Per Person Check Average of More Than $75

First Place: Ten 3, Albuquerque, N.M.

Specifying Team

• Operator: Sandra Abruzzo, owner; Steve Brockman, executive chef; Eddie Koch, director of restaurant operations
• Dealer: Amy Witt, DSR, The Wasserstrom Company
• Manufacturers’ Reps: MaryAnn Pijar, territory sales manager, LIbbey; Becki Pretzer, president/owner, Prima Marketing Group

Items

• China: Steelite, Syracuse, Villeroy & Boch, World Tableware
• Flatware: World Tableware
• Glassware: Libbey, Orion Trading, World Tableware
• Accessories: American Metalcraft, Libbey, Lodge, Tablecraft

Why it Won

They transformed the entire space, and the tabletop puts the finishing touches on a compelling design. The tabletop installation does a good job of complementing the height of the room and its linear design. The use of green ties in the New Mexico environment. All in all, this feels luxurious as should be the case with a restaurant at this price point.
Photos courtesy of Evan Berger, E. Berger Studios

First Place: Heirloom Kitchen, Old Bridge, N.J.

Specifying Team

• Operator: Neilly Robinson, general manager
  Items

Items

• China: RAK, Revol
• Flatware: Fortessa, Opinel
• Glassware: Korin, Chef & Sommelier, Menu
• Accessories: Ikea, Fog Linen, iittala, Mud Australia, Brooklyn Slate

Why it Won

This tabletop is so creative. The wood highlights the black so well. And they weaved the restaurant’s theme throughout the entire space. The extra steps and thoughtfulness of this installation really establishes it. Everything here makes so much sense and works so well together.

Honorable Mention: DipDipDip Tatsu-ya, Austin, Texas

Specifying Team

• Operator: Tatsu Aikawa, chef/owner
• Dealer: Danielle Postiglione, sales representative, Edward Don & Company
• Manufacturers’ Rep: Jacquelyn Mangione, associate, Preferred Source Marketing Group

Items

• China: Steelite
• Glassware: Steelite
• Flatware: IMCO
• Accessories: FOH

Worth Mentioning

Creative use of the various tabletop design elements connects this installation with the restaurant’s old-world theme. For example, the wood sake boxes and a creative presentation of the meats honor the traditions of the Japanese shabu-shabu experience.