Best Pizza

The Tree

Buzzfactor: 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 the City Weekend and That’s Beijing dining awards. The place is perpetually packed with a crowd of families and solo tipplers. Friendly staff will always let you go half-half with the toppings, making the selection a little easier. Their amazing range of beers also earned them a win in the 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 Date Place

Café Sambal

Buzzfactor: This place has got atmosphere in spades. The candle-lit bed area makes for "a cozy chat" says reader adidasxk. The food is worth the splurge-Cespecially if you want to show off those deep pockets to your date. Runner Up: W Dine and Wine

Editor’s Pick: Jasmine
The evening view through the floor-to-ceiling windows at this swank Chinese restaurant makes even the Gongti lake look romantic.

Best Power Lunch

Alameda

Buzzfactor: Reservations are essential to wheel and deal over the ￥60 lunch set at this "Fodor’s Choice" restaurant; the perpetually high buzz ensures that it’s always packed, Reader cythjeany says she visits several times a week.
Runner Up: Hatsune

Editor’s Pick: Aria
This ritzy eatery serves up the perfect business lunch by lowering prices on its gourmet set menus. We love it on their garden terrace.

Best Beijing Duck

Da Dong

Buzzfactor: Da Dong's signature low fat duck earned them 40 percent of the vote. This is 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 Grand Hyatt eatery is the top rated restaurant in Zagat's new Beijing guide. Be sure to make reservations before your feast.

Best Middle Eastern

Rumi

Buzzfactor: Elegant minimalist décor complements authentic Persian flavors in this Iranian favorite, the most buzzed Middle Eastern restaurant on CW’s site. The wonderful beef and chicken koobideh kebabs will change your whole perspective on street chuan'r-Cnot to be missed. Wash down the huge portions with one of their incredible fresh juices says online user siennapc.
Runner Up: 1001 Nights

Editor’s Pick: Za’atar
Za’atar serves the best Middle Eastern food we’ve had this side of the ¡®stans, with a fantastic selection of mezes, featuring their signature hummus, tabouleh, kibbeh. It's all served in an atmosphere rich in modern Middle Eastern décor.

Best Wine Selection

Aria

Buzzfactor: There are few other places in Beijing where you can order a 1985 vintage Chateau Lafite (￥19,800). Aria’s excellence in the art of wine wins the award for Best Wine Selection two years in a row.
Runner Up: W Dine and Wine

Editor’s Pick: La Baie des Anges
At our favorite wine place, wine wizards Oliver and Benjamin always impart their knowledge to us wine neophytes. Magnifique!

Best Italian

Le Café Igosso

Buzzfactor: "An amazing getaway," raves online reader kmwithsarah. "Don't let the outer appearance turn you off." The great ambiance in the beautiful interior is rounded out with scrumptious Italian treats.
Runner Up: Cepe

Editor’s Pick: []+39 Italian Restaurant](http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/listings/dining/italian/has/39-italian-restaurant-lounge/)
The fabulous steaks, mellow atmosphere and table visits from the friendly chef make this restaurant one of our faves.

Best Japanese

Hatsune

Buzzfactor: "Not only the best rolls in town, but the best rolls I’ve ever tried anywhere!" says online reader beorn. The beautiful presentation and highly buzzed rolls secured their position as the capital’s sumo titan of Japanese cuisine.
Runner Up: Haiku

Editor’s Pick: Shota Muni
This place serves very unique rolls with imaginative toppings--we recommend the one with pop rocks candy, seriously!

Best Thai

Purple Haze

Buzzfactor: This perennial favorite serves an excellent selection of curries, but their specialty is the satay, served with a to die for peanut sauce. Readers like the prime location across from Gongti north gate. It's a popular stop on the way to the neighborhood clubs and bars, perhaps the reason it won a third of your votes. Wednesday jazz nights in the spin-off bistro nearby are also 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, noodles and mango dessert. The three Thai chefs and imported artwork provide an authentic taste and feel in a casual atmosphere.

