This has been a(nother) tough year for restaurants—but also for diners. Menus have downsized, portions and cocktails have shrunk, service is often iffy, and prices have seriously spiked. Still, there were so many highs. Here are the dishes that wowed me the most this year.

1. Shrimp scampi at Caruso’s Grocery

2. La Belle Farm duck with quince, foie gras, sauce bigarde at Lutece

3. Curry mee at Makan

4. Korean potato salad at Magpie and Tiger 

5. Carrot cappelletti at Bresca

6. Macha Roni pizza with salsa macha at Boogy and Peel

7. Grilled oysters with sidra blanca at Bar Spero

8. Pulled pork sandwich at 2Fifty

9. Mushroom chawanmushi at Pineapple and Pearls