RAMMYS 2026: Finalists Announced Across 20 Categories

The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington has revealed the finalists for the 44th Annual RAMMYS Awards & Gala, narrowing a competitive field into a snapshot of the region’s most compelling culinary talent and setting the stage for one of Washington’s biggest hospitality events of the year.

Announced before a packed crowd at The Hamilton Live, this year’s finalists span 20 categories, highlighting the depth, diversity, and dynamism of dining across the Washington metropolitan area. The reveal follows the program’s first-ever public semifinalist round, adding new visibility to the awards season.

Presented annually by RAMW, The RAMMYS Awards & Gala recognize excellence across the industry, from fine dining and neighborhood favorites to beverage programs and emerging culinary talent. According to RAMW President and CEO Shawn Townsend, this year’s finalists reflect a region continuing to raise its own bar. “These Finalists aren’t just doing exceptional work,” Townsend said, “they’re elevating the standard and creating the kind of special moments that keep people coming back.”

Among the most closely watched categories, Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year includes standouts like Albi and Rooster & Owl, while Upscale Casual contenders range from Moon Rabbit to Osteria Mozza. Casual and fast-casual categories spotlight local favorites such as Purple Patch, Call Your Mother, and Andy’s Pizza.

Individual awards further reflect the people powering the region’s restaurants, with Chef of the Year nominees including Jeremiah Langhorne and Rising Culinary Star contenders like Paolo Dungca.

Here is the complete list of 2026 RAMMYS Awards Finalists (*denotes publicly voted categories):

Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: 

• Albi
• Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi
• Elyse
• Rania
• Rooster & Owl

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: 

• Joon
• Moon Rabbit
• Osteria Mozza
• Pascual
• Perry’s

Casual Restaurant of the Year: 

• Ellē
• La Bonne Vache
• Purple Patch
• Taqueria Xochi
• Tsehay Ethiopian

Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year: 

• Andy’s Pizza
• Call Your Mother
• Queen Mother’s Kitchen
• San Pancho
• Yellow

New Restaurant of the Year: 

• Elmina
• ISLA
• Marcus DC
• The Occidental
• Tapori

Wine Program of the Year: 

• Bourbon Steak DC
• Fiola
• Lulu’s Winegarden
• Lutèce
• Maydān

Cocktail Program of the Year: 

• Amazonia
• Cucina MORINI
• Rania
• Residents Café & Bar
• Your Only Friend

Beer Program of the Year: 

• Franklin Hall
• Pizzeria Paradiso
• Red Bear Brewing Co.
• Solace Outpost
• Wunder Garten

Service Program of the Year: 

• Causa
• Imperfecto
• Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
• MITA
• Old Ebbitt Grill

Chef of the Year: 

• Matt Adler, Cucina MORINI and Caruso’s Grocery
• Amy Brandwein, Centrolina and Piccolina da Centrolina 
• Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss, The Popal Group
• Rubén García, Casa Teresa
• Jeremiah Langhorne, The Dabney

Rising Culinary Star of the Year: 

• Paolo Dungca, Kayu 
• Guy-René Gerin, L’Ardente
• Anthony Jones, Marcus DC 
• Alam Méndez, Apapacho Taqueria
• Martel Stone, Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi

Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year: 

• Susan Bae, Moon Rabbit 
• Gianpier Flores, The Occidental 
• Bridie McCulla, Northside Social
• Rosie Nguyen, Rose Ave Bakery
• Rachel Sherriffe, Marcus DC 

Manager of the Year: 

• Trisha Custodio, Sfoglina Van Ness, Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants
• Todd Hunt, Oak Steakhouse Alexandria
• Lauren Montana, Pizzeria Paradiso
• Debby Portillo, 2Fifty Texas BBQ
• Juan Ramirez, Bastille Brasserie & Bar

Employee of the Year: 

• Ingrid Arteaga, Open Road
• Estela Catarino, Ama
• José Martínez, MITA
• Raul Pineda, Perry’s
• Jose Luis Salgado, Zinnia

Restaurateur of the Year: 

• David Deshaies and Eric Eden, Garden Hospitality 
• Fernando González, 2fifty Texas BBQ
• Enrique Limardo and Ezequiel Vázquez-Ger, Seven Reasons Group
• Michael Rafidi, Albi, Yellow, La’ Shukran
• Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurant Group

Favorite Gathering Place of the Year*: 

• Cafe Milano 
• Jane Jane 
• Le Diplomate
• Old Ebbitt Grill
• SOST 

Best Brunch of the Year*: 

• dLeña
• I Egg You 
• Matt & Tony’s
• Ruthie’s All Day
• Unconventional Diner

Best Bar of the Year*: 

• Cana
• El Presidente 
• Press Club 
• Service Bar 
• Silver Lyan

Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year*: 

• 2Fifty Texas BBQ
• Celebrity Delly 
• Joia Burger
• SOKO Butcher
• Your Only Friend

Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: 

• Acme Paper & Supply Co.
• Coca-Cola Consolidated
• Events DC
• Grossman Young & Hammond
• Preferred Insurance

Public participation will once again play a prominent role. Diners can vote in five categories: Best Bar, Best Brunch, Hottest Sandwich Spot, and Favorite Gathering Place… along with the debut of Content Creator of the Year, a new, fully write-in category recognizing the growing influence of digital voices in dining culture. Voting opens April 20 and runs through May 17.

Winners will be announced June 29, when the RAMMYS move to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater for the first time, followed by an expanded celebration at The Anthem. In advance of the ceremony, RAMW will host its Honors Cocktail Reception on May 5 at The Watergate Hotel, where Muriel Bowser is set to receive the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award.