2023 Rammy Award Finalists Announced
By • April 13, 2023 0 1354
In a festive ceremony at the Hamilton Hotel downtown – described by DCist as the sort “where chefs, bartenders, journalists, and PR types circle the room to network… and enjoy complimentary food and drinks” – the 41st annual Rammy Award finalists were announced for 2023 by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).
“The RAMMY Awards Gala honors the exceptional ability and accomplishments of the hard-working individuals and organizations of the region’s restaurants and foodservice community,” according to RAMW. “Named the #1 Food & Restaurant event by BIZBASH Magazine since 2009, the RAMMYs celebrate one of metropolitan Washington’s greatest assets: its restaurants.”
“Industry professionals and allies gathered… to honor excellence in long-standing categories that range from individual professional honors to accolades celebrating culinary concepts and service,” RAMW said in an April 10 press release.
Winners will be announced at the 41st Annual RAMMY Awards Gala on Sunday, July 9, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
A panel of anonymous judges selected by the local restaurant industry chose the finalists and will again select the winners in most of the 20 categories, however, RAMW announced a few changes to the award categories this year, including the addition of Best Bar, and Pastry Chef and Baker of the Year to include outstanding local bakers not recognized before.
The public also votes in five of the 20 categories: Favorite Gathering Place, Best Brunch, Best Bar, Favorite Fast Bites, and Hottest Sandwich Spot. New this year, both the finalists and winners are voted by the public in these categories. Votes can be submitted to NBC Washington until May 31.
The Year’s Rammy Finalists
The 2023 RAMMY Awards Finalists are (*denotes publicly voted category*):
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: The award is presented to an associate member who best exemplifies commitment to and support of RAMW. This award recipient is determined by the Executive Committee of RAMW.
- Ecolab
- Harmony Group
- Keany Produce and Gourmet
- MarginEdge
- Saval Foodservice
New Restaurant of the Year: A restaurant that must have opened between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022 and already distinguishes itself as a pacesetter in food, beverage and hospitality. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW.
- Bar Ivy
- Causa/Amazonia
- Nama Ko
- Opal
- Rania
Cocktail Program of the Year: The establishment is distinguished by the quality, diversity, clarity and value of its craft cocktail program, evaluated separately from its beer, wine or other beverages. Nominees may be bars, restaurants, or any foodservice establishment with an exemplary cocktail program. The nominee continues to break new ground in the education of its staff. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW and must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2022.
- Jane Jane
- Salt
- Service Bar
- Silver Lyan
- The Green Zone
Beer Program of the Year: The establishment is distinguished by the quality, diversity, clarity and value of its beer program. Brewery restaurants and brewpubs are eligible for this category and will be judged based on the diversity and quality of their craft beer. The nominee continues to break new ground in the education of its staff. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW and must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2022.
- Boundary Stone
- Lost and Found
- The Midlands Beer Garden
- Shelter
- Solace
Wine Program of the Year: The establishment is distinguished by the quality, diversity, clarity and value of its wine program. The nominee’s wine program best suits the cuisine and style of the restaurant while enhancing the dining experience. Wine bars are eligible for this category and will be judged based on the diversity and quality of their offerings. The nominee continues to break new ground in the education of its staff. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW and must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2022.
- Era Wine Bar
- Lulu’s Wine Garden
- Primrose
- Reveler’s Hour
- St. Anselm
Rising Culinary Star of the Year: The nominee is an “up and coming” chef who demonstrates exemplary talent, shows leadership and promise for the future. The nominee must have been based in the Metropolitan Washington area for a minimum of two years. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW, or be employed by a member business.
- 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*: This nominee is a restaurant rooted in its neighborhood where guests come to eat, drink, and get together with friends over and over again. The great atmosphere – indoors or outdoors – and good vibes are as important as the food and drink. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2022.
- 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*: The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of dining excellence and service for its brunch in a formal, upscale, or casual environment. Brunch may be offered as full-service, buffet, or prix fixe. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2022.
