2009: The future of drinking and dining

Casualization

Anyone who's been to a top resort restaurant lately has seen the race to dress things down. Marquesa, Chaparral Room, and Mary Elaine's? Out. Expensive but golf-clothes friendly Bourbon, BLT and the soon-to-open J&G Steakhouse? In.

Guests want to feel at home even when they go out. Thus, special occasion restaurants like Binkley's have spun-off with relaxed options like Café Bink, and after opening this summer, Noca is now showcasing cheese steaks (OK, made of Wagyu, but still) alongside its high-end Asian crudo.