Last month, you voted online, by cell phone and by paper ballot to tell us which restaurants in Beijing you consider to be the very best for our fourth annual Bar & Restaurant Awards. Last night we presented the winners with their awards at the awards ceremony and party, and a full cover story on the winners is coming soon. For those too curious to wait until then, here are the winners in all their shining glory. Bon appetit!

Best Pizza

Winner: The Tree
Buzz Factor: Big, wood-fired ovens and perfect thin crust pizza are the secret behind The Tree’s number one position for the second year running in both City Weekend and That’s Beijing dining awards. The expansive interior manages to stay packed with a perpetual crowd of families and solo tipplers alike, and is a favorite with the European crowd. Friendly staff will always let you go half/half with the toppings, making the selection a little easier. Their range of delicious toppings is only topped by their wide selection of beers, which also brought them a win in the bar awards this year.
Runner Up: Kro’s Nest
Editor’s Pick: Hutong Pizza
The smell of pizza wafting down the hutong in back of Houhai may not seem to jibe with the lao-Beijing setting, but we know to follow it for large, delicious pizzas served in a traditional Chinese courtyard. Call us square, but we dig the shape of the pies as well.

Best Middle Eastern

Winner: Rumi
Buzz Factor: Elegant minimalist décor complements authentic Persian flavors in this Iranian favorite, the most buzzed Middle Eastern restaurant on CW’s site. The meat dishes bound with pleasingly sour flavors, and the wonderful beef and chicken koobideh kebabs will change your whole perspective on street chuanr – not to be missed. Wash down the huge portions with one of their incredible fresh juices, as recommended by our web users, and for dessert, try the delicate baklava stuffed with cardamom and walnuts. Rumi is one place in Beijing where the exotic becomes refreshingly local, and is a marvelously different escape for curious foodies.
Runner Up: 1001 Nights
Editor’s Pick: Za’atar
Newly opened in Shunyi, Za’atar serves the best Middle Eastern food we’ve had this side of the ‘stans, with a fantastic selection of mezza dishes, featuring their signature hummus, tabouleh, kibbeh, and a host of others, all served in an atmosphere rich in modern Middle Eastern décor.

Best Thai

Winner: Purple Haze
Buzz Factor: This perennial favorite serves an excellent selection of curries, but their specialty might be their satay, served with a peanut sauce to die for. The comfortable interior is decked out in, of course, purple, and a judicious use of mirrors expands the feel of the restaurant. Readers like the prime location across from Gongti north gate, which makes this a popular stop on the way to the nearby clubs and bars, perhaps the reason it won a third of your votes. Wednesdays’ jazz nights in the spin-off bistro nearby are a crowd favorite, making the sequel as popular as the original.
Runner Up: Serve the People
Editor’s Pick: Very Siam
. . . and very popular – it’s always jam-packed at dinnertime. We love the shrimp dishes and noodles, and always save room for some of the mango dessert. The three Thai chefs and imported artwork provide an authentic taste and feel in a casual atmosphere.

Best Brunch

Winner: Senses
Buzz Factor: Decadent dining at its finest, the home of the “Bubbly Sunday Brunch” overwhelms several of its namesakes with a dramatic buffet that delves deep into the ranks of world cuisine and blew away the competition by over 200 votes. Caviar, pizza, fondue, sushi and dim sum are just a few of the eatables on offer. An expansive dessert station with amazing chocolate mousse is almost as intoxicating as the free-flowing wine and champagne. Says reader dan: “If there was ever a reason to make the trek out to the Westin Financial Street, Senses is it.”
Runner Up: The Orchard
Editor’s Pick: Monsoon
Perfect for seafood lovers, featuring shrimp, crab, lobster, sashimi and an enormous poached salmon, as well as an excellent selection of Asian fusion cuisine. Four types of champagne and bottomless martinis make it the ideal choice for the sophisticated morning drinker. We love the unlimited Haagen-Dazs, and the live Cuban band makes for a great atmosphere.

Most Family Friendly

Winner: Annie’s
Buzz Factor: With 18 comments on their online listing, Annie’s is one of the most frequented venues on www.cityweekend.com.cn. Reader bjexpat calls it “an excellent neighborhood choice for hearty Italian cuisine,” and indeed, with five locations, there’s always an Annies nearby. For the third year in a row, Annies claimed the family category, hanging on by 32 votes. Is it the reliable pizza, the play area or the colorable place mats for children? Maybe it's that they offer free delivery within 4 km so that your family can stay home and enjoy a good meal without mom or dad having to cook.
Runner Up: Grandma’s Kitchen
Editor’s Pick: New Veranda
Newly opened next to the Western Academy of Beijing, they feature an immense play area with a colorful ball pit and slide. The European menu offerings span Italian risotto to Hungarian Goulash, and, of course, there’s a children’s menu. It’s great for brunch, and the restaurant also specializes in catering children’s birthday parties.

