Portland Food Experts Offer Their Headline Predictions for 2017

As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, and bloggers. This year, we asked the group seven questions running the gamut from best dining neighborhood of the year to top restaurant newcomers, and we'll be rolling out their expert opinions all week long. Responses are cut, pasted, and (mostly) unedited herein. Readers, please share your survey answers in the comments.

Q. What are your headline predictions for 2016?

Michael Russell, The Oregonian’s food reporter and critic

“Portland celebrity chef sells flagship restaurant.”

Gary Okazaki, professional glutton (aka Gary the Foodie)

“The register rings for many ‘artisan’ companies, who sell to much larger and more well-capitalized firms.”

Michael Zusman, cookbook author, restaurant critic (and judge)

"Higher Minimum Wage Bites; Restaurant Prices Rise"
"More Japanese Chains Open Mediocre Portland Branches"
"Year of the Rooster Marks Local Chinese Food Resurgence"

Andrea Damewood, restaurant critic, Portland Mercury

After the absolute horror that was 2016, I can't imagine I can see into the future. Nor do I want to.

Mike Thelin, co-founder of Feast Portland

“More food halls”
“More big name chefs do hotel restaurants in Portland”
“Retail rents will start to go down”
“A few big-name chefs will open restaurants in Oregon Wine Country”