Esquire magazine just dropped its annual Best New Restaurants list, and alas, no Portland spots make the cut. But restaurant writer John Mariani names the Optimist (in Atlanta) his restaurant of the year, while Roberto Donna (of DC's Al Dente) earns the chef of the year title. The issue also identifies restaurant trends like "'Brooklyn' — Rakish, Comfortable, Spectacular — Is Everywhere." [Esquire via Eater National]
