Announcing the 2012 Eater Awards for Las Vegas

It is time now—drumroll, trumpets, etc.—to announce the winners of the 2012 Eater Awards. In more than a dozen categories in 19 cities, the winners comprise a diverse group of the finest and most interesting chefs, operators and characters in the country. 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 19 cities nominated candidates for five major local categories: Restaurant of the Year, So Hot Right Now Restaurant, Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, 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 Las Vegas.

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

Eater Awards 2012

Restaurant of the Year
Nominees: Raku, Joel Robuchon, Restaurant Guy Savoy, Sage, Cut
Finalists: Restaurant Guy Savoy, Sage, Cut
Winner: Cut

Chef of the Year:
Nominees: Mitsuo Endo, Devin Hashimoto, Carla Pellegrino, Natalie Young, Christina Olivarez
Finalists: Christina Olivarez, Devin Hashimoto, Natalie Young
Winner: Christina Olivarez

So Hot Right Now
Nominees: Gordon Ramsay Steak, Mizumi, Kabuto, Eat, Bacchanal Buffet
Finalists: Gordon Ramsay Steak, Mizumi, Eat
Winner: Eat

Bartender of the Year
Nominees: J.R. Starkus at RM Seafood, George Sproule at Vesper Bar, Patricia Richards at Wynn Las Vegas, Jessica Fitzmeyer at Culinary Dropout, Ray Srp at Savile Row
Finalists: J.R. Starkus at RM Seafood, George Sproule at Vesper Bar, Patricia Richards at Wynn Las Vegas
Winner: Patricia Richards at Wynn Las Vegas

Stone Cold Stunner
Nominees: Mizumi, Gordon Ramsay Steak, Bacchanal Buffet, Joel Robuchon, Prime
Finalists: Bacchanal Buffet, Mizumi, Gordon Ramsay Steak
Winner: Bacchanal Buffet
· All Coverage of the Eater Awards 2012 [~ELV~]