Meet Your Eater Awards 2012 Winners!

It is time now—drumroll, trumpets, etc.—to announce the winners of the 2012 Eater Awards. In over 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 Austin.

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

Eater Awards 2012

Restaurant of the Year
Nominees: Franklin Barbecue, Contigo, Lenoir, East Side King, Barley Swine
Finalists: East Side King, Barley Swine, Contigo
Winner: Contigo

Chef of the Year:
Nominees: Paul Qui, Mat Clouser, Rene Ortiz, Bryce Gilmore, Todd Duplechan
Finalists: Paul Qui, Bryce Gilmore, Mat Clouser
Winner: Bryce Gilmore

So Hot Right Now
Nominees: Salty Sow, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Clark's Oyster Bar, Swift's Attic, Hopfields
Finalists: Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Swift's Attic, Hopfields
Winner: Ramen Tatsu-Ya

Bartender of the Year
Nominees: Pam Pritchard, Denis O'Donnell, Jason Stevens, Tacy Rowland, Steven Robbins
Finalists: Denis O'Donnell, Tacy Rowland, Jason Stevens
Winner: Denis O'Donnell

Stone Cold Stunner
Nominees: La Condesa, Swift's Attic, Lenoir, Mizu, Hillside Farmacy
Finalists: La Condesa, Swift's Attic, Hillside Farmacy
Winner: Swift's Attic

Food Truck Of The Year
Winner: East Side King