A closer look at … 2010 Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese)
Beginning today, we’ll be presenting you with a closer look at some of the categories of voting in the The Beijinger’s 2010 Reader Restaurant Awards. We’ve broken the vote down into several demographic categories to see if there were differences based on nationality, sex, age, and length of time in Beijing.
We start with the coveted Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese) category, won by Maison Boulud, with Mosto and SALT earning runner-up nods.
Maison came out on top amongst foreign voters and Chinese voters. But there the similarities end – from our analysis, Maison Boulud’s strength is the over-30, male diner who has been in Beijing longer than one year.
SALT has a particular pull for women, perhaps due to its female head chef and female entrepreneur:
Women’s overall top choice: SALT
Men’s overall top choice: Maison Boulud
Hatsune, an annual contender that didn’t manage to crack the top 3 in this year’s Restaurant of the Year vote, was the overall winner of the under-30 set:
The choice of the over-30 set: Maison Boulud
The choice of the under-30 set: Hatsune
Mosto appears to be the kind of place newcomers flock to, most likely because of its combination of excellent food, moderate prices, and central location in the heart of Sanlitun:
Voters who have been in Beijing for less than 1 year: Mosto
Top choice of voters who have been in Beijing for longer than 1 year: Maison Boulud
We conclude with a few of the comments we received from the many voters that chose Maison Boulud as their top non-Chinese choice in 2010. Happy reading!
Comments on Maison Boulud in the 2010 Reader Restaurant Awards:
“The service is exceptional, although it may look too high end when you enter, the service people will relax the environment for you because of their friendly and attentive service. I am impressed with how each person knows about the menu and how they are well trained to be able to answer and deliver any requests. I particularly like the Crispy Suckling Pig with Daikon Sauerkraut, Apple Coleslaw and Dijon Mustard Jus – it has the sinfulness of the pork and the subtle washing away of oil in your tongue by the apple coleslaw. I also like how they serve sweet endings – it sure does make you feel well taken care of every time.”
“In my view, MB has imported the highest standards of New York customer service and French cuisine and put them expertly together – thankfully without getting them the wrong way around. They've only been open six months but it feels like six years – they'll undoubtedly stay the course… the lobster with pork belly indulged my worst sense of greed… King crab salad for a starter is a real palate freshener. You can also go off-menu and order the famous DB burger – good value and not a hint of irritation from the staff at being so bloody difficult.”
“Superb service really sets it apart … perfect steak … lovely amuse-bouches between courses… really, flawless meal.”
“There is an attention to detail and subtlety of taste sensation that reminds one of a decent restaurant in London or Paris. Something all too rare in Beijing where too much attention is paid to look and not enough to taste. Ignace and his staff do a good job of making it feel like a decent European restaurant. Again this is something usually lacking in Beijing restaurants, even in the good hotels.”
“The service is phenomenal. Truly five star and a really well trained staff. The lobster bisque and escargot and the wine selection are truly amazing. There are wines there that I miss so much from home and have been unable to find anywhere else in Beijing. The decor and the building the restaurant is in and the history of it is also amazing (yes, I'm American, so I'm a bit biased on appreciating its history, but still it's great.) The restaurant is pricey, but worth it for the food and service and for special occasions. They also have a great set lunch that isn't too expensive.”
“I've only been there for dinner once and most of the time I'm there, it will be brunch. I like the ambience, and the selection of bakery as a starter always never fail to amaze me. I love fish, so I tried the salmon, can't really recall the name. And I usually order 2 courses with the salad, then the fish and I also tried the chef recommendation - German sausage. What makes it interesting is they always have surprises where they will serve us different chef's bake of the day on the house.”
“I like the whole package -- from the fresh rolls to the king crab salad to the entrees (love the salmon) to the home-made madeleines for dessert. Plus I was impressed with the super attentive service.”
“Sculpted food
Explorations
Of each intriguing creation.
Sophisticated ambience,
Old world glamour and planter chic.
Swept upstairs
Nestled into the bar
Jazz wafting.
Lifetimes from daily existence.”
“1. The lighting is just great for an intimate evening. Not too bright but without being seedy.
2. The food is excellent. And the possibility to have a different glass of wine with each course is just fantastic, especially for an evening in a small circle.
