2013 Reader Restaurant Awards Experts' Panel: Tom O'Malley

Each year in our annual Reader Restaurant Awards, we ask our readers to assess the best of Beijing's dining world. Alongside of the Awards, we also query a panel of experts to throw in their informed opinions on top spots in the city. In this series of blog posts, we introduce our connoisseurs and a select handful of their picks.

Tom O’Malley
A former dining editor and contributing writer to the Beijinger, Tom currently writes on food and lifestyle in Beijing as well as freelance consulting for restaurants. He is proudly a battle-scarred defender of British food and cooking.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT (NON-CHINESE)

Brian McKenna at The Courtyard

BEST BEIJING DUCK

Duck de Chine

BEST CAFÉ

Cafe Zarah

BEST CANTONESE (FINE DINING)

Ming Yuan

BEST CHEF (CASUAL)

Will Yorke, The Vineyard

BEST DIM SUM

Duck de Chine

BEST FRENCH (FINE DINING)

Maison Boulud

BEST FRENCH (CASUAL)

Crepanini

BEST HOTEL BRUNCH

Bubbalicious at Seasonal Tastes, Westin Chaoyang


BEST FOR IMPRESSING VISITORS (NON-CHINESE CUISINE) 

TRB (Temple Restaurant Beijing)

BEST INDIAN/PAKISTANI

Tanda

BEST ITALIAN (FINE DINING)

Tavola

BEST ITALIAN (CASUAL)

Mercante

BEST JAPANESE

Sake Manzo

BEST KOREAN

Saveurs de Coree

BEST MEXICAN

Taco Bar

BEST OUTDOOR DINING (FINE DINING)

Capital M

BEST OUTDOOR DINING (CASUAL)

Bocata

BEST PLACE FOR CELEBRATION (FINE DINING)

Capital M

BEST PLACE FOR CELEBRATION (CASUAL)

The Vineleaf

BEST FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER

Mercante

BEST SALADS

Element Fresh

BEST SANDWICHES

Nola

BEST SERVICE (NON-CHINESE, CASUAL)
Annie's

BEST SICHUAN (FINE DINING)

Transit

BEST SICHUAN (CASUAL)

Zhang Mama

BEST STEAK (FINE DINING)

Grill 79

BEST STEAK (CASUAL)

Cafe de la Poste

BEST VALUE (FINE DINING)

Mosto

BEST VALUE (CASUAL)

Annie's

BEST YUNNAN

Southern Barbarian

Photo: bespoke-beijing.com