Thank you, Patrick.
Drumroll, Please: And the Winners of the Beijinger's 2016 Reader Restaurant Awards Are …
After a grueling month-long process which included the collecting and analysis of over 13,000 ballots, the list of Beijing's Best Restaurants for 2016 is becoming clear – and we're releasing a partial list below.
But before you scroll down to check to see who won, let it be known that this is simply an appetizer. We've intentionally withheld the results of some of the most climactic categories for next Monday's gala awards ceremony, where not only will the top categories be honored, but Beijing's F&B glitterati will vote on the second-ever incoming class for the Beijing Dining Hall of Fame.
Next Monday's announcements will feature the results of all three of our Best New Restaurants categories (Chinese, casual foreign and upscale foreign); our three personality categories (Best Chef, Best Manager, and Best Personality); and our Best Service and Restaurants of the Year categories.
RELATED: See list of additional winners announced at Mar 7 Gala Ceremony here
Attendees on the day will vote on this year's crop of personalities and venues that will enter into the Beijing Dining Hall of Fame, an honor which requires at least seven years of meritorious service in Beijing's F&B sector.
These industry insiders will also select four peer awards: Best New Restaurant; Newcomer of the Year; Best Chef; and in a timely nod to International Women's Day which falls the day after Monday's ceremony, a special award for Beijing's Most Influential Woman in the Dining Industry.
Now, without further fanfare, we present to you the winners of the bulk of the reader-determined categories. Stay tuned to the blog over the next coming weeks as we take a closer look at each of the categories.
In the meantime, here's your list of go-to Beijing restaurants for 2016!
BEST HOTEL BRUNCH
Best: Feast (Food by EAST), EAST, Beijing Hotel | 北京东隅酒店
Outstanding: Kerry's Kitchen, Kerry Hotel | 嘉品，北京嘉里大酒店
Outstanding: N'Joy, Nuo Hotel Beijing | 悦尚，北京诺金酒店
BEST WESTERN BREAKFAST
Best: Element Fresh | 新元素
Outstanding: Moka Bros | 摩卡站
Outstanding: The Rug
BEST BAKERY
Best: Kempi Deli, Kempinski Hotel | 凯宾美食廊，北京凯宾斯基饭店
Outstanding: Baker & Spice
Outstanding: Comptoirs de France | 法派1855
BEST DESSERTS
Best: TRB
Outstanding: Opera Bombana
Outstanding: Wagas | 沃歌斯
BEST BEIJING DUCK (casual dining category)
Best: Da Dong Duck (fast food) | 大董鸭店（快餐）
Outstanding: Quanjude | 全聚德
Outstanding: SijiMinfu Roast Duck | 四季民福烤鸭店
BEST BEIJING DUCK (upscale dining category)
Best: Da Dong Roast Duck | 北京大董烤鸭店
Outstanding: Duck de Chine | 全鸭季
Outstanding: The Horizon, Kerry Hotel | 海天阁，北京嘉里大酒店
BEST FRENCH (casual dining category)
Best: O'Steak
Outstanding: Café de la Poste | 云游驿
Outstanding: Café FLO
BEST FRENCH (upscale dining category)
Best: TRB
Outstanding: Brasserie FLO | 北京福楼法餐厅
Outstanding: Bistrot B, Rosewood Beijing | 怡庭，北京瑰丽酒店
BEST ITALIAN (casual dining category)
Best: Annie's | 安妮意大利餐厅