3. The service is attentive and friendly but not intruding at all.
4. There is enough space between the tables to have a conversation that nobody else will follow.
5. And the history of the place gives an evening that extra touch.”
“As a Beijinger what I like about this restaurant is the fact that I usually have really good service there, something that is kind of a rare gem in many of the so-called western restaurants here in BJ. Without forgetting the salads are amazing in this place, I usually go there with my business partners, and we always get that comfortable simple dinners that usually live up to my expectations.”
“Maison Boulud has an impeccable presentation, a great wine list and I would most definitely recommend to try their gourmet menu. This is pricey though once every so and so it is good to truly push your taste buds into unknown and exceptional territories.”
“I enjoyed the atmosphere at Maison Boulud, the attention to detail the staff were attentive without being obtrusive, we went there for our anniversary and were also given complimentary champagne which I though was a nice touch. I especially enjoyed our starter of crab with fennel.”
“I like the atmosphere and food a lot in Maison Boulud, but best there are the nice chefs that always treat you with something special and unexpected!”
“1. the surroundings in the restaurant is very good.
2. the waiters care about detail.
3. it makes me happy.
I recommend the steak and salmon.”
“I love the brunch at Maison Boulud because you can choose whatever you want even if that means 4 dessert courses. With its ever-changing menus, everything is new. The madelines are especially delicious. Service is almost perfect there and the ambiance of the Legation Quarter cannot be beat.”
“1. The service is excellent. Every new eatery alternative has their flaws in the beginning and mostly it’s the training of the staff but at Maison I just can’t find those flaws.
2. Value. Its expensive but then again; You get a lot more for your buck here than at [other high end eateries]
3. The food.... nuf said.”
“It has been quite a while since we went there, but the food at Boulud was really exceptional: it was world class French food, and the wine pairings were nothing short of sensational.”
“Even though the passing of time has made my memory slightly hazy (not to mention the amount of wine that I consumed there), I can still vividly remember the wonderful madeleines after dessert, the foie gras at the start, the sensational combination of lamb paired with an extremely jammy Shiraz.”
“Overall food quality is good and good selection. I have been there several times but I can't remember exactly what we ate. I know that the brunch we had the 3 course selection and one was the burger which was decent but it was the other items which I remember also were better than that.”
“I always appreciate the majestic space and esthetics of Maison Boulud's main dining room. "Wow!" was my response when I first entered. While its appearance might suggest formality, the atmosphere is comfortably relaxed.”
“It's easy to see how the efficient and attentive manner of its debonair manager, Ignace Lecleir, trickles down throughout the entire staff. The service has never been anything other than impeccable. The staff is friendly, but not intrusive. They are well-trained and intuitive of the timing of when to serve and clear.”
“I especially enjoy the weekend brunch with its option of selecting up to 4 items from the extensive brunch menu--the more you select, the better the deal. The food is meticulously prepared and scrumptious; its presentation is a delight. There is a frequent replenishment of the complimentary breads and spreads. We've never had to ask for more.”
“All the fine details and the big picture add up to an unbeatable dining experience.”
“The service is outstanding, kids can play in the kid’s corner. Best dish: Norwegian mackerel. The bread is very good and the warm biscuits and petit four for dessert are perfect. After the brunch you can walk around the old legation quarter, a very pleasant and historic district.”
“I love the decor and setting - it's nice seeing a historical building restored nicely and used in a way that can be enjoyed and appreciated. The seating, layout and color palette are comfortable. The service is excellent. The staff is attentive yet not intrusive. They can also make suggestions when you have questions or can't decide. The food is delicious and beautifully presented. Love their petit fours!”
“It's a lovely place for Sunday brunch and a place to impress visitors from out of town.”
“Maison Boulud is easily the best restaurant in Beijing. The food is elegantly presented and a delight to the tastebuds. The crab and the avocado salad, fresh soybean and quail egg are two of my favorites. The assortments of breads and pastries throughout the meal are most welcome. The service is excellent and very timely.”
“This place has
The best Food
The best service
The best deco
The best wines
The best Location
It has to be the best RESTAURANT IN BEIJING”
“I dine out may be 4-5 times a week for many years due to which I have eaten at most of the restaurant in Beijing, both local Chinese and foreign restaurants. I feel the most imprested by this restaurant as it is just great it works for impressing people, business or dating and also if you want to just treat your self to a great dinning experience.”