Curated by food and beverage writer Johnathan L. Wright, the guide moves beyond casual recommendations by relying on rigorous, independent vetting. Every selection on the list results from unannounced, in-person visits where the Review-Journal covers the cost of all meals. This strategy aims to strip away special treatment and mirror the actual experience of a typical diner.

Wright describes the project as a living archive of a city in the midst of a gastronomic transformation. The guide is now available in the latest print edition of rjmagazine and as a fully searchable database at neon.reviewjournal.com. Anastasia Hendrix, the publication's editor-in-chief, noted that the project captures the current momentum of a city that recently hosted both the World's 50 Best Restaurants and North America's 50 Best Restaurants ceremonies.