Outstanding: Bottega | 意库
Outstanding: Mercante | 商贾
BEST ITALIAN (upscale dining category)
Best: Opera Bombana
Outstanding: Mio, Four Seasons Hotel | Mio 意大利餐厅，北京四季酒店
Outstanding: Via Roma, Kempinski Hotel | 花样罗马，北京凯宾斯基饭店
Outstanding:Barolo, The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing | 巴罗洛，北京丽思卡尔顿酒店
BEST JAPANESE
Best: Hatsune | 隐泉日本料理
Outstanding: Matsuko | 松子
Outstanding: Tairyo Teppanyaki | 大渔铁板烧
BEST KOREAN
Best: Huoluhuo | 火炉火
Outstanding: Iki Barbecue | 义气烤肉餐吧
Outstanding: Palms L.A. Kitchen and Bar | Palms 洛杉矶厨房和酒吧
BEST MALAYSIAN/SINGAPOREAN
Best: Nyonya Kitchen | 娘惹厨房
Outstanding: Café Sambal | 桑芭桑芭馬來西亞餐廳
Outstanding: Malacca Legend | 马六甲传奇
BEST THAI
Best: Pak Pak | 喜悦泰餐厅
Outstanding: Lime Café | 青柠泰餐厅
Outstanding: Very Siam | 非常泰
BEST VIETNAMESE
Best: Susu | 苏苏会
Outstanding: Le Little Saigon | 西贡在巴黎
Outstanding: Muse | 妙
BEST AL FRESCO DINING
Best: Brasserie FLO | 北京福楼法餐厅
Outstanding: Capital M | 前门M餐厅
Outstanding: Great Leap Brewing #45 Brewpub | 大跃啤酒45号新源街店
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
Best: Hatsune | 隐泉日本料理
Outstanding: Mosto | 摸石头
Outstanding: Bistrot B, Rosewood Beijing | 怡庭，北京瑰丽酒店
BEST FOR A ROMANTIC MEAL
Best: TRB
Outstanding: Brasserie FLO | 北京福楼法餐厅
Outstanding: Capital M | 前门M餐厅
BEST FOR A CELEBRATION (casual dining category)
Best: Haidilao | 海底捞火鍋
Outstanding: Home Plate BBQ (Sanlitun) | 本垒美式烤肉（三里屯）
Outstanding: The Taco Bar
BEST FOR A CELEBRATION (upscale dining category)
Best: TRB
Outstanding: Dali Courtyard | 大里院子
Outstanding: Migas | 米家思
BEST FOR IMPRESSING VISITORS (Chinese dining category)
Best: Haidilao | 海底捞火锅
Outstanding: Da Dong Roast Duck | 北京大董烤鸭店
Outstanding: Duck de Chine | 全鸭季
BEST FOR IMPRESSING VISITORS (non-Chinese dining category)
Best: TRB
Outstanding: Capital M | 前门M餐厅
Outstanding: Grill 79, China World Summit Wing | 国贸79，北京国贸大酒店
BEST STEAK (casual dining category)
Best: O'Steak
Outstanding: Blue Frog Bar & Grille | 蓝蛙
Outstanding: Feast (Food by EAST), EAST, Beijing Hotel | 北京东隅酒店
BEST STEAK (upscale dining category)
Best: Morton's of Chicago, Regent Hotel | 北京莫尔顿牛排坊，北京丽晶酒店
Outstanding: CRU Steakhouse, JW Marriott Hotel | CRU 扒房，北京 JW 万豪酒店
Outstanding: Mosto | 摸石头
BEST SPANISH/TAPAS
Best: Migas | 米家思
Outstanding: Agua
Outstanding: Saffron | 藏红花
BEST AMERICAN
Best: Home Plate Bar-B-Que | 本垒美式烤肉
Outstanding: Blue Frog Bar & Grille | 蓝蛙
Outstanding: Great Leap Brewing #12 Brewpub | 大跃啤酒12号工体店
BEST MEXICAN
Best: The Taco Bar
Outstanding: Palms L.A. Kitchen and Bar | Palms 洛杉矶厨房和酒吧
Outstanding: Q Mex | 库迈墨西哥餐吧
BEST MIDDLE EASTERN
Best: 1001 Nights | 一千一夜
Outstanding: Biteapitta | 吧嗒饼
Outstanding: Caravan | 驼队餐吧
BEST SOUTH ASIAN
Best: Ganges | 恒河印度餐厅
Outstanding: Indian Kitchen | 印度小厨
Outstanding: The Taj Pavilion | 泰姬楼印度餐厅
BEST DUMPLINGS
Best: Mr. Shi's Dumplings | 老石饺子
Outstanding: Baoyuan Dumplings | 宝源饺子屋
Outstanding: Country Kitchen, Rosewood Beijing | 乡味小厨，北京瑰丽酒店
Outstanding: Xian Lao Man | 馅老满
BEST CANTONESE
Best: Lei Garden, Regent Hotel | 利苑酒家，北京丽晶酒店
Outstanding: Charme | 港丽餐厅
