The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced the finalists for the 2023 RAMMY Awards on Monday, April 10.
It’s the 41st year of the annual D.C. restaurant and bar awards, which recognizes and honors the “excellence” in the chefs, employees, restaurants, and bars for their great services across the District.
Just as in previous years, there are public categories where Washingtonians can vote for the finalists on NBC Washington from Tuesday, April 11 until Wednesday, May 31.
The winners of each category will be announced at a ceremony at D.C.’s Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Sunday, July 9.
See the full list of categories and finalists below, and vote for your favorites in the public categories at NBC Washington.
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year:
- Ecolab
- Harmony Group
- Keany Produce and Gourmet
- MarginEdge
- Saval Foodservice
New Restaurant of the Year:
- Bar Ivy
- Causa/Amazonia
- Nama Ko
- Opal
- Rania
Cocktail Program of the Year:
- Jane Jane
- Salt
- Service Bar
- Silver Lyan
- The Green Zone
Beer Program of the Year:
- Boundary Stone
- Lost and Found
- The Midlands Beer Garden
- Shelter
- Solace
Wine Program of the Year:
- Era Wine Bar
- Lulu’s Wine Garden
- Primrose
- Reveler’s Hour
- St. Anselm
Rising Culinary Star of the Year:
- Marcelle Afram, Shababi Palestinian Rotisserie Chicken
- Masako Morishita, Perry’s
- Kat Petonito, The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, The Wells
- Jessica and Alfredo Solis, Anafre, Mariscos 1133, Mezcalero
- Elias Taddesse, Mélange, Doro Soul Food
Favorite Gathering Place:
- Chef Geoff’s
- Crazy Aunt Helen’s
- Moby Dick House of Kabob
- Ruthie’s All Day
- Tiki on 18th/The Game Sports Pub
Best Brunch:
- Circa
- Founding Farmers
- Maiz64
- Seasons at Four Seasons
- Urban Roast
Best Bar:
- Exiles
- Ivy and Coney
- McClellan’s Retreat
- Metrobar
- Tap99
Favorite Fast Bites:
- Chef Skip 202
- RASA
- Roaming Rooster
- Spice Kitchen West African Grill
- Stellina Pizzeria
Hottest Sandwich Spot:
- Compliments Only
- Fight Club
- FishScale
- Grazie Grazie
- Soko Butcher
Employee of the Year:
- Kodjo “Olivier” Etenda, The Popal Group
- Crescencio Martinez, All Purpose Shaw
- Nabil Moussa, Le Diplomate
- Guillermo Mendoza, The Red Hen
- Veronica Rodriguez, Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood
Manager of the Year:
- Brittany Dye, Circa Foggy Bottom
- Christine Kim, Service Bar
- Snjezana Jaksic, Ambar Clarendon
- Javier Perez, Jaleo
- Cesare Sanchez, Maiz64
Service Program of the Year:
- Chef Geoff’s
- Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
- Lutèce
- Reveler’s Hour
- Unconventional Diner
Casual Restaurant of the Year:
- Bammy’s
- Destino
- Maketto
- Pennyroyal Station
- Tonari
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year:
- Anju
- Dauphine’s
- L’Ardente
- Moon Rabbit
- Rooster and Owl
Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year:
- Rochelle Cooper, The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, The Wells
- Sam Cooper, Bread Alley, Le Diplomate, St. Anselm
- Bridie McCulla, Liberty Restaurant Group
- Mary Mendoza, Bantam King, Hole in the Wall, Tonari
- Teresa Velazquez, Baked and Wired, A Baked Joint
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year:
- Blue Rock
- Jônt
- Oyster Oyster
- The Dabney
- Xiquet by Danny Lledó
Chef of the Year:
- Matt Adler, Caruso’s Grocery
- Matt Conroy, Lutèce
- Ryan Ratino, Bresca, Jônt
- Jon Sybert, Tail Up Goat, Reveler’s Hour
- Kevin Tien, Moon Rabbit
Restaurateur of the Year:
- Kyle Bailey, Jon Ball, Jeremy Carman, Gavin Coleman, and Paul Holder, Long Shot Hospitality
- Greg Casten and Tony Cibel, Fish and Fire Food Group
- Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira, Timber Pizza, Call Your Mother, Turu’s, Mercy Me
- Zubair, Omar, Fatima, and Shamim Popal, The Popal Group
- Rose Previte, Compass Rose, Maydan, Kirby Club
This article has been updated to reflect the correct name of Era Wine Bar.