and sort out your first bite. Extra Extra, Florian, Jay’s, Candyman, Daniela, all bring something different and delicious. I’ve been asked if we compete or judge each other and my fast and simple answer is “no.” There’s no such thing as bad pizza, there’s pizza you like and pizza you don’t. I’m a firm believer that the more people come together to eat pizza, the better the world will be.
Stay tuned for Part Two tomorrow (12/31)!