The latest issue of the Wine Spectator, dated August 31, 2017, announced the magazine’s guide to award-winning restaurant wine lists around the world. This year, the Restaurant Awards program honored 3,592 dining destinations from all 50 states in the U.S. and more than 75 countries internationally.
There are three levels of restaurant awards: the Award of Excellence; the Best of Award of Excellence; and the Grand Award, with 2335, 1,168, and 89 winners this year in each respective category. Five of the Grand Award winners – Del Fisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in New York, Grill 23 7 Bar in Boston, Les Climats in Paris, PM & Vänner in Växjö, Sweden, and Wally’s Beverly Hills – are first timers.
Once again, New Jersey restaurants collected their share of oenological kudos…
GRAND AWARDS: The Pluckemin Inn, 359 Route 206 South, Bedminster…Restaurant Latour, Crystal Springs Resort, 1 Wild Turkey Way, Hardyston
BEST OF AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: The Bernards Inn, 27 Mine Brook Road, Bernardsville… Berta’s Chateau, 7 Grove Street, Wanaque… Bobby Flay Steak, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City… Caffe Aldo Lamberti, 2011 Route 70 West, Cherry Hill… The Capital Grille, 2000 Route 38, Cherry Hill… Catherine Lombardi, 3 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick… Court Street Restaurant & Bar, 61 Sixth Street, Hoboken… The Frog and the Peach, 29 Dennis Street, New Brunswick… Il Capriccio Ristorante, 633 Route 10 East, Whippany… Il Villaggio, 651 Route 17 North, Carlstadt… Knife and Fork Inn, 3600 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City… La Griglia Seafood Grill & Wine Bar, 740 Kenilworth Boulevard, Kenilworth… The Manor, 111 Prospect Avenue, West Orange… Ninety Acres, 2 Main Street, Peapack-Gladstone… Old Homestead Steakhouse, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City… Stage Left Restaurant, 5 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick… Steve & Cookie’s by the Bay, 9700 Amherst Avenue, Margate… The Tewksbury Inn, 55 Old Turnpike road, Oldwick… Undici Taverna Rustica, 11West River Road, Rumson… Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, Brigantine Boulevard, Atlantic City…Water & Wine Ristorante-Taverna, 141 Stirling Road, Watchung… Windrift, Windrift Hotel Resort, 105 80th Street, Avalon
The complete list of award winners is available in print in Wine Spectator’s August 31st issue, currently on newsstands; and online at https://restaurants.winespectator.com/.
Just keep one thing in mind: Lists can be extremely misleading… A great wine cellar does not necessarily mean great (or even good) cuisine. Over the years, in fulfillment of my various obligations as a professional restaurant reviewer, I’ve been unfortunate enough to dine in numerous establishments with highly-touted, voluminous War and Peace-type wine lists that served up food so downright disgusting a ravening hyena wouldn’t deign to sniff at it.
Please note that the Wine Spectator headline on the above-mentioned issue is “Where to DRINK well,” not “Where to EAT well.” One, of course, would like to think that the two go together… but not necessarily. When seeking out a restaurant, especially for that special occasion, it’s always wise to consult a variety of sources.
Cheers & Bon Appétit!
TAD
{ 0 comments… add one now }