Can D.C. maintain its reputation as brunch capital when the region’s preeminent restaurant awards cuts in half the number of brunch categories from two to one? The grand experiment commenced last night at the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s annual RAMMY awards, where the consolidated “Best Brunch of the Year” accolades—which supplanted both “Upscale Brunch of the Year” and “Casual Brunch of the Year”—went to dim sum darling A&J Restaurant, which has locations in Annandale and Rockville.
Brunch aside, there was much to celebrate at the lavish affair lovingly known as D.C.’s “food prom.” After going virtual in 2020 and dispensing with many traditional award categories in 2021, this year’s RAMMYs looked almost like the before times. Almost. For 2022, COVID-19 vaccination was a recommendation rather than a requirement. Still, to mingle on the red carpet and let loose to a thumping dancefloor playlist courtesy of electronic music trio Cash Cash, every guest had to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of the event.
The association said in a statement that in the past year, the restaurant industry “rebuilt, recovered, and grew with new establishments.” Reflecting that, the 2022 awards saw the return of some of the regulations that were scrapped during the challenging 2021 season. Back came traditional categories like “Rising Culinary Star of the Year” or “Casual Restaurant of the Year”, which are chosen by a panel of anonymous experts and journalists and are open only to dues-paying members of RAMW. Winners cannot take home another trophy in the same category until five years have elapsed.
Some of the timely awards created in response to the pandemic were eliminated, but some stuck around for 2022. These winners were chosen by popular vote and as was true last year, membership in RAMW was not an eligibility requirement. That meant nonmember nominees like Little Sesame (in the “Favorite Fast Bites” category) had a shot at a trophy (they lost to Little Miner Taco). However, unlike last year, nominees in several categories were required to have been in business for at least one year to be eligible.
This year’s soiree took place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The association says that recent ceremonies have had over 2,300 attendees. It was the 40th anniversary of a gala that got its start in 1982, when a few dozen restaurant community members gathered to fête their own.
Several establishments in the region have been serving customers even longer than that, and the association celebrated them with the 2022 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Awards. Among the honorees were Georgetown’s 1789 and The Tombs with 60 years in operation, Falls Church’s Anthony’s Restaurant with 50 years, and Dupont Circle’s Tabard Inn with an eye-popping 100 years.
See more winners below. Winners are listed in bold (except where there was no individual winner) and the seven categories decided by public votes are indicated with an asterisk.
Rising Culinary Star of the Year
- Will Fung, China Chilcano
- Christian Irabien, Muchas Gracias
- Kat Petonito, The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, The Wells
- Suresh Sundas, Daru
- Elias Taddesse, Mélange
Pastry Chef of the Year
- Rochelle Cooper, The Duck & The Peach, La Collina, The Wells
- Tammy Saunders, Minibar
- Katherine Thompson, Thompson Italian
- Alicia Wang, No Goodbyes
- Francois-Yann Buisine, Un Je Ne Sai Quoi
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year
- Congressional Seafood Co.
- CPA Eats
- Ecolab
- MarginEdge
- Saval Foodservice
Employee of the Year
- Raphael Beltran, Et Voila
- Amanda Bell, All Purpose – Shaw
- Nicole Burdett, Taco Bamba – Springfield
- Oscar Iglesias, Moon Rabbit
- Herman Machado, The Salt Line – Navy Yard
Manager of the Year
- Gian Mario Cabiddu, Alta Strada, DC
- Sylvain Frances, Et Voila Restaurant
- Robert Heim, Shaw’s Tavern
- Atul Narain, Rasika and Rasika West End
- Laure Tartar, Bresca
Service Program of the Year
- Chloe
- Iron Gate
- Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
- Rose’s Luxury
- Tail Up Goat
Splendid Holidays at Home*
- Bayou Bakery
- Convivial
- Kinship
- Stellina
- Unconventional Diner
Hottest Sandwich Spot*
- Cracked Eggery
- Mangialardo’s
- Queen Mother’s
- The Girl & The Vine
- Your Only Friend
Favorite Gathering Place of the Year*
- Casta’s Rum Bar
- Comet Ping Pong
- Pennyroyal Station
- St. Vincent Wine
- The Pug
Favorite Fast Bites*
- Happy Gyro
- Little Miner Taco
- Little Sesame
- Pogiboy
- Sunday Morning Bakehouse
Outstanding Pop-Up Concept*
- A Presto! Italian Foods
- Bun Papa
- Della Barba Pizza
- JUNE
- Tacos A La Madre
Standout Family Meal Packages To Go*
- 2Fifty Texas BBQ
- Mintwood Place
- Muchas Gracias
- Neighborhood Provisions
- Thompson Italian
Best Brunch of the Year*
- A&J Restaurant
- ala
- Blend 111
- Maialino Mare
- Nina May
Honorary Milestone Awards
- 1789 and The Tombs (60 years)
- Anthony’s Restaurant (50 years)
- Bombay Bistro (30 years)
- Duangrat’s (35 years)
- El Tamarindo (40 years)
- Franklins (30 years)
- La Côte d’Or Café (30 years)
- Mike’s American (35 years)
- Tabard Inn (100 years)
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year
- Albi
- Anju
- Nama
- Rooster and Owl
- Shilling Canning Company
Casual Restaurant of the Year
- Baan Siam
- La Famosa
- Makan
- Ruthie’s All Day
- The Roost
Cocktail Program of the Year
- Bresca
- Serenata
- Service Bar
- Silver Lyan
- The Imperial
Wine Program of the Year
- Albi
- Northside Social
- Queen’s English
- Reveler’s Hour
- Slate Wine Bar
Beer Program of the Year
- Boundary Stone
- Caboose Tavern
- Quarry House Tavern
- Shelter
- Sweetwater Tavern
Chef of the Year
- Matt Adler, Caruso’s Grocery
- Cedric Maupillier, Convivial
- Shamim Popal, Lapis
- Michael Rafidi, Albi
- Rob Rubba, Oyster Oyster
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
- Cranes
- Jônt
- Rasika West End
- 1789 Restaurant
- Xiquet by Danny Lledó
New Restaurant of the Year
- Caruso’s Grocery
- Daru
- Dauphine’s
- L’Ardente
- Oyster Oyster
Restaurateur of the Year
- Michael Babin, Neighborhood Restaurant Group
- Ashok Bajaj, Knightsbridge Restaurant Group
- Mark Bucher, Medium Rare
- Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira, Call Your Mother, Timber Pizza, Turu’s Pizza, Mercy Me
- Scott Drewno, Danny Lee, The Fried Rice Collective
