The 2009/2010 Boston Zagat Survey was released at a party at Banq (Zagat food rating: 21) last night. Once again, Legal Sea Foods was the most popular restaurant overall and for the third year in a row, L'Espalier took top marks for food quality. Hungry Mother (home of recent Best New Chefs honoree Barry Maiden) was named Top Newcomer with Sofra close behind.
A few other interesting tidbits from the survey:
• Bostonians dine out less than the national average. While survey respondents nationwide eat an average of 3.3 meals out weekly, Boston tied with Philadelphia for the least meals out per week with an an average of 2.6.
• For alleged Massholes, we're sure good tippers. Boston came in second for highest tip, with an average of 19.4%.
• A word of warning for those chefs consumed by tapas and bites: only 24% of respondents prefer to make a meal from small plates.
• Though 32% of respondents said that the current economic situation hasn't affected their dining habits, 38% reported eating out less, 35% said they're more attentive to prices when they're ordering, and 32% reported eating in less expensive places. Translation: the age of the recession special is far from over.
MenuPages' Megan Johnson attended last night's launch at Banq and was able to grab Zagat founder Tim Zagat for a brief chat.
How is this year's guide different from the past?
If you see a rating go down even 2 points, you can tell that something's going on at a restaurant. Also, there are 150 new restaurants in the book.
What is your favorite location and meal in the Boston area?
I can't recommend a particular restaurant in Boston. I think the 6000 Bostonians who completed the Zagat survey could do it best.
Is there a particular chef in the Boston area you greatly admire?
Gordon Hamersley, Chris Schlesinger, Lydia Shire
How is the Zagat Survey transitioning with the times technologically?
Well, we have an online format available for the web, also for PDA's and cell phones. Also, we are on basically every single internet platform. And we've expanded to hotels, shopping, menus, and television.
