NOMINEE LIST: Vote for Your Favourite Restaurants & Clubs for the 2013 Taste Awards

The Taste Awards seek to create a platform to celebrate food and beverages in the country and to develop events and campaigns to boost the Kenyan dining and entertainment experience.

The gala event takes place in 10 days, on 31st January at Karura Forest. Voting takes place on the taste.co.ke Website. Below are the nominees in the People’s Choice Awards categories:

UP Magazine Award for Best Italian
Divino
La Dolce Vita
La Salumeria
Sale E Pepe at The Hilton Hotel
Meditterraneo
Osteria
Que Pasa
Trattoria
Zafferano

UP Magazine Award for Best Continental/European
About Thyme
Alan Bobbe’s Bistro
Ambiance
Brew Bistro
Corner Affair Bistro
Karen Country Lodge
Mandhari at Serena Hotel
Moonflower at Palacina Hotel
O’Sinkirri
Pango Gourmet Brasserie at The Fairview Hotel
Seven Seafood & Grill
Sierra Brasserie
Sikia at The Crowne Plaza
Talisman
Tamarind
Tatu at The Fairmont Norfolk

UP Magazine Award for Best BBQ or Grill
Big 5 Restaurant at Ole Sereni Hotel
Blanco’s Sports Bar & Grill
Carnivore
Flame Tree at The Sarova Panafric
Fogo Gaucho
Hashmi
Mughals
Nargis Kapuri
Pampa Churrascaria
Slims
Tamambo Bar and Grill at Village Market

UP Magazine Award for Best East African
Abyssinia
Amaica
Carnivore
Habesha
Nairobi Mamba Village
Nyama Choma Ranch at Safari Park Hotel
Ronalo’s (Kosewe)
Smart Village

Asian Weekly Award for Best Indian
Anghiti
Bandhini at The Intercontinental Hotel
Benares
Chowpatty
Curry In A Hurry
Haandi
Haveli
Open House
Royal Kitchen at Pride Inn Hotel
Spice Roots

Asian Weekly Award for Best Japanese
Furusato
Haru
Misono
Onami
Phoenician
Sushi Bar at Fairview Hotel
Tokyo Karen

Asian Weekly Award for Best Chinese
Bangkok
China Plate
Double Dragon
For You Chinese
Mr. Wok
Panda Chinese Restaurant
Ro Ro Chinese Restaurant
Taste of China
Tin Tin

Asian Weekly Award for Best Asian-Fusion
Muhibbah at Sankara Nairobi
Onami
Shangrila
Siam Thai
Thai Chi at Sarova Stanley
Thai Star
Zen Garden Oriental

Classic 105 Award for Best Nyama Choma
Mama Oliech
Maxline’s
Nibbs
Njuguna’s
Ole Polos

Kiss 100 Award for Best Value for Money
Abyssinia
Artcaffe
Big Square
Chowpatty
Coffee World
Habesha
Hashmi
Mc Fries
Nairobi Java House
Nargis Kapuri

Kiss 100 Award for Best Food-On-The-Go Outlet
Chicken Inn
Debonairs
Galitos
Kenchic Inn
Naked Pizza
Pizza Inn
Planet Yogurt
Steers
 Sub Zone
The Good Food Company

X-FM Award for Best Café or Coffee House
Alexandre
Artcaffe
Cafe Cafe
Cafe Habibi
Dormans
Le Rustique
Nairobi Java House
River Café
Secret Garden Café
Zen Garden Coffee Shop

Kenya Buzz Award for Best Date Night
About Thyme
Brew Bistro
Jiko at Tribe Hotel
La Dolce Vita
Le Rustique
Moonflower at Palacina Hotel
Open House
Que Pasa
Seven Seafood & Grill
Sierra Brasserie
Slims
Talisman
Tamambo Bar and Grill at Village Market

Heineken Award for Exceptional Achievement to Nairobi Nightlife
Black Diamond
Brew Bistro
Carnivore
Choices
Florida 2000
Galileo
Gipsy’s
K1
Psys
Que Pasa
Rafiki’s
Skyluxx
Tribeka

Heineken Award for Best Concept Night
David Muriithi at Mercury (Sundays)
K1 Jazz Night (Tuesdays)
K1 Reggae Night (Thursdays)
Reggae Night at Clique (Mondays)
Salsa at Brew Bistro (Wednesdays)
Salsa at Onami (Thursdays)
Party Night at Galileo (Saturdays)
Thursday Night Live at Choices Pub
Tuesday Night Jazz at Slims
Zelalem at Havana (Thursdays)

Mara Wines Award for Best Wine List
Brew Bistro
Cin Cin at Norfolk Fairmont
La Dolce Vita
Le Rustique
Pango Gourmet Brasserie at The Fairview Hotel
Secret Garden Café
Seven Seafood & Grill
The Gallery at Sankara Nairobi
WWW Shop & Bar

Ciroc Award for Best Cocktail Bar
Brew Bistro
Cin Cin at Norfolk Fairmont
Havana
Mercury
Mwendas
Nest at Tribe Hotel
Onami
Sarabi at Sankara Nairobi
Slims
The Fishbowl at Seven Seafood & Grill
The Waterhole at Ole Sereni

Heineken Award for Best Bar or Club at the Coast
Aqua Bar at Nyali International Beach Hotel
Bob’s Bar
Coco’s Lounge at The Sarova Whitesands Hotel
Forty Thieves
Il Covo, Bamburi
Just Drinks
Mikaye Bar
Sheba Bar & Lounge
The Red at Thalassa

Airkenya Award for Best Restaurant at the Coast
Ali Barbours Cave Restaurant
Eataly
Galaxy
Il Covo, Bamburi
La Griglia, Casino Malindi
La Marina
Old Man and the Sea
Roberto’s
Rosada’s, Malindi
Shehnai Indian Restaurant
Tamarind
Thalassa Restaurant & Lounge
The Moorings Floating Restaurant
The Sails at Almanara
Yul’s

Heineken Award for Best Service (Restaurant or Bar)
Artcaffe
Brew Bistro
Carnivore
Champagne Bar at Sankara Nairobi
Cin Cin at Norfolk Fairmont
Mercury
Nairobi Java House
Pango Gourmet Brasserie at The Fairview Hotel
Seven Seafood & Grill
Talisman
Tamarind
Thai Chi at Sarova Stanley
Zen Garden Oriental

Acacia Award for Best Newcomer (Restaurant or Bar)
*To qualify for Best Newcomer, outlets must have been open from 1st Nov 2011 to 31st Oct 2012.
Aladdin
BBQ Tonight
Champagne Bar at Sankara Nairobi
Mughals
Secret Garden Café
Waves, Chowpatty
Zapata

Below are the nominees in the Prestige segment of the awards:

Taste Excellence 2013
Formal Dining
Casual Dining
Boutique Bar
Night Out (Bar)

Prestige Awards
Heineken Award for Chef of the Year 2013
Ciroc Award for Mixologist of the Year 2013
Heineken Front of House Award (for Service Team) for Restaurant
Heineken Front of House Award (for Service Team) for Bar

Taste Recognition
EAGM Food Service Sustainable Champion
Taste Industry Champion

The Taste Awards are sponsored by BDO, Eat Out, Ciroc, Brand Kenya, Air Kenya, Sleep Out, Kiss FM, Xfm, Classic 105, Kenya Buzz, UP Magazine and Asian Weekly. Event partners include Homeboyz, Mara Wines, Nomadic Tents, Acacia, Italic Printers and Securex. The Taste Initiative is in partnership with Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation.