WASHINGTON — The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington holds its annual RAMMY Awards, the Oscars of local restaurants, on July 30 this year, but ahead of the awards, finalists for each category were unveiled Monday night at The Hamilton.
Here are this year’s finalists:
Favorite Gathering Place of the Year
- Brookland’s Finest Bar & Kitchen
- The Front Porch at Evening Star Cafe
- Lauriol Plaza
- Pearl Dive Oyster Place
- Petworth Citizen & Reading Room
Upscale Brunch of the Year
- Convivial
- Del Campo
- Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier
- The Restaurant at Patowmack Inn
- The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Casual Brunch of the Year
- Cava Mezze — Capitol Hill
- DGS Delicatessen
- Maketto
- Republic
- Sixth Engine
Favorite Fast Bites of the Year
- Beefsteak
- Cava Grill
- Chase the Submarine
- G by Mike Isabella
- Taco Bamba Taqueria
Cocktail Program of the Year
- barmini by Jose Andres
- Indique
- Iron Gate
- Kapnos by Mike Isabella
- Royal
Beer Program of the Year
- B Side
- District Commons
- Jack Rose Dining Saloon
- Republic
- Roofers Union
Wine Program of the Year
- Bourbon Steak
- Charlie Palmer Steak
- Doi Moi
- Fiola
- minibar by Jose Andres
Employee of the Year
- Noe Alfaro, Republic
- Heather Berry, Bar Pilar
- Joseph Cassis, PassionFish Bethesda
- David Perry, RIS
- David Trezevant, Carmine’s Family Style Italian Restaurant
Manager of the Year
- Julio Amador, Cork Wine Bar
- Christine Gibson, Iron Gate
- John Grace, The Hamilton
- Matthew McQuilkin, Pizzeria Paradiso
- Margaret Perry, Kyirisan
Service Program of the Year
- The Bombay Club
- minibar by Jose Andres
- Ripple
- RIS
- The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Pastry Chef of the Year
- Molly Bird, Kyirsian
- Jemil Gadea, Masseria
- Tiffany MacIsaac, Buttercream Bakeshop
- Brandon Malzahn, Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants
- Erin Reed, Blue Duck Tavern
Rising Culinary Star of the Year
- Sasha Felikson, Doi Moi
- Ryan Ratino, Ripple
- Miranda Rosenfelt, Sally’s Middle Name
- Rob Rubba, Hazel
- Piter & Handry Tjan, Kobo and Sushiko
Casual Restaurant of the Year
- Compass Rose Bar + Kitchen
- Daikaya
- The Daily Dish
- Duke’s Grocery
- Mandu, 18th Street
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year
- Central Michel Richard
- Indique
- Iron Gate
- Proof
- The Red Hen
New Restaurant of the Year
- All Purpose
- Hazel
- Kobo
- Requin
- Whaley’s
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
- Fiola Mare
- minibar by Jose Andres
- The Source by Wolfgang Puck
- Sushi Taro
- Trummers on Main
Chef of the Year
- Amy Brandwein, Centrolina
- Erik Bruner-Yang, Maketto, Paper Horse
- Austin Fausett, Proof
- Katsuya Fukushima, Bantam King, Daikaya And Haikan
- Tarver King, The Restaurant at Patowmack Farms
Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year
- Atlas Brew Works
- DC Brau Brewing Company
- Logan Sausage
- New Columbia Distillers/Green Hat
- Right Proper Brewing Company
Restaurateur of the Year
- Ari Gejdenson, Mindful Restaurants
- Ike Grighoropoulos, Dimitri Moshovitis, Ted Xenochristos and Brett Schulman, Cava Group, Inc.
- The Kuller Family, Fat Baby, Inc.
- Jamie Leeds, JL Restaurant Group
- Daisuke Utagawa, Katsuya Fukushima and Yama Jewayni, Daikaya Group
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year
(determined by RAMW’s Executive Committee and presented to an associate member who best exemplifies commitment to and support of RAMW)
- Acme Paper & Supply Co.
- Coastal Sunbelt Produce
- DC Brau Brewing Company
- USI Insurance Services
- The Veritas Law Firm
Most finalists and winners are chosen by a panel of volunteer judges consisting of food and dining journalists, educators and food service professionals. The public votes on the winners for Favorite Gathering Place, Upscale Brunch, Casual Brunch and Favorite Fast Bites.
Votes for those categories are being cast online with RAMMY partner (and WTOP news partner) NBC Washington.
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