Best Beijing Duck

Winner: Da Dong
Buzz Factor: Just as delicious, but less greasy than other places, with excellent side dishes to complement the main event. They have a suspiciously oxymoronic “low fat” duck, but with 40 percent of the vote, they’ve certainly convinced the city’s diners. Definitely Beijing’s best restaurant for Beijing’s best dish.
Runner Up: Quan Ju De
Editor’s Pick: Made in China
With a score of 27/30, this place is the top rated restaurant in Zagat’s new guide to Beijing. Make reservations to try the excellent duck, made before your eyes in the open kitchen.

Best American

Winner: Grandma’s Kitchen
Buzz Factor: With décor that makes you feel like you’re really at your grandmother’s, Grandma’s serves big American breakfasts (which won it “Best Breakfast” last year), burgers, Philly cheese steaks and a milkshake that moves one of our editors to embarrassing panegyrics. We can’t blame him; a visit here is sure to spark pleasant memories in anyone homesick.
Runner Up: Chef Too
Editor’s Pick: American Steak and Eggs
All the classics, with great breakfast combos, eggs done to order and free refills on coffee. We always love their big Thanksgiving feast, too.

Best European

Winner: Mare
Buzz Factor: Readers from around the world praise the tapas in this Spanish eatery, where the power-lunch atmosphere turns romantic in the evening, making it a popular restaurant for dates (it won Best Restaurant to Start a Romance last year). The tender tournedos and buttery monkfish are favorites, as is the exceptional service.
Runner Up: 66 North
Editor’s Pick: The Orchard
Set in a beautiful old farmhouse surrounded by their produce and herb gardens, this is our favorite place to escape the city for fresh air – and great organic food.

Best Dim Sum

Winner: Din Tai Fung
Buzz Factor: While some accuse them of riding the publicity of a 20-year-old NYT ranking, this is the Beijing branch’s third year running as a Reader’s Choice. Their crisp contemporary décor and consistently delicious tangbao, or soup dumplings, are proof that their glory hasn’t yet begun to fade.
Runner Up: Crystal Jade
Editor’s Pick: Horizon
Reasonably priced, authentic Cantonese and Sichuan dishes in a surprisingly un-hotel atmosphere in the Kerry Center make this one of our favorite Chinese restaurants in the city.

Best Indian

Winner: Ganges
Buzz Factor: “The food – be it the butter chicken or palak paneer…was delicious and exactly the same as in Delhi!” says reader premal888. Multiple branches make it convenient for everyone, but readers especially enjoy the atmosphere in the branch in The Place, complete with Indian music videos and décor that is both garish and endearing.
Runner Up: Indian Kitchen
Editor’s Pick: The Taj Pavilion
This popular spot with the Indian crowd impresses with incredible service, tender meat, and delicate spicing. Winner of many an award, the Taj was also named “Beijing’s best Indian restaurant” in Fodor’s guide to Beijing.

Best Value

Winner: Alameda
Buzz Factor: With free cheese bread and ¥60 lunch specials, Alameda blew the competition away in this category. Set menus in this Brazilian restaurant are definitely worth the money at ¥158, since all of the dishes are top-notch quality treats for the taste buds. One thing readers agree on, though, is that reservations here are a must.
Runner Up: Indian Kitchen
Editor’s Pick: In & Out
This airy, Lijiang-themed restaurant serves delicious Yunnan beef with mint (RMB38) and potato balls with delectable dipping sauce (RMB28) to both locals and foreigners looking for great minority cuisine.

Best Date Place

Winner: Café Sambal
Buzz Factor: Atmosphere makes or breaks the date, and Café Sambal has it in spades, according to readers. The candle-lit bed area makes for “a cozy chat”, in the words of adidasxk, while the courtyard provides that sought-after hutong feel. The Malaysian food worth splurging for – especially if you want to show off your deep pockets for your date.
Runner Up: W Dine and Wine
Editor’s Pick: Jasmine
We never need to worry about poor service at this swank Chinese fusion restaurant, and the twinkling view out of the floor-to-ceiling windows makes even Gongti lake look romantic.

