Hong Kong's culinary elite came together yesterday to celebrate the launch of SCMP's 100 Top Tables 2017 - A CEO's Dining Guide, now in its fifth year. The event, held at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum in Central, was attended by chefs, restaurateurs and hotel executives from Hong Kong and Macau.

Opening the Top Table awards presentation was South China Morning Post Publishers CEO Gary Liu, who congratulated the winners.

"My wife and I are new transplants to Hong Kong, having moved here from our home in New York City at the start of January. This city has already shown us a great deal of its treasures, [such as] the magnificent hikes, soaring penthouse vistas ... and the food … oh, the food.

"We have eaten it all," Liu said.

"I want to thank you, personally, for creating and sustaining such culinary vibrancy in our city. It is such an honour to celebrate this achievement with you today."

Winnie Chung, editorial director, Specialist Publications, Advertising and Marketing Solutions, then talked about the first five years of 100 Top Tables - A CEO's Dining Guide.

"It's hard to believe that it's been five years. It seems like only yesterday that we were huddled in our meeting room to discuss launching a dining guide that would be different from any other in the city," she said. "We had many ideas. But ... we knew there were four important pillars to keep in mind when we were doing the shortlisting: outstanding food, impeccable service, memorable culinary experiences and suitable ambience, ranging from chic casual to traditional fine dining."

Attending this year's book launch and award presentation was Rhoda's executive chef and culinary director Nathan Green. "We are stoked to have been awarded a Top Table award from SCMP. Hong Kong's dining scene is one of the world's best; the Rhoda team and I are proud to be recognised along side many of our awesome peers," Green said after winning the award for the first time.

Gina Tam, hotel manager of The Pottinger Hong Kong, was also happy to receive the award for a third year. "We are very honoured to receive such an accolade for the third time. We will continue to devote our efforts and passion to delivering the most delicious, modern Italian cuisine at Gradini," she said.

Also present was Tam Kwok-fung, executive Chinese chef, Jade Dragon at City of Dreams, Macau; chef Lam Yuk-ming from Studio City's Pearl Dragon; Robin Zavou, executive chef, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong; chef Lau Yiu-fai from Yan Toh Heen; InterContinental Hotel, chef Nicolas Boutin of Épure French fine dining; restaurateur and chef Philippe Orrico of ON Dining Kitchen and Lounge, Bryan Nagao from TOWN; and fine dining Nordic restaurateurs Björn Frantzén and Jim Löfdahl.

The selected restaurants were presented with a framed certificate for their outstanding cuisine, services and venue.

Here is the full list:

Chinese

Above & Beyond

Ah Yat Harbour View Restaurant

Canton Room

China Tang

Chiu Tang

Cuisine Cuisine (Mira)

Deng G

Dong Lai Shun

Dragon Noodles Academy

Duddell’s

Dynasty

Elite Dining

Howard’s Gourmet

Hutong

Lung King Heen

Man Ho Chinese Restaurant

Man Wah

Ming Court

Mott 32

One Harbour Road

Sha Tin 18

Shang Palace

Sing Yin

Spring Moon

Summer Palace

T’ang Court

The Chairman

The Chin’s

Forum Restaurant

The Sky Boss

Tin Lung Heen

Yan Toh Heen

Yè Shanghai

Yee Tung Heen

Western

Arcane

Chez Ed

Fishsteria

Foxglove

Frantzén’s Kitchen

Hugo’s

Mandarin Grill + Bar

On Dining Kitchen & Lounge

Rhoda

The Continental

The Verandah

Town

Café Gray Deluxe

French

Belon

Akrame

Amber

Amuse Bouche

Caprice

Épure French Fine Dining

Gaddi’s

Ivy

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon

one-thirtyone

Restaurant Petrus

Pierre

Seaasons by Olivier E

Skye

Tate Dining Room & Bar

Italian

81/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Angelini

Carbone

Gaia Ristorante

Gradini

Grissini

Nicholini’s

Operetta

Sabatini Ristorante Italiano

Spiga

Tosca

Japanese

Inagiku Grande

Kashiwaya

Nadaman

Nobu

Rozan

RyuGin

Sushi Shikon

Sushi Ta-Ke

Sushi Tokami

Wagyu Kaiseki Den

Steak and Grills

Buenos Aires Polo Club

Alto Bar & Grill

Flint Grill & Bar

Gaucho

Grand Hyatt Steakhouse

Lawry’s The Prime Rib

Morton’s of Chicago

Mr & Mrs Fox

Steak House winebar + grill

East/West

Bo Innovation

AQUA

Ronin

SEVVA

Ta Vie

The Ocean

Tri

Wagyu Takumi

Macau

Shinji by Kanesaka

81/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Don Alfonso 1890

Dynasty 8

Feng Wei Ju

Golden Flower

Guincho a Galera

Jade Dragon

La Chine

Lai Heen

Mizumi (Wynn Palace)

Pearl Dragon

Robuchon au Dôme

The 8

The Manor

The Tasting Room

Vida Rica

Wing Lei

Yamazato

Zi Yat Heen