Get Ready to Vote! 2023 RAMMY Nominees Announced

It’s time for the 2023 Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) finalist announcements!

Winners of the 2023 RAMMY Awards will be announced on Sunday, July 9, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center at the 41st Annual RAMMYS, but finalists took some accolades this week as nominations were announced.

Foodies and fans will want to make their reservations now to taste as many of these nominees as possible leading up to the big culinary award celebration.

As in past years, there is a public voting component to a few of the awards. For the very first time, both the finalists and winners for the five publicly voted categories are chosen by the public. Voting for the public categories opens Tuesday, April 11, and votes can be submitted on NBC Washington until Wednesday, May 31.

And here they are — the 2023 RAMMY Awards Finalists: (*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

Recipients for the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award, given for dedication and leadership that has transformed Washington’s restaurant scene into today’s vibrant restaurant industry, 2023 Honorary Milestone Award, honoring dining staples celebrating a significant number of years serving locals and visitors in Metropolitan Washington, and John G. Laytham Exceptional Leadership and Impact Award, presented to individuals who have made a sizable and lasting impact locally, nationally, or globally, will all be announced later this spring.

The winners will be announced at The 41st Annual RAMMY Awards Gala on Sunday, July 9, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. 2023 RAMMYS sponsors include Events DC, NBC Washington, Amazon, National Landing Business Improvement District, Club Glow, and many industry supporters. For more information regarding the awards, tickets, how to support the program, and this year’s format, email therammys@ramw.org. Follow RAMW’s industry blog for regular updates and resources for the region’s restaurant and foodservice community.

Good luck to all of the nominees!