- Circa
- Founding Farmers
- Maiz64
- Seasons at Four Seasons
- Urban Roast
*Best Bar*: The nominee is an establishment whose primary focus is beverages in a casual or upscale environment, with or without food. Patrons are there for the drinks, the atmosphere, decor, and the hospitality. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2022.
- Exiles
- Ivy and Coney
- McClellan’s Retreat
- Metrobar
- Tap99
*Favorite Fast Bites*: This nominee is a delicatessen, quick-serve restaurant, bakery, mobile food vendor, or coffee shop (with food menu) that demonstrates a dedication to good food and good service in a fast-casual environment. The nominee must have been in operation for a minimum of one year as of December 31, 2022.
- Chef Skip 202
- RASA
- Roaming Rooster
- Spice Kitchen West African Grill
- Stellina Pizzeria
*Hottest Sandwich Spot*: This nominee is a casual restaurant, quick-serve, or mobile food vendor with a menu dedicated to creative and delicious sandwiches that demonstrate excellence and skill. The nominee must have operated a minimum of six months between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022.
- Compliments Only
- Fight Club
- FishScale
- Grazie Grazie
- Soko Butcher
Employee of the Year: The nominee is a non-managerial front or back of the house employee who serves as a model employee by displaying outstanding service, an excellent work ethic and a positive image. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW, or be employed by a member business.
- 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: The nominee is a non-owner manager or general manager in the food service industry who displays the highest level of professionalism and leadership. This person must be an inspiration and mentor to all his/her co-workers displaying outstanding service, an excellent work ethic and a positive image. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW, or be employed by a member business.
- Brittany Dye, Circa Foggy Bottom
- Christine Kim, Service Bar
- Snjezana Jaksic, Ambar Clarendon
- Javier Perez, Jaleo
- Cesare Sanchez, Maiz64
Service Program of the Year: This nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of excellence in service across the restaurant – from the reservation process, to the host station, to every element of the dining experience. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW and must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2022.
- Chef Geoff’s
- Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
- Lutèce
- Reveler’s Hour
- Unconventional Diner
Casual Restaurant of the Year: The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a dedication to dining excellence, service, and value in a casual environment. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW and must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2022.
- Bammy’s
- Destino
- Maketto
- Pennyroyal Station
- Tonari
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of dining excellence and service in an upscale casual environment. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW and must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2022.
- Anju
- Dauphine’s
- L’Ardente
- Moon Rabbit
- Rooster and Owl
Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year: The nominee is a restaurant pastry chef or baker who prepares desserts, baked goods, or breads and demonstrates a high standard of excellence and culinary artistry. The nominee serves as an inspiration to other food professionals. The nominee must have been a pastry chef or baker for the past three years with a minimum of one year based in the Metropolitan Washington area. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW, or be employed by a member business.
- 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: The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of excellence in food, service and atmosphere and shows dedication to sophisticated culinary techniques in a fine dining environment. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW and must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2022.
- Blue Rock
- Jônt
- Oyster Oyster
- The Dabney
- Xiquet by Danny Lledó
Chef of the Year: The nominee is an executive chef or chef de cuisine who demonstrates consistent standards of culinary excellence. The nominee displays a dedication to the artistry of food and may be from any type of establishment. The nominee must have been a chef for the past five years with a minimum of two years based in the Metropolitan Washington area. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW, or be employed by a member business.
- 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: The nominee must be a working restaurateur or restaurant group who sets high standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for a minimum of 5 years in the Metropolitan Washington area. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW.
- 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
Headquartered at 2112 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 450, RAMW was founded in 1920 as the Washington Restaurant Association. In addition to the Rammy Awards, RAMW currently sponsors: Metropolitan Restaurant Week, DC Cocktail Week, Spring Wine Fling, and Educated Eats. RAMW’s membership includes restaurants operating in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland. RAMW’s Allied Members are vendors, service providers, non-profits and regional business organizations that work with and support the D.C. Area’s restaurant industry.
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