Outstanding: Summer Palace, China World Hotel | 夏宫，中国大饭店
BEST DIM SUM
Best: Din Tai Fung | 鼎泰丰
Outstanding: Jin Ding Xuan | 金鼎轩
Outstanding: Jing Yaa Tang, The Opposite House | 京雅堂，瑜舍
BEST HOT POT
Best: Haidilao | 海底捞火锅
Outstanding: Red Bowl, Rosewood Beijing | 赤，北京瑰丽酒店
Outstanding: Xiabu Xiabu | 呷哺呷哺
BEST PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT RESTAURANT
Best: Chuan Ban | 川办餐厅
Outstanding: Hanteng Geli Halal Restaurant, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Office Beijing, Xinjiang Hotel | 汗腾格里清真餐厅，新疆维吾尔自治区驻京办，新疆饭店
Outstanding: Yunteng Restaurant, Yunnan Provincial Government Office Beijing | 云腾食府，云南省驻京办
BEST SICHUAN
Best: Mei Zhou Dong Po | 眉州东坡
Outstanding: Chuan Ban | 川办餐厅
Outstanding: Zhang Mama | 张妈妈特色川味馆
BEST XINJIANG
Best: Xinjiang Restaurant, Urumqi Municipal Office Beijing | 新疆饭庄，乌鲁木齐驻京办事处
Outstanding: Crescent Moon Muslim Restaurant | 弯弯的月亮
Outstanding: Red Rose | 新疆红玫瑰餐厅
BEST YUNNAN
Best: In & Out | 一坐一忘丽江主题餐厅
Outstanding: Middle 8th | 中八楼
Outstanding: Yun Hai Yao | 云海肴
BEST CAFÉ
Best: Moka Bros | 摩卡站
Outstanding: Comptoirs de France | 法派1855
Outstanding: Wagas | 沃歌斯
BEST DELIVERY (in-house)
Best: Annie's | 安妮意大利餐厅
Outstanding: Gung Ho! Pizza | 叫板披萨
Outstanding: Tube Station | 站点比萨
BEST FOR VEGETARIANS
Best: Element Fresh | 新元素
Outstanding: King's Joy | 京兆尹
Outstanding: TRIBE | TRIBE 有机餐厅
BEST "GREEN" RESTAURANT (demonstrating local/organic sourcing and/or environmentally-conscious practices)
Best: TRIBE | TRIBE 有机餐厅
Outstanding: Gung Ho! Pizza | 叫板披萨
Outstanding: The Orchard | 果园
BEST SALADS
Best: Element Fresh | 新元素
Outstanding: Annie's | 安妮意大利餐厅
Outstanding: Moka Bros | 摩卡站
BEST SANDWICHES
Best: Wagas | 沃歌斯
Outstanding: Element Fresh | 新元素
Outstanding: Home Plate Bar-B-Que | 本垒美式烤肉
BEST VALUE
Best: Annie's | 安妮意大利餐厅
Outstanding: Biteapitta | 吧嗒饼
Outstanding: Zhang Mama | 张妈妈特色川味馆
BEST WINE LIST
Best: TRB
Outstanding: Café de la Poste | 云游驿
Outstanding: Pinotage | Pinotage 南非红酒餐厅
BEST WINGS
Best: Blue Frog Bar & Grille | 蓝蛙
Outstanding: Great Leap Brewing | 大跃啤酒
Outstanding: Home Plate BBQ | 本垒美式烤肉
CULINARY EVENT OF THE YEAR
Best: China Restaurant Week Beijing, Dining City, various locations (September 3-13, 2015)
Outstanding: Chi Fan for Charity, various locations (November 7, 2015)
Outstanding: Pizza Cup Launch Party, The Beijinger, Galaxy SOHO (October 17-18, 2015)
BEST NEW LOCATION/BRAND EXTENSION
Best: TRB Bites
Outstanding: Great Leap Brewing #45 Brewpub | 大跃啤酒45号新源街店
Outstanding: Moka Bros (The Place) | 摩卡站（世贸天阶）
Outstanding: Palms L.A. Kitchen and Bar (Sanyuanqiao) | Palms 洛杉矶厨房和酒吧（三元桥）
The Beijinger 2016 Reader Restaurant Awards is made possible through our strategic partnerships with NUO Hotel Beijing and Anchor (by Fonterra). Raffle prize sponsor Sherpa's. Video sponsor McCain. Food and beverages are courtesy of CHEERS, China Wines & Spirits, Comptoirs de France, Home Plate Bar-B-Que, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Loft Eatalicious, Q Mex, and Vandergeeten.
