Wednesday, April 16, 2025
The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington has announced its list of finalists for the 43rd Annual Rammy Awards and Gala to be held Aug. 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Georgetown gets some love for Yellow, Cut by Wolfgang Puck, Stephen Starr as well as Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss of Lutèce and Pascual.
Shawn Townsend, RAMW president and CEO, said on April 14 that the event highlights the “incredible talent, resilience and creativity that define our region’s vibrant hospitality industry.”
New for 2025 is a “Fast Casual” category. “Fast casual restaurants are making their mark in the region’s culinary scene, and this change reflects their elevated stature in the industry,” RAMW said in a press release announcing this year’s finalists.
Except for the five publicly voted categories, the main nominees must be a RAMW member and in business for at least one year by December 31, 2024.
The public may vote in five categories: favorite gathering place, best brunch, hottest sandwich shop, best bar and favorite fast bites. Voting — to be available on the NBC Washington website — begins May 1 and continues through May 31.
Before the big party in August, RAMW will host the Rammy Honors on Tuesday, July 1, at the Schuyler at the Hamilton Hotel to celebrate industry leaders in the following categories:
- Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award
- John G. Laytham Exception Leadership and Impact Award
- Milestone Award
- Joan Hisaoka Allied Member Award
Rammy nominees across 20 categories include:
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year:
- El Cielo DC
- Mita
- Rooster & Owl
- Pineapple and Pearls
- Kappo
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year:
- Ometeo
- King Street Oyster Bar
- Tail Up Goat
- Petite Cerise
- Amparo Fondita
Casual Restaurant of the Year:
- 2Fifty Texas Barbecue
- Stellina Pizzeria
- Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant And Bar
- I Egg You
- The Falls
New Restaurant of the Year:
- Ama
- La’ Shukran
- Kayu
- Pascual
- San Pancho
Wine Program of the Year:
- Era Wine Bar
- Beauty Champagne and Sugar Boutique
- Lulu’s Wine Bar
- Little Black Bird
- Easy Wine Company
Cocktail Program of the Year:
- Amazonia
- Jane Jane
- Medina
- Moon Rabbit
- Quadrant
Beer Program of the Year:
- Atlas Brew Works
- Pizzeria Paradiso
- Red Bear Brewing Co.
- Tall Boy
- Astro Beer Hall
Service Program of the Year:
- Anju
- Mita
- Xiquet by Danny Lledó
- El Cielo
- Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Chef of the Year:
- Carlos Delgado, Causa / Amazonia
- Matt Adler, Caruso’s Grocery
- Matt Conroy & Isabel Coss, Lutece and Pascual
- Rubén García Castilla, Casa Teresa
- Mike Friedman, Red Hen
Rising Culinary Star of the Year:
- Suresh Sundas, Daru
- Paolo Dungca, Hiraya
- Sara Ravitz, Shilling Canning Co.
- Fernando Gonzales, 2Fifty Texas BBQ
- Miguel Guerra and Tatiana Mora, Mita
Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year:
- Alicia Wang, Yellow/Albi
- Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit
- Rachel Sherriffe, formally at Ellie Bird
- Carmelo Gil, Petite Cerise
- Rose Nguyen, Rose Ave Bakery
Restaurant Manager of the Year:
- Lorena Reyes – Founding Farmers
- Antonio Chavarria , Metropolitan Hospitality Group
- Allison Williams – Pascual
- Tony Strowd Hamilton – Pizzeria Paradiso
- Luke Lin – Cut by Wolfgang Puck
Restaurant Employee of the Year:
- Keiri Tobar Morales – RPM Italian
- Luis Jara – All Set Restaurant and Bar
- Juan Sanchez – Café du Parc and Willard’s Peacock Alley
- Daniel Fuentes – Madhatter
- Kristen Wilson – Causa/Amazonia
Restaurateur of the Year:
- Seng Luangrath, Baan Mae
- Cici Yang, Yume Sushi, Kyojin Sushi, and Rimtang
- Daniel Kramer, Duke’s Grocery
- Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurant Group
- Tea Ivonovic, Immigrant Food
Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year*:
- Emma’s Torch
- Yellow
- La Tejana
- Love on the Run at Love Makoto
- Andy’s Pizza
Favorite Gathering Place of the Year*:
- Chloe
- Vagabond Bar and Kitchen
- The Dew Drop Inn
- A Baked Joint
- Balos
Best Brunch of the Year*:
- Sequoia
- Vera Cocina & Bar
- Josephine
- J. Hollingers Waterman’s Chophouse
- Le Diplomate
Best Bar of the Year*:
- The Green Zone
- Metro Bar
- Service Bar
- Tune Inn Restaurant and Bar
- Royal Sands Social Club
Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year* :
- Your Only Friend
- Queen Mother’s
- Soko Butcher
- Jetties
- Ampersandwich at Shilling Canning Co.
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year:
- Congressional Seafood Co.
- Harmony Group
- Keany Produce & Gourmet
- The Legacy Group, Inc.
- Preferred Insurance
[* The above five entries are the publicly voted categories.]
RAMW will host the Rammy honors on Tuesday, July 1, at the Schuyler at the Hamilton Hotel to celebrate industry leaders in the following categories:
- Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award
- John G. Laytham Exception Leadership and Impact Award
- Milestone Award
- Joan Hisaoka Allied Member Award