Best Power Lunch

Winner: Alameda
Buzz Factor: Reservations are essential if you want to wheel and deal over the ¥60 lunch set at this “Fodor’s Choice” restaurant, as the perpetually high buzz ensures that it’s always packed at lunchtime. No wonder; the fresh Brazilian food and chic glass ambiance have some readers coming in several times a week.
Runner Up: Hatsune
Editor’s Pick: Aria
This ritzy eatery drops prices on gourmet set menus for the perfect business lunch in the heart of CBD. We like the light, spacious dining room, but always opt for the garden terrace in summer.

Best Italian

Winner: Le Café Igosso
Buzz Factor: “An amazing getaway,” raves reader kmwithsarah. “Don't let the somewhat odd outer appearance turn you off. Inside, Le Cafe Igosso is dressed to impress.” The great ambiance is rounded out with scrumptious Italian treats, including their beef carpaccio in olive oil and lemon juice. A romantic retreat with friendly service and perfect cocktails.
Runner Up: Cepe
Editor’s Pick: +39 Italian Restaurant
Though it’s a little out of the way in Wangjing, the fabulous steaks, mellow atmosphere and table visits from the very friendly chef make this restaurant worth a visit.

Best Japanese

Winner: Hatsune
Buzz Factor: Fresh fish, a live sushi station and amazing California-style sushi rolls have had food lovers raving for years. “Not only the best rolls in town, but the best rolls I’ve ever tried anywhere!” says reader beorn. The beautiful presentation and highly buzzed rolls have secured their position as the capital’s unshakable sumo titan of Japanese cuisine.
Runner Up: Haiku
Editor’s Pick: Shota Muni
Hidden within Blue Castle, they serve very unique rolls with imaginative toppings – we recommend the one with pop rocks candy, seriously. Feast on the two for one deal at lunch and weekends.

Best Contemporary Cuisine

Winner: SALT
Buzz Factor: Basing their concept on the idea of salt, an ingredient found in cuisines around the world, owner Gaby Alves and her partners traveled the world to bring together SALT’s ethos of healthy, international cuisine based on the “essential” spice. This eclectic, innovative newcomer has wasted no time in establishing itself as an equally essential part of the Beijing dining scene.
Runner Up: Le Quai
Editor’s Pick: One East on Third
Chef Joshua Goetz takes American food to the next level, making this a spot to look out for. We love it for the emphasis on seasonal freshness and local foods.

Best French

Winner: Le Petit Gourmand
Buzz Factor: A (real!) wood fireplace and open terrace make this the perfect spot for any season. According to our readers, who gave this place 23 percent of the vote in this competitive category, the couscous and foie gras are house specialties, and great set menus make this an excellent lunch option.
Runner Up: Café de la Poste
Editor’s Pick: Jaan
Extravagant, but that’s never turned us off. The French chef is notorious for crossover creations like caramelized foie gras terrine accented with Sichuan pepper. An excellent wine list tops off the experience.

Best Sandwich

Winner: Sequoia
Buzz Factor: Fresh chewy bread, lots of options and a great delivery service all make Sequoia a redwood among shrubs in the sandwich category. Readers also dig the muffins and desserts in the home of Beijing’s best sandwiches, including one of the most popular, the roast beef and cheddar served with a spread of spicy Dijon. Yum.
Runner Up: Bocata
Editor’s Pick: Kempi Deli
2007’s winner for Best Sandwich, this deli delivers the goods to a bustling stream of customers: fresh baked bread and your choice of meats and cheeses from behind the open counter.

Best Burger

Winner: Tim’s Texas BBQ
Buzz Factor: Where’s the beef? At Tim’s, where they buy it fresh and grind it themselves, serving it up in huge 200g chargrilled patties sandwiched in a thick, quality bun. The restaurant won almost one sixth of the total guanxi votes, probably for their most popular burger: bacon, cheese and jalapeno.
Runner Up: Grandma’s Kitchen
Editor’s Pick: One East on Third
The most expensive burger in the city is worth every mao of the ¥325 price tag. Wagyu beef (fed on sake) topped with truffles, served on a crispy parmesan bun.

Spiciest Restaurant

Winner: South Beauty
Buzz Factor: A growing chain with branches all over the capital, this restaurant beat out the competition by 60 votes. Serving up hot food for hot people, South Beauty is always full up with a young crowd lounging on leather banquettes or dining in the private rooms. Perfect for sophisticated Sichuan.
Runner Up: Yu Xin Sichuan Resaurant
Editor’s Pick: Chuan Ban
Agreed on as probably THE Sichuan restaurant in the city, and Sichuan means spicy. Not merely tongue numbing though, they provide a range of tasty flavors, with a new branch in Xizhimen.

