Dining 2008: Staking out the year’s hot restaurants

Fans pay respects to Momofuku Ko, Artichoke, Dovetail and Shake Shack UWS—the year's best-reviewed restaurants

For devoted diners, no line seems too long, no reservation system too arduous and no hostess too daunting ("How's does 11:15 sound?") to keep them from trying out 2008's most buzzed-about spots.

In a year that saw the opening of a slew of exceptional restaurants, four knocked it out of the park: Momofuku Ko, Artichoke, Dovetail and Shake Shack UWS. We embarked on a stakeout to chat with the fans who helped get them there. —Jacqui Gal

Pictured: Shake Shack UWS fans, pre-burgasm

Additional text by Rebecca Flint Marx