Beijing’s Restaurant Scene, 7 years ago

Seven years ago we set the bar high with Beijing’s first-ever reader-driven restaurant awards in Beijing’s English media. Here’s a look back at what was hot in Beijing’s restaurant scene in 2004, our first ever awards, and along the way we’ll remind you of the winners of this year’s awards.

As testimony to the stability of the city’s restaurant scene (or perhaps to the strength of the 2004 winners) over 80% of the restaurants that won awards in 2004 are still in operation. A good chunk of them still winning awards. The unlucky few that have closed their doors: Be There or Be Square; The Grape; Golden Elephant; Le Seine; Adria; Red Basil; Transit; Mediterraneo; and finally Pink Loft – though word is that the Pink Loft may be making a return to Beijing sometime soon).

The list (winners are listed first, runners up in parentheses)

Best For a Romantic Meal
2004: The Courtyard (Nuage, Green T House)
2010: Maison Boulud (The Courtyard, Capital M, Mosto)

Business Lunch
2004: Aria (Astor Grill, South Beauty)
2010: Alameda (Mosto, Salt)

Décor
2004: Green T House (Nuage, Transit)
2010: LAN (Hatsune, The Village, Maison Boulud)

Duck
2004: Quan Ju De (Da Dong, Li Qun)
2010: Da Dong (Quan Ju De, Duck de Chine)

French
2004: Brasserie Flo (La Seine, Justine's)
2010: Maison Boulud (Café de la Poste, Brasserie Flo)

Brunch*
2004: Steak & Eggs (The Garden Court, Grandma's Kitchen)
2010 (non-hotel): Element Fresh (Vineyard Café, Chef Too)
2010 (hotel): Westin Chaoyang & Westin Financial Street (Hilton Wangfujing, JW Marriott)
*In 2004 there was one category for brunch; by 2010 this has grown to 2 – one for standalone restaurants, and one for hotels.

Impressing Visitors
2004: The Courtyard (Red Capital Club, Green T House)
2010: Da Dong (Capital M, LAN)

Indian / Pakistani
2004: Taj Pavilion (Tandoor, Golden Elephant)
2010: Ganges & Taj Pavilion (Indian Kitchen, Mughal's)

Italian
2004: Annie's (Adria, Metro Café)
2010: Annie's (Assaggi, L'Isola)

Japanese
2004: Hatsune (Matsuko, Kagen)
2010: Hatsune (Matsuko, Tairyo Teppanyaki)

Sichuan
2004: South Beauty (Yu Xin, Yuxiang Renjia)
2010: South Beauty (Chuan Ban, Spice Spirit)

Steak
2004: Outback (Morel's, Steak & Eggs)
2010: The Meat & Wine Co. (SALT, Morel's, Chef Too)

Thai
2004: Serve the People (Pink Loft, Red Basil)
2010: Purple Haze (Serve the People, Phrik Thai)

Xinjiang
2004: Afunti (Red Rose, The Grape)
2010: Red Rose (Crescent Moon, My neighborhood chuar place)

Service
2004: Hatsune (Taj Pavilion, Steak & Eggs)
2010: Maison Boulud (SALT, Haidilao Hot Pot)

Restaurant of the Year**
2004: Taj Pavilion (Steak & Eggs, Hatsune)
2010 (Chinese): Da Dong (Made in China, Haidilao Hot Pot, Din Tai Fung)
2010 (non-Chinese): Maison Boulud (Mosto, SALT)

**In 2004 there was one category for Restaurant of the Year; by 2010 this has grown to 2 – one for Chinese restaurants and one for Non-Chinese restaurants.