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Published December 29, 2008 Viva ’08
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 1. Best LedgeVertigo Sky Lounge
The autumn brought no shortage of places giving you a bird's-eye view while you kicked back with a cocktail.
But only one had girls in skintight catsuits serving them to you. Advantage: Vertigo.
 2. Best Hype SurvivorThe Publican
Hats off to the Avec/Blackbird sibling that accomplished the seemingly impossible: living up to its own
hype. But when your raison d'etre boils down to just three ingredients—beer, pork, oysters—how
can you go wrong?
 3. Best Whole HogMercat a la Planxa
Just when your patience for tapas joints was at its breaking point, the Blackstone goes all Barcelona Nights
on you, importing the country's top tapas chef to ply you with sangria, Grant Park views and a whole crispy
suckling pig carved tableside. Gracias is in order.
 4/5. Best Trump RedeemersRebar / Sixteen
When we hear Donald Trump talk about "class," it's a little bit like hearing Blago talk about ethics. So
when both destinations inside the Trump Tower are experiences par excellence, it leaves us slightly worried
that G-Rod may just beat the rap...
 6. Best Meat-Based CupcakeBLT Cupcakes at More
How bad could 2008 be when you have a choice among several meat-filled cupcakes? Of all the options, More's
version gets a leg up on the competition for its use of ranch dressing as a frosting agent.
 7. Best LairSub 51
It's no surprise that the sons of Rich Melman had a bit of the old man's showmanship in them, but just when
you thought it stopped at something called Hub Punch, they open an underground
lounge—complete with secret entrance.
 8. Best ImportL2O
The name still doesn't quite roll off the tongue, but in a year when out-of-town chefs staged an invasion,
no place compares to Laurent Gras' aquatic
elegance. So to the kneeling servers who fuss over you in its tatami room, allow us to bow in
respect.
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