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D.C.’s resident dining association announced the winners for its 40th annual Rammy Awards on Sunday, July 24, providing a snapshot of the state of the restaurant industry in D.C.
Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced the awardees during a lively black-tie soiree at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with some 2,500 guests in attendance. Coming off a ravaging, years-long health crisis that turned the hospitality industry on its head, these 40th annual awards were especially significant and reason to celebrate the resiliency of the D.C. restaurant world.
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Nominees must be members of RAMW, and several categories have requirements regarding the length of time a restaurant has been operational; previous winners aren’t eligible to claim the same category for five years after a win. A panel of judges appointed by the RAMW president ultimately decides who wins a Washington Monument-shaped glass trophy.
Public voting decided seven categories* that speak to ongoing pandemic-era aspects of the industry: Favorite Gathering Place of the Year, Best Brunch of the Year, Hottest Sandwich Spot, Outstanding Pop-Up Concept, Splendid Holidays at Home, Standout Family Meal Packages To-Go, and Favorite Fast Bites of the Year. More information on the awards process can be found here.
And now, this year’s winners (in bold) are:
New Restaurant of the Year:
- Caruso’s Grocery
- Daru
- Dauphine’s
- L’Ardente
- Oyster Oyster
Chef of the Year:
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- Matt Adler, Caruso’s Grocery
- Cedric Maupillier, Convivial
- Shamim Popal, Lapis
- Michael Rafidi, Albi
- Rob Rubba, Oyster Oyster
Cocktail Program of the Year:
- Bresca
- Serenata
- Service Bar
- Silver Lyan
- The Imperial
Beer Program of the Year:
- Boundary Stone
- Caboose Tavern
- Quarry House Tavern
- Shelter
- Sweetwater Tavern
Wine Program of the Year:
- Albi
- Northside Social
- Queen’s English
- Reveler’s Hour
- Slate Wine Bar
Rising Culinary Star of the Year:
- Will Fung, China Chilcano
- Christian Irabien, Muchas Gracias
- Kat Petonito, The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, The Wells
- Suresh Sundas, Daru
- Elias Taddesse, Mélange
Favorite Gathering Place of the Year*:
- Casta’s Rum Bar
- Comet Ping Pong
- Pennyroyal Station
- St. Vincent Wine
- The Pug
Best Brunch of the Year*:
- A&J Restaurant
- ala
- Blend 111
- Maialino Mare
- Nina May
Favorite Fast Bites*:
- Happy Gyro
- Little Miner Taco
- Little Sesame
- Pogiboy
- Sunday Morning Bakehouse
Hottest Sandwich Spot*:
- Cracked Eggery
- Mangialardo’s
- Queen Mother’s
- The Girl & The Vine
- Your Only Friend
Outstanding Pop-Up Concept*:
- A Presto! Italian Foods
- Bun Papa
- Della Barba Pizza
- JUNE
- Tacos A La Madre
Splendid Holidays at Home*:
- Bayou Bakery
- Convivial
- Kinship
- Stellina
- Unconventional Diner
Standout Family Meal Packages To Go*:
- 2Fifty Texas BBQ
- Mintwood Place
- Muchas Gracias
- Neighborhood Provisions
- Thompson Italian
Employee of the Year:
- Raphael Beltran, Et Voila
- Amanda Bell, All Purpose - Shaw
- Nicole Burdett, Taco Bamba - Springfield
- Oscar Iglesias, Moon Rabbit
- Herman Machado, The Salt Line - Navy Yard
Manager of the Year:
- Gian Mario Cabiddu, Alta Strada, DC
- Sylvain Frances, Et Voila Restaurant
- Rob Heim, Shaw’s Tavern
- Atul Narain, Rasika and Rasika West End
- Laure Tartar, Bresca
Service Program of the Year:
- Chloe
- Iron Gate
- Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
- Rose’s Luxury
- Tail Up Goat
Casual Restaurant of the Year:
- Baan Siam
- La Famosa
- Makan
- Ruthie’s All Day
- The Roost
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year:
- Albi
- Anju
- Nama
- Rooster and Owl
- Shilling Canning Company
Pastry Chef of the Year:
- Rochelle Cooper, The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, The Wells
- Tammy Saunders, Minibar
- Katherine Thompson, Thompson Italian
- Alicia Wang, No Goodbyes
- Francois Yann Buisine, Un Je Ne Sai Quoi
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year:
- Cranes
- Jônt
- Rasika West End
- 1789 Restaurant
- Xiquet by Danny Lledó
Restaurateur of the Year:
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- Michael Babin, Neighborhood Restaurant Group
- Ashok Bajaj, Knightsbridge Restaurant Group
- Mark Bucher, Medium Rare
- Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira, Call Your Mother, Timber Pizza, Turu’s Pizza, Mercy Me
- Scott Drewno, Danny Lee, The Fried Rice Collective
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year:
- Congressional Seafood Co.
- CPA Eats
- Ecolab
- MarginEdge
- Saval Foodservice
The 2022 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Award recipients were also honored, celebrating a significant number of years in service: 1789 and The Tombs (60 years); Anthony’s Restaurant (50 years); Bombay Bistro (30 years); Duangrat’s (35 years); El Tamarindo (40 years), Franklins (30 years), La Côte d’Or Café (30 years), Mike’s American (35 years), and Tabard Inn (100 years).