The AIA/LA Restaurant Design Awards were handed out Friday evening at Dwell on Design in what was a somewhat unceremonious ceremony. Presenter and always-colorful designer/restaurateur Barbara Lazaroff provided the most entertainment with her running commentary as the white and gold ceramic plates were given to the winning teams.

Note that nominees and winners were not limited to the L.A. area, so we wonder about Austin, TX's La Condensa's victory in the People's Choice Award for Restaurant category. Either the many Los Angeles venues wound up splitting the voting pool, or the winner did some heavy Kris Allen-style campaigning to get its hometown followers to vote. But one theme was clear; the local champs affirmed Downtown's standing as the area where great design and terrific new restaurants totally rule.

Congrats to all the winners! List after the jump.

Jury Award Winners

Restaurant:

Bottega Louie (Los Angeles, CA)

Designed by view design studio for Keat Bollenbach & Daniel Flores

Chaya Downtown (Los Angeles, CA)

Designed by Poon Design Inc. for Eugene & Associates

Houston's (Denver, CO)

Designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners for Hillstone Restaurant Group

KAA Restaurant (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Designed by Studio Arthur Casas NY for KAA Restaurant

Café/Bar:

Kara's Cupcakes (San Francisco, CA)

Designed by Montalba Architects, Inc. for Michael & Kara Lind

Lounge/Nightclub:

The Conga Room (Los Angeles, CA)

Designed by Belzberg Architects for Apex Realty/Brad Gluckstein

People's Choice Awards

Restaurant:

La Condesa (Austin, TX)

Designed by Michael Hsu Design Office & Joel Mozersky for The Icon Group

Café/Bar:

The Lab Gastropub (Los Angeles, CA)

Designed by AC Martin Partners for USC Hospitality

Lounge/Nightclub:

Yoshi's San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)

Designed by Morimoto Matano Kang Architects for Yoshi's

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