Best Buffet

Winner: Guantanamera
Buzz Factor: A recent arrival in Beijing, Guantanamera has quickly made a name for itself as the newest Cuban restaurant in the city. Their daily Latin buffet is a hit, serving up baked pork, caldosa, fried plantains and flan desserts that taste like they’re straight from Havana. Viva el buffet!
Runner Up: Elements
Editor’s Pick: Tairyo Teppenyaki
Pony up ¥150 for a ticking-clock unlimited eat and drink fest in front of the slice and dice show. They claim there’s a two hour limit, but some push the feeding frenzy far beyond…

Best Wi-Fi Cafe

Winner: The Bookworm
Buzz Factor: As one of the highest buzzed cafes, this cozy venue with its enormous selection of books is a great place to come and get a bite to eat and surf the internet, whether you’re researching your next book, doing a little Facebook stalking or posting your opinions on the City Weekend website.
Runner Up: Café Zarah
Editor’s Pick: Le Petit Gourmand
If great French food weren’t enough, Le Petit also has wifi, so you can curl up with a wine or espresso and your laptop on the comfy sofas or sunny terrace.

Most Extravagant

Winner: Blu Lobster
Buzz Factor: Fresh and creative to the point of eccentricity, Chef Brian always has some opulent surprises in store for diners, creating “a fantastic culinary experience” in the words of user pfunz. Indeed, the restaurant has earned exclusively five star reviews on our site. The ideal choice for an evening of urbane extravagance.
Runner Up: The Boardroom
Editor’s Pick: Le Quai
A stunning interior, constructed from a farmhouse relocated from Anhui to Worker’s Stadium, gives this high-end fusion restaurant its over-the-top feel. A favorite of artists, magazine editors and others who are Kind of a Big Deal.

Best Hot Pot

Winner: Hai Di Lao
Buzz Factor: With a local rather than a posh feel, the great soup, friendly service and reasonable prices, Hai Di Lao is the readers’ choice over more upscale establishments. It’s so popular that there’s always a wait, but free drinks and snacks are provided. This is Sichuan hot pot at its best, with hand-pulled noodles and huge portions.
Runner Up: Ding Ding Xiang
Editor’s Pick: Nanmen Hot Pot
Mouth numbing ma la hot pot may be great, but we like our chosen hometown’s taste in this Beijing-style local favorite. They’ve got branches all over town, but still manage to stay packed.

Best New Restaurant

Winner: SALT
Buzz Factor: Can Gaby Alves do no wrong? Her former restaurant Alameda won TBJ’s Restaurant of the Year last year and her new venture, SALT, splash-landed in Beijing’s dining scene when it opened last fall. It dominated the New Restaurant category voting by a two to one margin and also won big in this year’s That’s Beijing restaurant awards. Their great ingredients and modern techniques win readers over, and the gorgeous interiors featuring whites, blacks, greys and warm oranges bring sophisticated dining to Lido. Their progressive no-smoking policy and special brunches and lunches make it a most welcome addition for Beijing diners.
Runner Up: Haiku
Editor’s Pick: Ras Ethiopian Cuisine
Finally, Ethiopian food in the capital, a city that gets more international all the time. The colorful interior, traditional music and cuisine, dances and tea ceremonies all make Ras something very new. We don’t know how we got on for so long without the delight of scooping our tasty entrees up with injera bread.

Restaurant of the Year

Winner: Hatsune
Buzz Factor: Already famous far and wide as Beijing’s favorite Japanese restaurant, Hatsune’s beautiful décor, great service and epic selection of original sushi rolls put it over the top for Restaurant of the Year by almost 100 votes. The spicy “119 roll” is the most popular choice, but customers are hard pressed to pick a favorite from such an incredible selection. “Their menu has more rolls than Liza Minnelli,” says one reader, and Beijing’s sushi lovers are out sample them all. The fantastic sushi, fresh sashimi and mouthwatering steak misoyaki make this a genuine legend in Beijing’s dining scene.
Runner Up: SALT
Editor’s Pick: Kro’s Nest
Kro finally left his perch in Haidian and found a nest in Gongti, bringing an era of monster pizzas and huge cocktails to downtown, creating a real Beijing institution in a few short months. For us, the crispy crust and mounds of cheese are more than enough.