Massachusetts Year In Food 2023

MASSACHUSETTS — Massachusetts had a big food year.

Whether that be the growth of Bay State native and Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy into maybe the most influential food critic in the country or several restaurants getting shine as some of the best in the country, the state isn't short on culinary bragging rights.

Here are a few of the headlines to look back on from 2023:

Somerville Pizza Place Owner's Spat With Dave Portnoy Goes Viral

An expletive-laden, verbal confrontation between Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and the owner of Somerville's Dragon Pizza went viral, leading to a negative rating from the pizza rater. However ...

Somerville Pizza Shop's Business Booming After Viral Confrontation

Business was up after the video went viral, but that didn't come without a swarm of negative attention for the local business owner.

Somerville's Lehrhaus Among Best New Eateries In America: New List

Lehrhaus restaurant in Somerville was named among the 50 best new eateries in America this year by the men's fashion, style and culture magazine Esquire.

2 New MA Restaurants Among 'Best In The Country,' List Says

Bon Appétit revealed its 24 Best New Restaurants of 2023 list — which boasts two dozen haunts across the country — and two Massachusetts spots made the cut.

Coming in at number 16 is Moëca in Cambridge, while Rubato in Quincy took the number 21 spot.

Fuddruckers Closes In Saugus, Just One Left

The Saugus Fuddruckers location, open since the 1980s, is closed. That leaves just one Fuddruckers left in all of New England in Reading. The Texas-based company, whose restaurants operate as independent franchises, has seen turmoil in recent years with a bankruptcy in 2010 and a series of ownership changes.

Plus: The neverending expansion of chicken restaurants

Dave's Hot Chicken has opened multiple new locations in the state, including in Framingham, Braintree and Saugus.

Raising Cane's isn't to be outdone either, also opening locations in Framingham and Saugus, as well as a restaurant in Marlborough.

Even Shaq is getting in on the fun, with Big Chicken set to expand into the Massachusetts market in 2024.