Hawksmoor won the award in the Under 20 sites category and Cote took home the gong in the Over 20 sites category.
Cote operates 30 restaurants in London and a total of 73 nationwide. The doors opened to its first restaurant in 2006 before the group launched a second site in 2007.
By 2010 Cote operated 20 sites, with co-founder Andy Bassadone comparing the way they refined their French cuisine to how BMW and Mercedes refine their cars.
With changes at the top, 2016 will be a big year for the brand, said Restaurant magazine editor and awards ceremony host, Stefan Chomka.
“Cote’s high value, strong performance and ambitious rollout plans underline what has been another impressive 12 months or so for the French brasserie brand. With Harald Samuelsson stepping down as joint managing director at the end of the year and Alex Scrimgeour set to become chief executive, all eyes will be on it in 2016 too,” he said.
Hawksmoor first opened in Spitalfields in 2006 and now operates seven sites across the country. The group was founded by Huw Gott and Will Beckett - who collected the award.
Chomka congratulated Hawksmoor: “With a new site bedding in nicely in Manchester and its London portfolio also growing each year, this classy British steakhouse can’t seem to put a foot wrong. Well done Hawksmoor.”
Leon took home the award for Best Value Operator Over 20 Sites and Franco Manca was awarded the Best Value Operator Under 20 Sites award, while the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Pizza Express founder, Peter Boizot.
Gallery: R200 Awards 2015 Winners
Other winners
Other winners on the night were:
- Most Effective Restaurant Design – Dishoom - King’s Cross
- Best New Scaleable Concept – The Ivy Market Grill
- Best Restaurant Drinks Offer – Vinoteca
- Pub Company of the Year – New World Trading Company
- Opening of the Year – Dishoom - King’s Cross
- Best Family Restaurant Operator – Bill’s