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And Manila's Best Restaurants Are...

Published: Mar 17, 2010 - 6:36pm

Thirteen establishments were hailed Manila's Best Restaurants in various categories in the recently concluded 2009 Nescafe Gold Spot Awards on March 17 at the Encore (formerly Embassy) at The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

gsaawards_article
Click on the photo to see more photo galleries from the 2009 Nescafe Gold Spot Awarding Ceremony.

Now on its second year, the Nescafe Gold Spot Awards aims to honor the best establishments in the city and celebrate Manila as a dining destination. With four brand-new categories–namely Best Buffet, Best Restaurant Chain, New Restaurant of the Year and Restaurant of the Year, over 489 restaurants were nominated by SPOT.ph readers for thirteen categories in this year's awards.

Nominations were shortlisted by a panel of judges composed of Yummy editor-in-chief Becky Kho, Chefs Him Uy de Baron and Aileen Anastacio, popular blogger Franco of Table for Three Please (awarded Best Food & Beverage Blog by the 2009 Philippine Blog Awards), food writer and SPOT.ph food blogger JJ Yulo and actress and foodie Cherie Gil. Over 270, 000 online votes were cast for 55 restaurants in 11 categories from December 1, 2009 to January 31, 2010. Winners for New Restaurant of the Year and Restaurant of the Year were selected solely by the panel of judges.

The awarding ceremony was attended by Logan O'Brien, Consumer Marketing Manager, Coffee Business Unit, Nestle Philippines; Myrza Sison, editor-in chief, SPOT.ph and the 2009 Nescafe Gold Spot Awards judges, as well as key figures and players in the Manila dining scene.

The winners for the Cuisine Awards were determined both by the readers and the panel of judges:

Cuisine Awards
Best Japanese: Inagiku
Best Chinese: Shang Palace
Best Filipino: Abe
Best Italian: Paparrazi
Best Steak house: 22 Prime
Best Buffet: Spiral
Best Deli: Santi's Delicatessen
Best Dessert Place: Cupcakes by Sonja
Best Bar: Cav Wine Bar and Resto

Determined solely by the readers through mobile and online votes, Cibo emerged as the big winner for the People's Choice Awards:

Best Restaurant Chain: Cibo
Best Service: Cibo

The panel of judges decided on the winners for New Restaurant of the Year and Restaurant of the Year.

New Restaurant of the Year: Lusso
Restaurant of the Year: Lolo Dad's


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  • eddieboy2010 Sep 20 2010 @ 11:56pm Report Abuse
    Very exciting and I will definitely try these places when I visit the country in the near future... Although, I can't help but wonder why there is no category for Best American, Best French, Best Spanish or even Best Thai and Indian. Does the Filipino palate limit itself on these select categories? They may not be as popular over there as they are here in NYC but it would be nice to venture out into 'other' types of cuisines.
  • january6749 May 03 2010 @ 02:04am Report Abuse
    hi, i won a dining gc but the i can no longer see the link to the winners of dining certificates. anyway, i hope to receive the gcs soon.

    ty.
  • allanref May 02 2010 @ 07:52am Report Abuse
    Why am i not surprised that the best buffet award goes to Spiral?
  • blitzmacalma Apr 18 2010 @ 10:41pm Report Abuse
    woohooo!! Lolo Dad's now on the #1 of our list.. =D congratulations to Sonja's Cupcakes!
  • ChelseaHicks31 Apr 15 2010 @ 06:11pm Report Abuse
    This post was deleted due to its inappropriate content. Please click this link to read our posting guidelines. – Webmaster
  • Allan Ko Mar 30 2010 @ 01:48pm Report Abuse
    All very subjective, I should say..

    Tough call for best Japanese (I'd say Sushi Kappo Kobikicho or Tsumura, but Inagiku equally deserves the plum) and best Chinese (I'd be happy with Jasmine, Li Li, or Choi Garden winning as much as I am for Shang Palace).

    Spiral and Santi's definitely deserve their nods.

    But Abe for best Filipino? Makes me shake my head if we think this is the best Pinoy cuisine around. I would definitely have gone for Sentro 1771 or Bistro Filipino, which have more progressive recipes while staying true to local flavors. And they have much better service too.

    I prefer Tosca over Paparazzi, and I think Elbert's is head and shoulders over 22 Prime, but Sonja's Cupcakes winning over Classic Confections? Ridiculous.

    In any case, to each his own.. and these awards just prove one thing -- trust your own taste over others.
  • tarsier Mar 27 2010 @ 11:56pm Report Abuse
    where's California Pizza Kitchen the food there are sooo great plus great service!!!!
  • An Mar 24 2010 @ 07:24pm Report Abuse
    ohh,very tempting!
  • mary_ann_lei Mar 24 2010 @ 02:11pm Report Abuse
    I want to try Cupcakes by Sonja, Cibo and Lolo Dad's!
  • Del Mar 23 2010 @ 03:27pm Report Abuse
    Thanks to spot.ph,,,I won a gift pack! Be getting it this week. =)Also want to thank those who voted for Cibo as 'best in service' and 'best in chain restaurant', for Lusso as 'best new restaurant'. Kudos M'Gaita and to all of us!
  • msison Mar 21 2010 @ 11:33pm Report Abuse
    Hi "Wisniewski,"

    If you are insinuating that my being married to one of the owners of these restaurants had anything to do with their being nominated for various categories, please be informed that the very credible Nescafe Gold Spot Awards 2009 panel of six judges drew up the shortlist of nominees for each of the 13 categories based on a list of hundreds of online nominations for restaurants. I did not have any participation in this step of the process nor did I influence any of them in any way. I hope this puts your doubts to rest.

    Thank you for reading Spot.ph,

    Myrza Sison
    Editor-in-Chief
    Spot.ph
  • Wisniewski Mar 21 2010 @ 10:57pm Report Abuse
    Look at the nominees MoMo, 22 Prime and Museam Cafe (2x) One can't help but make the Wisniewski connection in all of this.
  • aulie Mar 21 2010 @ 10:56pm Report Abuse
    hi spot:)
    uhm i won but i havent recvd the confirmation email yet:(
  • cookiesweetie Mar 21 2010 @ 12:19am Report Abuse
    Hey SPOT.ph
    here is my take on the event
    http://mrsmartinezravesandrants.blogspot.com/2010/03/nescafe-gold-spot-awards-2009-manilas.html
    xoxo
  • SPOT.ph Mar 18 2010 @ 06:04pm Report Abuse
    Hi, curious!

    Please check the link below for the list of winners:
    http://www.spot.ph/2010/01/08/winners-nescafe/


    Thanks,
    SPOT.ph
  • curious Mar 18 2010 @ 05:51pm Report Abuse
    so who won the bellarocca vacation for two?
  • mylene Mar 18 2010 @ 01:50pm Report Abuse
    wow thats great!
  • Foodie Mar 18 2010 @ 12:58pm Report Abuse
    Wow so many places I want to try!
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