Award Winners
Cheers 2012 Benchmark
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dynamic, new face of single-location and small-chain bars and restaurants. To be eligible for entry into the Benchmark Awards program, bars and restaurants must have less than fi ve locations of a specifi c concept in the U.S. Cure in New Orleans has taken classic and innovative
his year's group of fantastic operators has an amazing lineup of cutting-edge drinks programs. Th ey come from diverse regions of the country and represent the
drinking to a new level. Th e cavernous indoor and outdoor space is both huge and welcoming. Th e cocktails are traditional and inventive. Th is great addition to the New Orleans' drink scene is well-deserving of the Benchmark award. Alewife in Queens, New York has an amazing beer list. New
York City is a solid beer town, so it is not always easy to make an impressive showing. However, Alewife has an extensive selection of carefully chosen beers ready to satisfy even hard- core beer afi cionados. Max's Wine Dive is a low-key restaurant with a handful of
locations in Texas. It serves comfort food executed in an elegant style and satisfying style. It also has an amazing selection of wines, by both the glass and bottle, from around the world. All three are well-deserving of this year's Benchmark
Awards. 32 | JUNE 2012 www.cheersonline.com