Here Are The DC, NoVA Restaurant Award Winners For 2019

WASHINGTON, DC—The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington announced the winners of the 2019 RAMMY Awards at a gala on Sunday, June 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

RAMMYs are the most prestigious awards presented in the restaurant food and beverage industry around the DC region. According to a statement, the awards honor "the exceptional ability and accomplishments of the hard-working individuals and organizations of the Washington, DC region’s restaurant and foodservice community."

Here are this year's winners:

• Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: The Veritas Law Firm
• Upscale Brunch of the Year: Unconventional Diner
• Casual Brunch of the Year: Compass Rose Bar & Kitchen
• Favorite Gathering Place of the Year: Open Road
• Favorite Fast Bites of the Year: Taco Bamba Taqueria
• Service Program of the Year: Ambar - Clarendon
• Beer Program of the Year: Republic
• Cocktail Program of the Year: barmini by José Andrés
• Wine Program of the Year: Maxwell Park
• Casual Restaurant of the Year: Royal
• Employee of the Year: Valentine King, Hummingbird Bar and Kitchen
• Manager of the Year: Donna Seal, Oceanaire
• Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year: Ivy City Smokehouse
• Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: The Source by Wolfgang Puck
• New Restaurant of the Year: Spoken English
• Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Iron Gate
• Pastry Chef of the Year: Ana Deshaies, Unconventional Diners
• Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Kwame Onwuachi, Kith/Kin
• Restaurateur of the Year: Michael Friedman, Mike O’Malley, Colin McDonough & Gareth Croke, Redstone Restaurant Group (All Purpose, Boundary Stone, The Red Hen)
• Chef of the Year: Kyle Bailey, The Salt Line
• Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award: Virginia Ali, Ben’s Chili Bowl/Ben’s Chili Bowl Foundation
• Honorary Milestone Award: The Bombay Club (30 years), Ristorante iRicchi (30 years), Moby Dick House of Kabob (30 years), Silver Diner (30 years, Taberna del Alabardero (30 years), Lebanese Taverna (40 years)
• John G. Laytham Exceptional Leadership & Impact Award: Claude Andersen, Clyde’s Restaurant Group

2019 marked the 37th year of the RAMMYS. Winners were selected either by a panel of judges or the voting public. The judges include food and dining journalists, educators and foodservice industry professionals. The public decided the winners for Favorite Gathering Place, Upscale Brunch, Casual Brunch and Favorite Fast Bites.

RAMW is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the DC metro area.