Best Contemporary

SALT

Buzzfactor: Basing their concept on the idea of salt, the "essential" spice, this innovative and healthy newcomer has already established itself as an equally essential part of Beijing's dining scene.
Runner Up: Le Quai

Editor’s Pick: One East on Third
Chef Joshua Goetz takes American food to the next level. We love it for the emphasis on seasonal freshness and local foods.

Best French

Le Petit Gourmand

Buzzfactor: A wood-burning fireplace and open terrace make this surprise winner the perfect spot for any season. According to our readers, who gave it 23 percent of the vote in this competitive category, the couscous and foie gras are not to be missed.
Runner Up: Café de la Poste

Editor’s Pick: Jaan
The French chef keeps us intrigued with creations like caramelized foie gras terrine with Sichuan pepper.

Best European

Mare

Buzzfactor: Readers from around the world praise the tapas at this 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: Vineyard Café

Editor’s Pick: The Orchard
Set in a beautiful old farmhouse surrounded by gardens, this is our favorite place to escape the city for fresh air and great organic food.

Best Brunch

Senses

Buzzfactor: The home of the "Bubbly Sunday Brunch" overwhelmed the competition by over 200 votes Its dramatic buffet delves deep into world cuisine, featuring caviar, pizza, fondue, seafood and dim sum. The extensive dessert station is almost as intoxicating as the free-flowing wine and champagne. Says online reader dan: "If there was ever a reason to make the trek out to Financial Street, Senses is it."
Runner Up: The Orchard

Editor’s Pick: Monsoon
We love the enormous poached salmon at this Sunday brunch, as well as the excellent selection of Asian fusion cuisine. Four types of champagne and bottomless martinis make it our choice for the sophisticated morning drinking experience.

Best Dim Sum

Din Tai Fung

Buzzfactor: Weathering accusation 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 winner. Their delicious soup dumplings are proof that their glory hasn’t faded.
Runner Up: Crystal Jade

Editor’s Pick: Horizon
Authentic Cantonese and Sichuan dishes in a surprisingly un-hotel atmosphere make this one of our favorite Chinese restaurants.

Best Sandwich

Sequoia

Buzzfactor: Fresh chewy bread, lots of options and delivery service all make Sequoia a redwood among shrubs. Readers dig the roast beef and cheddar served with a spread of spicy Dijon mustard, as well as the great muffins and desserts.
Runner Up: Bocata

Editor’s Pick: Kempi Deli
2007’s winner for Best Sandwich, this deli delivers fresh baked bread, meats and cheeses from behind their open counter.

Best Burger

Tim’s Texas BBQ

Buzzfactor: Where’s the beef? At Tim's, where they buy it fresh and grind it themselves, serving huge 200 gram chargrilled monsters. Tim's won a sixth of all guanxi votes, probably for their bacon, cheese and jalapeno burger.
Runner Up: Grandma’s Kitchen

Editor’s Pick: One East on Third
We'll drop ￥325 for Wagyu beef topped with truffles and served on a parmesan-crusted bun.

Most Family Friendly

Annie’s

Buzzfactor: With 18 comments on their online listing, Annie’s is one of the most frequented venues on www.cityweekend.com.cn. Reader bj_expat37 calls it "an excellent neighborhood choice for hearty Italian cuisine," and indeed, with five locations, there’s always an Annie's nearby. For the third year in a row, Annie's claims the family category, hanging on by 32 votes. Maybe it's the reliable pizza, the play area or the colorable place mats for children.
Runner Up: Grandma’s Kitchen

Editor’s Pick: New Veranda
Newly opened next to the WAB, it features an immense play area with a colorful ball pit and slide. There's a children’s menu, and the restaurant also specializes in catering children's birthday parties.

Spiciest Restaurant

South Beauty

Buzzfactor: This growing chain beat the competition by 60 votes. Serving up hot food for hot people, South Beauty is always full up with a young crowd lounging on the leather banquettes.
Runner Up: Yu Xin

Editor’s Pick: Chuan Ban
Agreed on as probably THE Sichuan restaurant in the city, Chuan Ban is not merely tongue numbing but actually provides a range of tasty flavors.

