diff --git a/restaurant-picker.html b/restaurant-picker.html
index 5cd45e5..701c6ab 100644
--- a/restaurant-picker.html
+++ b/restaurant-picker.html
@@ -375,14 +375,17 @@ function loadYear(year){
   document.getElementById('filterArea').innerHTML = '<option value="">All Areas</option>';
   document.getElementById('filterCuisine').innerHTML = '<option value="">All Cuisines</option>';
   resetFilters();
-  fetch(year+'-restaurants.json')
+  fetch(year+'-restaurants.json', {cache:'no-store'})
     .then(function(r){ return r.json(); })
     .then(function(data){
-      RESTAURANTS = data.restaurants;
-      document.getElementById('eventDates').textContent = data.eventDates;
+      RESTAURANTS = Array.isArray(data) ? data : data.restaurants;
+      if(data.eventDates) document.getElementById('eventDates').textContent = data.eventDates;
       initDropdowns();
       applyFilters();
       updateCounts();
+    })
+    .catch(function(err){
+      document.getElementById('listPanel').innerHTML = '<div class="no-results">⚠️ Failed to load restaurant data.<br><small>'+err+'</small><br><small>Try serving this file from a local web server instead of opening it directly.</small></div>';
     });
 }