Local restaurants get ‘Wine Spectator’ award of excellence

Eight Capital City restaurants will be featured in the upcoming issue of Wine Spectator as part of the magazine’s annual restaurant guide. The restaurants—18 Steak, Beausoleil Restaurant & Bar, Fleming’s, French Market Bistro, Galatoire’s Bistro, Mansurs on the Boulevard, Ruffino’s and Sullivan’s Streakhouse—won the magazine’s one-glass “award of excellence.” The award is given to restaurants that offer a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Juban’s Restaurant is Baton Rouge’s lone two-glass “best of award of excellence” winner. The second-tier award gives special recognition to restaurants with lists that also display vintage depth or excellent breadth across several wine-producing regions.

This is Beausoleil co-owner Jeff Conaway’s third time to get the recognition. His work at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C., and at Galatoire’s Bistro’s former location in Baton Rouge previously garnered acclaim from Wine Spectator.

Conaway says restaurants send their wine list and menu to Wine Spectator for judging. Each level has different criteria for consideration. For the one-glass award, the restaurants must have at least 100 selections. The second-glass award winners typically offer 400 or more selections. The three-glass “grand award” winners offer 1,500 or more selections.

“For Beausoleil, I was going for that one-glass recognition,” Conaway says. “It’s nice knowing somebody is recognizing your work. When my wife and I go looking for restaurants while traveling, we use this guide as a reference point. It doesn’t hurt that they’re looking at what you’re doing on the food side, too. You have professionals saying, ‘This is a good wine list that pairs well with the menu.'”

For more information on the restaurant guide, click here.