Semi-Finalists were revealed from Monday, March 16, through Thursday, March 19, via RAMW’s social media channels and TheRAMMYS.org.

For the first time in the awards’ four-decade history, the Semi-Finalist announcements will offer an early look at the chefs, restaurants and hospitality professionals in the running for one of the region’s most prestigious industry honors.

“The RAMMYS have always been about celebrating the people who make Washington’s dining scene so dynamic,” said Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of RAMW. “Introducing Semi-Finalists allows us to expand the circle of recognition of chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality professionals who are pushing the industry forward and making Washington one of the most exciting food cities in the country.”

New Restaurant of the Year

  • Barbouzard

  • Casamara

  • Chai Pani

  • Elmina

  • ISLA

  • Maison Bar à Vins

  • Marcus DC

  • Minetta Tavern

  • The Occidental

  • Tapori

Wine Program of the Year

  • a.kitchen+bar DC

  • Bourbon Steak

  • Cork Wine Bar & Market

  • CUT by Wolfgang Puck

  • Fiola

  • Lulu's Wine Bar

  • Lutèce

  • Maydan

  • Primrose

  • Sixty Vines DC

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year

  • Anju

  • Aventino Cucina

  • Casa Teresa

  • Cucina MORINI

  • Joon

  • Moon Rabbit

  • NUE: Elegantly Vietnamese

  • Osteria Mozza

  • Pascual

  • Perry's

Rising Culinary Star of the Year

  • Paolo Dungca — Kayu

  • Ria Montes — Fish Shop

  • Guy-Rene Gerin — L'Ardente

  • Sebastian Moreno — elcielo

  • Hamilton Johnson — Mallard

  • Robbie Reyes — Lucky Danger

  • Anthony Jones — Marcus DC

  • Jarrad Silver — Silver and Sons BBQ

  • Alam Mendez — Apapacho Taqueria

  • Martel Stone — Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi

Manager of the Year

  • Avery Beach — Mandu

  • Todd Hunt — Oak Steakhouse Alexandria

  • Trisha Custodio — Sfoglina Van Ness

  • Boo Kim — RPM Italian DC

  • Kelly Duong — KYOJIN Sushi

  • Lauren Montana — Pizzeria Paradiso

  • Kenia Euceda — Neighborhood Restaurant Group

  • Debby Portillo — 2fifty Texas BBQ

  • George Forman III — Philippe Chow

  • Juan Ramirez — Bastille Brasserie & Bar

Employee of the Year

  • Ingrid Arteaga — Open Road

  • Jackie Mason — Willowsong

  • Estela Catarino — Ama

  • Raul Pineda — Perry's

  • Kodjo "Olivier" Elenda — The Popal Group

  • Daren Prasad — Chloe

  • Adam Mathews — a.kitchen+bar DC

  • Damali Saddler — Apéro & La Bohème

  • Jose Martinez — MITA

  • Jose Luis Salgado — Zinnia

Service Program of the Year

  • Causa

  • Elyse

  • Filomena Ristorante

  • ilili

  • Imperfecto

  • Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

  • MITA

  • Old Ebbitt Grill

  • Perry's

  • Xiquet by Danny Lledó

Cocktail Program of the Year

  • Amazonia

  • barmini by José Andrés

  • Cucina MORINI

  • Death and Co.

  • El Secreto de Rosita

  • Moon Rabbit

  • Pascual

  • Rania

  • Residents Café & Bar

  • Your Only Friend

Beer Program of the Year

  • Astro Beer Hall

  • B-Side

  • Franklin Hall

  • Lost Generation Brewing Company

  • Pizzeria Paradiso

  • Prost

  • Red Bear Brewing

  • Right Proper Brewing Company

  • Solace Outpost

  • Wunder Garten

Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year

  • Albi

  • The Dabney

  • Del Mar

  • Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi

  • Elyse

  • minibar by José Andrés

  • Pineapple and Pearls

  • Rania

  • Rooster and Owl

  • SHIA

Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year

  • Susan Bae — Moon Rabbit

  • Bridie McCulla — Northside Social

  • Ligia Barros — CUT by Wolfgang Puck

  • Rose Nguyen — Rose Ave Bakery

  • Lizzy Evelyn — Ellē

  • Gianpier Pineda — The Occidental

  • Genesis Flores — Seven Reasons Group

  • Ana Sofía Pino — Lutèce

  • Jessica Leung — Osteria Mozza

  • Rachel Sherriffe — MARCUS DC

Chef of the Year

  • Eric Adjepong — Elmina

  • Jason Galbao — Alhambra

  • Matt Adler — Cucina MORINI and Caruso's Grocery

  • Rubén García — Casa Teresa

  • Amy Brandwein — Centrolina and Piccolina

  • Miguel Guerra & Tatiana Mora — MITA

  • Matt Conroy & Isabel Coss — Lutèce and Pascual

  • Jeremiah Langhorne — The Dabney

  • Cédric Maupillier — Barbouzard

  • Jovana Urriola

Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year

  • Andy's Pizza

  • Apapacho Taqueria

  • Bantam King

  • Call Your Mother

  • Colada Shop

  • Joia Burger

  • Queen Mother's Kitchen

  • San Pancho

  • Stellina Pizzeria

  • Yellow

Casual Restaurant of the Year

  • ala

  • Ama

  • Duke's Grocery

  • Ellē

  • I Egg You

  • La Bonne Vache

  • Purple Patch

  • Taquería Xochi

  • The Falls

  • Tsehay Ethiopian

Restaurateur of the Year

  • David Deshaies — Garden Hospitality

  • Zubair, Omar, Fatima, Mustafa and Shamim Popal — The Popal Group

  • Fernando González — 2fifty Texas BBQ

  • Michael Rafidi — Albi, Yellow, La' Shukran

  • Téa Ivanovic & Peter Schechter — Immigrant Food

  • Daniella Senior — Colada Shop

  • Enrique Limardo and Ezequiel Vázquez-Ger — Seven Reasons Group

  • Stephen Starr — Starr Restaurant Group

  • Kwame Onwuachi — Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi

  • Vikram Sunderam — Rasika, Malabar, Bindaas Bowls & Rolls

Best Bar of the Year

  • Cana

  • CODE RED

  • El Presidente

  • The Green Zone

  • Moonraker

  • Press Club

  • The Salt Line

  • Service Bar

  • Silver Lyan

  • Whitlow's

Best Brunch of the Year

  • Ambar

  • Blue Duck Tavern

  • Café Riggs

  • dLeña

  • I Egg You

  • Matt & Tony's

  • Neutral Ground

  • Ruthie's All Day

  • The Pembroke

  • Unconventional Diner

Favorite Gathering Place of the Year

  • Balos

  • Boundary Stone

  • Cafe Milano

  • Jane Jane

  • Le Diplomate

  • Martin's Tavern

  • metrobar

  • Old Ebbitt Grill

  • SOST

  • Stan's Restaurant

Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year

  • 2fifty Texas BBQ

  • Bub and Pop's

  • Celebrity Delly

  • Fossette Focacceria

  • Honeymoon Chicken

  • Joia Burger

  • Queen Mother's Kitchen

  • Silver and Sons BBQ

  • Soko Butcher

  • Your Only Friend