Recipients are recognized for exceptional contributions to the culinary scene as we continue our return to in-person dining. Awards were given for Best Café, Best Restaurant, and Best Al Fresco Café or Restaurant. In addition to the juried awards, two projects – Best Restaurant and Best Café – were voted "People's Choice Winners." Online voters selected their favorites from among 8 finalists chosen by the 2022 AIA|LA Restaurant Design Awards jury. These spaces deliver atmospheres that tantalize while simultaneously adhering to demanding functional needs.
Of the awards given, Design Opera had the privilege of receiving the following . . .
" With this reductive approach of a handful of thoughtful ideas, the results deliver drama, charm, and sensuality, " said the jury. " Surfaces are sculpted, treated with the human touch, glazed with the human soul. Blacks, grays, and whites appear vibrant and rich in tone. Whether a seashell, enigma, water ripples, or land topography, the feature wall creates an Alice-in-Wonderland invitation to the unknown. Using traditional materials in a contemporary manner honors the legacies of a culture while looking to the future. " - Anthony Poon
" As an organization that represents the architecture and design professions, we want to recognize outstanding achievements in a category that demands a unique blend of form and function. Ultimately, restaurants are among our most important gathering places. Our collective experience of these past couple of years underscores even more significantly their value and purpose in our everyday lives and in our communities. "