Beijing Boyce

I usually don’t write much about restaurants, but that’s Beijing’s annual awards are an exception, especially this time around, because:

1) I’ve been on a Cafe Europa kick and, just after celebrating its one-year anniversary, this spot received five nominations, one behind Alameda, which took restaurant of the year honors in 2005 and 2006;

2) I’m amazed by the lengthy nomination process that’s Beijing goes through, with over 200 people called upon to come up with nominees. Yes, cynics claim that’s Beijing uses the awards to appease advertisers, but many major advertising restaurants go home empty-handed and some non-advertisers win, so the exercise is more likely to bruise than massage egos.

3) Someone deep in the innards of that’s Beijing sent me behind-the-scenes analysis so that I didn’t have to wear out my calculator, i.e. 164 restaurants were nominated in total, including 69 restaurants not on last year’s survey, partly due to four new categories. The restaurants with the most nominations are Alameda (6), Cafe Europa and Din Tai Fung (5), Annie’s, Cepe (The Ritz-Carlton Financial Street), Da Dong Roast Duck, Hatsune, People 8 and The CourtYard (4) and Aria (China World Hotel), Hazara, Lan, Steak & Eggs, The Orchard and Xiao Wang Fu (3).

More relevant to this blog’s readers, nominees for best wine selection are The Pavillion, Palette Vino, Mare, The CourtYard, Capone’s, Cafe Europa, Aria (China World Hotel) and +39 Italian Restaurant and Lounge.

The Wine Word 

What defines best wine selection? Is it having Grand Cru-heavy offerings, the most wine available by the glass, the best prices, the most professional service? It’s a combination of factors, which adds up to “best value.”

A few thoughts on the nominees:

Pavillion - Good ambience, decent prices and okay selection, though it’s all from ASC.

Palette Vino - An excellent selection and a nice environment, though it’s a trek if you don’t live Shunyi way.

Mare - Haven’t had wine there.

The CourtYard - Haven’t had wine there.

Capone’s - It has the biggest by-the-glass selection in town (45) and good service, but also sky-high prices.

Cafe Europa - An eclectic and rotating bottle / by-the-glass selection, and okay prices (a few cheaper wines would be nice), but hard to find in Soho.

Aria (China World Hotel) - Excellent selection and ambience, and good service, though it doesn’t come cheap.

+39 Italian Restaurant and Lounge - I haven’t had wine there.

My vote goes to Cafe Europa, though the choice was not easy, since Palette Vino and Pavillion are worthy wine stops, as are Aria and Capone’s if you have some cash. It’s a good group of nominees.

Here are a few other notable spots:

Apertivo - An earthy atmosphere and over a dozen wines by the glass, and in the heart of Sanlitun to boot.

Bookworm - It has a nice selection for those who like Bordeaux with their books.

Sequoia Cafe - True, this place only has a tasting once per week, but these are the most original, fun and economical wine events in town.

The Cellar - It opened with a pricey wine list, which is now more affordable, though I’ve had service problems in TRIO, where it’s based.

Ritz-Carlton Hotel - If only for serving Grace wines!

Disclosure: I know the GM of that’s Beijing and have been a fan of the initiative behind the restaurant (and bar) award nomination process since I arrived in Beijing.