The Beijinger Restaurant Awards: Old Winners and Faded Glory

Voting is open in The Beijinger's 8th Reader Restaurant Awards and one question and concern for the winners is how long can the top spot be held and when will they discover, there’s only one way to go from there. Here are some restaurants that once reigned over Beijing’s dining scene.

Back in 2004 the place to get the very best steak was The Outback. This faux-Aussie themed American chain hit its peak and has never been spotted in the awards again. The restaurant is now better known as that place next to the old Kro’s/Tube Station Pizza.

Taking two of the titles in our first year was Afunti, for Best Xinjiang and Best for a Celebration. This joint managed to hang around in the honorable mentions up until 2009, but has been eclipsed in recent years by more authentic and homey options.

One of the most popular picks year after year was Green T. House. Starting in 2004 this place won Best Décor three years in a row and Best to Impress in both 2005 and 2006, and stayed in the lists as runner–up until 2009. Since, the overly stylized concept space has faded into relative obscurity.

The CourtYard picked up eight “Best” awards over the years in categories such as Best for a Date, Best to Impress, and Most Romantic but has since faded away with the loss of their celebrity chef in the midst of the 2010 Restaurant Awards voting and as newer restaurants have stolen some of the limelight.