Announcing the 2013 Eater Awards for San Francisco

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 San Francisco.

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

Eater Awards 2013

Restaurant of the Year
Nominees: Saison, Coqueta, Ramen Shop, The Cavalier, Tosca Cafe
Finalists: Saison, Coqueta, Tosca Cafe
Winner: Saison

Chef of the Year:
Nominees: Joshua Skenes (Saison), Belinda Leong (b. patisserie), Chris Kronner (KronnerBurger), Manny Torres Gimenez (The Palace), April Bloomfield (Tosca Cafe)
Finalists: Joshua Skenes (Saison), Belinda Leong (b. patisserie), April Bloomfield (Tosca Cafe)
Winner: Belinda Leong (b. patisserie)

So Hot Right Now
Nominees: Tosca Café, TBD, La Urbana, Stones Throw, Mikkeller Bar
Finalists: TBD, Stones Throw, Mikkeller Bar
Winner: Stones Throw

Bartender of the Year
Nominees: The Bon Vivants (Trick Dog), Tim Zohn (TBD), Zachary Brian Taylor (Ziryab), Russell Davis & Yael Vengroff (Bergerac), Christina Cabrera (Novela)
Finalists: The Bon Vivants (Trick Dog), Tim Zohn (TBD), Russell Davis & Yael Vengroff (Bergerac)
Winner: The Bon Vivants (Trick Dog)

Stone Cold Stunner
Nominees: The Cavalier, Roka Akor, La Urbana, Hakkasan, Barrel House Tavern
Finalists: Roka Akor, La Urbana, Barrel House Tavern
Winner: Roka Akor

Empire-Builder of the Year
Winner: Dennis Leary & Eric Passetti (Cafe Terminus, Trocadero Club)

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