Testimonials from Restaurant Award Winners
Ti Martin, Co-Owner, Commander's Palace
New Orleans, La.; Grand Award
Being awarded Wine Spectator’s Grand Award was a lifelong career goal for us. It started to seem impossible after about 10 years of trying. How could I spend so much money and effort and not get that damn award! There have been so many awards created in the last decade or so, but we in the industry know the few that stand out. We know the awards programs that are run very professionally. We know the ones that mean something. We are button popping-proud to be a holder of the Wine Spectator Grand Award. It is a small and exclusive club to be in. We like it that way.
Daniel Boulud, Chef and Restaurateur
5 Restaurant Award winners in 2023, including Grand Award winner Daniel
We are proud to have received recognition from Wine Spectator since 2002 for our outstanding wine programs and for the work our amazing sommelier team put into maintaining a world-class wine list. We have always strived to be a destination for a memorable culinary and wine experience. It takes a lot of effort and resources to achieve an award...
Anybody who has the ambition and knowledge of wine should strive to win a Wine Spectator Award.
Kevin Bratt, Corporate Beverage Director, Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
3 locations; Best of Award of Excellence
Your restaurant can become a wine connoisseur's destination when they learn of the [Wine] Spectator Award, as it imparts a strong level of trust and prestige. Expanding your list to represent the best regions of the world and provide something for every palate creates lifetime guest loyalty.
Gretchen Thomas, Chief Creative Officer, Barcelona Wine Bar
19 locations; Best of Award of Excellence
Having a Wine Spectator Restaurant Award has helped us build our reputation as a wine connoisseur's destination. It has helped our new and returning guests feel confident in our wine selections before walking through the door.
Brahm Callahan, Corporate Beverage Director, Himmel Hospitality Group
Boston; 4 Restaurant Award winners in 2023, including Grand Award winner Grill 23 & Bar
A Wine Spectator Award means that we have been validated by our industry as being one of the leaders in the world for premium wine lists, and it is a great way for us to share that with a huge group of consumers.
Marcello Fiorentino, Owner and Chef, Marcello’s La Sirena
West Palm Beach, Fla.; Grand Award
We would absolutely encourage other restaurants to strive for the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards. We received the Award of Excellence in 1999 and then the Best of Award in 2003. We have continued to build our wine program over the years and strongly believe it is an integral part of our business success. It adds such an important dynamic to the entire dining experience.
Erik Segelbaum, Founder, GoodSomm Wine Club and SOMLYAY Hospitality Consulting
A Wine Spectator award tells guests (current and potential) that a program that has been vetted by a panel of experts and deemed amongst the best in the world. There is no doubt that Wine Spectator reviews and awards are held in the highest regard in the domestic and international community. Awards of this nature show wine-loving guests that visiting a restaurant is time and money well spent.
Mathieu Duguay, Owner, Le Coureur des Bois
Beloeil, Canada; Grand Award
The Award Program brings the highest level of credibility, boost staff morale and generate substantial growth in sales.
Søren Ledet, General Manager, Wine Director & Co-Owner, Geranium
Copenhagen, Denmark; Grand Award
I would absolutely encourage my colleagues in the restaurant business to strive for Wine Spectator Awards. Wine Spectator is the leading magazine for wine and the awards are internationally recognized. When guests see that a restaurant has a Wine Spectator award they automatically know that the restaurant has a good wine list.
Rubén Sanz Ramiro, Head Sommelier, PM & Vänner
Växjö, Sweden; Grand Award
The Grand Award program by Wine Spectator has a history, dedication, scrutiny and pedigree unique and memorable in its category. Having been following Wine Spectator for years, the Grand Award has always been a reference point. By highlighting the most inspiring wine professionals and wine program across the world, the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards has been a touching program that has stimulated my work and helped to improve it.
Danny Meyer, Chairman of Union Square Hospitality Group
7 Restaurant Award winners in 2023, including Grand Award winner The Modern
[A Wine Spectator Restaurant Award] provides your team with extra validation for a job well done—and provides an important service to wine lovers to up the odds of selecting a restaurant that will stand a better chance of making them happy!
Tom Colicchio, Chef and Owner of Crafted Hospitality
Craftsteak in Las Vegas and Temple Court in New York City; Best of Award of Excellence
Receiving any award is really a scorecard on how you're doing; receiving one from Wine Spectator means we've achieved excellence with our wine program.