Best Buffet

Guantanamera

Buzzfactor: This recent arrival has quickly made a name with their daily Latin buffet, serving up baked pork, caldosa, fried plantains and flan desserts that taste like they’re straight from Havana.
Runner Up: Elements

Editor’s Pick: Tairyo Teppenyaki
We pony up ￥150 for the unlimited eat and drink fest in front a slice and dice show perfect for meat and seafood lovers.

Best Indian

Ganges

Buzzfactor: "The butter chicken and palak paneer was exactly the same as in Delhi!" says online reader premal888. Multiple branches make it convenient, and readers especially enjoy the Indian music videos.
Runner Up: Indian Kitchen

Editor’s Pick: The Taj Pavilion
The Taj impresses us with incredible service and delicate spices. It's also "Beijing’s Best Indian Restaurant" in Fodor’s.

Best New Restaurant

SALT

Buzzfactor: 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 last fall. It dominated the New Restaurant category voting by a two to one margin and also won big in this year’s TBJ restaurant awards. Great ingredients and innovative techniques win readers over, and the gorgeous interior brings sophisticated dining to Lido.
Runner Up: Haiku

Editor’s Pick: Ras Ethiopian
Finally there's Ethiopian food in the Jing. The colorful interior, traditional music, dances and tea ceremonies all make Ras something very new. We just can't get enough of the injera bread.

Best Value

Alameda

Buzzfactor: With free cheese bread and ￥60 lunch specials, Alameda blew away the competition in this category. Set menus are definitely worth the money at ￥158, since all of the dishes are top-quality treats for the taste buds.
Runner Up: Indian Kitchen

Editor’s Pick: In & Out
This Lijiang-themed restaurant serves delicious Yunnan treats to both locals and foreigners looking for great minority cuisine.

Best Group Hangout

Goose & Duck

Buzzfactor: Winning by fewer than 10 votes, G&D won readers’ hearts and ballots with their new super-size location. Make your braggart friends put their money where their mouths are at the batting cages, golf simulators and air hockey table.
Runner Up: Kokomo

Editor’s Pick: Stone Boat
A faux Qing dynasty houseboat in Ritan Park, the Stone Boat’s open-air setting and lakeside patio are our urban oasis.

Best Wi-Fi Cafe

The Bookworm

Buzzfactor: One of the highest buzzed cafes on the CW website, this hopping venue is a great place to surf the Net, whether you're researching your next book or posting your opinions on www.cityweekend.com.cn.
Runner Up: Café Zarah

Editor’s Pick: Le Petit Gourmand
As if great French fare and lattes weren’t enough, Le Petit also has Wi-Fi.

Restaurant of the Year

Hatsune

Buzzfactor: Hatsune’s beautiful décor, great service and epic selection of rolls put it over the top for Restaurant of the Year by almost 100 votes. "Their menu has more rolls than Liza Minnelli," says online reader thisbeingmilt, and Beijing’s sushi lovers are out sample them all. 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 brought an era of monster pizzas to Gongti this year, creating a real Beijing institution in a few short months. For us, the crispy crust and mounds of cheese are more than enough.

Best Hot Pot

Hai Di Lao

Buzzfactor: With a local feel, great soup, friendly service and reasonable prices, Hai Di Lao is hands down the readers’ choice. Their hand-pulled noodles and huge portions keep people coming back.
Runner Up: Ding Ding Xiang

Editor’s Pick: Nanmen Hot Pot
Mouth numbing ma la may be great, but we prefer this Beijing-style local favorite. Their many branches are packed every night.

Best American

Grandma’s Kitchen

Buzzfactor: Grandma’s big American breakfasts won "Best Breakfast" in 2007, and they've also got a milkshake that moves one of our editors to embarrassing panegyrics. A perfect refuge for the homesick.
Runner Up: Chef Too

Editor’s Pick: American Steak and Eggs
All the classics, plus a great breakfast combo and free refills on coffee. We love their big Thanksgiving feast, too.

Most Extravagant

Blu Lobster

Buzzfactor: 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 ONLY earned five star reviews on our website.
Runner Up: The Boardroom

Editor’s Pick: Le Quai
A stunning interior, constructed from a farmhouse relocated from Anhui gives this high-end fusion restaurant its over-the-top feel.