Announcing the 2013 Eater Awards for Los Angeles

It is time now—drumroll, trumpets, gongs—to announce the winners of the 2013 Eater Awards. In over a dozen categories in 27 cities, the winners comprise a diverse group of the finest and most interesting chefs, operators, and characters in the continent that have defined this year in dining. We applaud them. You are hereby instructed to applaud them. So, without further ado—actually, a few quick pre-ambling thoughts....

To recap, Eater's local editors in 27 cities nominated candidates for five major local categories: Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, So Hot Right Now Restaurant, and Stone Cold Stunner. Eater readers then voted to narrow the field to a final three in each category. From that final three, the Eater editorial team chose the winner. Our Eater National brain trust then got together to decide the national winners for those categories. In addition to these main stage winners, said Eater editorial team has named worthy winners in more specialized categories, for myriad notable achievements.

Nominees and winners alike will be feted at a party tonight in Manhattan. Those winners that couldn't make it should watch their mail for packages containing cans of Italian peeled tomatoes. And now, without further ado, the winners in Los Angeles.

Click through for the full rundown of winners across the country on Eater National.

Eater Awards 2013

Restaurant of the Year
Nominees: Bestia, Trois Mec, Bucato, Alma, Connie & Ted's
Finalists: Bestia, Trois Mec, Bucato
Winner: Trois Mec

Chef of the Year:
Nominees: Miles Thompson, Ari Taymor, Suzanne Goin, Walter Manzke, Jeremy Fox
Finalists: Jeremy Fox, Suzanne Goin, Miles Thompson
Winner: Jeremy Fox

So Hot Right Now
Nominees: Magic Restroom Cafe, Trois Mec, Rao's, Connie & Ted's, Hakkasan
Finalists: Trois Mec, Hakkasan, Connie & Ted's
Winner: Connie & Ted's

Bartender of the Year
Nominees: Matthew Biancaniello, Brittini Rae Peterson, Pablo Moix, David Kaplan/Alex Day
Finalists: Brittini Rae Peterson, Matthew Biancaniello, Pablo Moix
Winner: Brittini Rae Peterson

Stone Cold Stunner
Nominees: Warwick, Acabar, Hinoki & The Bird, The Church Key, Pedalers Fork
Finalists: Hinoki & The Bird, The Church Key, Warwick
Winner: Hinoki & The Bird

Empire Builder of the Year
Winner: Umami Restaurant Group

· All Coverage of the Eater Awards [~E~]