Boston Area's 10 Hottest Openings of 2012

Steel & Rye; photo by Naomi Kooker

We’re guessing this last quarter of 2012 was a record if not banner quarter for Boston restaurant openings. In the past two months we saw the debut of many of the choices on our list, a mix of first-time chef/owners and veteran restaurateurs. Newton Centre saw a lot of action, as did Cambridge. As an editor’s note, we’d include The Sinclair music hall and dining venue in Cambridge with Michael Schlow consulting, but the restaurant is not fully functioning yet, so we’re saving that for the New Year. If there’s a hot spot we missed, do tell. We’re not perfect, but we’re always hungry.