Image: the Beijinger
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Re: Drumroll, Please: And the Winners of the Beijinger's 2016...
Re: Drumroll, Please: And the Winners of the Beijinger's 2016...
Even the Zagat methodology did not seem to produce an acceptably accurate ranking for, say, Japanese restaurants in New York City, or for ethinc restaurants in general. That said, there is no way that chain or semi-chain restaurants such as Hatsune or Annie's should win the Japanese and casual Italian categores year after year, especially with restaurants like Okra and Mercante/Fiume out there, to name but two. It is a numbers problem; there are simply more people who have eaten at Hatsune and Annie's than at the others. If the Beijinger wants better results--and it should, as it loses credibility every time it releases these awards--it needs to collate and average scores (see Zagat) from its reviewers. Simply asking the entire universe of reviewers to vote for their favorite Japanese or Italian restaurant in Beijing is not going to yield a result that is 'best.' Mayonaisse on sushi roll.
My sympathies going to Mike. This is the second year in a roll for me to see this question. But I'm sure you've seen questions like this for more than 10 years striaght, but have to answer it once every year.
Mike I think it might help if you set up a database for answers of all kinds of questions that I'm sure you will see in following years, so that you can just copy and paste, such as
Why theBeijinger's covers have been dominated by white people?
Why theBeijinger's covers have been dominated by male?
Why you guys are so interested in whatever Chinese people do? Can you white supremacists just leave them alone?
Why so few women have ever won theBeijinger awards?
Why I can't find my comment? You guys censor my comments?
Why you don't do the poll another way?
etc.
Re: Drumroll, Please: And the Winners of the Beijinger's 2016...
Even the Zagat methodology did not seem to produce an acceptably accurate ranking for, say, Japanese restaurants in New York City, or for ethinc restaurants in general. That said, there is no way that chain or semi-chain restaurants such as Hatsune or Annie's should win the Japanese and casual Italian categores year after year, especially with restaurants like Okra and Mercante/Fiume out there, to name but two. It is a numbers problem; there are simply more people who have eaten at Hatsune and Annie's than at the others. If the Beijinger wants better results--and it should, as it loses credibility every time it releases these awards--it needs to collate and average scores (see Zagat) from its reviewers. Simply asking the entire universe of reviewers to vote for their favorite Japanese or Italian restaurant in Beijing is not going to yield a result that is 'best.' Mayonaisse on sushi rolls?
Thanks for your comment, points well taken.
What we have done to try to account for the "chain effect" you mention above is to apply a discount to the vote totals for those that have more than one location.
However, even with that discount, Hatsune and Annie's in particular win by a mile in their categories.
We've also considered restricting the vote to only standalone venues, or asking people to nominate individual locations rather than brands (aka something akin to "Hatsune-Kerry Center") but this has not worked in the past because nominators fail to mention the specific location they are referring to. We might try that again next year, perhaps with a mor robust nomination system that forces people to select specific branches.
We are also careful to point out that these are the Reader Restaurant Awards and they are in fact decided by popular vote and not a panel of reviewers, so it is just one point of reference for the great dining choices in the city.
