2012's Most Exciting Restaurant Openings

There are a host of variables that combine to make a restaurant's opening hotly anticipated. First and foremost is the chef (and/or owner) — the popularity and reputations of those individuals at the helm can generate buzz around a new venture, or garner bated speculation about it. Second is location — a restaurant opening in a trendy or up-and-coming neighborhood can foster excitement, as can a restaurant that's opening in a familiar building or landmark. Third is the hook — this is the "it" factor that piques our general interest, and gets people scrambling to book a reservation before the doors of the restaurant even open — whether it's an innovative dining concept or an acclaimed chef launching a restaurant that features a different cuisine than their signature style. 

As 2012 swiftly approaches, culinary enthusiasts have the promise of countless new restaurant openings to look forward to in the upcoming year. So to make things a bit easier to digest, here are a handful of places across the country that we're particularly excited to dine at next year.

• The NoMad Hotel Restaurant, New York City: Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, the powerhouse team behind Eleven Madison Park, are taking on their first solo venture at The NoMad Hotel, which is scheduled to open in the late winter/early spring. The atmosphere at the restaurant will reportedly be more laid-back than the setting at Eleven Madison Park, with a menu featuring rustic, French-inspired fare.

• Little Goat, Chicago: Riding on the coattails of her incredible success in 2011 with Girl & The Goat, Stephanie Izard plans to open her follow-up venture across the street in March or April. Izard took over the former Red Light space in Chicago's West Loop to open Little Goat, a diner-inspired concept where as many ingredients as possible will be made in-house, including the bacon and roasted turkey. (Photo above courtesy of GITK)

• Aamanns/Copenhagen, New York City: The Noma effect ripples through Manhattan next year. Adam Aamann, who pioneered a successful restaurant and takeaway in Copenhagen, is bringing smørrebrød, the Danish open-faced sandwich concept to TriBeCa. There will be pastries, chocolates, coffee, and 100 core smørrebrød recipes, with 12 on the menu any given day. They're seeking a liquor license to serve aquavit. The restaurant was originally scheduled to open this fall, but the most recent updates indicate a January unveiling.

• Underbelly, Houston: Perhaps the biggest news of the year for Houston's restaurant industry was Chris Shepherd announcing that he'd be leaving his post at Catalan to step out on his own. The chef's first solo venture, Underbelly, was scheduled to open in the fall, but will now open as early as mid-January. The restaurant will have an in-house butcher shop and feature meat farmed by Shepherd himself.

• The Restaurant at Meadowood Resort, St. Helena, Calif.: The widely acclaimed Restaurant at Meadowood Resort will close up shop in January and February to undergo a complete renovation, including a full re-haul of food program. The Michelin three-star restaurant will re-open in early March.

• Bowery Diner, New York City: Motorino's chef Mathieu Palombino is opening his version of a diner in January. Belgium-born Palombino will serve classic American fare at The Bowery Diner, but with an elevated touch — for example, this diner features a raw bar. Guests will get to enjoy expertly executed blue-plate specials late into the wee hours of the morning at this joint. (Photo above courtesy of The Bowery Diner)

• Central Kitchen, San Francisco: With Flour + Water, David White, David Steele, and Thomas McNaughton have established themselves as one of the best pizzerias in San Francisco, if not the country. Their follow-up will open two blocks away early next year, with the kitchen to be helmed by Michael Gaines, most recently of Manresa. And no, reports are that there won't be pizza. Additionally, the group will open Salumeria, a cured meats emporium and sandwich shop.

• Grace, Chicago: Acclaimed Chicago chef Curtis Duffy is channeling the knowledge he picked up throughout his career at Charlie Trotter's, Alinea, and most recently, Avenues (which closed for a hiatus immediately following Duffy's departure), to open his first solo venture in the West Loop next summer. The restaurant, Grace, will offer a prix fixe menu only with no à la carte options.

• The Sycamore Kitchen, Los Angeles: Karen and Quinn Hatfield, the married power couple behind acclaimed Hollywood restaurant, Hatfield's, will open a casual neighborhood venture early next year. The Sycamore Kitchen will focus on freshly baked pastries and breads, with Karen leading the pastry program. The restaurant is scheduled to serve a full breakfast, lunch, and early dinner menu. (Photo above courtesy of Quinn and Karen Hatfield)

• North End Grill, New York City: The latest addition to Danny Meyer's flourishing restaurant empire is yet another venture with reigning Top Chef Master, Floyd Cardoz. So what makes this restaurant different from all the others? Well for one, the vast majority of the produce will come from North End Grill's rooftop garden located atop the new Conrad New York, and Cardoz plans to have seafood dishes comprise 60 percent of the menu, with reasonably priced meats comprising the remaining selections. Oh, and there are plans for a Scotch bar. Stay tuned for more updates on the opening early next year.