JLT Restaurant Awards 2019: All 21 categories revealed!

Revealed: The 21 categories for the 2019 JLT Restaurant Awards

Are you ready for the 2019 JLT Restaurant Awards? JLT restaurateurs will be able to nominate their restaurants, bars, and cafes from 1st August 2019 and online voting will start on 1st October 2019 and run until 31st October.

The #JLTdiningAwards2019 will feature 21 categories. This year, we’ve got three judges-awarded categories and 18 publicly voted categories:

Judges-Awarded Categories 2019

Best Overall

For this category, judges will take into account the online votes, but also look at he overall popularity of the shortlisted restaurants among Dubai’s foodies, the restaurants’ online ratings, and the quality of the food and service.

Best Newcomer
(Sponsored by Repeat)

This category is open to all restaurants, bars, or cafes in JLT, which opened in the last 12 months. Judges will look at the popularity, online ratings, marketing activities, and the quality of the food and service of all the recently opened outlets.

Best Sustainability Initiative
(Sponsored by Liquid of Life)

For this category, judges will look at initiatives that focus on protecting and preserving the environment and can address pressing issues like: reduction of food waste; sustainable use of resources; green procurement and responsible sourcing; recycling; and protection of the local environment.

Just like last year’s awards, the 2019 awards will feature a JLT residents’ nominated category, “ JLT Hidden Gem”. JLT residents, office dwellers, and visitors will be able to nominate their favourite neighbourhood hidden gem online during August 2019 and the top 5 choices will feature in the #JLThiddenGem category in the online voting in October. The other online-voted categories are:

Online-Voted Categories 2019

Best Brunch

(Sponsored by Let's DXB / Mr & Mrs Brunch)

Open to all JLT-based restaurants, bars, and cafes, which feature a brunch on their regular menus.

Best Service
(Sponsored by Monviso)

Open to all JLT-based restaurants, bars, and cafes, whether licensed or unlicensed, provided they offer dine-in.

Best Bar

Open to all licensed bars in our neighbourhood and to licensed restaurants with a separate bar area.

JLT Hidden Gem
(Sponsored by Charles Russell Speechlys LLP)

The top five outlets as nominated by JLT residents, office dwellers, and visitors during August’s #JLThiddenGem nominations.

Best European (Licensed)

Open to all licensed restaurants in JLT specialising in food from European countries.

Best Café

(Sponsored by iiko)

Open to all cafes and coffeshops in JLT, whether licensed or unlicensed.

Best Chinese

Open to all Chinese restaurants in our neighbourhood.

Best European (Unlicensed)

Open to all unlicensed restaurants in JLT specialising in food from European countries.

Best Healthy
(Sponsored by Fruitful Day)

The category for all JLT restaurants specialising in healthy food, vegetarian/vegan dishes, or salads.

Best Middle Eastern

Open to all JLT restaurants, whether licensed or unlicensed, specialising in Middle Eastern cuisine.

Best Indian

The place for all JLT Indian restaurants and cafes. If India food’s on the menu, #BestIndian is the hashtag.

Best Pizza

Open to all pizzerias and pizza parlours in JLT, regardless of whether they produce American-style or Italian-style pizzas

Best Burger

We’re not talking plasticky fast food here, but handcrafted burger goodness. If it looks like a cool burger, it could be the #BestBurger.

Best Shisha

Open to all restaurants and cafes in our neighbourhood serving shisha. If it’s smoking, the hashtag is #BestShisha .

Best South Asian

Open for restaurants serving food from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Best South-East Asian

Open for restaurants serving food from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, or Singapore.

Best Streetfood

Open for pop-up concepts, streetfood-inspired restaurants, food trucks, and delivery joints in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.

Best Sweet Tooth

The category for cafes, bakeries, ice cream parlours, and all other outlets selling sweets and desserts

Check out last year’s categories and winners here and mark your diaries for the 2019 JLT Restaurant Awards ceremony on Monday, 25th November 2019.

Get Involved!

The JLT Restaurant Awards are a brilliant opportunity to showcase your brand or get more visibility for your business. We have a variety of partnership and sponsorship options and packages available, which will suit companies and organizations of all industries and sizes, and which include:

Headline Sponsor
Platinum, Gold, and Silver Sponsors
Category Sponsors
Official Media Partner
Official Social Media Partner
Water Sponsor
Coffee Sponsor
Official Hospitality Partner
Customized Sponsorship Packages

Interest in getting involved? Contact us today!