I personally like both Hatsune and Annie's, but for entirely different reasons why I like different Italian and Japanese places in Beijing. Maybe someday we will be able to break down each of these categories into very micro-categories like "Best Creative Sushi Rolls" or "Best Family Style Italian (Multiple Locations)" -- categories which make more sense to me -- but we're already getting it from voters that the poll is way too long.
Again appreciate the feedback. What we like most about these awards is that it generates a lot of good ideas for new places to go.
Re: Drumroll, Please: And the Winners of the Beijinger's 2016...
Re: Drumroll, Please: And the Winners of the Beijinger's 2016...
I think you should add a category for best use of social media to garner votes. Hatsune serves up very mediocre Japanese food, Bottega couldn't boil pasta correctly to save themselves and Jing A's al fresco dining is far superior to Great Leap Brewing #45. For years The Beijinger has been my gold standard in restaurant awards, but I'm afraid this one falls well short of that. As mentioned above, I assume it's got a lot more to do with PR teams and social media now than a restaurant delivering a quality product.
Odd you should use those three restaurants to serve as an example of how PR and social media influence votes.
We tend to follow most of Beijing's restaurants' social media efforts, and it seems to me Hatsune, Bottega and Great Leap #45 have not been particularly vocal in the social media get-out-the-vote campaigns this year.
However, I hear what you are saying, we've thought a lot about how to balance any distortion that excessive PR campaigns have on voting.
Here's our current take on it:
1. First off, there is zero chance we can block ALL restaurants from doing any social media campaigning unless we completely discard the concept of voting and do the whole thing as a secret panel of experts. Of course you know what happens then: everyone accuses the panel of being manipulated or fake or influenced by advertisers or elitist or out of touch.
Given we can't prevent all restaurants from attempting to get out the vote, the best we can do is try to "level the playing field" by:
-- making sure that we get in touch with all restaurants in advance and supply them with materials they can use to promote themselves.
-- in our vote tabulation methodology, we factor in the number of locations a venue has, and apply a "discount" so to speak to the larger ones to ameliorate the chain store effect (aka the larger the chain, the more likely it is they have more customers and a bigger PR department)
-- shortening the voting period so that restaurants don't repeatedly bombard customers with exhortations to vote
-- doing our best to use our own social media to reach as wide and diverse a population as possible.
--------------
Finally I'd like to address the the issue of social media campaigning influencing the vote.
-- I don't think any amount of social media campaigning will cause many people to be motivated to vote for a restaurant they don't like. I personally see a lot of get-out-the-vote things and I can't think of an example where it caused me to want to vote for a restaurant I don't think is the best in their category.
-- In plenty of categories, small restaurants (and ones that do no campaigning whatsoever) regularly win, so there is no direct correlation between social media promotion and winning.
-- Having said that, there are plenty of fantastic restaurants in out-of-the-way locations that very few people know about and do no social media campaigning at all. And no, they will never win a popular vote amongst a large readership. That's just reality, and we try to address that by doing things like Editors' Picks and numerous writeups of lesser known places over the course of the year.
-- Hatsune is an interesting case study. In my opinion, Hatsune is one of the best Japanese restaurants in town. Is it "THE" best? Chances are, maybe not, I'm sure that there has got to be a better one out there, But fact is, Hatsune is cool, consistent, creative, and most importantly (for the expat scene), it has consistently advertised in English and regularly does interesting promotions and events, which 99 out of 100 Japanese restaurants in Beijing have never done. Therefore I have doubts that many of our readers can even name more than a handful of Japanese restaurants in Beijing. Does that mean that Hatsune sucks or somehow manipulated the vote? Nah, that's just called smart business in my book.
PS: Try Hatsune's rolls, hard to beat ... and all you need to know about that is that virtually every Japanese restaurant in town that serves creative rolls has copied their menu (or at least been inspired by) Hatsune's.
PPS: I thought Bottega was mostly known for its excellent pizza, maybe you should try that instead of the pasta