Eater Friends on Their 2012 Restaurant Breakups

As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, bloggers, and readers. We've already covered best standbys, top newcomers, 2012 in one word, best restaurant neighborhood, the biggest dining surprises of the year and single best meal of the year. Now, breakups. Readers, please add your thoughts to the comments.

Q. Were there any restaurants that you broke up with in 2012 -- eg, places you stopped going to?

Steve Hacker, writer and brand consultant, Gourmandistan.com: Chik-Fil-A

Melissa Duley, associate editor, Louisville Magazine: I had to quit you Home Run Burgers & Fries.

Kane Webb, editor, Louisville Magazine: Haven't been here long enough to have established those kinds of relationships. But I have found myself ditching Starbucks for Quills Coffee and other locals.

Elizabeth Orrick, food writer, Louisville.com: Sapporo Sushi, because I consider it too expensive for the product delivered. Against The Grain Brewery, after one visit that was so bad I probably will not return. The Butterfly Tea Garden on Bardstown, also after one visit--over priced, terrible service, lackluster food.

Antonia Lindauer, freelance food writer, That Vampin' Lady: Garage Bar. I have a lot of friends who love the food there, but I have never been able to get behind it. I have sampled from both the pizza side and the brunch side, and for me, the flavor is just not there. A lot of people love it, so they must be doing something right; it's just not to my taste. I am happy to go back to enjoy drinks in their fun outdoor area.So maybe it won't be a clean break.

Kevin Harned, chief meteorologist, WAVE 3 and co-host, Secrets of Louisville Chefs Live: I have a love affair with them all, and they never break my heart

Josh Moss, managing editor, Louisville Magazine: Almost. Last time I was at Harvest, for brunch, my dad -- who can't eat a lot of cheese -- asked for no Norwood (after we determined this was a cheese) on his egg concoction, which also came with rich beer cheese and tomato fondue. "The kitchen doesn't like doing substitutions," our waitress said. My dad: "It's not a substitution. I just don't want it." Waitress: "I'll see what I can do." Look, kitchen: I know your plates are basically Picasso canvases. But if a guy can't eat cheese, don't make him feel like a dick for asking for no cheese.

Zach Everson, editor, Eater Louisville: Now that there's another coffee shop on Bardstown Road with a drive thru, Heine Brothers serves no purpose. Also, Harvest—the portraits of farmers are obnoxious. I don't want to know my farmer; I just want my grocer and chef to. (And what's next, the know-your-dishwasher trend? I mean, if it weren't for them, we'd all get E. coli and die.)